Gorillas and Game Parks

Gorilla - the very word is exciting. Still living in the heart of the impenetrable forests of Central Africa, are families of these gentle giants. With our expert local guides (and pre-arranged viewing permits) we take you to "meet" the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda. It is a wildlife experience like no other. Uganda (Churchill's "Pearl of Africa") offers a collage of bright colours, beautiful scenery, busy towns and possibly the friendliest people in Africa. We'll game drive in Queen Elizabeth and Mburo Parks, search for chimpanzees on foot in the Kyambura Gorge, and to finish with a splash - there's an option to white-water raft from the source of the Nile.

For those who would like to precede this trip with a week in the finest Kenyan game parks, please see the East African Gorilla Safari details. Whichever you choose, this surely is a pinnacle of wildlife experiences.

14 day overland truck safari, including 3 experienced crew, park fees, gorilla permits, other permits for included highlights, spacious tents and quality camping equipment.

Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1 Kampala. Leaving memories of war behind, Kampala is rapidly emerging as a confident commercial capital. Pitch a tent at a nearby campsite and start to get excited about this incredible African safari experience.

Days 2-4 Queen Elizabeth National Park. Considered Uganda's finest, Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts remarkable diversity in its wildlife. See some of the 606 recorded bird species here on a leisurely cruise along the passage linking Lake Edward to Lake George, the Kazinga Channel. Later, an escorted walk through the lush riverine forest of Kyambura Gorge is a chance to see the famous chimps and cheeky colubus monkeys that call this place home. The sound of chatter signals when the primates are near so keep an ear out at all times. Enjoy land-based safaris and keep an eye out for the Big Five as well as Uganda kobs and waterbucks.

Days 5-8 Gorilla Trek - Make camp in Uganda's green heart, a highly fertile mountain region. Against a backdrop of volcanic peaks, the thick jungle-like hilltops are incredibly beautiful. Accompanied by a guide and trackers, hike through the forest searching for a family. Bring lots of water because the trek to see the extremely rare mountain gorillas is strenuous. However the sight of these intelligent creatures, so similar to humans, makes the hard going completely worth it. The placid creatures will captivate you with their human-like behaviour and big brown eyes. When not tracking gorillas, enjoy walks into the steamy rainforests to see the other creatures that call it home.

Days 9-10 Lake Bunyoni - Travel through the mystical landscapes of the Lake Bunyoni region to discover some of the most picturesque scenery in all of Uganda. It's possible to hire a traditional dugout canoe to take to the lake. They can be hard to master at first but great fun.

Day 11 Lake Mburo - Take a game drive in Lake Mburo National Park, through an varied landscape of open plains, acacia grasslands, marshes and riverine woodland. The mosaic of habitats here makes for a great range of wildlife so look out for everything from hippos and antelopes to buffaloes and water birds around the lake.

Days 12-13 Jinja - Travel past lush mountain scenery and back through Mbarara and Kampala to the town of Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria. The rushing Bujagali Falls nearby are one of the sources of the great Nile River and its churning waters are a rafter's dream. There's time here to shop for souvenirs, take on the world-class rapids or simply to relax on the riverbank.

Day 14 Kampala - The adventure comes full circle on return to Kampala. If you are staying here longer, consider seeing more primates on a day trip to the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Twin share camping (13 nts)

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Prices from GBP £730 plus trip kitty USD $1120