Gorillas, Chimps, and a Big Game Safari
Mountain Gorilla Safari
Overview
It’s one of the planet’s great “bucket list” adventures: tracking mountain gorillas in the wild! In Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we give you two exciting days of gorilla tracking. The hikes are steep, but the experience of sitting near a silverback and his family is unforgettable. This adventure is also a great safari as we track chimps in Kibale Forest National Park, explore Queen Elizabeth National Park, and boat along the Kazinga Channel among hippo and big herds of elephant, with a behind-the-scenes visit to the Conservation Through Public Health clinic at Bwindi. Your participation directly funds gorilla conservation!
Arrive: Entebbe, Uganda
Depart: Entebbe, Uganda
Highlights
- Experience breathtaking encounters with mountain gorillas, with two full days of tracking
- Track chimpanzees on the trails of Kibale Forest National Park
- Safari by 4WD vehicle and boat, track lions with a researcher in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Cruise along the Kazinga Channel to see herds of elephant and pods of hippo
- Behind-the-scenes visit at Conservation Through Public Health
Itinerary
We drive to the rainforest of Kibale and join our tracker to look for chimpanzees—the closest living relatives of humans—as they forage and scamper through the park’s treetops.
Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts the backdrop of the snow-capped Ruwenzoris, the fabled “Mountains of the Moon.” We safari by 4WD vehicle, go birding in the wetlands, and boat on the Kazinga Channel, on the lookout for elephant and the abundant hippo population. One morning, we join a researcher to track lion.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to more than 400 mountain gorillas. We’ll start our visit with a private tour at Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), learning about this award-winning NGO’s work in conservation and local community health, and we’ll dine with one of the CTPH doctors. Afterwards, we head out with our ranger guides for two full days of tracking. The hikes are challenging but the rigors are soon forgotten as we come face to face with a gorilla family in the wild. Depart in the evening of Day 10 via Entebbe or join our Masai Mara National Reserve Extension.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3+, Moderate. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, and an openness to the unexpected.
Review Trip Level Details
The hikes to see the mountain gorillas can last anywhere from 3 to 6 hours over moderately steep, thickly forested, and uneven terrain, and the climate will be hot and humid. Gorilla tracking will occasionally feel strenuous as we hike uphill to follow the clans, but we will take breaks along the way. The shape you're in will be an important factor in your enjoyment of these hikes. Make an effort to get in good physical condition with hiking, biking, running, or other kinds of exercise beyond your normal routine. A brisk 30-45 minute walk every other day over moderately steep terrain can do wonders for your conditioning.
The climate in Uganda is considered “modified tropical”—similar to the equatorial climate of other East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania, but slightly modified by its altitude, which ranges from 3,500 to 4,500 feet. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 70s and 80s, and humidity is fairly high. You can expect to experience some rain during the course of the trip. Like Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda has two annual rainy seasons, one between March and May and one between October and November.
June, July and August
During these months, the country is refreshingly green and the weather is coolest, especially in the higher altitudes, with a high of 70°-80°F and a low of 40°F. Riding in the safari vehicle can be chilly some mornings, but the temperature usually warms up by 10:00 am.
September, October and November
These are delightful times to visit Uganda and can be compared to springtime in the US. The jacaranda and other trees are bursting into blossom and the days are warmer. The high temperatures are 75°-85°F, with a low of 65°F. Scattered rains occur in November and early December. These “short rains” just freshen the country and lay the dust, although they can sometimes be heavy.
December to March
These are Uganda's “summer” months. The temperature range is from 80° to 90°F during the day (coastal areas are hotter and can range from 80° to 100°). The evenings range from 50° to 60°F.
April and May
The rainy season (the “long rains”) occur during these months.
Our accommodations will be in comfortable hotels, safari lodges, and tented camps with spacious tents equipped with en suite facilities.
During game drives in our 4WD vehicles, we guarantee window seating for all—there's no taking turns on who gets the window seats. We use five- or seven-passenger safari vehicles (never minibuses!), and all vehicles have roof hatches for easy wildlife viewing and photography. A cooler of drinks and refreshments is carried aboard. And our 4WD vehicles can go virtually anywhere, an important feature when we're tracking game. Please note there are some long driving days over rough roads and dusty dirt tracks.
Client Testimonials
"Our guide, Habib, was perfect in every way. The overall experience was well planned and worth the effort and money."
Beverly B.
Beaufort, SC
"This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A wonderful adventure in a beautiful land."
Bruce H.
Santa Fe, NM
"This was the trip of a lifetime. It was well planned and organized, and the other travelers were good company. Leaders were attentive and helpful. Animals were spectacular. What's not to like?"
Cap T.
Davis, CA
"Thoroughly enjoyed this trip. The highlight was observing the mountain gorillas, but every day had something interesting to see or do."
Diane S.
Evergreen, CO
"It was a wonderful, memorable trip. We have traveled a lot in Southern Africa and seeing the gorillas and chimps up close was a thrill."
Elisabeth B.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
"This trip could not have been more interesting, delightful, and inspiring."
Elizabeth M.
Providence, RI
"This trip included a tremendous range of experiences, each of which was great. The planning was also perfect. Staying three nights in each of the last two magically perfect hotels allowed us to feel settled in."
Elizabeth M.
Providence, RI
"What a great trip! I don’t know how it could have been better...and Uganda—what a special place."
Ellen H.
Santa Fe, NM
"This trip offers an extensive look at a beautiful country that is still off the beaten path. The variety of environments and animals, from savanna to rainforest, is amazing, and the itinerary was very well thought out."
Jack S.
Evergreen, CO
"This is one of those experiences one will never forget. The beauty of Uganda and its people, along with the extraordinary viewing of primates and other wildlife, couldn't have been better. Many, many thanks."
Joseph B.
Portsmouth, RI
"Thank you—I’ll never forget this trip!"
Judy G.
Lafayette, CA
"The overall experience was amazing. Great wildlife viewing, good accommodations, a nice group of people, good diversity of activities. The Kazinga channel trip was one of the highlights, along with the chimp and gorilla tracking."
Kenneth B.
Chicago, IL
"I wish I was still there. Everything about the trip was unique and so memorable!"
Laura C.
Whitehouse Station, NJ
"As always, Wilderness set up a class adventure. It's why I keep coming back to you when I have the travel itch."
Mary W.
Crosby, TX
"Observing the gorillas in their natural habitat was a life-changing experience. One of the gorillas even reached out and touched me on the leg!"
Melinda C.
Tucson, AZ
"I enjoyed the trip very much. The itinerary was very well thought through, and our local guides were excellent."
Thomas V.
Mountain View, CA
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Itinerary
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