Gorilla Trekking

Day 1 To Entebbe
Fly from London to Entebbe via Nairobi (Direct flights are available on British Airways but would need extra nights in Kampala as they arrive late and depart early.)

Day 2 Kampala
Morning arrival in Uganda, where you will be met by your safari guide who will transfer you to your hotel on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Day 3 Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park
Depart Entebbe and visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided walk see endangered rhino. After lunch continue to Murchison Falls, where the river Nile flows through a narrow gap in the Rift Valley escarpment to form a peaceful river below the gorge.

Day 4 Murchison Falls National Park
Morning game drive on the northern bank of the national park, where you can view animals of the African savannah such as giraffe, elephant, antelope, lion and more. This afternoon enjoy a launch cruise on the Nile, where you may see hippo buffalo on the bank and a variety of river birds like heron, cormorant and kingfisher, as well as enjoy the jungle scenery on the river banks, a very different aspect to where the river travels through the desert as it heads north.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park
Travel along the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley passing through timeless African countryside and traditional homesteads and farms. Arrive at Fort Portal, resting in the shadows of the Mountains of the Moon and your lodge for two nights.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Kibale National Park – Chimpanzee Trekking
An amazing experience awaits today, tracking chimpanzee in the Kibale National Park. Walk on a series of shaded forest trails, on the lookout for chimpanzees in the fruit trees, these primates are difficult to see in other parts of Africa. In Kibale there are thirteen other species of primate to see including vervet monkey, colobus monkey and bushbabys, and colourful butterflies and bird life. After lunch visit Biogodi for rare and beautiful flora and fauna.

Meals: Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Kibale to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Continue south, passing near the savannah of the Queen Elizabeth National Park for lunch by the Ishasha river where with luck you might see the Ishasha tree climbing lions. Arrive at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of the last remaining habitats of the Mountain Gorilla, an ancient forest and one of the most biodiverse in the world. Settle into your lodge and enjoy the pristine environment, which is also a paradise for bird watchers.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi
After an early breakfast and briefing from the guides, set off for the mountain gorilla tracking inside the Bwindi forest. You need to carry drinking water, rain jacket and jungle boots while the rangers will provide you with a walking stick. It is impossible to say how long your trek might be, sometimes the gorillas come close to the lodges, at other times you may need to walk for a few hours for sightings. You will be able to spend up to a maximum of one hour observing the gorillas once you have located them, an hour that would live long in the memory. Please note, gorilla sightings cannot be guaranteed, although the first class lodges that we use have a very high success rate. Later today, time permitting and if you have the energy, you can go for a village walk to see how Ugandans live.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 Bwindi to London
Morning departure to Lake Mburo National Park, an extension of the plains of Tanzania with herds of zebra, impala and eland, including a boat ride on the lake. Continue towards Kampala, stopping en route for a photo at the equator line and transfer directly to Entebbe airport for your return overnight flight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 10 London
Morning arrival

Tour includes:

All flights specified
Private transfers
Expert trek and wildlife guides
Inspirational sightseeing programme
Gorilla Trekking Permit
10 day tour: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
4 day tour: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Mountain Gorilla encounters
Comfortable lodges in national parks

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”