Gorillas Galore

DAY 1 | ENTEBBE | 1 NIGHT

On arrival at Entebbe Airport, a Wild Frontiers rep will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for the night to begin you ‘Gorillas Galore’ safari.

Entebbe sits on the shores of Lake Victoria — a relaxed town that’s easy to explore. Visit local markets, stroll the Botanical Gardens, take a boat cruise, or hop on a boda boda (motorbike taxi) for a quick tour, then spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.

DAY 2 | KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK | 2 NIGHTS

Depart after breakfast to Kibale Forest. The drive via rural villages and towns will take approx. 6-7 hours, stopping for a picnic lunch en route.

Kibale Forest is a rich mosaic of tropical rainforest, montane woodland, and swampy grasslands. It’s renowned for its incredible primate diversity — 13 species in total — including chimpanzees, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, diademed monkeys, and the striking black-and-white colobus. Bird enthusiasts will be delighted by the presence of nearly 300 bird species, along with over 140 butterfly species and a fascinating array of forest insects.

Check in to your luxurious eco-lodge, tucked next to the chimp trekking starting point, and relax for the rest of the afternoon.

DAY 3 | KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Head out early on your chimp trek, into a forest alive with bird calls and primate chatter. Chimps may be on the move or resting close to the ground. Either way, it’s an exciting walk through lush forest. While sightings aren’t guaranteed, your expert guide will point out wildlife and forest highlights along the way. Once found, you’ll spend an unforgettable hour with the chimps in their natural habitat.

In the afternoon, enjoy an optional extra 2–3 hour guided walk through Bigodi Swamps, one of Uganda’s richest ecosystems with exceptional birding and primates like colobus monkeys.

DAY 4 | QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK | 3 NIGHTS

Depart early to travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is a full day drive down to the southern sector, with plenty of game viewing on the way, as the park is home to elephants, buffalo, hippos, leopards, Uganda kob and over 600 bird species.

On arrival, check in to Ishasha Wilderness Camp, which sits beside the beside Ntungwe River, and relax for the remainder of the afternoon. Come evening, unwind by the fire with sundowners and stories under the stars.

DAY 5 | QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Today is yours to enjoy game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, looking out for huge herds of buffalo, elephant and of course the famous tree-climbing lion typically found in the area. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a special bush breakfast – a real highlight (optional extra, pre-booking essential).

DAY 6 | QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Another day to do things your way – up early with the birds at dawn, or taking it slow with coffee on your verandah and the river flowing by. Spend the day out on game drives with a picnic lunch or head back to camp for a lazy afternoon siesta. As the sun sets, take in the views with a sundowner drink and snack in hand – alongside the river or on the ridge with sweeping views of the plains.

DAY 7 | BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK | 3 NIGHTS

Continue your journey onto Bwindi, with a brief stop en route at a community project near Ishasha Village (drive +- 3 hours). The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley with mistcovered hillsides that are home to an estimated 460 mountain gorillas

Check into Buhoma Lodge and enjoy an evening at leisure.

DAY 8 | BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek into the dense rain forest on the steep mountain slopes to find your group of habituated gorillas. Coming face to face with mountain gorillas is a rare and exhilarating wildlife encounter that is hard to capture in words. Once you have located your gorilla family, spend an hour quietly observing them. The time passes so quickly; be sure to enjoy this experience fully and not just through your camera lens.

Head back to Buhoma Lodge for a complimentary massage after your trek or explore the surrounding Bwindi community. There are also a range of optional activities including forest walks, visits to a local school,  orphanage, Batwa pygmy village or Ride 4 a Woman project, or curio shopping.