Distance travelled +/- 390 Km
Approx driving time: 7 Hours

From Kampala, we travel west towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, across the Equator, through fertile green terraced hillsides, lush banana plantations, steep mountains and tangled forests with herds of Ankole cattle with their incredible long curving horns roaming the roads and paddocks. We camp a short distance from the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here you will have the opportunity to relax and unwind, take a walk in the surrounding areas and mingle with the local community.

Accommodation: Simba Camp – Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
WIFI: Yes
Optional Activities: Nil

After breakfast we enter Queen Elizabeth National Park and take in the superb views of the mountains that separate Uganda from central Africa as well as Lake Edwards and Lake George. Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 500 species of bird and 100 species of mammals, making it one of the most biodiverse national parks in the world. As we continue to Kyambura Gorge, the Valley of the Apes, we may get to spot these animals en route to our encounter with the chimpanzees. We spend some time walking through the verdant rainforest with an expert guide, observing the habituated chimpanzees in the forest canopies. Kyambura Gorge is also home to various other primates, namely the black-and-white colobus monkey, baboon, red tailed monkey, and vervet monkey.

Please Note: Chimpanzee Trek permits are issued by the wildlife authority in groups of up to 8 people per batch. Depending on
our group size and availability, the itinerary may vary slightly with the Chimpanzee trek taking place either on the afternoon of
day 1, morning of day 2, afternoon of day 2, or morning of day 3.

Accommodation: Simba Camp – Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
WIFI: Yes
Optional Activities: Nil

Distance travelled +/- 240 Km
Approx driving time: 5 Hours

We leave the picturesque hills of the national park and make our way to the lush and stunning ‘Lake Bunyonyi’ (‘Place of
many little birds’). This lake is 27 km long, 7km wide and at an elevation of 1950 metres above sea level is surrounded by undulating hills between 2200m to 2478m high. With a depth of nearly 900m in parts this lake is the second deepest lake in Africa (the deepest being Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania). With twenty-nine islands that can be visited by local boats, the lake is a great place to unwind, relax and explore on the days that we don’t trek to see the mountain gorillas.

Over the next two days the group will be split with one group trekking to the mountain gorillas while the others relax at Lake Bunyonyi to enjoy the many activities on offer.

Lake Bunyonyi
There are many activities to do here such as hiring canoes to visit some of the lakes’ islands, visit local tribes and villages,
visit the local orphanage, bird watching and nature walks. Alternatively, just relax around camp, catch up on your travel
diary or postcards to home.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking
This region of Africa is home to the world’s remaining 700 mountain gorillas, many of which inhabit the Bwindi
Impenetrable National Park. [We may travel into neighbouring Rwanda to trek for the gorillas on rare occasion].

On the day of our trek we gather in the early morning to meet our local guide and tracker. Walking in small groups we trek into the thick rainforest. The trek can be demanding at times with uneven terrain and hilly rainforest but the privilege of spending time with a family of these gentle primates makes the effort well worthwhile. To many people the day’s trek and time with the gorillas remains their most exciting wildlife encounter in Africa.

The usual procedure, once we have located the gorilla ‘family’, is to squat or sit down and simply observe them for around an hour – the time set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (the national body charged with controlling and maintaining the gorillas in Uganda). Gorillas are sociable creatures, living in groups between 12 and 20 individuals, usually led by an ‘alpha male’ (the ‘silverback’ – so called because of the silver hair on his back which grows once the male gorilla attains maturity). Most people find that the gorillas are remarkably human-like at close quarters – particularly in the social interaction between family members and in ‘play’ activity in which the young engage.

Photography is permitted (although not with a flash and there are restrictions for those who wish to use a video camera.)
Your permit allows you one trek and gorilla viewing (time limited to one hour). However, because the authorities maintain strict limits on the number of visitors allowed to view the gorillas each day, we may spend several days in the area while all passengers in our group complete the trek and viewing.

NB: Depending on the availability of the gorilla permits the tour itinerary may vary in day to day running order which is based on the brochure itinerary. From time to time we may have to trek on different days. If at any chance our Gorilla trek should be in another neighbouring country, e.g. Rwanda (instead of Uganda) this may entail extra visa fees although we shall endeavour to advise you before departure of any significant changes to the tour itinerary. Please take the above itinerary as a guideline only. This applies to Day 3 – 5 of this tour.

Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Overland Stop/ Gorilla Trek
area – Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
WIFI: Yes
Optional Activities: See day 4

If not trekking, today is free to explore the surrounding area, discover the Islands by boat on Lake Bunyonyi or relax back at camp catching up on some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Overland Stop/ Gorilla Trek area – Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
WIFI: Yes
Optional Activities: Island boat trips US$25 – US$80, Village Walk US$10, Traditional Dance US$100, Bird Watching US$15, Canoe Hire US$10

Today is a trek day or a day at leisure to enjoy the many optional activities in Lake Bunyonyi. Whether relaxing on the shores of this deep crater lake with a good book or heading out to the village and orphanage to gain an insight into the everyday life of Ugandans in this area – you’ll no doubt wish you could stay in this beautiful part of Africa for longer.

Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Overland Stop/ Gorilla Trek area – Camping in twin share tents with shared facilities
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
WIFI: Yes
Optional Activities: See day 4

Distance travelled +/- 550 Km
Approx driving time: 10 Hours

Leaving Lake Bunyonyi after breakfast, we travel back across the Equator through lush pasture lands and the northern reaches of Lake Victoria (the largest lake in Africa) to Kampala, Uganda’s capital city where this tour ends. Kampala is a hotspot for great food and entertainment. If time allows, take the night out and try the local cuisines and enjoy the hospitality and friendliness of
the local Ugandan’s.

Accommodation: Nil
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
WIFI: Yes
Optional Activities: Nil