East Africa Gorilla & Wildlife Safari - 12 Days

Drive west through Uganda's lush countryside, passing through Mubende and Fort Portal - a charming town at the foot of the legendary Mountains of the Moon (Rwenzori). Arrive at Kibale Forest National Park, which harbors the highest concentration and diversity of primates in Africa - 13 species including our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. After lunch, explore the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, home to eight primate species and over 200 bird species. Spot red colobus monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and the spectacular great blue turaco. The wetland walk introduces you to forest ecology before tomorrow's chimpanzee adventure.

After breakfast and briefing, enter Kibale's ancient rainforest for one of Africa's most exciting wildlife encounters - chimpanzee tracking. Kibale supports approximately 1,500 chimps in several habituated communities, making sightings highly likely. Trek through cathedral-like forest, listening for the distinctive pant-hoot calls that signal chimp presence. When you find them, observe these remarkable apes - who share 98.7% of our DNA - as they socialize, groom each other, use tools, and display complex behaviors remarkably similar to our own. Your one hour with the chimps is profound. Afternoon at leisure or optional crater lake hike to one of Kibale's many volcanic lakes.

Drive south through the stunning Rwenzori foothills and crater lake region to Queen Elizabeth National Park - Uganda's most visited reserve. Arrive for lunch at your lodge perched above the Kazinga Channel, then embark on the famous boat cruise - one of Africa's best wildlife boat experiences. This 32-kilometer natural channel connects Lakes Edward and George, attracting incredible wildlife diversity. Hippos wallow in pods of 50+, crocodiles bask on banks, elephants come to drink, and buffalos graze the shoreline. Birdlife is spectacular: fish eagles, pelicans, kingfishers, and African skimmers. Watch the African sun set over the water surrounded by wildlife.

Drive to the remote southern Ishasha sector, famous worldwide for its tree-climbing lions - one of only two populations in Africa with this unusual behavior. These lions have learned to climb fig trees, draping themselves over branches to escape heat and biting flies. Spend the day searching for these remarkable cats while enjoying Ishasha's pristine wilderness. The sector also supports large elephant herds, buffalo, topi, Uganda kob, and occasionally leopard. The Ishasha River meanders through acacia woodland and papyrus swamps, creating diverse habitats. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, arriving at your lodge as mist swirls around the ancient rainforest. Evening gorilla briefing.

Today brings the ultimate wildlife experience - mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site protects approximately half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas - around 500 individuals in 20+ habituated groups. After breakfast and registration, enter the ancient forest with armed rangers and trackers. The terrain is challenging - steep slopes, tangled vegetation, and muddy trails - but the reward is incomparable. When you locate your gorilla family, time stops. Silverbacks weighing 200kg command respect, mothers cradle tiny infants, juveniles wrestle playfully. Your one magical hour passes too quickly, but these memories last forever. Return to your lodge for a celebration dinner.

After breakfast with final misty forest views, drive back to Entebbe. This full-day journey crosses some of Uganda's most beautiful landscapes - terraced hillsides, tea plantations, and traditional homesteads. Stop at the Equator for photos and the famous water demonstration. Visit a local craft cooperative supporting former poachers turned conservationists - purchase gorilla carvings and banana fiber crafts. Arrive in Entebbe in the evening with time for dinner overlooking Lake Victoria. Your Uganda adventure concludes, but tomorrow begins the Kenya chapter of this epic East African journey.

Morning flight from Entebbe to Nairobi (1.5 hours), then continue by air or road to the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve. The transition from Uganda's rainforests to Kenya's savannahs is dramatic - mist-shrouded gorilla habitat gives way to endless golden plains. Arrive at your luxury camp in the Mara and settle into your tented suite. Afternoon game drive introduces the Mara's incredible wildlife - lion prides, cheetah families, elephant herds, and during migration season (July-October), vast herds of wildebeest and zebra. The Mara offers a completely different African experience - open visibility, classic savannah, and exceptional predator sightings.

Dedicate a full day to exploring the Maasai Mara - Kenya's most celebrated wildlife reserve. Morning game drive begins at dawn when predators are most active. The Mara supports the highest density of lions in Africa, and your guides know resident prides intimately. Cheetahs hunt the open grasslands, while leopards patrol riverine forests. During migration season, position at the Mara River for potential wildebeest crossings - one of nature's most dramatic spectacles. After lunch, continue exploring different sectors of the reserve. Optional hot air balloon safari available (additional cost) for aerial perspectives. The Mara's wildlife diversity is astounding - over 95 mammal species in this 1,510 square kilometer reserve.

Another day in the Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. Focus on any Big Five species not yet seen and continue tracking the Mara's exceptional predator populations. Visit a genuine Maasai village for an authentic cultural experience - meet traditional warriors, participate in jumping dances, learn about Maasai coexistence with wildlife, and understand their role in conserving this precious ecosystem. The Maasai have lived alongside wildlife for centuries, and their partnership with conservation is crucial for the Mara's future. Return for a special bush dinner under the African stars, surrounded by the sounds of the wilderness.

Enjoy a final early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara - the golden light creates perfect photography conditions. Search for any remaining wildlife targets or simply savor last moments in this incredible ecosystem. Return for breakfast, then drive back to Nairobi. Stop at the Great Rift Valley escarpment viewpoint for photographs of this dramatic geological feature. Arrive in Nairobi with time for optional city sightseeing - Giraffe Centre, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (11am feeding), or Karen Blixen Museum. Farewell dinner celebrates your epic East African adventure - from gorillas to lions, chimps to elephants.

After breakfast, transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight. Your East Africa safari has been extraordinary - from the misty gorilla forests of Bwindi to the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, from chimpanzees in Kibale to the vast savannah of the Maasai Mara. You've experienced Africa's remarkable primate diversity alongside its classic savannah wildlife, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Kwaheri - until we meet again on safari!