Day 1 – Entebbe / Kampala

Bed and Breakfast

• Arrive at Entebbe International Airport where we will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe, Boma Hotel / Karibu Guest House.

Day 2 – The Albertine Rift Valley and Kibale Forest

Full board.

• After breakfast and a meeting with our representative, we leave Entebbe at 7:30 a.m. and head west until we reach the edge of the Rwenzori Mountains, which marks the border with Congo. The town of Fort Portal is the capital of the Tooro Kingdom and is located a few kilometers from the Kibale Forest.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.
• In the afternoon you can explore some viewpoints of the Kasenda crater lakes, a scenic area, set against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains.
• Dinner and overnight stay are at Turaco Treetop Lodge / Guereza Canopy Lodge (supplement for Primate Lodge / Crater Safari Lodge) (C) or Isunga Lodge / Kibale Guest Cottages / Rubalika Safari Lodge / Kluges Guest House (E).

Note:Today's transfer is about 6 hours on asphalt road, approximately 320 km.

Day 3 – Kibale Chimpanzee Trek – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Full board.

• After breakfast, we'll embark on a chimpanzee trekking activity in Kibale Forest. Kibale is home to one of the largest chimpanzee populations in Uganda; there are estimated to be over 1,000 in the park.
• After the trek, we also suggest a stop at the "One Traveler, One tree, One forest" project of the KAFRED organization in Kibale, a reforestation project.
• Optional: an ecotourism visit to the village of Bigodi, for cultural interaction with the locals, led by local guides from the Kafred organization.
• Lunch at the lodge.
• In the afternoon, the journey continues to the "pearl" of the National Parks, Queen Elizabeth, bordered to the east by Lake George, to the west by Lake Edward, and to the north by the legendary "Mountains of the Moon" mountain range, the Rwenzori. Shortly after the town of Kasese, you will enter the park.
• Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Kikorongo Safari Lodge / Aardvark Safari Lodge (C) or Ihamba Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge / Elephant Hab Lodge / Marafiki Lodge (E).

Note:Today's transfer takes about 2 hours on a paved road.

Chimpanzee trekking can take place at various times of the day as directed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority when issuing entry permits.

Trekking level: easy.

Day 4 - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Full board.

• After a very early cup of coffee, we set off at 6:30 a.m. for a photo safari along the park's northern trails, the best time to spot hyenas, lions, the rare leopard, giant forest hogs, hippos returning to their waterways, large herds of elephants and buffalo, Ugandan kobus, and crowned cranes (both Uganda's national symbols), among others. A stop for breakfast or a snack is planned.
• Lunch at the lodge or restaurant.
• In the afternoon, enjoy a special boat excursion along the Kazinga Channel to the mouth of Lake Edward, where you can see numerous animals coming to drink on the banks of this spectacular and imposing waterway. It also offers an excellent and unique photo opportunity; the prolific bird life is stunning and rich in color (over 550 species).
• In the evening, a short move south of the park, in the Ishasha sector.
• Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Jungle Lodge.

Note:Today's transfer is about 2 hours on a dirt road.

Day 5 – Ishasha and South West Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Full board.

• After breakfast, at 7 or 8 a.m., you'll embark on a photo safari to Ishasha, famous for its lions, who, during the heat of the day, habitually climb the towering fig trees to rest and seek refuge. The safari will also allow you to see elephants, topi antelopes, kobs, and buffalo.
• Lunch at the lodge.
• In the afternoon, you'll continue your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to about half the world's population of mountain gorillas (around 450 individuals), an endangered species. The area where you'll see the gorillas will depend on permit availability on that day. Arrival is expected in the late afternoon.
• Dinner and overnight at Bwindi Engagi Lodge / Gorilla Safari Lodge / Ichumbi Lodge (C) or Agandi Lodge / Noel's Cottage / Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge / Bweza Lodge / Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (E).

Note:Depending on road conditions, today's transfer can take 5 to 8 hours.

Day 6 – Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Full board.

• This will be the key day: gorilla trekking! This activity begins at 8:00 a.m. at the UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) headquarters, where you'll meet the other expedition members, guides, and porters. After a quick briefing, you'll begin to enter the rainforest. It's spectacular, offering dramatic, dense vegetation, a dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal-made trails that, among other things, make it easy for people to enter. This park is best known for its fascinating gorillas; the time it takes and the terrain covered to encounter them varies depending on the movements of these wonderful primates. The thrill of encountering these gentle giants is a rare, eventful, and exciting adventure that will leave you with an indelible memory. Gorillas are shy and peaceful animals, and it's an unforgettable experience to see and photograph them interacting with each other. Good physical fitness is recommended, although you'll receive plenty of support.
• You must bring enough water and a packed lunch with you.
• Depending on the time spent trekking, the rest of the day is free.
• Dinner and overnight at Bwindi Engagi Lodge / Gorilla Safari Lodge / Ichumbi Lodge (C) or Algandi Lodge / Noel's Cottage / Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge / Bweza Lodge / Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (E).

Trekking level: medium.

Day 7 – Entebbe

Half board.

• After breakfast, we return to the capital with a few stops along the way, including at the Equator at the craft markets.
• Lunch at a restaurant along the way.
• Then transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your return flight.

Note:Please note that the journey between Bwindi and Entebbe is approximately 450 km long and takes 9 hours, so it is advisable to book return flights after 8pm or add an extra night in Entebbe or break it up with an extension.

POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS:

Extension 1 – 1 extra day/night at Lake Mburo National Park

THIS EXTENSION IS RECOMMENDED TO BREAK UP THE LONG TRANSFER FROM BWINDI TO ENTEBBE

Day 7 – Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park

Full board

• After breakfast, we depart for Lake Mburo National Park, a small savannah park located in Uganda's central Ankole region. It's a perfect stopover between Bwindi and Entebbe.
• Lunch at the restaurant.
• In the afternoon, we'll organize a photographic safari in search of the park's typical animals, including impala, eland, topi and other antelopes, buffalo, and zebra. Optional: night photography safari.
• Dinner and overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge / Kigarama Wilderness Lodge (C) (surcharge for Mihingo Lodge) or Hyena Hill Lodge (E).

Note:Today's transfer takes about 4 hours and covers a distance of approximately 250 km.

Day 8 – Lake Mburo – Entebbe

Half board.

• After breakfast, last photographic safari (or optional guided nature walk or boat excursion).
• Lunch at the lodge or restaurant.
• Reserved for transfer to Entebbe for the flight from Entebbe International Airport in the evening.

Note:Please note that the journey between Lake Mburo and Entebbe is approximately 250 km long and takes 6 hours, so depending on flight schedules, this morning's activities may not be possible.

Extension 2 – 1 extra day/night in Mgahinga National Park / Echuya Forest

Day 9 – Mgahinga National Park / Echuya Forest

Full board.

• After breakfast, you can choose an activity between trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park or the Batwa Trail in the Echuya Forest. Mgahinga Park offers the opportunity to do aMountain gorilla trekking (optional with supplement); or thetrekking to climb the volcanoes(the Muhavura in particular), a trek that takes one day or about 6 to 8 hours or a trek to see thegolden monkeysendemic to this area.
• Mgahinga National Park is a small national park located on the border with Rwanda. The park protects the portion of the Virunga volcanoes located in the Ugandan sector: Muhavura (4,127 m), Gahinga (3,474 m), and Sabinyo (3,669 m).
• TheBatwa TrailIt is a guided tour in the Echuya Forest to meet the Batwa pygmies in what was once their natural habitat and which they are now reclaiming through ecotourism.
• Lunch at the restaurant or packed lunch.
• In the evening short transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, with dinner and overnight stay at Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi / Birdnest Resort (C) or Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort / Bunyonyi Eco-resort (E).

Day 10 – Lake Bunyonyi - Entebbe

Half board.

• After breakfast, we set off to return to Entebbe.
• Lunch at a restaurant.
• Reserved for transfer to Entebbe for the flight from Entebbe International Airport.

Note: Please note that the journey between Lake Bunyonyi and Entebbe is approximately 450 km and takes 9 hours, so it is recommended to book return flights after 8pm or add an extra night in Entebbe.

Extension 3 – 1 Day / 2 Nights Community Experience in Buhoma

Day 8 – Bwindi – Ride 4 a Woman Project

• After the gorilla trek, transfer to the Ride 4 a Woman community project site.Based on your previous location, you're expected to arrive by late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Noel's Cottage Mwebesa House.

Day 9 – Bwindi – Ride 4 a Woman Experience

Full board

• After breakfast, the day is entirely dedicated to experiencing the projects of the Ride 4 a Woman organization and interacting with local people (see the web page:https://www.ride4awoman.org/). Founded by Evelyn Habasa in 2009, the organization supports the income of women from 11 local villages. Specifically, the organization provides employment opportunities in pedal sewing and basket weaving. The resulting work is sold in the community shop, where beautiful gifts of traditional weaving can be found.
• Visitors will have the opportunity to experience working in the workshop alongside the women. They can also learn how to cook typical local Bakiga food together and then enjoy a traditional lunch. The women can then demonstrate Kiga dances, one of the most interesting cultural expressions of the Bwindi area.
• Accommodation and full board are guaranteed in the project's guest house, that is, at Noel's Cottage Mwebesa House.

Day 10 – Bwindi - Entebbe

Half board

• After breakfast, the return journey to Kampala begins. Along the way, we'll stop at African craft markets.
• Lunch at the restaurant.
• Reserved for transfer to Entebbe International Airport for evening flights.

Note:Please note that the journey between Bwindi and Entebbe is approximately 450 km long and takes 9 hours, so it is advisable to book return flights after 8pm or add an extra night in Entebbe or break it up with an extension.