Classic Uganda Safari: Gorillas, Mountains and Great Lakes

Classic Uganda Safari: Gorillas, Mountains and Great Lakes

11 Days from $7,890 USD / person

This Uganda safari tour takes you deep into the heart of the wilderness for fantastic wildlife encounters. Your journey begins in Entebbe, set on the shores of the mighty Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical lake. In Kibale, heart-stopping moments are guaranteed as you track Uganda’s famed chimpanzees through the dense forest with an experienced guide. Next in the lush savannahs of Queen Elizabeth, spot a huge variety of plants, animals and birds during game drives, boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel, and bush walks in Queen Elizabeth National Park. At your next stop, meet some of Uganda’s most celebrated inhabitants – gorillas! No experience can compare with the thrill of coming face to face with a silverback, and armed with an experienced conservationist and guide, you can safely see these primate families in their natural habitat. Your last stop is at Lake Mburo, where rolling hills meet grassy plains and a huge diversity of flora and fauna await you on your bush walks and boat safaris. Spend your last few days in Uganda soaking in the country’s untouched natural beauty before making your way to Entebbe for your departure.

Do you wish to discover the rich wildlife of Africa? Then this private Uganda safari tour is ideal for you. For a private tour that is tailored to your interests, contact us right away – we will be happy to assist you!

Your Vacation. Your Way.

This itinerary can be customized for you. Get in touch with our experts for your personalized vacation plan.

Ideal For

Adventure & Outdoors

Nature & Landscapes

Wildlife & Safaris

Sample Itinerary

Day

Place

Hotel Opts

1 – 2

Entebbe
Highlights: City Tour, Botanical Gardens, Lake Victoria

The Boma Guest House
No. 5 Boutique

2 – 4

Kibale
Highlights: Chimpanzee Trekking, Virgin Tropical Rainforest, Bird-Watching

Turaco Treetops
Primate Lodge

4 – 6

Queen Elizabeth
Highlights: Crater Lakes, Tree-Climbing Lions, Boat Cruises on the Kazinga Channel

Mweya Safari Lodge
Katara Lodge

6 – 7

Queen Elizabeth South
Highlights: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Forests to explore like the Kalinzu Forest, Diverse flora and fauna

Enjojo Lodge
Ishasha Wilderness Camp

7 – 9

Bwindi National Park
Highlights: Close Encounters with Gorillas, Culture Encounters, Impenetrable Rainforest Trekking

Engagi Lodge
Buhoma Lodge

9 – 11

Lake Mburo
Highlights: Biodiverse Wetland, Cultural Encounters, Night Game Drives, Rich Birdlife

Mihingo Lodge
Mihingo Lodge

11 – 11

Entebbe
Highlights: City Tour, Botanical Gardens, Lake Victoria

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Classic Uganda Safari: Gorillas, Mountains and Great Lakes

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Sample Itinerary

Day 1 – 2

1 Night

Entebbe

Entebbe, the former capital of Uganda during British colonisation, is situated on the Northern shores of Lake Victoria which is the largest lake in Africa. Arriving by air into Entebbe is breathtaking as you are introduced to the lush and tropical setting of the city. If your stay allows, you may like to enjoy like to take a stroll on one of the many beaches on the shores of the lake, visit the wildlife education center, or visit the botanical gardens to get a taste of the diversity of plants and birds Uganda is fortunate to enjoy.

Hotel options

The Boma Guest House – Opt 1

Room Standard Room

Meals Breakfast

Style Guest house

No. 5 Boutique – Opt 2

Room Standard Room

Meals Breakfast

Style Boutique

Day 2 – 4

2 Nights

Kibale

The lush tropical rainforest of Kibale National Park has one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa, totalling 13 species including more than 1,000 chimpanzees and so is an ideal location for chimpanzee trekking. Early in the morning or in the afternoon, walk with an experienced ranger into the forest. In contrast to gorillas which usually don’t move a lot, chimpanzees tend to move swiftly, either on the forest floor or in the canopies of the tree. Outside Kibale National Park, enjoy wonderful walks through the picturesque landscape with tea plantations, beautiful small crater lakes, and tiny villages where the kids will smile and wave at you.

Included activities

Chimpanzee Tracking

Go on a once-in-a-lifetime trek to come face-to-face with Uganda’s most famous primate – the chimpanzee. Head into the Kibale National Park with your guide in search of chimpanzees living in its natural habitat. Along the way, look out for other inhabitants of the forest, including the black & white colobus, red tailed monkey or the grey cheeked mangabey monkeys. Your guide will be able to point out a variety of birds and plant species that are endemic to the forest. Observe the chimps feed, play, and rest from a safe and vantage viewpoint before you head back to the hotel. (Duration: half day; Time: morning; Shared activity. Group size: max 4 ppl; Private transfer; Entry fees included; Fitness level: moderate. Please note that people with physical limitations can participate as long as they have someone to provide assistance; Min. age: 12.)

Kibale – Private Vehicle & Driver Guide

Your chauffeur guide will drive you in a private vehicle

Hotel options

Turaco Treetops – Opt 1

Room Luxury Cottage

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Primate Lodge – Opt 2

Room Luxury Cottage

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Day 4 – 6

2 Nights

Queen Elizabeth

Set majestically in the shadow of the Rwenzori mountains, flanking Lake Edward and Lake George, the lush savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park offers prime grazing to buffalo, elephant and various antelope. It is also a bird lovers haven, with over 600 bird species who testify to the extraordinary and diverse ecology of the region. The Northern Mweya sector is more densely vegetated than the Southern Ishasha sector and offers diverse activities including game drives, boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel, nature walks in the Kyambura gorge with chances of chimpanzee sightings and exploring beautiful crater lakes. On the open Ishasha savannah plains you can spot – if you are lucky – leopards and the famous tree climbing lions.

Included activities

Boat Trip along the Kazinga Channel

A highlight of your Ugandan holiday is the Boat Safari along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The channel connects Lake George in the east and Lake Edward in the west and boasts wonderful animal and birdlife along its shores. For an informative trip, our experienced guides will accompany you on the boat and share anecdotes about the varied flora and fauna of the region. Be mesmerized with beautiful views of the Rwenzori Mountains north of Lake George and Kasenyi plains. Make company with hippos and sunbathing crocs while witnessing a fantastic display of birds such as African Fish Eagles, African Spoonbills, Great Cormorants, African Skimmers and pelicans when on the boat safari.

Nature Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Have your fill of the African flora and fauna with these truly exhilarating nature drives. Spend your mornings or afternoons watching beautiful landscape and if fortunate, a few wildlife. The grasslands of the Savannah are a bird watchers’ paradise. The forests here are pristine and remote, and a raw African wilderness feel hangs heavy in the air. Explore the wild in open safari vehicles with our experienced guides who take you to the right spots at the right time.

Queen Elizabeth North – Private Vehicle & Driver Guide

Your chauffeur guide will drive you in a private vehicle

Hotel options

Mweya Safari Lodge – Opt 1

Room Deluxe Room

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Katara Lodge – Opt 2

Room Standard Room

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Day 6 – 7

1 Night

Queen Elizabeth South

Queen Elizabeth South forms the southern region of the famous Queen Elizabeth National Park. Encompassing a variety of landscapes ranging from savannah to lush forests to wetlands and bush land, the park is home to 96 species of mammals including hippos, lions, leopards, elephants, and chimps. With less vegetation than the Northern Mweya sector, the South is covered with open savannah land, making it easier to spot the wildlife which roams these plains. The Ishasha sector is known for its tree-climbing lions and indeed you could actually spot a majestic lioness snoozing the afternoon away on the branch of a fig tree. A unique feature of the males here is that they have black manes, a rare sight. The Kalinzu Forest on the south-eastern corner of the park is a great spot for chimpanzee-tracking, a great opportunity to see these intelligent mammals up close, while the southwest corner has the Lake Katwe Salt Works, a salt mining site in a local village with an interesting history.

Included activities

Nature Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth South – Private Vehicle & Driver Guide

Your chauffeur guide will drive you in a private vehicle

Hotel options

Enjojo Lodge – Opt 1

Room Cottage

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Ishasha Wilderness Camp – Opt 2

Room Standard Tent

Meals Full Board

Style Camp

Day 7 – 9

2 Nights

Bwindi National Park

Bwindi is possibly home to the planet’s last remaining tribes of the highly endangered mountain gorilla. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park houses more than half of the world’s population. Sitting face to face with a 350 lb silverback is a once in a lifetime experience, and the highlight of every trip to Uganda. Trackers and rangers typically guide wildlife enthusiasts deep into the rainforest, up and down the steep and uneven terrain to meet resident gorilla families. With over 350 species of birds, these lush forests are also perfect for bird watching. Spot brilliant sunbirds, flycatchers and broadbills, as well as Uganda’s national bird, the grey crowned crane. Walk up to misty waterfalls in the impenetrable forest. Make the most of the region’s many hikes, trails and nature walks, taking in the white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, colorful butterflies, orchids and ferns. This spectacular region is also home to volcanic mountain ranges and crater lakes, like the Virunga Volcanoes and Lake Bunyonyi. Enjoy boat safaris around the lake, and visit local village communities of the Batwa and Buhoma people.

Included activities

Gorilla Trekking

No other wildlife encounter in Africa matches the astounding experience of spending time face-to-face with some of the few remaining wild mountain gorillas. For a gorilla trek you need to be fairly fit for the humid, muddy conditions of a rainforest hike. Even in the dry season, the rainforest is a challenging environment: it is humid, wet and muddy with some steep slopes and thick vegetation. If needed, you can hire a porter who carries luggage and assists you during steep or muddy terrain at a fee. It is absolutely worth the effort to spend time with gorillas in the wild, but be prepared to exert yourself on the trek. r nYour professional guide and tracker lead you into the forest’s secret paths, looking for a habituated gorilla family. Once found, approach the gorillas quietly and settle down to observe them from between 7 and 10m away. You will spend up to one hour with the gorillas, watching the adults forage and groom each other while the babies tumble and play. You will be under the watchful gaze of the great silverback patriarch whose soft brown eyes constantly sweep over his family protectively. Witnessing gorillas express typically human gestures and emotions is a truly profound experience! (Duration: half or full day; Time: morning; Shared activity. Group size: max. 8 ppl; Private transfer; Entry fees included; Fitness level: moderate. Please note that people with physical limitations can participate as long as they have someone to provide assistance; Min. age: 15)

Bwindi National Park – North (Buhoma & Ruhija) – Private Vehicle & Driver Guide

Your chauffeur guide will drive you in a private vehicle

Hotel options

Engagi Lodge – Opt 1

Room Standard Room

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Buhoma Lodge – Opt 2

Room Cottage

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Day 9 – 11

2 Nights

Lake Mburo

With a varying landscape of rolling hills, open grassy valleys, acacia grasslands and marshes, Lake Mburo is home to a huge array of flora and fauna. Its lovely landscape include five lakes known for their rich birdlife, notably the secretive African finfoot. The green acacia woodland surrounding the lake is home to dense populations of zebra, warthog, buffalo, impala and various other grazers, including the last surviving Ugandan population of eland, the largest of African antelope. After an afternoon game drive or guided game walk, during which you might also come across hyenas and leopards, enjoy a spectacular sundowner.

Included activities

Bush walk at Lake Mburo

To stretch your legs and discover the small wonders of nature, experience a guided bush walk along the shores of Lake Mburo.

Lake Mburo – Private Vehicle & Driver Guide

Get a different perspective of Lake Mburu on a scenic boat safari.

Boat safari on Lake Mburo

Your chauffeur guide will drive you in a private vehicle

Hotel options

Mihingo Lodge – Opt 1

Room Standard Room

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Mihingo Lodge – Opt 2

Room Standard Room

Meals Full Board

Style Lodge

Day 11 – 11

Entebbe

Price & Inclusions

Option 1

From $7,890 USD / person

Option 2

From $9,190 USD / person

Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.

Price Includes

Accommodation and meals, as specified in the itinerary
Activities and excursions, as specified in the itinerary
Transportation services, as specified in the itinerary
Your Trip Coordination Team: Dedicated support throughout your journey, with a primary, personal point of contact. Plus, in case of emergencies while you’re traveling, our trip coordination team are available 24/7 by phone

Not Included

Entrance fees and meals, unless mentioned in the itinerary description
Tips and personal expenses
Visa and tourism fees
Travel, health, and cancellation insurance
International airfare

What Our Guests Say

The trip was planned perfectly from beginning to the end. We were notified of any changes to the schedule based on delayed flights etc. It is a real advantage to have Enchanting Travels make the arrangements that allowed us to speed through customs and visa checks. Our drivers were always there waiting for our arrival so no time wasted waiting. Just the ease of the logistics that comes with traveling with Enchanting Travels keeps up going back to them when we are planning a trip. The experiences were beyond words. Our game drive guides were exceptional in getting us to where the animals were so we could enjoy seeing cheetah cubs at play while mom watched, lion cubs playing while a group of lioness’s napped in the sun and two male lions did the same. The most incredible sight was watching a group of 6 lioness’s separate a female buffalo and her calf and going on to taking them both down. It was like watching a Nat Geo film but we were there within 30 yards to watch. Our accommodations were top notch, staff everywhere we were were exceptional, and the settings were all different but wonderful. Our trip coordinator was in constant contact just to check in and see if there was anything we needed her to do. The Trip Agent App, our first time using it, was a very nice feature and was so much easier to use rather than pulling out a hard copy of the trip to find the answer to our questions. I wasn’t sure if I would use it or not but became dependent on it. Traveling doesn’t get any better if you travel with Enchanting Travels. We will be back!

Carol Brzeczek

USA

From start to finish we were beyond pleased with the trip enchanting travels team provided us. We would highly recommend enchanting travels and especially Peter and Ruth.

Todd Wood

USA

The process with Enchanting was easy and the proposal provided was exactly what we were looking for. I found that Enchanting listened to our desires and then provided options that allowed us to set up our final travel plan.

Lloyd Kelley

USA

Our private tour to Uganda and Kenya was well organized. We had exceptional guides and the lodges provided exceptional services.

Karen Pare

USA

Our trip using Enchanting Travels changed our life. We definitely will be using them again. We felt spoiled with what they provided.

Dennise Hartley

USA

Our family trip to Kenya was AMAZING – more than we ever dreamed of! Our interests were addressed with personalized experiences and we had a great guide for the safaris! Our favorite parts were seeing the baby lions, elephants, and hyenas up close! I highly recommend Enchanting Travels for upcoming vacations.

Gary Galinat

USA

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