Shoebill • Golden Monkeys • Gorillas • Chimps • Big Game • Culture
This premium 8-day Uganda safari combines rare birding, golden monkey tracking, mountain gorilla encounters, chimp trekking, and classic savannah wildlife viewing. Travel from Entebbe to Lake Mburo, Kisoro, Mgahinga, Bwindi (Rushaga), Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth (Kazinga Channel, Kyambura Gorge), and return to Entebbe. Expect intimate primate experiences, scenic drives, cultural encounters, and handpicked lodges. This itinerary is ideal for wildlife lovers, photographers, and travellers seeking authentic, conservation-minded adventures.
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Arrive at Entebbe International Airport where you will be met and welcomed by a Wild Compass Africa representative. Transfer northwest to Mabamba Swamp for an early canoe trip in search of the legendary shoebill stork. Glide through papyrus channels to find and photograph this prehistoric bird in its wetland home. After the trek, continue to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival settle into your lodge, refresh, and enjoy an evening game drive or a guided night drive to spot nocturnal species such as genets, bush babies, and potentially leopards.
Overnight: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (or similar). Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Begin with a guided walking safari in Lake Mburo, where a ranger-led stroll gives close-range sightings of zebras, impala, buffalo, and giraffe on foot in a safe, intimate setting. After the walk and a mid-morning drive, travel southwest toward Kisoro, the gateway to the Virunga highlands. Enjoy scenic stops and a relaxed evening in Kisoro town.
Overnight: Ichumbi Hotel, Kisoro. Meals: All meals included.
Head early into Mgahinga National Park for golden monkey tracking in the bamboo slopes of the Virunga massif. These lively primates are a delight to watch and photograph. After your trek, drive to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla-area accommodation.
Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (or similar). Meals: All meals included.
Prepare for the day’s highlight with an early briefing before setting off into the ancient forest to track a habituated gorilla family. The trek varies in difficulty and can take several hours; wear sturdy footwear and bring water and snacks. When the gorillas are found you will spend one unforgettable hour observing their behaviour — feeding, social interactions, and family dynamics — while guided by experienced rangers. In the afternoon, a respectful visit to a Batwa community provides cultural perspective and supports local conservation initiatives.
Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. Meals: All meals included.
After breakfast depart for the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. On arrival enjoy a late afternoon/early evening game drive. Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions — an iconic and photographic spectacle — along with Uganda kob, elephant, buffalo, and varied birdlife.
Overnight: Topi Lodge (or similar). Meals: All meals included.
Enjoy a morning game drive to extend your chances of finding tree-climbing lions and other savannah species. Later head to Mweya Peninsula for a scenic boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where enormous hippo pods, crocodiles, elephant herds, and flocks of waterbirds provide dazzling photo opportunities. Continue to your lodge near Kyambura Gorge.
Overnight: Elephant Hab Lodge (or similar). Meals: All meals included.
Descend into Kyambura Gorge for a guided chimpanzee trek through the lush, sunken forest often called the “Valley of Apes.” The forest is a hotspot for chimp activity and other primates such as black-and-white colobus and red-tailed monkeys. After the trek, head out for a game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, with chances to see lions, elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, and a rich array of birdlife framed by the Rwenzori Mountains.
Overnight: Elephant Hab Lodge. Meals: All meals included
After breakfast begin your scenic return drive to Entebbe. Pass rolling tea plantations, verdant hills, and rural villages, stopping for photographs and a leisurely lunch en route. Arrive in Entebbe in time for your international departure or overnight hotel. End of services.
Airport pick-up and drop-off in Entebbe
Permit fees are subject to change and are confirmed at time of booking
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
OPTIONAL ADD-ONS (at extra cost)