Mountain Gorilla Safari

Day 1: Entebbe, Uganda

Morning arrival in Entebbe, where you will be met for the transfer to Lake Victoria Hotel, set on nine acres of gardens on the shores of Lake Victoria. This afternoon we can take a dip in the pool or stretch our legs on an optional walk to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, right next to the hotel. These famous gardens were laid out in 1898 during the British era and offer a fascinating introduction to some of Uganda’s native flora. We gather for a welcome dinner tonight. Overnight at the Lake Victoria Hotel...D

Day 2: Kibale National Park

Known as the “pearl of Africa,” Uganda is a gorgeous country, and our fullday drive reveals its stunning beauty. Our route brings us through lovely countryside where every type of fruit and vegetable imaginable is grown, and amidst the farmland are traditional villages with their shambas (planted lots). Upon reaching Kyanjojo, in the lower foothills of the Ruwenzoris (“Mountains of the Moon”), we drive through tea plantations and into the tropical rainforest of 296-square-mile Kibale National Park. Kibale is contiguous with Queen Elizabeth National Park at the same pleasant altitudes of 3,000 to 5,000 feet. Our accommodation is at beautiful Ndali Lodge, set on a saddle between two crater lakes...BLD

Day 3: Kibale National Park / Chimpanzee TRACKING / Swamp Walk

Kibale, home to 11 primate species, is said to have the highest density and variety of primates in Africa. Heading out with our local tracking guide, we follow good pathways through a network of beautiful shady trails. Our park guides have studied the patterns of the chimpanzee clans for years and know the daily locations of many groups. Once we find a clan of chimpanzees, we’ll hike at a good clip, following these acrobats as they leap from tree to tree on their daily rounds of foraging. The chimpanzee groups are habituated to seeing people and take little notice of us as they play, squabble, and scamper across the treetop canopy. This is an extraordinary opportunity to observe these fascinating and intelligent creatures in the wild. We also enjoy a “swamp walk” with a local naturalist, crossing raised trails and bridges that network through a forest wetland. On our chimpanzee and swamp walks, we may see other primates such as vervets, colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys. Many species of beautiful subtropical birds and butterflies abound in Kibale’s rich habitat, along with duikers, bushpigs, and bushbucks, making for a day of absolutely world-class wildlife viewing. Overnight at Ndali Lodge... BLD

Day 4: Kibale Forest / Queen Elizabeth National Park

This morning we enjoy another exciting opportunity to walk among the chimpanzees of Kibale. In the afternoon, a scenic 3.5-hour drive through green farmlands and tiny villages brings us to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This beautiful park, protecting 770 square miles of the western Great Rift Valley, has as its stunning backdrop the Ruwenzoris, Africa’s highest mountain range and the fabled “Mountains of the Moon.” Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best-managed parks in Africa and supports a wonderful diversity of wildlife in habitats ranging from lowland rainforest to wetlands to grassy savannas. Due to the park’s beauty and immense variety of species, it has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Birders will be interested to know that Q.E.N.P has recorded 547 avian species. Our accommodation, Mweya Safari Lodge, overlooks both Lake Edwards and the Kazinga Channel and features spacious en suite rooms, a restaurant, bar, and pool. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge... BLD

Days 5-6: Queen Elizabeth National Park / Kazinga Channel / Maramagambo Forest

On these two days, we enjoy gameviewing by 4WD vehicle in the park’s lake-dotted savannas, and walking and birding in the Maramagambo Forest, where we may spot chimpanzees. We also enjoy a two-hour trip by boat in the Kazinga Channel, which runs through the park and links Lake Edward and Lake George. On this meandering waterway, we view large concentrations of hippos. Elephant and other wildlife often come to the water’s edge to drink, and the birding is excellent. Overnights at Mweya Safari Lodge...BLD each day

Day 7: Bwindi / Gorilla Forest Camp

We drive for about five hours to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, passing through an area known as the “Switzerland of East Africa.” Set on Uganda’s western border, Bwindi is one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The park protects a remnant of a oncevast primeval forest that stretched from the Virunga Volcanoes to the Ruwenzori Mountains. There are 113 species of mammals in the park, including rare forest elephants, 200 species of butterfly, over 360 species of birds and an enormous variety of trees, including ten endemic species. Among the 11 primate species that live here are 310 magnificent mountain gorillas, half of the world’s population of this elusive and highly endangered mammal. Bwindi ranges in altitude from 3,800 to 8,500 feet and is dense with both montane and lowland forest vegetation, making it one of Africa’s most superb wildlife environments, but mountain gorillas are the main attraction. Overnight at Gorilla Forest Camp, a luxury tented camp in the heart of Bwindi that’s designed to blend into the landscape and have as little impact as possible on the forest...BLD

Days 8-9: Bwindi / Gorilla Tracking

These days are set aside for the incomparable experience of tracking, then quietly observing the mountain gorilla clans that reside in Bwindi’s montane forests. We first have an orientation talk with the local trackers at the park headquarters on the etiquette of gorilla tracking, then break into small groups and search for the Mubare and Habinyanja clans with a ranger guide. The tracking can be physically challenging. Each day we leave early in the morning and hike through dense, sometimes steep and muddy forests at altitudes of up to 8,500 feet for one to six hours, depending on where we find the gorillas. But the rewards are tremendous, and the rigors soon forgotten when we spot a gorilla family and become absorbed in watching these gentle creatures. We bring picnic lunches and eat in the forest. When we’re not observing mountain gorillas, we have time to observe some of the amazing varieties of bird, butterfly, and animal species that make their home in this unusual park. With two full days here, we’re ensured of encounters with these elusive creatures. Overnights at Gorilla Forest Camp...BLD each day

Day 10: Entebbe

After a private charter flight back to Entebbe, we have the afternoon for optional excursions, which must be booked in advance. In the evening, we gather for a farewell dinner. Overnight at the Lake Victoria Hotel...BLD

Day 11: Depart

Transfer to the airport for departing flights...B