Uganda | Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking

Depart the US.

Upon arrival in Entebbe, you will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel set on the banks of Lake Victoria.

After breakfast, travel to the domestic terminal in Entebbe International Airport for your hour-long flight to Kihihi airstrip, near the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Please note: baggage allowance is 30 pounds per person. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative and driven to Mahogany Springs Lodge near Bwindi. Home to more than 120 mammals, 345 bird species, 200 butterfly species, and 160 tree species, Bwindi also contains almost half of the world's population of the endangered mountain gorilla. Before dinner, gather for a program orientation.

Following breakfast at the lodge, walk down to the national park headquarters to begin your gorilla tracking adventure. Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek into the dense rainforest on the mountain slopes. The journey through dense foliage and up steep climbs is abundantly rewarded with the lifetime chance of viewing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bask in the incomparable opportunity of being in close proximity to these magnificent apes, sharing in their daily lives and witnessing their day-to-day activities. Following the trek, return to your accommodation and have time to relax and savor the experience. Please note: tracking may be fairly strenuous. Treks up to six hours or longer, at high altitudes, are not uncommon. As mountain gorillas are wild animals, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, viewing success rates are over 95 percent.

Today, travel to the airport for a flight to Kibale. Upon arrival, travel to Primate Lodge, located in the heart of Kibale National Park. The park is home to a remarkable 13 primate species, 120 other mammals, and 325 bird species. Accommodations at the lodge are safari-style tents with en suite bathrooms on raised wooden platforms. This afternoon, visit a local tea plantation and learn how this important export is grown, harvested, and processed. After dinner, set off on a hike to search for nocturnal wildlife like Nightjars, pottos, bush babies, and tree hyraxes.

This morning, take part in a chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park. Kibale is one of the best-studied forests in Africa and has been the site of several long-term primate projects. The park protects a large block of rainforest that harbors the greatest variety and concentration of primates found anywhere in East Africa; it is home to 13 primate species, including the endangered red colobus and the L'Hoest's monkey. The major attraction, however, is the chimpanzee, with almost 1,500 individuals living within the park. Trekking time can be anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours, depending on where the chimps are located. Once located, it is possible to spend up to one hour in their vicinity. After the trek, the remainder of the day is free to relax or take an optional tour.

Flight time permitting, take a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary this morning. These wetlands are home to 200 bird species, reptiles, mammals, primates, and unique flora. Some of the wildlife visitors can see includes baboons, bush pigs, colobus monkeys, civet cats, bush bucks, and mongooses. Later, fly to Entebbe, arriving in time to collect stored luggage as well as enjoy lunch at No.5 Boutique Hotel. Return to the airport after lunch in time for your 4:20pm flight to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.