Day 1: Kampala

Met by our local guide for transfer to your hotel in Kampala. Entebbe is about 41 km from Kampala.

You will remember that it was at Entebbe where the Israelis heroically released hostages that was on a hijacked Air France Airbus in 1976. This green breezy town was also the first capital of Uganda. Sir Fredrick Treves described it as ‘the prettiest and most charming town of the lake – a summer resort where no more business is undertaken than is absolutely necessary.

Accommodation Options Available (All On Bed Breakfast Basis)

Upmarket: Sheraton Kampala Hotel

Moderate: Shangri-La Hotel Kampala

Low Budget: Holiday Express

Day 2: Lake Mburo National Park

Meet and greet with our local guide over breakfast, and then after we drive heading to southwestern Uganda.

En route, there is a local community popular for making local drums and crafts and a fruit market. Stopover, admire and buy yourself souvenirs. Proceed to the Equator line taken as one beautiful scenery in Africa - the pathway of the sun and take photographs.

Early afternoon, arrive in Lake Mburo for a lunch in the park grounds as you marvel at the game and birds within the park. Take a game drive in the afternoon and look out for zebras, topis, buffalo, eland, impala, water hogs, waterbucks etc.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Mihingo Lodge | Mantana Tented Camp | Arcadia Cottages

Moderate: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge | Rakobo Rock

Low Budget: Rwonyo Campsite

Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After an early breakfast we depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest via Mbarara town. We drive through stunning volcanic landscape adorned with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced plantations of bananas, tea and thick montane forests to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

The Bwindi area is a highly fertile, mountainous region with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced rows of cultivation. You are really driving through the “Banana Republic” with banana plantations all around you, steep hills, small rivers……just amazing scenery.

Arrive late afternoon at the park and check-in at accommodation. Pass by mountains, tropical rainforest and bamboo forest during the nine hour journey.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Buhoma Lodge | Mahogany Lodge | Chameleon Hill Lodge | Trackers Lodge Buhoma

Moderate: Silverback Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Camp | Gorilla Mist Camp

Low Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp | Gorilla Valley Lodge | Buhoma Community Campground

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip - gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day.

We trek through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 metres from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes.

Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It's difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.

While most of today's forests are no more than 12,000 years old, Bwindi's vegetation has been weaving itself into tangles over at least 25,000 years, in the process accumulating a lengthy species list. This includes 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, 88 moths and an exceptional 120 types of mammal including 10 primates. The latter includes chimpanzee, L'Hoest's, red tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon, and Bwindi's most famous resident, the mountain gorilla.

Bwindi is a prime destination for birdwatchers. Its 350 species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, species which are difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Buhoma Lodge | Mahogany Lodge | Chameleon Hill Lodge | Trackers Lodge Buhoma

Moderate: Silverback Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Camp | Gorilla Mist Camp

Low Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp | Gorilla Valley Lodge | Buhoma Community Campground

Day 5: Kampala

Early breakfast before embarking on our return to Kampala, driving down the grassed and terraced escarpments of southwestern Uganda while taking in the breathtaking sights of the hills of the region dubbed ‘the little Switzerland of Africa’.

This area is a highly fertile, mountainous region with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced cultivated rows. Not to miss as we traverse Mbarara are the impressing longhorn Ankole cattle. A remarkable highlight of this journey is the Equator line and surely you will cross it as we have a brief stop here.

We will be in Kampala in the evening before for your flight back home.

Buhoma Lodge

Buhoma Lodge is situated in Uganda in the idyllic Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, well known for being home to the rare and elusive mountain gorilla. From the private veranda of each cottage guests can enjoy views overlooking the forest whilst relaxing and taking in the stunning natural surrounds. Buhoma is an ideal accommodation for guests interested in gorilla trekking, being closely located to the meeting point for the treks.

There are ten comfortable cottages at Buhoma Lodge, each complete with a private veranda offering superb views of the forest. Cottages are traditionally decorated with wooden furnishings, but each is comfortable and spacious. Each cottage has en-suite facilities, and some provide bathtubs.

Meals are taken in the main, elevated lounge area, and are prepared using local ingredients to create an international cuisine. Located in the lounge, the bar is the perfect place to relax after the day's activities, or enjoy a drink around the fireplace.

Engagi Lodge

Engagi Lodge is a small and exclusive property on the edge of the Impenetrable Forest, close to the park headquarters. The lodge is open-ended at the front allowing a dramatic view of the Bwindi National Park from every corner inside the building.

The accommodation consists of eight en-suite Cottages which are evenly spaced out and hidden in the foliage. Each Cottage has either double or twin beds, a bathroom with flushing toilets and hot and cold running water. All units have private verandahs where guests can enjoy their early morning tea or coffee.

The kitchen, which has been built a distance away from the lodge to ensure privacy for the clients, prepares a variety of three course meals and all requirements such as vegetarians and vegans are catered for by our team of experienced Kampala trained chefs. The main lodge comprises a rock bar, the restaurant and a large wooden verandah with a separate outdoor viewing platform. The lodge building is large enough to cater for sizeable groups needing banqueting tables, but still allows smaller individual groups to spread out in the various different areas for privacy.

Mihingo Lodge

Mihingo Lodge has a stunning location on the edge of a rock kopje, with sweeping views of Lake Mburo National Park and the surrounding valley.

The luxury tents are set apart from one another for maximum privacy and are set on wooden platforms with thatched roofs, and all are equipped with an en suite bathroom with hot and cold showers and flushing toilets.

The central dining room has been built with sensitivity to the natural environment, using local rocks and native olive wood, with a lovely thatch roof.

There is a swimming pool with sweeping views over the park and if you need a bit of pampering, the lodge offers massage treatments.

A hide overlooks a small waterhole, which is an interesting place to relax with a pair of binoculars, waiting patiently for animals and birds to come to drink.

There is also a tennis court (clay) if you want something different to the safari activities.

Game-viewing will mostly take place with your driver-guide, but there are other options which you can pay locally for - boat trips on the lake, walking safaris, night drives, mountain-biking and horse-riding safaris (you must be experienced to do this).

Rwakobo Camp

Rwakobo Rock is an eco-friendly, family run mid-range hotel and restaurant nestled on a scenic outcrop at the edge of Lake Mburo National Park.

The 8 comfortable and spacious cottages are dotted around the hill, all very private and offering great sunset views. The main dining area overlooks an expanse of rock that adjoins the park.

Rwakobo is nestled on a scenic outcrop with breathtaking views. Animals such as zebra, warthog, impala and bushbuck abound around the lodge and often congregate at the water hole beneath the dining area. At night the sounds of bush come to life and allow your imagination to run wild.

Rwakobo offers a variety of both easy and challenging walks offering the chance to get close to nature. Rwakobo also offers mountain biking and caters for night drives, while the park can be discovered by vehicle, foot or boat.

Every night (weather permitting) the friendly Rwakobo staff stoke up a camp fire so you can watch the sunset explode into a brilliant starlit sky.

Rwakobo offers private thatched cottages, with solar lighting, flush toilets and solar heated showers, which blend into the natural landscape.  The cottages are dotted around the hill taking advantage of rocky ledges and secluded corners. The cottages celebrate the natural lines of the surrounding wilderness. They also provide guests with real comfort and luxury that doesn’t cost the earth.

They are also have self-contained rooms available in the newly built Hornbill House. This beautiful thatch building has 5 bedrooms each with their own en-suite and verandah.  

For a more basic bush experience they have the lazy camping safari tents, the perfect option for the budget traveller but with an added touch of luxury.

Lake Mburo Mantana Tented Camp

This is a small tented camp with only nine well-spaced rooms set in open woodland near the summit of a hill about 4 km from Lake Mburo.

The rooms all offer views out over acacia woodland and some of the lake below. The large 'Larsen-style' tents are set on wooden platforms, with verandahs overlooking the park. The tents themselves are simple but comfortably furnished with twin beds and an en suite bathroom. The bathrooms have flush toilets, flasks of hot and cold water are provided next to the wash-basins and hot water is always available for a bucket shower.

There is a lovely stone and thatch dining and bar area overlooking the lake with comfy sofas and a little open fire, ideal enjoying your pre- or post-dinner drinks.

Activities from Mantana Tented Camp include game drives, walking safaris, birdwatching and boat trips on Lake Mburo.

Arcadia Cottages Lake Mburo

Located 2km from the park headquarters at Rwonyo, Arcadia Lodge is an ideal base from which to explore the park on a game drive, spot crocodiles and hippos on the launch trip or really get close to nature on a guided walking safari.

 Each of the eight self-contained cottages is arranged around the central lodge building.

In the main lounge is where guests can enjoy the tasty dishes in the restaurant or relax and take in the stunning view from the newly built raised deck. 

In the evenings, guests can wind down from an exciting day's safari around the open fire, sipping on a cold drink from the bar while impala, warthog and the occasional hippo munch on the grass just yards away.

Lake Mburo Safari Lodge

Mburo Safari Lodge boasts of its excellent accommodation which comprises the main Lodge, cottages and honey moon house all raised on a wooden platform and covered by a grass-thatched roof, perfectly blending with the natural environment, stylishly and thoughtfully designed for your absolute comfort, convenience, and pleasure.

Each room at Mburo Safari Lodge is equipped with clean private bathroom tubs, showers and toilets, private balconies, handcrafted wooden furniture, comfortable king-sized beds, mosquito nets and wardrobes all opening out to their private balconies.

Some cottages have a full kitchen.

All rooms are privately situated, making it an ideal place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you. 

All cottages enjoy glass doors leading to a screened in porch and magnificent views of the  Lake Mburo national park.

All day dining, you will enjoy the wide variety of mouth watering fine Ugandan and international cuisines at the full-service Restaurant. Although the menu is quite extensive, should you have a special wish, the Chef will be delighted to be at your service.  

Gourmet dinners are just a taste of the standards this lodge.  bar is well stocked with a very wide range of soft drinks, wines and spirits from across the globe. 

Mburo Safari Lodge boasts of its excellent accommodation which comprises the main Lodge, cottages and honey moon house all raised on a wooden platform and covered by a grass-thatched roof, perfectly blending with the natural environment, stylishly and thoughtfully designed for your absolute comfort, convenience, and pleasure. 

Mburo Eagles Nest

Located on a high hill bordering Lake Mburo National Park, this low budget tented camp has not only one of the best views in Uganda, it is also the ultimate African canvas experience.

Eagles Nest consists of 12 safari tents with verandas overlooking Lake Mburo National Park. Each room has two separate beds and is decorated nice. The bathrooms offer the real African bush experience: they will fill your shower upon request and they have also invented a new toilet system- a new eco-friendly invention.

Every safari tent has its own veranda, overlooking the park. 

For dinner they prepare a wood-fire and use the big African pots. The real Africa feeling!

Rushaga Gorilla Camp

Rushaga Gorilla Camp is a midrange facility located in the Rushaga Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Its within a walking distance from the Park Headquarters in the Rushaga Area of Bwindi.

Offering free WiFi and a sun terrace, Rushaga Gorilla Camp is located in Bugambira. Rushaga Gorilla Tracking (Nshongi Group) is 6 km away.

It offers 6 Luxury tents,  6 self-contained  Rooms (twin/double), and and ample Camping  site. All units feature a seating area. Some units have a terrace and/or balcony with garden views.

Guests can enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant or a drink at the bar. The property also offers packed lunches.

Bike hire is available at the property and the area is popular for cycling.

Gorilla Valley Lodge

Located on the border of the Bwindi impenetrable forest and set on a steep slope the lodge has a truly unique setting. Imagine waking up with the sounds of the forest, having your cup of coffee or tea on you private terrace, experiencing the forest coming alive and the mist mysteriously giving way for a lush jungle.

Gorilla Valley Lodge consists of 12 en-suite rooms, built on a steep slope, ensuring the best views on Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

All rooms have a private terrace from where to experience the splender of the forest. Tastefully decorated and equipped with solar water heaters and comfortable beds our rooms ensure a peaceful sleep.

Mahogany Springs

Mahogany Springs offers privacy and serenity blended with optimal comfort in a spectacular setting.

At Mahogany Springs it is the little touches that make the big difference, from the tiny details in the design of the lodge through to the unrivalled service levels provided by the highly trained staff.

Spend the day tracking for Gorillas through the forest, sitting on the terrace of your room or even down by the Munyanga River listening to the flowing waters as time slowly passes by.

The Rooms

All the rooms at Mahogany Springs are suites. The Superior Suites can be Twin, Double or Triple. These suites are spacious with large double doors and

beautiful windows. Each suite has its own private exquisitely designed terrace with panoramic views of the surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest area.

All suites have large en-suite bathrooms with a gorgeously designed open terracotta shower. For added comfort and peace of mind all the suites have an advanced mosquito net system that wraps around the entire area of the beds.

There are power points in the living room and bedrooms as well as 2 desks/dressing tables.

Engagi Lodge in Bwindi, Buhoma

This place is so close to the Uganda Wild life Authority H/Qs; located a walkable distance outside the park head quarters. You can easily miss it because the entrance is not that bright and just on the edge of the road. The interesting thing with this facility is that it was carefully built without much interference with the natural setting. You enter into the vegetation and enjoy the birds singing and the sound of the river flowing below the valley as you view the magnificent Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The staff are very good, warm and welcoming with a well trained cheff. For those who may need massage after trekking, the service can be brought to you in the comfort of your cabin at an extra fee. All who make a booking should do so knowing that like all the other facilities within Buhoma, you will depend on solar power which is ration so don't forget to carry your torch.

Room Tip: All the cabins are independently located away from each other and are overlooking the Bwindi.

Silverback Gorilla Lodge Bwindi

The lodge is located just minutes from the gate to the National Park where the gorilla tracking starts, and has stunning views over the forest. 

The food was good and plentiful. Buffet breakfast of cereal, fruit, eggs, bacon, grilled tomato etc.

The rooms are clean with functional mosquito nets and all have views over the forest with fantastic hot showers. There is also small gift shop in the lodge.

Gorilla Mist Camp Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable N.Park

This is a small camp with 4 thatched roof cottages with balconies overlooking the valley, forest and volcanoes. Located about 5 minutes from Bwindi/ Ruhija park offices from where gorilla tracking for either of the three families Oruzogo, Bitukula, and Kyaguliro starts.

Accommodation at the Gorilla Mist Camp is provided in clean well maintained rooms. All the accommodation has electric lighting installed. There are several leveled terraces for those with their own equipment to camp. Cold beers and sodas are available with local produce used to provide visitors meals.

Chameleon Hill Lodge

Chameleon Hill’s biggest leverage are the best views imaginable – from up the lush highlands, to the magical Lake Mutanda & its lush islands below and the sprawling highlands all around it, and to crown it off with a perfect backdrop of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains. The most visible of the volcanoes are Muhabura, Gahinga & Sabinyo whose peaks are cloudy most of the time. On clearer days, other Virunga volcanoes from Rwanda & D.R Congo can be sighted. At night, there is a good chance of spotting magma spilling in the air from the active volcano Nyiragongo, its epic!

The lodge has a unique style of multiple colors; each building painted a different color of the rainbow, which makes it so colorful and stand out beautifully.

Facilities and Services

• The Lobby – housed by the main castle, is comfy with colorful cushions. On arrival, it is here the lodge manager warmly welcomes you, served a glass of juice to refresh, & briefed before proceeding to check in to your room.
• The Restaurant – serves 3 meals a day, that is, breakfast, lunch & dinner, of both local & international delicacies. Lunch and dinner are served 3 courses (starter, main course & dessert). A daily menu for the main meal course is displayed. Visitors that require special consideration for meals or an alternative from the day’s menu make prior communication with the manager.
• Tea/Coffee is available in the Restaurant throughout the day.
• A Bar – located right next to the restaurant, has a good collection of renowned international wines & spirits in addition to the local beer brands.
• The Lounge, offers comfort on quality seats, sofas with cushions, and magnificent vistas of Lake Mutanda & the impressive landscape. Even better it has a fireplace to make your evenings cozy.
• A Library – placed in the lounge, has a good collection of travel information & books including field guides of birds, Trees & Shrubs, etc.
• A large deck, extending from the main house (that houses the Restaurant, Bar, & Lounge) overlooks the magnificent scenery – Lake Mutanda, the lush highlands, & cloudy Volcanoes.
• Evenings are kept entertained with traditional folklore by the local dancing group
• Electricity is provided by a generator, switched on from 7.00pm to 10.30pm.
• Laundry services are available at small cost.

Accommodation at Chameleon Hill Lodge

The lodge has a total of 10 chalets that include 5 doubles and 5 twins. Odd numbers are doubles while even numbers are twins.

Each chalet comprises of 1 large bed for the doubles, 2 beds (not as large as those in the doubles) for the twins. In the twins, beds can be pushed together to form a double. An extra bed can be added in the double room on request, for instance to accommodate a child. Mosquito nets over the bed, in spite of this being a mosquito-free area/zone.

Other extras in the room include extra thick blanket for the colder nights; bottle of drinking water per day; wardrobe;  a Safe; Umbrella, a patio with excellent views over Lake Mutanda, highlands & Volcanoes

In the en-suite bathroom you will find, Linen and bath towels, a toilet, shower, and a wash bowl. Hot shower are available 24/7.

In between chalets is a fencing to ensure maximum privacy.

Trackers Lodge Buhoma

Trekker's tavern Cottages is located at the hilltop in Ruhija overlooking the Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park Ruhija side, one of the most famous parks and home to more than half of the world population of mountain gorillas.

The lodge is very eco-friendly and has a lovely cozy atmosphere with 5 spacious cottages all with ensuite bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets.

A place of infinite calm surrounded by untamed majesty and commanding panoramic views of the Virungas on a clear day, the beautiful sunrise, Lake Edward and Bwindi forest in the south. It is around 15 minutes walk  from the Ruhija park headquarters.

The lodge is a perfect place for bird watchers as a variety of albertine rift endemics and other special birds can be viewed from the verandas of the cottages. A day walk to the mines offers a bird watcher a chance to see the Spotted Eagle Owl in a day roost, Doherty's Bushshrike, Mackinnon's Bushshrike, Red throated Wryneck, Dusky Twinspot, a variety of Waxbills and many others.

Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Buhoma Community Rest Camp (BCRC) is attractive complex set in wooded grounds on the slope facing a forest gallery immediately inside Bwindi National park entrance gate and has been in existence since 1993. They have self contained Bandas which are cabins in African Style, Self Contained Tents and Dormitories  for your accommodation needs while doing a  Gorilla Tracking tour in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Buhoma Community Rest Camp is setup at the Edge of Bwindi impenetrable National Park with the main aim of providing quality Lodging service to tourists and visitors.
They have got six (6) well finished safari tents, which are self-contained facing the forest with a spectacular view.

Wake up and go to sleep with the relaxing music of nature. Two cottages that are self-contained facing the forest. Nothing beats the scenes that unfold right in front of you. Gorillas do drop by to say hullo occasionally.

We also have got five (5) twin cottage bandas which are non-self-contained and are built with local materials with African architectural design.

Gorilla Friends Resort  – Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable N.Park

It is located about 600m from the Ruhija Gorilla tracking trail-head. An ideal budget lodging in Ruhija accommodation during your trip for you to track Kyanguriro, Bitukura and Oruzongo Gorilla Groups.   The campsite has  4 furnished safari tents ($30 per person bed breakfast), a restaurant and bar.

 Spectacular views overlooking valley towards the forest. Also 3 twin rooms available and camping possible.

• Gorilla permits (each at US$600)
• Chimpanzee viewing permits
• Meals indicated on programme
• Experienced driver/guide
• Accommodation as per programme
• Park fees for the various parks
• Transport on tour as well as hotel transfers
• Entrance fees for tours mentioned in the programme
• Boat rides as on the program