Uganda

Hotels in your Tour:

Day 1: Entebbe

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by a Wild Frontiers representative and transferred to your hotel.  Entebbe is a small, quiet town located on the shores of Lake Victoria and is easy to explore on foot, boda bodas (local motorbike) or taxis.  Soak up the local markets filled with clothes and crafts, shop for souvenirs in curio shops, or explore the Botanical Gardens on Lake Victoria. Enjoy the wide variety of restaurants serving many different cuisines as well as several bars and clubs where you can sample the local beer, catch a game of football and chat with the local Ugandans, known for their open, friendly nature.                                                                               

Overnight at Boma, in a small family run guest house.

Day 2: Entebbe, Mweya, Ishasha

Transfer to airport for your short flight to Mweya, from where you will explore Queen Elizabeth National Park. 

Spread over 1,978sq km in the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, the park is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants, leopard, lions, hippos, buffalo, Uganda kob, baboon, and many species of birds.  With both a riverine and savannah habitat, the park includes the southern Ishasha area with the massive Maramagambo, one of the largest surviving natural forests in Uganda. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon cruise on the Kazinga Channel. Kazinga’s shores are a haven for numerous birds, including many migratory species as they make their way south to warmer climates. The cruise also provides a spectacular view of the beautiful Mweya Peninsula and life in local fishing villages set along the banks. Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp. This exclusive 10 tented camp offers the only luxury accommodation in the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth. [B/L/D]

Day 3: Ishasha

Day at leisure 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. Overnight at Ishasha. [B/L/D]

Day 4: Ishasha, Bwindi

A 2, 3-hour drive through scenic country brings you to Bwindi Forest National Park. Time permitting, you may visit a Community Project en route.  Here the local people allow you to enjoy some time in their homesteads, as well as see some of the crops and curios they produce and visit the local elephant trench project – which stops elephants coming into the village and raiding crops. Bwindi National Park, located in south western Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, is considered the most diverse forest in Uganda. Home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, and 160 species of trees, Bwindi is one of the richest ecosystems in East Africa.  The park contains almost one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site. Overnight at Buhoma Lodge

situated on the slopes of the Forests of Bwindi. This intimate lodge offers uninterrupted views of the pristine rain forest canopy.   It’s the perfect, tranquil base from which to visit Bwindi. [B/L/D]

Day 5: Bwindi (Gorilla Tracking - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park)

Today will be a lifetime experience! Coming face to face with mountain gorillas is a rare wildlife encounter. Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek into the dense rain forest on the mountain slopes.  The opportunity to come within meters of these magnificent apes, sharing in their daily lives and experiencing their day-to-day activities, is an experience you won’t soon forget!  Mountain gorillas are extremely rare with only an estimated 880 remaining in the wild.  Please note that gorilla tracking may be fairly strenuous with treks ranging from 30 mins up to six hours or longer, at high altitudes.  Mountain gorillas are wild animals and, as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, viewing success rates are over 95%. Following the trek, return to your accommodation. Other optional activities that may be enjoyed in and around the park include forest walks, visits to a local school or orphanage or Batwa pygmy village, and curio shopping. [B/L/D]

Day 6: Bwindi, Ruhengeri

From Bwindi, we drive through the ‘Little Switzerland of Africa’ along winding mountain roads, and through rural villages, to the border of Rwanda, Kisoro.   Here, on a clear day, the Virungas can be seen ‘standing sentry’ along the border – a row of massive, dormant volcanoes watching over the region. It’s a long day – approx 7-8 hours on the road – but the adventure awaiting you tomorrow is so worth it!

Crossing into Rwanda, we continue to our Gorilla Trekking base, and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. [B/L/D]

Day 7: Ruhengeri

Trekking gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park is a very similar experience to that in Bwindi – just as challenging, equally memorable. If you’ve opted not to trek today, take a hike to Dian Fossey’s grave or enjoy forest walk with Golden Monkeys.  You will only be able to enjoy one of these activities (as they all take place in the morning) and pre-booking is essential. [B/L/D]

Day 8: Ruhengeri, Kigali, USA

After lunch, we drive to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda – a bustling, clean and safe city.  Optional visit to the haunting Genocide Museum. Drop off at airport – please book a late flight home or overnight in Kigali. [B/L]

[B/L] = Breakfast and Lunch | [B/L/D] = Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Tour Prices:

Prices are per person and may change without notice

Permits and Fees:

** Cost is per permit

Tour Code: UY02EBB18WF

Uganda FAQ

Travel insurance:  Is compulsory for all guests traveling to Uganda

Health: Yellow fever inoculations are compulsory and malaria prophylactics are recommended. For gorilla/chimp trekking it is imperative that you are healthy and free of any disease or virus – officials do have the right to refuse entry if you are found to have or show any signs of communicable illnesses. 

Visas:  Most nationalities require a visa to enter Uganda and Rwanda. The newly established EAC Visa allows entry into Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya for one fee of $100. Passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months or 12 months in the case of UK nationals.