On arrival at Entebbe Airport, your guide will be there waiting for you to start your Uganda small group tour. You will then proceed to your accommodation for the evening. The rest of the day is free to relax after your flight.

Overnight at either Papyrus Guesthouse or Via Via Guesthouse (B)

After breakfast we drive to Kibale Forest, which takes about 6 hours. On your arrival, you can take a walk around the local community (optional). The park protects several well-studied habituated communities of common chimpanzee, as well as several species of Central African monkey including the Uganda mangabey, the Ugandan red colobus and the L’Hoest’s monkey. The park’s population of elephants is commonly sighted along forest trails. Other terrestrial mammals that are found within Kibale National Park include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bushpigs, giant forest hogs, warthogs, and buffalo. Predators that are present include leopards, african golden cats, servals, mongooses and two species of otter.

Overnight at either Turaco Treetops or Guereza Canopy Lodge (HB)

With around a 90% chance of finding chimpanzees on any day, Kibale National Park is the most popular place to track them in Uganda. There’s a morning (8am) and afternoon (2pm) departure, and while there are plenty of hills along the trails, the walking isn’t difficult if you’re in shape. Children aged 12 and under aren’t permitted. We will Chimpanzee track in the morning or in the afternoon. Please note that it is also possible to upgrade this 1-hour tracking to a 4 hour Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. This must be booked as far in advance as possible.

For people interested in primates and birds and who are happy to take another walk, we can visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary as well. Here it is also possible to visit the local people or the crater lakes. There is an option to take a night walk through the forest to see the animals of the night, such as bush babies (optional).

Overnight at either Turaco Treetops or Guereza Canopy Lodge (HB)

Included today: chimp tracking, Bigodi Swamp Walk

This morning, we will transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, which takes us about 4 hours. On our way we stop for a photo opportunity as we pass the equator. On arrival at QEII national park, there should be time for a game drive in the afternoon. This world biosphere reserve is a vast and rich national park, filled with an abundance wildlife including the tree climbing lions. Explore the varied habitats such as lakes, rivers, open savanna, acacia woodland, tropical forest and vast wetlands. The park supports an impressive 95 mammal species and over 600 species of bird.

Overnight at either Kasenyi Safari Camp or Kikorongo Safari Lodge (HB)

Included today: game drive

Enjoy a game drive in the morning and then take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon. The shores of this channel draw a large number of wild animals and birds in addition to reptiles all through the year, with one of the largest population of hippos in the whole world as well as plentiful Nile crocodiles.

It is also possible to go for an experimental Lion Tracking (optional – book well in advance).

Overnight at either Kasenyi Safari Camp or Kikorongo Safari Lodge (HB)

Included today: game drive, boat trip

After breakfast, our tour continues as we drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Ishasha sector in the South (about 3 hours drive). This sector is popular for its rare tree climbing lions which can easily be spotted sprawling on tree branches. It is also home to many buffalo and elephants as well as offering a good chance of sighting the rare shoebill on the shore of Lake Edward.

It is also possible to go for a chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest reserve, or make a forest walk and visit the bat caves in Maramagambo (all optional – book well in advance).

Overnight at either Ishasha Jungle Lodge or Enjojo Lodge safari tent (HB)

Included today: game drives

We will have a final early morning game drive in Ishasha to hopefully see the tree climbing lions. Later we will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable. On our way we pass through interesting villages and will view some breath-taking views of the mountains. The name Bwindi is derived from the Runyakitara word Mubwindi and means “a place full of darkness”. This name comes from the extensive stands of bamboo interspersed amongst the larger forest hardwoods. Almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, approximately 1,067 individuals, find haven here, making Bwindi a stronghold for conservation. The drive to our accommodation in Bwindi will take between 2 to 5 hours as the lodge we will stay at in Bwindi depends on the group of gorillas you will track.

Overnight at lodge in Bwindi*

Included today: game drive

*Depending on the group of gorillas you will be tracking we will choose where to sleep in Bwindi. There are 4 areas for Gorilla tracking in Bwindi: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Lodges we use are Buhoma: Buhoma Haven Lodge (HB), Ruhija: Bakiga Lodge (HB), Nkuringo: Gorilla Close up Lodge (HB), Rushaga: Rushaga Gorilla Camp (HB)

It is an early morning departure with your ranger to search for one of the world's most interesting and endangered animal, the Mountain Gorilla. Bwindi has 17 habituated gorilla families across 4 distinct areas, Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga. The gorillas here live in thick tropical forest and tracking can be challenging as the hillsides can be steep - it can take around 2-8 hours to reach the gorillas. Generally, the better accommodation in located in the Nkuringo and Buhoma regions so trekking is focused here. You will spend one hour with one of our closest relatives. An experience you will never forget.

Overnight at lodge in Bwindi (HB)

Included today: gorilla trek

After breakfast we start the 4-hour drive to Lake Mburo National Park. There will be time for a game drive or an optional boat trip on the lake in the afternoon. In the evening, we will embark on a night game drive with high chances of seeing leopards. Lake Mburo National Park is well known for impala though it has a vast population of wildlife ranging from zebra, eland, buffalo, oribi, leopard, hyena, and hippo. As there are no elephants or lions, walking safaris are possible in this park.

Overnight at Rwakobo Rock or Kigarama Wilderness Lodge (HB)

Included today: game drive, night game drive

If time allows we will have a final game drive or game walk in the morning. It is a 5-hour drive back to Entebbe and we will stop on the back to have some final photos at the Equator. Transfer to the airport for your departure at the end of a memorable Uganda small group tour.

Included today: game drive or game walk

*the earliest flight departure time from Entebbe Airport is 18.00 hours on day 10.