Day 1:  Arrival Entebbe 

You will be met on arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transferred to Hotel No 5 Guest House.

Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe, Hotel No.5 is a stylish boutique hotel. With all luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting. Make yourself at home – unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym.  Attention to detail , outstanding dining and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No 5.

Depending on your time of arrival, you may like to spend a little time exploring Entebbe.

Set on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe is a small town that is easy to explore on foot or local motorbike taxis.  Explore the markets, hunt for souvenirs or crafts, meander through the Botanical Gardens or enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Victoria. You’ll find a wide variety of restaurants, bars and clubs where you can sample the local beer, catch a game of football and meet the friendly locals.

Overnight:  Hotel No  5 – Bed & Breakfast 

Day 2: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest 

This morning after an early breakfast you will be transferred to Entebbe domestic airport for your scenic flight to Kihihi(+-1 hour)  You are met on arrival and driven to the camp/lodge of your choice.

A roughly a 90 minute drive through local villages and along mountain roads brings you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a World Heritage site.

Bwindi is one of the richest ecosystems in East Africa and home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies and 160 species of trees. The park contains an estimated one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site.

Spend three nights in Bwindi at the camp/lodge of your choice

Set within the National Park, just steps away from the Gorilla Trekking headquarters, Buhoma Lodge offers cosy accommodation in wooden chalets with uninterrupted views of the pristine rain forest. Well loved for its warm welcome and attentive service, Buhoma is an eco friendly lodge operating on solar power, constructed using sustainable local materials. Each of the ten wooden chalets offers a private verandah and enchanting forest views.

Awaken to chattering forest birds, and watch out for the occasional mountain gorilla that has ventured right in to visit the lodge.

Overnight : Buhoma Lodge [ 4 star ] – Including All meals and local drinks  OR  Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp  [ 5 star ]including; All meals, all drinks (excluding premium brands & champagne), laundry, community walk, concession fees

Day 3:  Gorilla Trekking 

Coming face to face with an endangered mountain gorilla is an experience so surreal it will stay with you for life!

Please note that gorilla trekking is strenuous with treks ranging from 45 mins up to eight hours, at high altitudes in hot African conditions. The thrill of the hour you spend quietly observing these gentle giants once you find them is well worth the hike to get there! Although mountain gorillas are wild animals and it should be noted that sightings cannot be guaranteed, viewing success rates are well over 95%.

Should you be interested in the Gorilla Habituation Experience, please let us know and we will send you an amended itinerary that accommodates this option

Gorilla Habituation

A gorilla habituation experience is the process where wild mountain gorillas get used to the presence of humans. In Uganda, gorilla habituation is only done in the southern area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in the Rushaga region.

There are two gorilla families that you can meet that are part of the habituation process in southern Bwindi: the Bikyingi gorilla family and the Bushaho gorilla family. Presently, the Byikingi gorilla family has one silverback, nine adult females, two sub-adults and nine infants.

A maximum of eight visitors are allowed to partake in a gorilla habituation experience per day. It is one of the best ways of viewing gorillas up close and allows you to enjoy the beauty of these magnificent creatures.

*Please ask for rates for this option.  Permit prices differ and this activity only takes place in a certain region of the park so your itinerary will change

After gorilla trekking, head back to your lodge/camp for a complimentary massage after your trek, or explore the surrounding Bwindi community.

Overnight : Buhoma Lodge – Including All meals and local drinks  OR  Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp  including; All meals, all drinks (excluding premium brands & champagne), laundry, community walk, concession fees

Day 4:   Gorilla Trekking or Exploring the area

You have the option of a 2^nd gorilla trek, or you may prefer to spend your last day in this paradise exploring more of what the area has to offer.  Perhaps consider a cultural interaction with the pygmy people, or you may wish to enjoy any of the other options available to you such as a visit to a local school/orphanage/hospital or Batwa pygmy village, and some local curio shopping.

Overnight at Buhoma Lodge or Gorilla Forest Camp with all meals and local drinks included

Day 5:  Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today we bid Bwindi farewell and continue our adventure through Uganda.  After breakfast we drive from Bwindi to the southern Queen Elizabeth National Park (a 2-3 hour drive), with a brief stop en route at the Ishasha Community Uplift project.

*Note if you opt to stay at Kyambura Lodge, you will enjoy a game drive en route to the Kyambura region of Queen Elizabeth National Park and not overnight in the Ishasha region of the park.

Ishasha – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Located in the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, the park is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants, leopard, lions, hippos, buffalo, Uganda kob, baboon, and many species of birds.  The southern Ishasha area includes the massive Maramagambo, one of the largest surviving natural forests in Uganda, and is home to the tree climbing lions typically found in the area.

Enjoy afternoon game drives, looking out for the huge herds of buffalo, elephant and Uganda kob.

Overnight : Ishasha Wilderness Camp [ 4 star ] including all meals & local drinks  or Kyambura Gorge Lodge  [ 5 star ] including all meals, house brand drinks (premium drinks are not included), soft drinks, laundry service, lodge activities, 30min complimentary massage per person per stay

Please note Kyambura Gorge lodge is not in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park and you will drive to Kyambura Gorge from Bwindi with a packed lunch and game drive en route.

Day 6:  Queen Elizabeth National Park Game Drives  

Spend the day enjoying game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, rounding things off with scenic bush sundowners including drinks and snacks. This is what memories are made of!

Overnight : Ishasha Wilderness Camp or Kyambura Lodge including all meals and local drinks

Day 7:  Kazinga Channel / Mweya   

Head toward the ‘Mweya’ sector of the park to enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometre long natural channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George.  Kazinga’s shores are dotted with herds of lazy buffalo, pods of hippos wallowing without a care, and countless bird species.  Drift past local fishing villages, and soak up the peaceful tranquillity of this beautiful African day.  (Cruise normally departs at 14h00, although this depends on availability when booking and is subject to change – no drinks/ snacks provided on boat)

Overnight : Mweya Safari Lodge [ 4 star ] Including all meals or Kyambura Lodge [ 5 star ] including all meals and local drinks

Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking / Departure

Early morning start today, with the highlight being your Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge.

The forest is alive with noise! Chimpanzees can be quite active and may move quickly through the forest canopy… or, if you are lucky, you may find them resting or eating near the forest floors. It’s an exhilarating walk, in beautiful scenery.  As with gorilla trekking, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

After this activity, we depart to the nearby Mweya airstrip for your return flight to Entebbe. Please do not book a flight out of Entebbe before 19h00.

You may be interested in adding another night in Entebbe.  Exciting options include:-

• a visit to Ngamba Chimpanzee Island (morning & afternoon scheduled departures)
• a visit to Uganda Wildlife Education Centre – please note that most chimpanzee close up interactions require compulsory vaccinations prior to arrival
• a visit to Mamba Swamps

Contact us for more information.

Our itineraries are “recommended itineraries” and may be booked as suggested. However, they also serve to inform you, as a possible first time traveller to Africa, an idea of what can be done. If you find that the recommended itineraries do not suit you entirely, we will tailor make a program to best meet your individual requirements.