Uganda - Mammals and Mountains

Tour Code: UGA02

A 14-day wildlife safari in search of the mammals, particularly the primates, of Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth and other national parks, as well as the Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

14 days from
£6,595 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£5,845
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Uganda is a beautiful country and boasts over 340 mammal species. Beginning our holiday at Lake Victoria, we’ll then head west to Lake Mburo National Park where we’ll look for avian rarities such as African Finfoot, as well as mammals that we are unlikely to encounter elsewhere. From here we’ll travel south on a bumpy, scenic road to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to over 300 Mountain Gorillas, many other primates such as the attractive L’Hoest’s Monkey, and an assortment of unusual birds. Queen Elizabeth National Park is our next stop; ‘QE’, as it is affectionately known, offers Uganda’s best game-viewing and a host of waterbirds. Our final stop is Kibale Forest, where we’ll look for up to 11 species of primate, including Chimpanzees.

  • Uganda is home to half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas
  • Opportunity to spend a day tracking Mountain Gorilla
  • 3-night stay in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
  • Visit Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo & Kibale National Parks
  • Herds of Uganda Kob, Elephant, Buffalo & Hippo
  • Good chances of seeing Lion & Leopard
  • Track Chimpanzee with a ranger in Kibale Forest
  • Black-and-white & Red Colobus Monkeys, plus Chimps at Kibale
  • Led by expert local naturalists 

Grading

A traditional African safari, including leisurely walking in the forest reserves. An optional day's Gorilla-tracking can be very strenuous (Grade D), but rewarding!

Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries in all of Africa, a luxuriant land of great lakes, abundant swamps, a snow-clad equatorial mountain range and acacia-dotted grasslands. Yet, above all, it is the country’s tropical forests that provide the greatest attraction for the naturalist. Here, amongst an unrivalled population of primates, live two of our closest cousins, the Chimpanzee and the magnificent Mountain Gorilla. We will focus on these marvellous animals — and the smaller monkeys they live alongside — on this tour, as well as the wealth of other mammals, birds and other wildlife to be found in Uganda’s diverse and varied national parks.

We begin our holiday with a night in Entebbe located on the peaceful shores of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. The following morning we will take a boat trip into the Mbamba Swamps — around an hour and a half from Entebbe — in search of the prehistoric-looking Shoebill, before heading west to Lake Mburo National Park for a 2-night stay. This attractive reserve of rolling bush and grassland, with the lake at its centre, is home to an incredibly diverse assemblage of birds, which includes the rare and elusive African Finfoot, and such mammals as Oribi, Burchell’s Zebra and Impala. There is also a population of Bohor Reedbuck which we are unlikely to see elsewhere in Uganda.

Next, we begin the biggest adventure of the tour as we drive towards the forest-clad mountains that border Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo along a bumpy, but scenic, road that ends at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This region of densely forested mountains, ranging from 1,200 to 2,590 metres in altitude, is home not only to one of Africa’s richest forest floras and faunas, but also to over 500 Mountain Gorillas — nearly half of the world’s total population! During our 3- night stay at Bwindi, those who wish may choose to spend a day tracking one of the 19 habituated gorilla families that live here, a truly unforgettable and, for some, life changing experience! It is, however, a physically demanding full day’s trek and, as such, not for all. The rest of our time at Bwindi will be spent on less arduous forest exploration in search of a range of smaller primates including Blue Monkey, Guereza Colobus and the attractive L’Hoest’s Monkey, plus an interesting assortment of unusual birds such as African Broadbill, Black Bee-eater and White-tailed Ant-thrush.

After an exciting stay at Bwindi, we head north to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Situated on the Kazinga Channel between Lake Edward and Lake George, ‘QE’, as it is affectionately known, is a classic east African game reserve incorporating rolling grasslands, craters and crater lakes, tropical forests, papyrus swamps and lake shore. Large herds of Uganda Kob roam the grasslands, Giant Forest Hog — so shy and elusive elsewhere in east Africa — is bold and uncaring here, and both Lion and Leopard are fairly common. Along the broad Kazinga Channel that links the two lakes, herds of Elephant and African Buffalo venture down to drink along with the occasional Bushbuck and Defassa Waterbuck. On one morning we will take a boat trip along the channel to enjoy the restless pods of Hippo which wallow in the waterway, along with a wealth of birds that include both White and Pink-backed Pelicans, numerous Pied Kingfishers, graceful African Skimmers and a variety of herons, storks and waders.

Kibale Forest, to the east of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, is our final port of call, reached by means of some interesting dirt roads! This wonderful forest, which covers over 760 square kilometres, is home to an incredible 11 species of primates which includes several Chimpanzee families that have been habituated and which may therefore, with luck, be seen. We may also encounter other rare or colourful primates, such as Red Colobus, L’Hoest’s Monkey and Grey-cheeked Mangabey. Kibale is also home to a group of forest-dwelling Elephants, which are occasionally heard, but rarely seen, and an abundance of colourful birds including Great Blue Turaco, Yellow-spotted Barbet and Bar-tailed Trogon. Our lodge, located within the national park deep in the heart of rural Uganda, is a fitting spot to conclude this action-packed wildlife safari!

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart London
Day 2
Arrive Entebbe and overnight
Day 3
Lake Mburo National Park
Day 4
Lake Bunyoni
Day 5/7
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 8/10
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 11/12
Kibale National Park
Day 13
Depart Entebbe
Day 14
Fly London
cloud_downloadDownload Full Itinerary
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: A combination of comfortable hotels, lodges, tented camps and guesthouses, all with private facilities.
  • Food:

    All food is included in the price. 

    The food available in Uganda is generally an Afro-English mix, and based on good local produce, using abundant and varied fruit and vegetables.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 11th Jan – Fri 24th Jan FULL £6,595
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£5,845
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795
Sat 20th Sep – Fri 3rd Oct FULL £6,595
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£5,845
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 10th Jan – Fri 23rd Jan 6 £6,795
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£5,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£895
Sat 19th Sep – Fri 2nd Oct 5 £6,795
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£5,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£895 
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Mammal Watching Holidays


Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.


Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours


Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.


Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:



Bargain mammal selection


We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.




Our specialist recommends...







"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager




  


All Mammal Watching Tours

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For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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Watching Gorillas in Uganda
Watching Gorillas in Uganda

To see a Gorilla in the wild is the privilege of a lifetime. Many people yearn for the opportunity, but only a few ever manage it. Happily, though, there are places in the world where it is possible to spend time watching Mountain Gorillas, the largest and most magnificent of these apes, and one of those is Uganda.