Uganda: Classic Gorillas
7 days, 6 nights
Price Range:
$5,558 – $8,569
(all-inclusive price per person, depending on dates & camps selected)
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Mountain gorillas are the focus of this week in Uganda, though they are hardly the only attraction. This compact yet diverse safari includes two amazing days with the gorillas and other primates in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, plus two days among the wildlife of Lake Mburo National Park-- an exciting sampler of Uganda’s varied habitats. Lake Mburo is home to zebra, buffalo, eland, lion, leopard, hippo, crocodile and prolific waterbirds, on view during nature drives, boat cruises and guided walks.
Our Expert Says
The welcoming generosity of the local people and the stunning countryside of Uganda set the stage for travelers who are eager to experience the life-altering wonder of sitting with endangered mountain gorillas. This safari also combines plentiful game viewing on land and by boat in Lake Mburo National Park, for a well-rounded wildlife adventure.
– John Holahan
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Day 1: Entebbe / Kampala
Safaris in Uganda typically start and finish in Entebbe or nearby Kampala. Entebbe, on Lake Victoria, was a former British colonial administrative center. The National Botanical Gardens, laid out in 1898, are a must-see here. Uganda’s capital, Kampala, was established during the 13th century Buganda kingdom, one of the oldest in Africa. Built among lush hills and wetlands that were once royal impala-hunting grounds, Kampala today is a modern city of 1.7 million.
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Day 2: Lake Mburo Nat'l Park
While this small park in southern Uganda is famous for its zebra herds, its acacia woodlands also provide the best place in Uganda to see the huge eland antelope, topi, impala, common duiker and reedbuck. The rare sitatunga, a water-adapted antelope, is found in the interior swamps alongside papyrus gonalek and some 300 bird species. Lake Mburo is the largest of the five lakes in this park, which together attract hippo, crocodile and a variety of water birds.
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Days 3-5: Bwindi National Park
Named for the dense forests it encompasses, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to roughly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Though the park is best known for its outstanding gorilla tracking, it also provides refuge to chimpanzees, monkeys, elephants and various small antelope. Bwindi is a key Uganda birding destination, with 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics, including threatened species such as African green broadbill and Shelley's crimson wing.
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Day 6: Lake Mburo Nat'l Park
As Lake Mburo is en route between Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Kampala/Entebbe, it invites a return stop to further explore its varied landscapes. The park is a mosaic of habitats, from gallery forests and acacia- dotted savanna to rocky, rolling hills and extensive wetlands. Guided nature walks may offer encounters with Burchell’s zebra, buffalo and warthog, while boat cruises reveal plentiful hippo, crocodile and a great array of birds—watch for fish eagles and the rare shoebill stork.
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Day 7: Entebbe/Home
Your safari adventure ends today in Entebbe, Uganda.