7-Day WIldlife, Gorilla, Golden Monkey and Lake Bunyonyi Safari

Your 7-Day Wildlife, Gorilla, Golden Monkey and Lake Bunyonyi Safari begins with an early morning pick-up from Entebbe, Kampala or another agreed location.

After meeting your professional Enjobe Safaris driver-guide, you will receive a short briefing about the journey before departing for southwestern Uganda. You will travel through Uganda’s countryside, passing wetlands, roadside towns, farmland and rural communities. A stop will be made at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe. Here, you can stand between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, take photographs, browse locally made souvenirs and enjoy refreshments. After the Equator experience, you will continue towards Lake Mburo National Park, stopping for lunch along the way.

Upon arrival, you will proceed to Lake Mburo for a scenic afternoon boat cruise. As you cruise across the calm waters, you may observe hippos, crocodiles and buffaloes resting or feeding near the shoreline. The lake also supports an impressive variety of birdlife, including African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, African jacanas, herons, egrets, cormorants and other waterbirds. The boat cruise provides a relaxing introduction to Lake Mburo National Park and offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, birdwatching and photography from the water.

After the cruise, you will continue to your lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, you will set out for a guided walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park.

Accompanied by an experienced ranger guide, you will explore the park on foot and enjoy a closer, more immersive encounter with its wildlife and landscapes. The cooler morning hours are ideal for walking, as animals are often active and temperatures are more comfortable. During the walk, you may encounter zebras, giraffes, impalas, elands, topis, waterbucks, buffaloes, warthogs and other wildlife. Your guide will also help you identify animal tracks, plants, birds and other smaller details that are often missed while travelling in a vehicle. The walking safari offers excellent opportunities for photography and allows you to experience the sights, sounds and natural atmosphere of the park at a relaxed pace.

After the walking safari, you will leave Lake Mburo National Park and begin the journey towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will stop for lunch along the route before continuing through the rolling hills and rural landscapes of southwestern Uganda. As you approach Bwindi, the scenery changes to terraced hillsides, winding mountain roads and dense rainforest. You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon or early evening.

Your driver-guide will brief you about the following day’s gorilla trekking experience, including what to wear, what to carry and what to expect during the trek. Dinner and overnight will be at your selected lodge near the assigned gorilla trekking sector.

Today marks one of the most anticipated moments of your Uganda safari. After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters with your original passport, packed lunch, drinking water and trekking equipment.

At the park headquarters, you will meet Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and receive a detailed briefing about gorilla trekking procedures, forest safety and conservation guidelines. You will then be assigned a habituated gorilla family and placed in a small trekking group.

Accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers, you will enter the ancient rainforest and begin searching for the mountain gorillas. The trek can last between two and several hours, depending on the gorillas’ location, movements and the condition of the forest trails. The experience may involve steep slopes, thick vegetation, mud and uneven terrain. Hiring a local porter is strongly recommended, as porters provide valuable assistance while directly benefiting from the income earned. Once the gorilla family is located, you will spend one extraordinary hour observing the gorillas as they feed, rest, groom, play and interact. You will have opportunities to take photographs while following the instructions provided by your ranger. After the encounter, you will trek back to the park headquarters and receive a gorilla trekking certificate. You will then return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Later in the afternoon, you will participate in a respectful, community-led Batwa cultural experience. During the visit, members of the Batwa community may share stories about their forest heritage, traditional survival methods, medicinal plants, songs, dances and cultural practices. The experience provides an opportunity to learn about Batwa history while supporting community livelihoods and cultural preservation. You will return to the lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay on safari.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and begin the scenic journey to Lake Bunyonyi. The drive takes you through the beautiful highlands of southwestern Uganda, passing terraced farmland, rural villages, rolling hills and winding mountain roads before descending towards the lake which is surrounded by steep green hills and dotted with numerous islands. Its peaceful setting provides a refreshing contrast to the physical adventure of gorilla trekking. Upon arrival, you will check in at your selected lodge and enjoy lunch while overlooking the lake.

The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure. You may relax at the lodge, admire the views, read, take photographs or take a gentle walk around the surrounding area. Dinner and overnight will be at your selected lodge on or near Lake Bunyonyi.

After breakfast, you will enjoy a morning exploration of Lake Bunyonyi and its surrounding landscapes.

Often described as one of Uganda’s most beautiful lakes, Lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by steep terraced hills, lush countryside and numerous scenic islands. You may begin the day with a traditional canoe or motorboat excursion across the lake. During the excursion, a local guide will share stories about the islands, nearby communities and the cultural history of the area. Depending on the available time and your interests, you may visit a local community, explore one of the islands, observe traditional farming practices or learn more about daily life around the lake. Lake Bunyonyi is also an excellent birdwatching destination. Its name means “place of many little birds,” and the surrounding wetlands, hills and gardens support a variety of waterbirds and highland bird species. After the lake excursion, you will return to the lodge for lunch before checking out and beginning the scenic transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The journey takes you through the dramatic highlands of southwestern Uganda, passing terraced farms, rural villages and rolling hills with views towards the Virunga Volcanoes. Upon arrival near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you will check in at your selected lodge and spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing and preparing for the following day’s adventure. Dinner and overnight stay will be at your lodge near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

After an early breakfast at your lodge, you will make the short transfer to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park headquarters for your golden monkey tracking experience.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies within the spectacular Virunga Mountains and is characterised by dense bamboo forests, montane vegetation and dramatic volcanic scenery. At the park headquarters, you will meet experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and receive a briefing about golden monkey behaviour, forest safety and the tracking procedures. You will then enter the forest and begin searching for a habituated golden monkey group. The duration of the walk may vary depending on the location and movement of the monkeys. Golden monkeys are highly active primates known for their distinctive golden-orange fur, playful behaviour and fast movements through the bamboo forest.

Once the group is located, you will spend time observing the monkeys as they feed on bamboo shoots, fruits and leaves, interact with one another and leap between branches. The experience provides excellent photography opportunities, although the monkeys’ speed and constant movement can make capturing the perfect image an exciting challenge. During the walk, your ranger may also point out birds, plants and other wildlife found within the forest. After completing the tracking experience, you will return to the park headquarters and transfer back to your lodge for lunch. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure, allowing you to relax at the lodge, enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery or take an optional guided walk around the Kisoro and Mgahinga area.

Dinner and overnight stay will be at your selected lodge near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and begin the return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. The drive takes you through the scenic highlands and rural landscapes of southwestern Uganda. You will stop for lunch and comfort breaks during the journey. Where time permits, you may make a short stop at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe for photographs, refreshments and souvenir shopping. You will then continue to Kampala or Entebbe, arriving in the evening. Your driver-guide will drop you at your hotel, residence or Entebbe International Airport depending on your departure flight schedule, marking the end of your 7-Day WIldlife, Gorilla, Golden Monkey and Lake Bunyonyi Safari.

Guests departing Uganda on the same day should book a late-night flight. An additional night in Entebbe is recommended for travellers who prefer a more relaxed conclusion to the safari.