Seven nights, two great apes, one unforgettable journey. From the forest canopy of Bwindi Lodge, track mountain gorillas through the Impenetrable Forest, then continue to Kyambura Gorge Lodge, where chimpanzees swing through a sunken rainforest and the savannah beyond teems with game. Along the way, step into the conservation work and community life that keep these wild places thriving.
Somewhere in the mist of southwestern Uganda, a silverback is waiting. This eight day journey brings you face to face with two of humanity's closest relatives, the lost chimpanzees of a sunken rainforest gorge and the mountain gorillas of the Impenetrable Forest. In between, lion prowl the Kasenyi plains, hippos crowd the Kazinga Channel, and the communities of the forest edge welcome you into their coffee gardens, beehives and dance. This is not a safari you watch. It's one you become part of.
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where our representative meets you with a personalized meet and assist service through arrival formalities, followed by a private transfer to Hotel No.5. Overnight on bed and breakfast.
Transfer to Entebbe Airport for your domestic flight to Kasese, where your guide meets you and remains with you throughout your journey. Proceed to the lodge with a stop at the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation, where bronze works celebrating Uganda's traditional clans are cast for display around the lodge grounds, then drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kyambura Gorge Lodge. As evening falls, enjoy pre dinner cocktails on the veranda, savannah plains before you and the Rwenzori Mountains beyond.
After an early breakfast, head out on a morning game drive across the Kasenyi plains, prime territory for lion, elephant and buffalo, while the thickets of the Mweya peninsula offer some of the best leopard sightings in the park. Your lion identification photos and GPS tracks contribute directly to the Lion Monitoring Project's annual carnivore census. The afternoon belongs to the Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism Project. Roast beans with the Kyambura Women's Coffee Cooperative, go birding in the reclaimed wetlands or plant a seedling in the wildlife buffer zone.
After breakfast, walk straight from the lodge into Kyambura Gorge in search of its famous lost chimpanzees. This sunken rainforest is a world apart from the grasslands above, and while the isolated troop moves freely and sightings can never be guaranteed, the trek itself is pure enchantment. In the afternoon, cruise the Kazinga Channel between Lakes Edward and George, home to one of Africa's greatest concentrations of hippo, with elephant and buffalo drinking at the water's edge and fish eagles and pelicans overhead. Back on land, harvest honey with the local bee keeping cooperative or enjoy a performance by the Omumushaka Dance Group.
After breakfast, journey south to the ancient Bwindi forest, passing through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park with a chance of spotting its famous tree climbing lions. The landscape shifts steadily as you climb into the highlands, arriving at Bwindi Lodge on the very edge of the Impenetrable Forest. This evening, enjoy cocktails by the fire with a vet from the Gorilla Doctors and hear firsthand what it takes to keep the mountain gorillas healthy.
After an early breakfast, set off into the forest to track the mountain gorillas. The trek through Bwindi's steep, densely wooded hills demands some stamina, and elusive families can take much of the day to find, but the moment you first glimpse them through the vegetation is a privilege few experiences can match. On the way back, stop at the award winning Bwindi Bar, which trains disadvantaged local youth in hospitality, and toast your trek with the signature Gorillini cocktail. Driving time up to 2 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family.
Today is devoted to the forest and its communities, with a choice of experiences. Take a guided rainforest walk to a beautiful waterfall paired with birding along the Munyanga River Trail, or visit the Bwindi Community Hospital and discover how the Conservation Through Public Health centre protects gorillas and people alike. Back at Bwindi Lodge, enjoy a demonstration by the local tea processing cooperative. For those wanting a second hour with the gorillas, an additional trek can be arranged at a supplement, subject to permit availability, and we strongly recommend securing this at the time of booking.
On this day after breakfast at the lodge. You guide will transfer you from Bwindi lodge to Kihihi airstrip for your scheduled shared flight to Entebbe. Depending on the departure time of your international Flight, you might require a day room or an overnight in Entebbe.
