Loading
Phone1800 960 693AustraliaMonday to Friday 8am - 9pm (AEDT)
Travel Agent Login

8-Day Uganda Great Apes Experience

  • view trip mapView Trip Map
  • downloadDownload
  • shareShare

Overview

This 8-day Ugandan gorilla safari experience will take you to Kibale Forest National Park, considered the primate capital of Africa and one of Uganda’s major savannah game parks, where you have a chance of encountering the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.

From Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will continue onto the home of the mountain gorillas - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After your date with the gentle giants, you will transfer to the scenic and picturesque Lake Bunyonyi. where your trip concludes.

This is a memorable experience, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to tour Uganda's best national parks.
Outdoors & Nature
Hiking & Trekking
Culture & Arts

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Entebbe

Hide details accordion
Arrival in Entebbe

Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your accommodation. Refresh and unwind after your long journey before heading out for a memorable dining experience.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Emin Pasha Hotel4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    7 Hills Revolving RestaurantOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Minivan from Entebbe International Airport to Kampala

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kampala

Day 2

Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

Hide details accordion
Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

The drive to Kibale Forest National Park will take you through the lush green countryside on the Mityana-Mubende road to Fort Portal town, arriving late-afternoon. Stay at Primate Lodge and experience Ugandan hospitality amidst unrivalled nature, scenery and serenity in the heart of Kibale Rainforest National Park, Uganda’s primates’ paradise, home to over 13 different species of primates, and numerous other mammals, reptiles, butterflies and birds.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Primate Lodge4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Emin Pasha Hotel

    Mountains of the Moon Hotel

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Minivan from Kampala to Kibale National Park

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kampala

    Kabarole

    Kamwenge

Day 3

Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Sanctuary Visit

Hide details accordion
Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Sanctuary Visit

You are in for some monkey business today! Begin the day with a chimp tracking. You'll trek deep into the forest with a tracker in search of the chimpanzees. When you find them, you'll have time to observe their behaviours before returning. In the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is home to a variety of creatures, among them - primates, butterflies and birds. You'll learn about this unique climate and all that it attracts with your guide before returning.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Primate Lodge4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Chimpanzee Tracking

    Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kamwenge

    Kibale

    Kampala

Day 4

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Hide details accordion
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

This morning, your driver will pick you up to drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Heading down the rift valley, with the Rwenzori mountain ranges in the distance on your right and the Rift Valley on the left, you'll arrive at the entrance of the park in around 4 hours. In the late afternoon, you'll head to the Katwe Crater Lake to meet the Ugandans who mine for salt in the lake.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Katwe Crater Lake

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Kamwenge

    Western Region

    Kasese

Day 5

Game Drive and Boat Safari on the Kazinga Channel

Hide details accordion
Game Drive and Boat Safari on the Kazinga Channel

Your day begins early, after breakfast, there will be a game drive around Queen Elizabeth National Park where we head for the mating grounds of the Uganda Kobs. We search for the lions in their natural habitat, elephants, buffaloes and other animals before returning for lunch. In the afternoon, go on a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, one of the most celebrated safari experiences in Africa!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Boat Safari along Kazinga Channel

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Off-Road from Mweya Safari Lodge to Queen Elizabeth National Park

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Western Region

    Kasese

Day 6

Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha

Hide details accordion
Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha

Today you will make your way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha sector. The drive to Ishasha will act as a game drive as you will slowly make your way down south through the park in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. Lunch will be served and then you will exit the park and continue the drive. Upon arrival, you will check in at Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Bwindi Lodge4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Explore the Ishasha Sector

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Bwindi Lodge

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Off-Road from Ishasha Wilderness Camp to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Western Region

Day 7

Gorilla Tracking & Drive to Lake Bunyonyi

Hide details accordion
Gorilla Tracking & Drive to Lake Bunyonyi

With your packed lunch in your rucksack, your guide will take you tracking the gentle giants, pushing your way through the undergrowth. The trek can take anything from 30 minutes to 5 hours. Once you find the mountain gorillas, sit in the forest listening to them grumble, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. There is only 1,000 of these beautiful apes left in the wild. After your trek, you'll go to Lake Bunyonyi.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Birdnest at Bunyonyi Resort4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Bwindi Lodge

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Minivan from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Lake Bunyonyi

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Western Region

    Kisoro

Day 8

Relax at the Swimming Pool & Departure

Hide details accordion
Relax at the Swimming Pool & Departure

A relaxed start in the morning at the swimming pool. The drive to Entebbe will include various stops, including one in Mbarara town for lunch and another stop at the Equator crossing to buy a souvenir of your Uganda gorilla safari. Arriving at the airport, we'll say our goodbyes.

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Birdnest at Bunyonyi Resort

    Igongo Country Hotel

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Minivan from Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Western Region

    Mbarara

Included in Price

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 7 activities
  • 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides
  • Trekking permits

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
pdf icon

Want to Read This Later?

Download this trip itinerary as a PDF and start planning your next trip offline!

Why Choose Designer Journeys

access

Access Exclusive Experiences

Open your eyes to a world of exclusive experiences that will make your next trip extraordinary. Designer Journeys’ local travel designers are connected to unique experiences that are out of reach for most people – so you’ll return with some amazing stories to tell.

local expertise

Extraordinary Local Expertise

Using highly experienced local travel designers means you have access to your very own local expert. You'll find experiences you never knew existed, avoid some of the common pitfalls and, most of all, feel like you have an insider guiding you every step of the way.

support

Supported Every Step of the Way

Our in-destination local travel designers are the first line of support when you are travelling. They are in your time zone and have the local expertise and knowledge to solve any issue that may arise – making you feel more confident about your trip.

custom travel designed

Travel Designed For You

Designer Journeys style of travel is all about how you want to travel – its private travel designed exactly to your needs. Our local travel designers customise every trip to suit you, whether completely bespoke or based on one or more of our 2,000+ gallery of itineraries.

Image - Designer Journeys
Image - Designer Journeys
DESIGN YOUR EXTRAORDINARY

Why Travel with Designer Journeys

Smile icon
Your Trip. Your Version of Extraordinary.

At Designer Journeys, we know that we all travel differently. That's why you decide where you travel, how you travel and your travel experiences when you design your trip with us.

Message icon
Connect and Design With an Expert.

Our trusted Local Designers use their destination insight, local knowledge and travel planning expertise to build your extraordinary trip. Our dedicated Travel Concierge team will be there every step of the way to ensure your perfect trip becomes reality.

Trust icon
Book with Confidence. We are Trusted.

Secure payment platforms, multiple accreditations, rigorous Local Designer selection process, and decades of travel expertise means you are in safe hands with Designer Journeys.

As seen on
Partners