After arriving in Entebbe, you will be greeted and taken to the Karibu Guesthouse (10 min transfer). Entebbe is a calm, 35 kilometers from the busy Kampala is a green community.

 After a nice breakfast, make your way to Entebbe to catch your scheduled aircraft to Kasese. Your driver guide and private 4x4 safari vehicle will be waiting for you when you arrive for a scenic transfer to Kibale Forest area. You will ascend and enter a stunning rural area where tea is cultivated in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon, after leaving Kasese in the Rift Valley. Arrive at the lodge, which is situated on a thriving vanilla estate and at the edge of Nyinambuga crater lake, after driving past lovely tea estates in Kyenjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, the Mountains of the Moon.

Take your breakfast early and prepare yourself for your first trek. The Kibale Forest is 50 minutes away, and the drive there is really beautiful. A guided forest trip brings us in search of one of the most well-known primate species in the world, the chimpanzee, which is one of the 13 kinds of primates that call the forest home. The likelihood of seeing chimpanzees is more than 95%, but sightings are not guaranteed. Bird music can be heard as you go through the dense, verdant forest that abounds, and the black and white colobus, red-tailed monkey, and gray-cheeked mangabey are frequently seen. Because of the well-maintained pathways and the mostly flat landscape, walking is rather simple. Spend an hour observing the chimps after you've found them, taking pictures, and quietly asking the UWA ranger about their behaviors.

Continue to Mr. John Tinka's neighboring house after returning to the park's administrative center. He and his family lovingly prepare a lunch of several Ugandan delicacies for guests at their property. The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, the Bigodi Community Walk, and lunch at Tinka's house are examples of his efforts to promote sustainable tourism in his community. Tinka is a well-known community leader in the Bigodi neighborhood, close to Kibale Forest National Park. At his home, Tinka hosts a well-prepared traditional Ugandan lunch in an outdoor banda. You will not only be able to sample a traditional Ugandan meal, but Tinka will also describe each dish and provide background information on the farming practices, harvesting practices, and culinary skills used to make the meal. 

Make your way to the Great African Rift Valley after breakfast, then continue on to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is situated in a fertile tropical valley. The size of Uganda's most well-known and accessible savannah reserve is 78 km2. Green savannahs, lush papyrus marshes, a naturally occurring volcanic crater, and lakes surrounded by rain forests line its borders. With 95 known mammal species in the biggest game reserve in the world, it consequently has one of the highest ratings for biodiversity of any, with about 610 distinct bird species.

Savor a sumptuous lunch at the famous Mweya Safari Lodge before the launch of a private boat on the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon. A highlight of any safari in Uganda, the launch excursion offers the chance to unwind and take it all in while taking in the cool river breeze and a variety of birds and animals.

 

Eat your breakfast and get ready for a day filled of activities. You will join the Uganda Carnivore Project (UCP), a devoted to the research and conservation of Uganda’s large carnivores, including lions, leopards, and hyenas for a morning tracking of lions in the northern Kasenyi plains of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). You will ride a safari vehicle and a UCP researcher will join you in your safari vehicle (this is not a private excursion and we cannot guarantee the researcher in your vehicle). They use a radio-telemetry to track and locate the collared lions being researched. Vehicles must stay on designated tracks in QENP, but one of the distinct advantages of the lion tracking activity is the ability to drive off-road in search of the lion and affords the privilege of essentially a private lion observation experience.

Hike to Kyambura Gorge, another physical adventure. The Gorge, which is located on the eastern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, is roughly 16 km long and reaches a maximum depth of 100 m. The stunning, steep Kyambura Gorge was made possible by the Kyambura River. In the direction of the Kazinga Channel, the gorge transitions from savannah grassland to a riverine virgin forest. The "Lost Chimps of Kyambura" colony, together with numerous other primates, hippos, antelope, and a great variety of both forest and plains bird species, can be found in Kyambura Gorge. The greatest time to hike the chimpanzees is in the morning, but those who want to delve deeper into the Gorge experience can also trek in the afternoon (those trekking in the afternoon should be prepared for higher temperatures). Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge is thought to be more difficult than in Kibale Forest National Park. The trails are well-kept, and once you're within the gorge, the ascents are rather simple. However, if you're not ready, climbing out of the gorge can be challenging.

Get up early and travel for 45 minutes to the Kasese airport before your planned flight to Kisoro airport. Kisoro is the entrance to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Keep your camera ready because you'll be landing close to the renowned Virunga volcano chain.

This majestic, luxuriant forest, known as Bwindi, sprawls across the Albertine Rife Valley's steep slopes. One of the few ecosystems in Africa that survived the previous Ice Age was the rainforest, which is regarded as one of the woodlands of Africa that have the most biological variety. At least 90 species are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. One of the greatest in Uganda for forest birding, with 23 species of birds and a variety of animal species, including 11 primates, Albertine Rift endemics with a narrow range. Mountain gorillas are recognized for inhabiting Bwindi; there are thought to be 480 of them residing there, making it home to little more than half of the world's population and more than 15 groupings. An experience unmatched, most possibly across all of Africa, is gazing deeply into the expressive brown eyes of these gentle giants.

 

After enjoying your breakfast, you will proceed to the Park Headquarters at Rushaga for a 45 minute drive and meet with excellent local UWA guides and trackers who will give share a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. Afterwards, you will hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trek can last anywhere between one and six hours, and the highest point won't be higher than 7,500 feet. The ground is occasionally muddy and rocky. Despite the hike's strenuous physical requirements, the beauty of surrounding nature and vistas makes the journey worthwhile.

All tiredness is forgotten once the gorillas are found, since the experience is commonly quoted as the most dramatic natural history encounter in the entire world. There are provided picnic meals, but it's always a good idea to pack lots of water. Lots of memory cards, spare batteries, and cameras or lenses with good low-light performance are strongly advised. Since rain can fall at any time, waterproof clothing is a smart idea, along with zip-top dry bags for cameras and other equipment.

 

Travel to your final primate adventure in Uganda after enjoying your morning coffee while watching the magnificent lake. Continue to Kisoro town in your private safari vehicle with your driver guide; if you're interested in stopping at the famed Traveller's Rest Inn, let your guide know since it was once a favorite hangout of Dian Fossey and many of the pioneering ape conservationists. 

Continue on to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (about 2.5 hours away) at the foot of Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhavura after passing through this busy border town. Enjoy a lodge-based activity this afternoon, such as hiking a nearby caldera (minimal community fee payable directly), touring the Batwa settlement and experiencing the "Batwa Trail," or simply unwinding with a good book and taking in the scenery.

Don't forget to take advantage of the complimentary 30-minute massage in this very unusual atmosphere!

Get up early today to go on your second gorilla or golden monkey excursion (both must be booked in advance at the time of confirmation), or use the day to go birding or unwind from your travels and enjoy the lodge.

The Golden Monkey, which has a very tiny population worldwide, can be found in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park's foothills of the volcanic mountains. These primates can be recognized by their striking black limbs, crown, and tail in contrast to their bright golden torso, cheeks, and tail. Golden monkeys are social, lively primates that are amusing to watch because of their playful nature. This trip is challenging since it starts in bamboo forests close to the resort and continues through a forested valley in the volcanoes' foothills to an elevated area of heath and moorland higher up on the slopes. After your hike, head back to the resort for a hot shower, supper, and a sundowner before spending one final peaceful night there.

Leave the lodge this morning at 7:00 in order to make the approximately one-hour drive to Kisoro airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Entebbe, where you may then depart for home after enjoying a nice lunch in town (or packing a lunch depending on departure schedules).
 
Note: For departures in the evening, day rooms may be booked for an extra fee. There are also day trips offered to places like the Botanical Gardens, Mabmaba Wetlands, and more.