StephMyLife Uganda: 8 Days of Gorillas, Chimps, Wildlife & Culture

Price

💲 EUR 3,699per person (twin/double sharing)
💲 EUR 350 single supplement

If you would like to add a return flight back to Entebbe on the final day and skip the long drive, you can add this after you book for $300.

✔ Airport pick-up and drop-off in Entebbe
✔ Gorilla trekking permit (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park)
✔ Chimpanzee trekking permit (Kibale National Park)
✔ 7 nights accommodation in hand-picked lodges
✔ Meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
✔ All ground transport in private 4×4 safari vehicle with driver/guide
✔ Guided community visits in Bigodi and Bwindi
✔ Optional guided nature walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
✔ Walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park
✔ Boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel
✔ Game drives in Queen Elizabeth NP & Ishasha sector
✔ Bottled drinking water throughout the trip
✔ All park entrance fees and government taxes
✔ Tips and donations at every included activity (EUR 50 per person – see below)

Not Included

✘ International flights to Uganda
✘ Visas
✘ Travel insurance
✘ Tips for your driver/guide, and any additional tipping you’d like to do
✘ Alcoholic & soft drinks

A Note on Tips & Donations

Tipping is a much bigger part of the culture in Uganda than it is at home, and it’s expected at almost every activity. I know that can feel uncomfortable – especially when you’ve already paid a lot for your trip and you’re standing there trying to work out what’s appropriate and how to hand it over. So rather than leave everyone to figure it out on the spot, I’ve built it into the price.

Your tour price includes EUR 50 per person in tips and donations, which I’ll take care of on the ground on your behalf:

• EUR 10 – the gorilla trekking guides and trackers in Bwindi
• EUR 10 – the chimpanzee trekking guides in Kibale
• EUR 10 – the two community walk guides, in Bigodi and with the Batwa in Bwindi (EUR 5 each)
• EUR 5 – the crew on the Kazinga Channel boat cruise
• EUR 5 – the rangers on the Lake Mburo walking safari
• EUR 5 – the Ankole cattle experience
• EUR 5 – a donation to the Batwa community

You’ll meet the Batwa on the Day 6 community visit. They’re the forest-dwelling people who lived in and around Bwindi for generations before it became a national park in 1991, and who were moved off the land when it was protected. They see very little of the tourism income the gorillas now generate, so alongside the tip for your guide, a donation from every guest goes directly to the community.

Including all of this means nobody has to carry small notes around, work out the going rate, or feel awkward at the end of an experience they’ve already paid for. The rangers, trackers and community projects get properly looked after, and you get to just enjoy the day.

If you’d rather do your own tipping, that’s completely fine. Just let me know before your final balance is due and I’ll take the EUR 50 off your invoice and send you the full breakdown so you can tip directly instead.

The Bigodi Wetland walk on Day 3 is optional, so there’s no tip included for it – if you decide to go, I’ll tell you what’s appropriate on the day so you’re not guessing.

Tips for your driver/guide at the end of the trip are separate and entirely at your discretion – I’ll include suggested amounts in your pre-trip information so you’re not left guessing. And if someone gives you a brilliant experience along the way and you’d like to add something extra, you’re always welcome to.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 (Saturday 31st July 2027): Arrival in Entebbe & Welcome Dinner

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you’ll be met by your tour leader and transferred to your hotel which is just 50m from the beach. If you arrive early, you can visit the Mabamba Wetland for a birding excursion. The Mabamba Wetland is a vast marsh on the shores of Lake Victoria, just outside Entebbe. It’s one of the best places in the world to spot the rare shoebill stork, a prehistoric-looking bird that’s become a bucket-list sighting for birdwatchers. Exploring the wetland is done by canoe where your guide will point out shoebills and other birdlife like kingfishers, herons, and African jacanas. Even if you’re not a keen birder, seeing the shoebill in its natural habitat is unforgettable. If you arrive later in the day, you can simply relax at the lodge and recover from your journey.

After the excursion, we will head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We will kick off with a trip briefing to get you ready for the week ahead and allow you to ask questions you have. Then we’ll gather for a group welcome dinner at our hotel so you can get to know everyone! Dinner is included and the restaurant serves wine, beer and cocktails if you would like to buy a drink.

Accommodation: Horizons Hotel – Entebbe, or Similar
Included meals: Welcome Group Dinner

Day 2 (Sunday 1st August 2027): Transfer to Kibale & Bigodi Community Visit

After breakfast, we set off west toward Kibale National Park. The drive takes around 6 hours, but it’s broken up with scenic stopovers and photo opportunities. We will be travelling in 6-seater safari trucks with a driver / guide. Along the way we’ll pass roadside markets selling tropical fruit, see stacks of matoke bananas being transported on bicycles, and may stop to meet Mpigi’s drum makers, who still use traditional techniques to carve large ceremonial drums by hand. As the road climbs higher into Uganda’s western region, the scenery shifts to rolling hills blanketed with tea plantations, crater lakes, and lush banana groves.

We will arrive at Turaco Treetops in time for a lunch break, and check into our rooms to refresh.

After lunch, we will go for a community visit in Bigodi. The Bigodi community walk will take us through a vibrant village just outside Kibale National Park. Guided by local residents, we’ll stroll along small paths past homes, gardens, and workshops, meeting people who live and work in the area. Along the way you might see how traditional banana beer is brewed, learn about herbal medicines used in the community, or visit a women’s project where crafts are made. It’s a relaxed, interactive experience that gives you a deeper connection to everyday life in rural Uganda and shows how tourism directly supports local families.

We will return to the hotel after, and meet for a group dinner at the hotel to chat about the day!

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops – Kibale, or Similar
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 (Monday 2nd August 2027): Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Nature Walk

Today we are going chimpanzee trekking!

After breakfast, we will set out for an unforgettable trek in Kibale Forest, home to 13 species of primates and over 300 species of birds. After a briefing from the rangers, we’ll hike into the rainforest to track the chimpanzees. Along the way, you may spot colobus monkeys swinging through the canopy, olive baboons, or red-tailed monkeys. The forest is alive with bird calls, rustling leaves, and the distant drumming of chimpanzees communicating. Once we find them, you’ll spend an hour observing the chimps; watching them groom, play, and forage in their natural habitat.

We’ll head back to the lodge for lunch and a chance to rest before the afternoon.

In the afternoon we’ll go on a guided nature walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run reserve on the edge of the park. Wooden boardwalks lead through papyrus swamp and patches of forest, and it’s one of the best spots in Uganda for primates and birds – red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey and black-and-white colobus all live here, alongside more than 200 bird species including the spectacular great blue turaco. It’s a gentle, flat walk and a lovely way to wind down after the morning’s trek. The sanctuary is run entirely by the local community, so your visit goes straight back into village projects. If you’d rather rest up after the trek, you’re very welcome to stay at the lodge instead.

We’ll return to the lodge for sunset over the forest and a group dinner together.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops – Kibale, or Similar
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 (Tuesday 3rd August 2027): Queen Elizabeth NP & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

After a relaxed breakfast we leave Kibale behind and drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a vast savannah dotted with acacia trees and crater lakes. It’s a short hop today – around 2 hours – through crater-lake country and tea plantations, with the Rwenzori Mountains off to the west if the cloud lifts. We’ll arrive at our lodge in time for lunch and have the afternoon to settle in and refresh.

Later in the day we will be going on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. From the boat we’ll see hippos wallowing, buffalo grazing, elephants drinking, and countless bird species along the shore. Sunset on the channel is a photographer’s dream!

Back at the lodge, we’ll gather for a group dinner and swap photos from the day.

Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge – Queen Elizabeth NP, or Similar
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 (Wednesday 4th August 2027): Ishasha Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi

Today we head to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, known as Ishasha, famous for its tree-climbing lions. We will embark on a morning game drive, where we’ll search for lions resting on the branches of fig trees, as well as elephants, buffalo, topi, and other wildlife. This part of the park feels remote and wild, with fewer vehicles and wide-open savannahs.

After lunch, we continue driving south into the lush highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a journey of around 4 hours. As we get closer, the scenery changes dramatically: the air grows cooler, the hills steeper, and the dense rainforest looms ahead. We’ll arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon and settle in for dinner, surrounded by the sounds of the forest.

Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge – Bwindi, or Similar
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 (Thursday 5th August 2027): Bwindi Gorilla Trek & Community Visit

Today we will experience the highlight of the trip – Gorilla Trekking!

After an early breakfast, we head to the park headquarters for a full briefing before starting the gorilla trek. With guides and trackers leading the way, we’ll hike into the forest, following narrow, sometimes muddy trails (a prep and packing list will be sent for the trek). The trek can take anywhere from 1–4 hours depending on the gorillas’ movements that day, but the anticipation makes every step exciting.

When we reach the gorilla family, you’ll be able to spend one magical hour with them – watching the gorillas interact with each other. This is one of the rarest wildlife encounters on earth, and it’s always deeply moving.

In the afternoon, we will visit a nearby community to learn more about the culture and traditions of the people who live alongside Bwindi’s gorillas. We’ll spend time with the Batwa, the forest-dwelling people who lived in and around Bwindi for generations before it became a national park in 1991, and who were moved off the land when it was protected. Guided by a member of the community, we’ll hear about their history, their traditional forest skills and how life has changed since they left the forest. After a morning spent with the gorillas, it’s a moving counterpoint – and an important part of understanding this place.

After our community visit we will head back to our lodge and enjoy a simple group meal at our rainforest lodge together.

Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge – Bwindi, or Similar
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 (Friday 6th August 2027): Transfer to Lake Mburo & Walking Safari

After breakfast, we leave the rainforest behind and travel east to Lake Mburo National Park, a small but beautiful park known for its open savannah, lakes, and acacia woodlands. The drive takes around 4 hours.

On arrival at our lodge, we’ll have lunch and some time to relax before heading out on a walking safari. Lake Mburo is one of the few parks in Uganda where you can walk among the wildlife. With a ranger guiding us, we’ll get close to zebras, giraffes, impala, and other antelope on foot.

After our walking safari, we will return to the lodge to freshen up, have a swim in the pool, and then meet for a group dinner. We will be staying at a luxury eco-lodge and we will have our group dinner on the grounds.

Accommodation: Kigambira Safari Lodge – Lake Mburo, or Similar
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 (Saturday 7th August 2027): Ankole Cattle Experience and our Goodbyes!

This morning, after breakfast, we will take part in the Ankole Cattle Experience, learning about the unique long-horned Ankole cattle and their importance in local life.

Afterwards, we will begin the drive back to Entebbe, where our safari comes to an end. This drive is quite long (around 5 hours), if you would like to take an internal flight instead you can add this at checkout and we will make the arrangements for you.

Depending on your schedule, we’ll drop you at the airport for your onward flight or at your hotel in Entebbe.

Included meals: Breakfast

Frequently Asked Questions

When does this tour run?

This tour departs on Saturday 31st July 2027 and finishes on Saturday 7th August 2027 – 8 days and 7 nights. Day 1 is your arrival day in Entebbe, and Day 8 is your departure day, so please book your international flights to arrive on 31st July and depart on 7th August (or later, if you’d like to add extra nights).

What is included in the price?

All inclusions are listed in the ‘Cost’ Section. This tour has as many inclusions as I could get in there – accommodation, all meals, all permits and fees for the national parks. The permits to see Gorillas is $800 and Chimpanzees is $200 so much of the cost of this tour is permits, fees and game drives.

How close will we get to the gorillas?

You’ll be allowed to spend one hour with the gorilla family, usually at a distance of around 7 metres. Sometimes the gorillas approach closer themselves — a truly unforgettable experience.

Will we definitely see gorillas and chimpanzees?

Yes. The chances of sightings are extremely high (over 95%) because rangers track the families daily and guide you directly to them.

Is gorilla trekking ethical?

Yes. Gorilla trekking is carefully regulated to protect the gorillas and their habitat. Only a limited number of permits are issued each day, groups are capped at 8 visitors, and strict rules are in place (like no flash photography and keeping distance) to minimise stress on the animals. The money from your permit goes directly towards conservation and protecting the gorillas, as well as supporting the local communities who live around the parks. This means your visit actively helps ensure the survival of the species.

Why do the permits cost so much?

The permits are expensive because they fund gorilla conservation. Protecting these endangered animals requires significant resources: anti-poaching patrols, veterinary teams, habitat protection, and community projects. High prices also help regulate tourism to prevent overcrowding, which can spread human-borne diseases to gorillas and harm their sensitive habitats.

The $800 gorilla permit and $200 chimpanzee permit might feel steep, but without tourism revenue the future of these species would be at serious risk. By trekking, you’re directly contributing to their survival and to the livelihoods of the communities who share their home.

What kind of wildlife will I see besides gorillas and chimps?

You can expect to see elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, giraffes, antelope, tree-climbing lions, and an abundance of birdlife. Every park on this itinerary offers something unique.

What type of accommodation will we stay in?

We use hand-picked boutique hotels and guesthouses that balance comfort, local charm, and great locations. Rooms are based on twin/double share. A single supplement is available if you prefer your own room.

Are meals included?

Yes, all meals are included on this tour. If you have dietary requirements they will be accommodated.

How many people will be in the group?

The group size for this tour is 17 guests, plus Steph.

Do I need a visa for Uganda?

Yes. Most travellers require an e-visa, which should be obtained online before arrival. Full instructions will be sent to you upon booking.

What level of fitness is required?

This trip includes some light to moderate hikes, including the gorilla and chimpanzee treks. Treks can take 1–4 hours on uneven ground, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended. Porters are available to help with bags and provide support on the trails.

What is the transport like?

We travel in comfortable private 4×4 safari vehicles, perfect for game drives and long journeys between parks. Transfers are included throughout the trip.

What should I pack?

A packing list will be sent to you before the trip with everything to pack.

Is alcohol allowed on the trip?

Yes, alcohol is available in lodges and restaurants in Uganda. You’re welcome to enjoy a drink in the evenings after activities.

Is tipping expected?

Yes – tipping is customary in Uganda and is genuinely expected at most activities, which is exactly why I’ve included it in the price. EUR 50 per person is built into what you pay, covering a tip or donation at every included activity, and I hand it over on the day so you’re never put on the spot. If you’d prefer to manage your own tipping, just let me know before your final balance is due and I’ll remove it from your invoice and send you the breakdown. Tips for your driver/guide are separate and at your discretion, with suggested amounts in your pre-trip information. See ‘A Note on Tips & Donations’ above for the full breakdown.

I’m a solo traveller — can I join?

Absolutely! Many of our guests join solo. You’ll be paired with a same-gender roommate if you book a shared room, or you can choose a single supplement if you’d like your own. Single rooms are subject to availability, as lodges are small. Book early if you would like a private room.

What’s the best time of year to visit Uganda?

Uganda can be visited year-round, but the best months for gorilla trekking and safaris are during the drier seasons: December to February and June to September. This trip is planned for late July and early August to give you the best chance of great weather and wildlife sightings.

What is the weather like?

Uganda has a warm, tropical climate. Days are usually warm, with cooler evenings in the highlands (like Bwindi). Rain showers are possible at any time, especially in the forests, so waterproof gear is essential.

Is Uganda safe to visit?

Yes, Uganda is considered safe for travellers in the areas we visit. You’ll be accompanied by experienced local guides and drivers throughout the trip.

Can dietary requirements be catered for?

Yes, whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, the lodges and restaurants we work with can accommodate dietary needs. Please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for this tour. Your policy must include medical cover and cover for trekking activities.

What is the cancellation policy for the tour

We know plans can change, so we’ve kept our cancellation policy clear and fair:

• To secure your spot, a non-refundable deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking.
• Your final balance is due 6 weeks before departure (by 19th June 2027).

If you need to cancel:

• 12+ weeks before your trip: You’ll only lose your deposit.
• 8–11 weeks before your trip: 50% of your trip cost is non-refundable.
• 4–7 weeks before your trip: 75% of your trip cost is non-refundable.
• Less than 4 weeks before your trip: Unfortunately, no refund can be given.

If we ever have to cancel (for example, if minimum numbers aren’t met), you’ll get a full refund or the option to transfer to another date.

Travel insurance is required to protect you in case of illness, flight cancellations, or other unexpected events.