Uganda’s highlights celebrate the intimacy and diversity of untouched Africa. You will stand amid a wild chimpanzee troop, boat past hippos, track tree-climbing lions, trek to wild mountain gorillas, and explore ethereal landscapes with every turn you take. Combining Uganda’s three premier wildlife destinations, this one-week adventure has you walking in the wild, surrounded by endangered mammals, and understanding the ineffable beauty of eastern Africa
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Entebbe – Colonial Charms and Sunset Cruise on Lake Victoria
Enigmatic Entebbe feels like a step back in time. The broad sepia-colored streets are home to decaying mansions and crumbling once whitewashed townhouses. It was the Colonial capital along the shores of Lake Victoria, mostly ignored since Kampala became capital upon independence. It is now a relaxed place to start an experience in East Africa, easy on the eye and home to an easy-going ambiance. You are greeted at the airport, and it is a short transfer to a five-star hotel on the lakeshore where there is time for lunch on the terrace and a couple of leisurely hours before the afternoon activities.
Take a walk along the streets, coated in the ochre and orange hues that distinguish Uganda from its neighboring countries. An expert historical guide gains access to various buildings closed to the public, most of the city constructed in the early 20th century and now standing in a somewhat redolent state of ruin. Wandering back to the water, you embark on a private boat for a cruise on Lake Victoria, passing a handful of lush islets on Africa’s largest body of water. African sunsets are always special, and the one on Lake Victoria is amongst the best, a flaming red ball flanked by vibrant lines of rainbow colors. As the waters reflect these hues, you get a sense for how Ugandan and African landscapes contain a vitality that is difficult to rival on another continent. Dinner at your hotel is included, and the lakeshore is just a few steps away.
What's Included:
Day 2
Kibale Forest National Park – Stunning Full-Day Trek Amid Monkeys and Mystical Scenes
Day 3
Kibale Forest National Park – Exclusive Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
Day 4
Queen Elizabeth National Park – Sublime Game Drive and Boating Past the Hippos
Day 5
Queen Elizabeth National Park – Discovering Tree-Climbing Lions and the Rare Mammals of the Savannah
Day 6
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – More Big-Game Safari and into the Gorillas’ Realm
Day 7
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – An Hour with a Wild Mountain Gorilla Troop
Day 8
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Entebbe – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Trek into the surreal Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and spend an hour with a wild mountain gorilla troop, just a few meters away from the critically endangered giants
- Explore the intimacies and intricacies of a wild chimpanzee troop with a habituation experience in Kibale Forest National Park
- Game drive across the lush savannah, where lions climb trees, elephant bulldoze pathways, and a wonderful collection of other large mammals are discovered
- Cruise along Lake Victoria at sunset and explore the history of Colonial capital Entebbe, introductory activities on your first day in Uganda
- Take a trekking adventure into the untamed landscapes of western Uganda, stopping at traditional villages en route to volcanic crater lakes and forests packed with monkeys
- Uncover the nuances of safari by combining activities, like a cruise along the Kazinga Channel, and the rare chance of a big-game walking safari
- Light aircraft flights offer stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains and the Congo Basin where the handpicked accommodation reflects the best of the country
Detailed Description
Journey into the depths of wild Africa, and the experiences will be difficult to explain to friends when you return home. Wild mountain gorillas surround you, infants are in the trees above, and a huge silverback rumbles past on four knuckles. On a lush and unbroken savannah, you track a pride of lions on the trail of Ugandan kob, a dainty antelope you can’t fail to have an affinity for. Ascending through mountain foothills, you emerge at vast volcanic crater lakes, your movements followed by the eyes of rare monkeys. Even in a week, there is so much you can experience. Admire an abundance of hippos from a boat, enjoy an hour with a wild chimpanzee troop, be invited into a traditional village by the locals, and delight in the surprise that comes with safari.
Celebrating the highlights of Uganda, this one-week adventure visits three superb national parks, each with its own landscape and unique experiences. Arriving in Entebbe, the week starts calmly with a walking tour of the old Colonial capital and a sunset cruise on Lake Victoria. Fly to the far west of the country, and take in the stunning views from the window as you touch down next to Kibale Forest. Here you spend a day trekking to villages and crater lakes, and another day dedicated to a chimpanzee habituation experience, getting to spend a full hour with a wild troop. Like each of the stops, the handpicked accommodation reflects an elevated level of luxury while keeping you immersed in the landscapes and the animals. In Kibale, it is monkeys and antelope that are spotted from your veranda.
Moving south, you spend three days and two nights in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a destination that celebrates the wildlife contrasts of East Africa. Cruising the channels, you become acquainted with hippos and elephants along the banks. Driving across the Ishasha savannah, you focus on the big cats and their prey. Then the opportunity for game walks provides a new understanding of Uganda’s rare four-legged characters. Farther south, beneath the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains, you find the thick and tangled forests of Bwindi. More than half the world’s wild mountain gorillas live here, and a day spent gorilla trekking provides an iconic end to this adventure of highlights.
This one-week adventure in Uganda has the potential to be combined with another destination in East Africa. By starting and ending in Entebbe, Uganda’s main international airport, there are direct connections to cities and safari destinations in Tanzania and Kenya. Extend your luxury vacation to Uganda by seeing our other tours on Zicasso.
Starting Price
$6,700 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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