Trek deep into the Ugandan rainforest and meet wild mountain gorilla families in their natural habitat. Enjoy once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters, experience Ugandan culture at a local village, and stay at luxurious forest lodges.

Acclimatize to the tropical Ugandan climate in the country’s bustling capital city of Kampala, and journey on to Lake Mburo National Park where you’ll explore the Papyrus swamps, grasslands and lush, rolling hills that are home to an abundant wildlife population that includes several species of Zebra and the prehistoric Shoebill. But the highlight will come in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you’ll track rare mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, and you’ll embark on several hiking trails for an opportunity for an up-close encounter. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas, living happily in protected rainforests dating back over 25,000 years. With an expert guide you’ll track gorillas on foot through the dense forest which is also home to a colony of elephants and 120 species of other mammals, including seven primate species. You’ll get insider access to one of Africa’s last remaining gorilla sanctuaries.

Enjoy a personalized vacation that best suits your needs, developed by one of our experienced destination experts. Relax during your trip with our 24/7 support and expert local guidance.

Welcome to the East African primate capital, the heavily forested country of Uganda!  Upon arrival to the Entebbe International Airport, a representative will meet and load up your entire luggage and head towards the Ugandan capital city of Kampala where you will overnight.

Accommodation: Kampala Serena

The elegant Serena Hotels continuously outdoes itself, and its location in Kampala, Uganda, is no exception. With rich green foliage framing the hotel’s façade, each of the 152 rooms look out on the 17 acres of garden or allow yourself to grow mesmerized by the 7m waterfall on the pool terrace. The hotel’s rooms each have an individual personality, working with cultural artifacts, native wood carving, and contemporary Ugandan design at its foundation. Dining is a fluttery, fairytale-like medley of bursting flavors and delights, from freshly squeezed exotic juices to Italian cuisine and of course, very impressive world cuisine. Make sure to stop by the Maisha Health Club and try out the skin treatments. Revered across Kampala, it is relied on by all who trust in the Serena Hotels name.

DAY 2: KAMPALA – LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

Depart the Ugandan capital of Kampala en-route to the Lake Mburo National Park grounds.

Set out on an adventurous game drive around the Lake Mburo National Park grounds today.  The eco-diversity of this park makes for quite the journey as you explore some of the many hillsides, grasslands and water based wildlife habitats.  To hone in on the specific wildlife one would want to see, the park has designated routes or “tracks” which travel to the specific landscape where these wildlife species thrive.  Travelling along the “Zebra Track” will boast a variety of plain-game including Burchell zebra, bushbuck, oribi and reed buck.  To find species like the elusive klipspringer one would have to travel along the “Ruroko Track.”  This track is home to wildlife that requires a habitat that features a wetland basin surrounded by thick acacia shrub and woodlands.

Your park fees are included for this day.

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge

The exclusive Mihingo Lodge is a peaceful retreat which strategically sits adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park. The property features ten tented rooms which have been built on raised wooden platforms that are covered by a thatched roof. Suspended under the thatched roof is a spacious and comfortable tent which has been equipped with safari style amenities and facilities including en-suite bathrooms that produce both hot and cold running water for the shower, and flushing toilets. The property also features a large dining area and an infinity pool.

DAY 3: LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK – BWINDI

Enjoy your private transfer from Lake Mburo National Park to Bwindi. Often referred to as the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, this area boast some truly thick vegetation consisting of massive evergreen trees that stretch to great heights for sunlight.  It is here within the Impenetrable Forest where almost half of the world’s population of Mountain Gorilla reside.  The travel time between these two diverse locations is approximately 6 to 7 hours depending on weather conditions.

In the afternoon, enjoy some time on your own to relax.

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs

Mahogany Springs offers privacy and serenity blended with optimal comfort in a spectacular setting. With some of the most luxurious accommodation in East Africa the feeling that you will experience when staying here is beyond compare.  At Mahogany Springs it is the little touches that make the big difference, from the tiny details in the design of the lodge through to the unrivalled service levels provided by the highly trained management team. Mahogany Springs is the perfect base from which to begin you Gorilla Tracking or Bird watching adventures. The Gorillas have been to know to the visit the lodge and coming face to face with one of these peaceful creatures is an indescribable experience. With more bird species per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world Bwindi is often described as bird watchers paradise and the fact that Mahogany Springs is set back on an open piece of land by the river ensures they have many rare species visiting every day.

DAY 4: BWINDI

Wake up very early and depart with a picnic lunch to track the rare Mountain Gorillas (hiking boots required). The tracking may take between 5 and 8 hours. The Park Guides with you interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas. Return in the evening for dinner and overnight at the lodge. Only persons age 15 and over are allowed to track the gorillas.

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs

DAY 5: BWINDI

Early this morning, your guide will take you for a forest walk. Bwindi has several hiking trails. On all these trails, you have opportunities to see and learn about primates, many species of birds, butterflies, trees, and other organisms. The forest has about 30 elephants and 120 species of mammals including 7 diurnal primates, 360 species of birds and over 200 species of butterflies. This Afro-montane forest has dense under storey of fern, vines, and shrubs. About 324 tree species have been recorded here, of which 10 don’t occur anywhere else in Uganda.

Bwindi is surrounded on the Buhoma side by the Bakiga community and the Batwa people community. If you like, sign up to head out with staff on a 2hr stroll through a small tea farming project. Here you can stop to meet the tea pickers and perhaps even learn how to pluck tea leaves along the way. Then visit a local beer brewery and see how they mash bananas to make a fermented brew which is mixed and distilled to make banana beer – a popular local drink in the area. From here walk a short distance to the local hospital which Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp supports through various projects. Learn about how it started and the work they do for the community. Continue your walk to a nearby village and visit a traditional medicine man. The knowledge of using herbs for healing has been passed on from generation to generation and he will show you some of the herbs that grow in the forest and talk about how they are used. Later, relax and enjoy a performance by the Batwa community before returning to the camp.

Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and bring supplies for area schools or medical clinics in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families.

This tour is included in the cost of your stay.

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs

DAY 6: BWINDI

Transfer between Bwindi and Entebbe International Airport. This drive is approximately 10hrs.