Uganda Gorilla Safari

11 Days

Uganda Gorilla Safari

Venture to a land coined "the pearl of Africa" — the raw and beautiful Uganda, crossing

its wetlands, tropical forests, and volcanic crater lakes. Listen for pant-hooting calls

of clever chimps high up in fig trees and spot black-and-white colobus, gray-cheeked

mangabey, and vervet monkeys. Witness the expressive look of mountain gorillas

up close in the Bwindi. Head for thrilling game walks and rides through acacia-rich

woodland and grassy valleys. Come evening, bask in the comforts of wilderness lodges,

and track hyena and white-tailed mongoose on thrilling night safari drives.

Arrive: Entebbe, Uganda

Depart: Entebbe, Uganda

Duration: 11 Days

Group Size: 2-4 Guests

Minimum Age: 15 Years Old

Activity Level:

.

Details Testimonials

“Great experience every time with some of the mostknowledgeable guides in their fields. We alwayscome home with wonderful memories of the peoplewe meet and things we see.”

Bob J.

“A prominent reason we have chosen MT Sobek asour favorite adventure travel company has been theexcellent travel guides.”

Carol

REASON #01

We pride ourselves in working

with the finest safari outfitters

in Africa. All wilderness treks

are accompanied by expert

guides and professional trackers.

REASON #02

20% of the gorilla permits

fees go to communities for

projects like building health care

centers, schools, clean water and

sustainable agriculture education.

REASON #03

This itinerary blends gorilla

trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable

Forest with a relaxing stay at

deluxe wilderness lodgings.

Gorilla permits are guaranteed!

ACTIVITIES

Scenic drives, moderate to

strenuous treks and nature

walks in search of wildlife,

boat rides, and day/night

game drives in safari vehicles.

LODGING

Lodges with modern comforts

and great access to Uganda's

raw wilderness, plus a boutique

hotel to bookend the trip.

CLIMATE

Uganda enjoys a tropical

climate, though the heat is

tempered by the altitude of more

than 3,000' above sea level.

Habibu was born in Uganda’s Bushenyi district and is of

the Munyankole Tribe. After working as a teacher, Habibu

decided to follow his love of animals and become a Uganda

Wildlife Authority guide. His work with UWA, as a ranger and

interpretive guide, gave him the opportunity to explore all of

Uganda’s parks in depth. With hard work and dedication he

was appointed head UWA guide for Queen Elizabeth National

Park, enabling him to manage wildlife and educate his local

community on how to live alongside their neighboring fauna.

Habibu Muhereza

Denis is of Eastern Uganda’s Kumam Tribe and grew up

in a rural village, where his father is a chief. After four years

delivering NGO relief supplies to Southern Sudan, Denis

decided to combine his driving skills and interest in wildlife

and pursue a career in tourism. Through on-the-job and formal

training courses with the Queen Elizabeth Bird Observatory

and Bird Life International, Denis gained extensive knowledge

as a general interest guide specializing in birding. He has

worked as a driver/guide for 12 years and is a member

of the Uganda Driver/Guide Association and the Uganda

Birdwatching Society.

Denis Erabu

                                                                ItineraryARRIVE IN ENTEBBE, UGANDA

Welcome to Uganda! Upon arrival in Entebbe, meet a MT Sobek representative outside the customs and

immigration area at the airport, for your transfer to the hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening.

DAY 1

Meals: D

EXPLORE THE KIBALE FOREST

This morning board a 4X4 vehicle and drive into Uganda's lush countryside, a country that Winston Churchill

once described as "the pearl of Africa." Pass through gorgeous scenery featuring farmsteads crammed with

bananas and tropical trees, scenic wetlands, and patches of bush and forest. Continue on to the hill country

below the Rwenzori mountains, through beautiful tea plantations and parts of the tropical Kibale forest, where

you may spot some monkeys.

DAY 2

Meals: B, L, D

TRACK CHIMPS IN KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

After a hearty breakfast, set out for a full day habitation trek through the forest in search of chimps! Follow

experienced ranger-guides and a tracker, listening out for the chimps' pant-hooting calls on your way to their

nesting site. An early start means the opportunity to see them waking up, stretching, and descending from the

tree tops. As the day goes on, you'll quietly witness their routines, see them eat, and watch the group's social

interactions. When evening comes, the group will find a new nesting site, expertly build new nests, and settle

down for the night. At this point, you will say farewell (and goodnight) to the chimps and head back to park

headquarters.

DAY 3

Activity: Full day of chimp trekking

Meals: B, L, D

DISCOVER QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARKDAY 4This morning, take a swamp walk in search of red-tailed monkeys, gray-cheeked manabeys, olive baboons, and

beautiful birds such as the great blue turaco and the elusive Angola pitta. Next, drive south along the eastern

length of the Rwenzori mountains, with views of their glaciated peaks, and into the Great African Rift valley and

today's destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park. Uganda's most popular and accessible savannah reserve,

this spectacular park showcases leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps, and natural volcanic crater lakes. It

has impressively rich biodiversity, including a total of 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 species of

birds. In the afternoon, explore the park's natural wonders on a thrilling game drive.

Meals: B, L, D

SPOT BIRDS IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Today head out to explore the park on a number of wildlife adventures, including a 2-hour launch trip on the

Kasinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippo in the world — reported to be about 30,000.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Africa's best parks for birding, with 560 + recorded species. See if you

can break the record of spotting 296 bird species in a 24-hour period!

DAY 5

Activity: Morning & afternoon game drives & 2-hour boat safari

Meals: B, L, D

HEAD TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Today drive through the park to the Ishasha region to search for tree-climbing lions (75% success rate) and other

game. Then continue on to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, one of Africa's most ancient habitats

comprised of steep, jungle-coated mountains known for their exceptional biodiversity. Protected as a national

park and a World Heritage Site, these magnificent landscapes are home to more than 160 species of trees, over

100 kinds of ferns, at least 90 mammal species, and almost half of the world's population of critically endangered

mountain gorillas.

DAY 6

Meals: B, L, D

TREK THE FOREST IN SEARCH OF GORILLAS

After breakfast, report to the ranger station for a talk on the etiquette of gorilla tracking, then hike with a guide

and tracker through misty rainforest to encounter these wild creatures. Trekking can take anywhere from 30

minutes to 7 hours, on rough and at times muddy terrain; a reasonable degree of fitness is required. You'll forget

the fatigue once you lay your eyes on your first mountain gorilla — the experience of seeing these gentle giants at

close range and in the wild is among the most extraordinary nature can provide.

DAY 7

Activity: 1-7 hours gorilla trekking & wildlife watching on foot

Meals: B, L, D

ENCOUNTER MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

Rise early for another full day of gorilla tracking. Hike through the bush, pushing your way through the

undergrowth and parting thick creepers. You will have one hour with these gentle giants of the African forest

after first encountering them. Bwindi is renowned for its mountain gorilla population, an estimated 280-320

individuals living in 15 groups. Looking deep into their expressive brown eyes is an unparalleled experience.

Look out for other wildlife as you trek through the forest, including yellow-backed duikers and a variety of birds.

DAY 8

Activity: 1-7 hours gorilla trekking & wildlife watching

Meals: B, L, D

MARVEL AT LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

This morning, continue on to Lake Mburo National Park, an extensive area of wetland that harbors several

species of mammals and birds found nowhere else in Uganda, such as eland, impala and klipspringer. The park's

sculptured landscape has a varied mosaic of wildlife-rich habitats — forest galleries, seasonal and permanent

swamps, rich acacia-woodland, and grassy valleys. It is also home to the largest population of zebra in Uganda,

estimated at about 5,000, and among the highest concentration of leopard in the country.

DAY 9

Meals: B, L, D

EXPLORE MORE OF LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, enjoy the many activities available at the lodge. Choose between walking safaris, night game

drives in search of nocturnal animals, a walk onto a stunning viewpoint, a boat trip with hundreds of hippos,

relaxing massages, and the chance to watch bush babies in the evening from the platform below the bar. Jogging

and mountain bike tours are also possible outside the park, as are walks to a Bahima home.

DAY 10

Meals: B, L, D

BID FAREWELL TO UGANDA

This morning after breakfast, bid farewell to the bush and drive back to Entebbe. Enjoy access to a dayroom at

Protea Hotel before your transfer to the airport, for your flight back home.

DAY 11

Meals: B, L

Jun 9 - 19, 2019

Jun 23 - Jul 3, 2019

Jul 31 - Aug 10, 2019

Aug 20 - 30, 2019

Oct 16 - 26, 2019

Dec 25, 2019 - Jan 4, 2020

Jun 9 - 19, 2020

Jun 23 - Jul 3, 2020

Aug 20 - 30, 2020

Oct 16 - 26, 2020

Dec 25, 2020 - Jan 4, 2021

2019

$ 7,295 per person

Additional Cost

$ 1,420 Non-refundable Primate Permits due upon booking

$ 1,550 Single Supplement 

2020

$ 7,495  per person

Additional Cost

$ 1,420 Non-refundable Primate Permits due upon booking

$ 1,600 Single Supplement

PRICE INCLUDESExpert leadership from experienced adventureguides

Accommodations as noted in the itinerary

Meals as noted in the daily itinerary

Potable water and snacks throughout

1 glass of wine or beer at dinner

All tips and gratuities for support staff with theexception of your lead adventure guide(s)All group entrance fees, activities, and groundtransportation

Arrival and departure day airport transfers

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDEInternational airfare, any airport taxes, or excessbaggage charges

Optional tips to your lead adventure guides

Personal expenses such as medical immunizations,phone calls, laundry, or souvenirsAirport transfers if arriving outside of Day 1 anddeparting outside of Day 11

Optional travel protection