Gentle Giants

Fly from London Heathrow, via Addis Ababa, to Entebbe.

Arrive at Entebbe. Spread across a deeply indented promontory on Lake Victoria, Entebbe is splashed with greenery and hemmed with beaches, botanical gardens and a Wildlife Conservation park. The country’s capital in colonial times, it is a relaxed and friendly city now, with cafés and eateries in Victoria Mall, a maze of stalls in the Craft Village, sunset cruises, water’s edge walks and an easy tempo. At 1,100m above sea level, it enjoys a temperate climate, and is just 35km from cosmopolitan Kampala. Enjoy a visit to a local fishing village en route to the Latitude Hotel for an overnight stay. (D)

Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a private, non-profit sanctuary, which re-introduces the Southern White Rhinos to the wild, and is home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Continue through rural scenery to Murchison Falls (6hrs), the largest of Uganda’s National Parks, its diverse ecosystems forming the habitats for 76 mammal species and over 400 species of birds. Two nights at the Paraa Safari Lodge. 
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With its 80km run of rapids and a 43m cascade into the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’, complete with roaring crash and rainbow spray, Murchison Falls’ wild residents include lions and leopards, hyenas, elephants, and buffalo. Seek them out on a game drive across its savannah grasslands and Borassus Palm Forest, to the shore of Lake Albert; and enjoy a boat ride along the Victoria Nile, with an opportunity to visit up the falls.
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Travel to Kibale National Park (8 hrs), recognised as one of Africa’s richest ecosystems, stopping enroute at the vibrant and welcoming town of Fort Portal, the gateway to Kibale, nestled in mountain foothills; and visiting a tea plantation to meet the pickers and learn how the tea is grown and harvested. Two nights at Chimpundu Lodge (Tabebuia Spa & Safari Resort, 2026).
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Kibale’s huge variety of trees form evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, hosting 300 species of birds and 60 of mammals, among them Big Cats; 13 types of monkeys including the threatened Red Colobus and rare L’Hoest monkey; and, most famously, Uganda’s largest population of the region’s endangered chimpanzees. Discover the park on a forest trek (2-3hrs), and an intriguing nature walk in the wetlands of Bigodi; and later relax at the lodge or join a community walk to a local village.
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Drive (5 hrs) to Lake Mburo National Park, taking off at a tangents enroute to visit the Kasenda Crater Lakes area, a natural paradise, off the beaten track, formed by volcanis activity 10,000 years ago. Mburo National Park home to over 300 species of birdlife like the flame head Barbet, Long-tailed Zitting Cisticola, African Bins Rail and Collared Barbet and many other wildlife can be encountered from the Impalas to the elusive Leopards. Two nights at the luxury eco-lodge, Kigambira Safari Lodge. Enjoy a night game drive in Lake Mburo National Park
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An early morning nature walk around Lake Mburo National Park and return to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Mburo and keep your eyes peeled for the copious species of birds on the lake. Evening game drive.
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Head south toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (4hrs), with a game drive enroute in Ishasha, a genuine African wilderness where rare tree-climbing lions lie, loose limbed, along the branches of sturdy fig trees. In the mountainous southwest corner of Uganda, shrouded in mists and cloaked in rainforest, ferns, and jungle foliage, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to spectacular birdlife and a hundred mammal species, the endangered silverback gorillas the stars of the show. Learn about these remarkable residents this evening with a lecture from a Primatologist. Two nights at Trackers Safari Lodge.
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An early start for gorilla trekking in search of the ‘gentle giants’ (2-6hrs), led by an experienced and informative ranger, and only ever tracked by a restricted number of visitors. Making contact with these awe-inspiring mountain apes is one of the most exciting and affecting wildlife encounters you could ever experience. Later, visit a local community.
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Morning at leisure. Transfer to Kihihi Airstrip for the light aircraft flight to Entebbe, with free time in the city before the overnight return flight to London via Addis Ababa.
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Or choose to extend your holiday with two nights at Lake Victoria.

Arrival in London.