9 days in Uganda: Volcanoes trekking and Primates special

Table of contents

Trip map

Itinerary of the trip

Please note:

Each element can be tailored to your needs and interests, from duration to type of accommodation and activities.

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and transfer to the hotel

Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by our English-speaking driver (or Italian- speaking on request) who will take you to the hotel. In anticipation of the adventures that await us in the coming days, we suggest you take advantage of the remaining hours to visit
the city, taste typical local dishes and take a break.

• Mid-range/low-cost accommodation: Lake Victoria View Guest House
• High-end accommodation: Cassia Lodge
• Meals included: none

Day 2: Entebbe – Queen Elizabeth NP (6 hours and 30 minutes – 380 km) – Game drive

Morning transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP. Lunch on the way and early afternoon arrival in the Park where we will go on a photo safari through the routes of the Park, scouring the “Kaseny and Kazinga track” in search of elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, antelopes and many other species.

There are about 95 species of mammals, including lions, elephants, leopards, Uganda kobs (impala), hyenas, buffaloes and several species of primates such as chimpanzees, blue, red, white, black and baboons. There are also about 600 species of birds, one of the highest concentrations in Africa and many pink flamingos along the volcanic Katwe Lake.

• Accommodation mid-range: Bush lodge, private bathroom bandas
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Hours spent on the road: 6 hours 30 minutes – 380 km
• Activities: Photographic Safari Queen Elizabeth Np

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking Kyambura – “Boat ride” Kazinga channel

In the morning we will trek with the Chimpanzees in the Kyambura forest, a cleft in the Savannah of the park that offers an incredible variety of vegetation, a forest rich in biodiversity still different from those you will find in the next days and home to a large community of Chimpanzees that you will be able to see very close. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon you will take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During these three hours we will observe many hippos, buffaloes, elephants drinking from the river, antelopes and very rare birds. Your trip will end when the canal flows into Lake Edward. This is definitely one of the most exciting activities of the trip, as seeing the bustling savannah life near the waterways is spectacular.

• Accommodation mid-range: Bush lodge, private bathroom bandas
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Planned activities: Chimpanzee trekking Kyambura gorge – “boat trip” Kazinga channel

Day 4: Game drive Ishasha sector Queen Elizabeth NP – transfer Bwindi Ruhja

In the morning we will move to the south of the Park through the forest of Maramagambo, we will arrive in the sector of Ishasha in the late morning. With a little luck, in this area, you can admire the “climbing lions”, lions that climb on the “fig trees”, trees that branch off a few metres high and which the lions use as their “personal offices” during the hottest hours of the day. Lunch will be packed or at a restaurant in Kihihi; afterwards, we will begin to admire the spectacular mountain views of Bwindi Impenetrable forest before reaching Ruhjia, where our Mountain Gorilla trek will start the next day. In the afternoon you can take a walk through the village or we can arrange a visit to an orphanage.

This park is located in the south-west of Uganda at an altitude of between 1160 and 2607 metres. It is a veritable tropical forest spread over mountains and valleys and is considered one of the richest forests in Africa in terms of biodiversity, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the local language, “Bwindi” means “dark place” in reference to its impenetrable nature. The park is home to around 350 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, 324 different types of trees, 14 of which are only found in this park, so it is possible to go on bird watching excursions through unspoilt nature to meet the Pygmy communities living in the Park.

• Mid-range accommodation : Gorilla mist camp
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Hours spent on the road: about 4 hours and 45 minutes – 160 km
• Activities: Ishasha sector Queen Elizabeth photo safari

Day 5: Gorilla trekking – Transfer to Kisoro

Breakfast at first light, proceed to the Bwindi Impenetrable forest headquarters for a short briefing with the rangers, you will be placed in groups of maximum 8 people, before proceeding into the forest. Make sure you bring the Box lunch (mandatory and delivered by the lodge) and at least two litres of water, trekking shoes, k-way in your backpack. The duration of Gorilla trekking varies from day to day and from one gorilla family to another.
You will be with them for an hour from the time you see the first gorilla and it will be a unique thrill to see these animals within walking distance. You can consult the rules and some indications regarding gorilla trekking or other treks in the forest on the FAQ page.
Afterwards we will descend to the south in the district of Kisoro, located a few kilometres from Mgahinga National, where depending on the level of accommodation we choose we will opt to stay on one of the lakes Mutanda or Mulehe.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a National Park in southwestern Uganda, located near the town of Kisoro in the Virunga Mountains. It is adjacent to Volcanoes Park (Rwanda) and Virunga Park (DRC). The park area includes three of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga range: Muhavura, Gahinga (from which the park takes its name) and Sabinyo.With Bwindi Park, Mgahinga is one of only two parks in Uganda that is home to Mountain Gorillas. In the park there are two groups of gorillas that are used to human presence and can therefore be observed by tourists. In this park it is possible to spot the Golden Monkey, which is endemic to this area adjacent to the Virunga.

• Low cost accommodation: Mucha hotel Kisoro
• Mid-range accommodation: Lake Mulehe Safari lodge
• High end accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort
• Meals included mid-range and low cost: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included at high level: breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent travelling: about 2 hours and 20 minutes – 65 km
• Planned activities: Gorilla trekking

Day 6: Trekking to Mount Gahinga

Wake up at dawn for the transfer to Mghainga National Park where the gahinga volcano trek will take place. You will enjoy a wonderful view of the peaks of the volcanoes National Park. Be ready to take pictures of bird species such as the Ruwenzori Turaco, the Colobus and especially the Golden Monkey that you will meet on the way. Arrival in the afternoon to the peak of 3470 meters where you will find a crater on top of the peak. Packed lunch Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. After trekking, transfer to Kisoro for dinner and overnight.

• Mid-range accommodation : Mucha hotel
• Meals included: Breakfast and lunch – half board

Day 7: Relax at Lake Mutanda

On this day, after two days of trekking, we will have a day of relax, before tackling the most difficult trek. On this day, we will rest and take a boat ride on the lake Mutanda to visit some local communities.

• Accommodation mid-range : Mucha hotel
• Meals included : Breakfast and lunch – half board
• Planned activities: Boat trip lake mutanda

Day 8: Trekking to Sabinyo Mountain and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Trekking to Sabinyo Gorge in the morning. This trekking will last between 7 and 9 hours and you will reach the three peaks of mount Sabinyo. On the summit of the third peak (3600 meters about) you will reach the point to the extreme south-west of the country natural
border with Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. You will be able to admire the peaks of the three extinct volcanoes that are located in this Mghinga National Park. Picnic lunch. After the trek we will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.

Lake Bunyonyi is nicknamed the “Little Switzerland of Africa” and the second deepest lake in Africa, it has an archipelago of 32 islands.

• Mid-range accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Ecoresort
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Hours spent on the road: about 2 hours – 65 km
• Planned activities: Mount Sabinyo trekking

Day 7: Transfer to Entebbe

Transfer to Entebbe in the morning, the departure time will be decided according to the flight schedule that you have chosen; stop for lunch on the equator line where you can buy souvenirs, arrival at the airport in the afternoon. Return flight to be scheduled after 5pm.
Lunch and dinner not included.

• Meals included: breakfast
• Hours spent travelling: about 7 hours – 410 km

Prices and services included

Terms of payment:
50% at the time of booking, 50% 40 days before departure.

Cancellation terms:
– up to the second payment tranche full refund except for gorilla and
chimpanzee permits;
– after making the final payment and up to 10 days before departure, 50% refund;
– from 10 days to departure date nothing is refundable.

Please note:

Each element can be tailored to your needs and interests, from duration to type of accommodation and activities. Ask for a quote for this trip

Ask for a quote for this trip

Sea getaway – Possible extension