Gorilla & Wildlife Walking Safari, Uganda

Day 1 - Fly London to Entebbe

Depart London on your overnight flight to Entebbe.

Overnight: In flight

Day 2 - Arrive in Entebbe. Group transfer to hotel.

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda you will be greeted by your local guide and transferred to your hotel just a short drive from the airport.

Overnight: The Boma Hotel Or Best Western Premier Garden Hotel, Entebbe

Day 3 - Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Drive to Murchison Falls National Park (6-7 hours).

This morning you will begin your journey to Murchison Falls National Park taking you past the hustle and bustle of Kampala, Uganda's capital city. On route you'll make a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for your first wildlife experience of the holiday. At the sanctuary you'll have a short walking safari to see up-close the endangered Southern white rhinos that are being re-introduced to Uganda. To date, the project has proudly provided a safe haven for 15 Southern white rhinos and continues to grow its numbers as the rhinos reproduce.

Afterwards you continue on to Murchison Falls National Park. At 1,480 square miles this is Uganda's largest national park and is abundant in wildlife and diverse landscapes. You will arrive at your accommodation for the night. Located on the banks of the River Nile you are likely to spot pods of hippos.

Overnight: Murchison River Lodge Or Kabalega Wilderness Lodge

Day 4 - Game drive in Murchison Falls National Park and River Nile boat trip with walk to the top of the Murchison Falls.

After an early breakfast you will take a game drive in the park. The drive takes you across the savannah, through the Borassus palm forest and across grassland down to Lake Albert where the Albert Nile heads north. You'll be in search of wildlife roaming the African savannah including lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants and buffalo. Be sure to also look overhead, for Murchison Falls National Park has an impressive diversity of birdlife, including the Black-chested snake eagle, Secretary bird, colourful Swallow tailed bee-eater and the prehistoric-looking Shoebill stork.

You will spend the afternoon on the Nile where crocodiles and hippos reside, taking a boat trip along the river to see the powerful Murchison Falls. The waterfall is between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert and is where the mighty River Nile forces itself through a narrow seven meter gorge and tumbles down over 40 meters with immense power. At the waterfall you will have the option to walk to the top to get the best view of the falls from above. The walk to the top takes about 45 minutes to an hour, but is worth it for the close-up view which you can't quite get from the boat.

Overnight: Murchison River Lodge Or Kabalega Wilderness Lodge

Day 5 - Drive to Kibale National Park. Lunch en route at Fort Portal.

This morning you will leave Murchison Falls National Park for the long drive to Kibale National Park ready for your chimpanzee experience tomorrow. The drive will take about 8 hours and en route you'll drive past many scenic tea plantations and have a break in Fort Portal for lunch. You should arrive at your lodge in the afternoon where you can refresh yourself and perhaps relax on the private veranda and try spotting the wildlife in the surrounding forest.

The 296 square mile tropical rainforest at Kibale boasts the highest concentration of primates anywhere in Africa and is home to 13 different species including the rare red colobus and L'Hoest's monkeys. It is also one of the best places in the world to track chimpanzees in the wild.

Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp Or Isunga Lodge, Kibale National Park

Day 6 - Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. Bigodi Swamp walk. Optional visit to local village and school.

Today you will visit Kibale Forest and spend time tracking and observing chimpanzees, its most famous inhabitants. Kibale has one of the highest diversities and densities of primates in all of Africa totaling 13 species including the black and white colobus, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkey, bush babies and pottos. As you are walking through the forest, your guide will identify any primates you see as well as other birds and wildlife that inhabit the forest.

Once your guides have located a family of chimpanzees you will be able to observe their behavior as they swing through the trees, play on the ground, feed and interact with each other. It's a truly fascinating experience that is over all too quickly.

In the afternoon you have the opportunity to go on a guided walk through the swamps, of Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is adjacent to Kibale National Park. The wetland provides a home for many different primates and other mammals and is considered a birdwatcher's paradise.

After the walk you can go on a community walk in nearby village or visit a school in where you can talk to the students and teachers and participate in the lessons. Alternatively you can return to your lodge and simply relax.

Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp Or Isunga Lodge, Kibale National Park

Day 7 - Walking in Kibale Forest with visit to the Top of the World viewpoint - 3-4 hours.

Today you'll enjoy a walk in the Kibale Forest National Park. You follow a pleasant trail that takes you past crater lakes, rural villages and manicured tea plantations. Tea has become one of Uganda's most important crops and the country is now the third biggest producer of tea in Africa. Uganda's climate provides plentiful sunshine and rainfall, along with rich soil conditions and a relatively high altitude; in fact everything required to grow large quantities of good quality tea. As you walk and travel through the countryside you will no doubt see much evidence of this thriving industry.

Your picturesque path takes you uphill to reach an observation point aptly called 'the top of the world'. From here your exertions are rewarded with fantastic, far-reaching views over rainforest and crater lakes, as far as the distant peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Overnight: Kluge’s Guest Farm, Fort Portal

Day 8 - Walking in Rwenzori Mountains National Park - 5-6 hours. Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Today you will be walking in Rwenzori Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated for both its bio-diversity and natural beauty. Located in southwestern Uganda, the Rwenzori Mountain range straddles the equator on the Uganda-Congo border and is the highest in all Africa with three peaks over 5,000m. It is home to Africa's third highest peak after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya and provides a haven for numerous species of birds, wildlife and flora, including several that are unique to this region.

The trail takes you to a maximum altitude of 2,300m and partly follows the River Mubuku from which you'll get lovely views of Baker and Portal and, on a clear day, the snow-capped Margherita Peak, 5,109 metres, a truly spectacular sight of the Rwenzori Range's highest summit. Along the trail you may come across lots of wildlife, in particular chameleons, vervet monkeys and a variety of birds.

After your walk in Rwenzori Mountains National Park you will drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Overnight: Kasenyi Safari Camp, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 9 - Full day at Queen Elizabeth National Park with game drive and boat trip.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 100 mammal species, making it an incredible destination for a safari. Lions, hippos, hyena, elephants and leopards are just some of the mammals you are likely to spot, alongside primates such as chimpanzees and Colobus monkeys. The park boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park from the open savannah to rainforest, dense papyrus swamps and crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward.

You start the day with an early morning game drive through the park, followed by a cultural visit to one of the fishing villages around the park to get an understanding of the local way of life.

In the afternoon you will take a leisurely boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. The natural channel links Lake Edward and Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and attracts plenty of birdlife, crocodiles, elephants and pods of hippopotamus - all of which you will be able to admire as you journey up the channel.

Overnight: Kasenyi Safari Camp, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 10 - Game drive in Ishasha. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

After breakfast you will depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On the way you will have a game drive in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is renowned for its resident tree climbing lions. This is one of only two places in the world you can see these lions and you will notice that the males of the pride are easily identified by their black manes. Along with the lions you may also see large herds of buffalo, antelope and hippo.

From Ishasha you continue to Bwindi the home of the Mountain Gorillas. Of Uganda's forested parks, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is of course best known for gorilla tracking, but it also provides refuge to elephants, chimpanzees, monkeys and various small antelopes, as well as 23 bird species restricted to the Albertine.

Overnight: Silverback Lodge Or Trackers Safari Lodge, Buhoma

Day 11 - Walking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - 5-6 hours.

Today you will walk through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Nkuringo via the Ivy River Trail. Bwindi is a primeval forest covering approximately 128 square miles. The forest is within a mountainous region so the trail will involve some steep inclines with altitudes from 1,460m to 2,160m, but during this wonderful rainforest experience you will be able to spot a large variety of wildlife. Colobus monkeys, Bush duikers, 220 species of colourful butterflies and 350 bird species are all abundant in this ancient, 25,000 year old forest.

At the end of the day you will transfer to your accommodation for the night in Bwindi.

Overnight: Lake Mutanda Resort, Bwindi

Day 12 - Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

It's an early start this morning as you venture into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of the mighty Mountain Gorilla. Sadly the mountain gorilla is considered critically endangered and only exist in small numbers, so this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Getting up close to a family of gorillas and observing their daily life is an experience like no other and one that will not be forgotten. Mountain gorillas depend on strong social bonds and usually live in groups of up to 20. Bwindi forest has many groups, only some of which have been habituated - a process that takes up to 5 years to get the groups used to human presence.

You will be assisted by an experienced ranger who will guide you through the forest and share their knowledge about the forest's flora, fauna and the habits of the gorillas. Your day is entirely dependent on the location and movements of the gorillas, usually tracking them can take anything from one and seven hours. As the gorillas will be leading the way you will not be following marked paths and some of the terrain could be challenging, but this exclusive wildlife experience will make all your exertions worthwhile.

Overnight: Lake Mutanda Resort, Bwindi

Day 13 - Walk to Kisoro - 3 hours. Drive to Lake Bunyonyi.

In the morning you'll walk from your lodge in Bwindi to the town of Kisoro. From here, you'll make your way to one of Uganda's most beautiful lakes - Lake Bunyonyi. The drive is approximately two to three hours, but the stunning views en route of the terraced mountains make this a pleasant journey through what is known as the "Switzerland of Uganda". On arrival you'll be able to take in the natural beauty of this area from the comfort of your hotel - the lake, the hills, and the prolific birdlife.

Overnight: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort Or Arcadia Cottages, Bunyonyi

Day 14 - Drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Guided cycle ride.

Today you drive to Lake Mburo National Park. The park forms a mosaic-like habitat with rocks, dry slopes, open and wooded savannas, forests, and swamp. This diversity of habitats is reflected in the diversity of bird life with 313 bird species recorded in the park, including flame head Barbet, Long-tailed Zitting Cisticola (Tabora), African Bins Rail, Collared Barbet and binding Bush singer among others.

Once you have settled in to your accommodation, you will head out for a guided cycle ride in the park.

Overnight: Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Lake Mburo National Park

Day 15 - Nature walk and game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. Drive to Entebbe.

Before driving to Entebbe you will have a final chance to experience the superb wildlife and scenery of Uganda as you take an early morning nature walk and game drive.

After your time at Lake Mburo you will make your way to Entebbe - a journey of 5-6 hours. On route your driver will take a rest stop at an intersection in Kampala - the earth's equator! And, after some lunch and a chance to stand with each foot on different sides of the world, you will continue to your hotel in Entebbe.

Overnight: The Boma Hotel Or Best Western Premier Garden Hotel, Entebbe

Day 16 - Group transfer to the airport.

After breakfast you will transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back to London.

Overnight: Departure Day

Day 17 - Arrive UK