- Tour code
UGAADV01
- Start
Kampala
- End
Kampala
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Challenging
- Language
English
Nine days, two great apes and a country that keeps surprising you. Starting and ending in Kampala, this road trip heads south across the Equator to the terraced hills around Lake Bunyonyi, your base for three nights. From there you'll trek into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with rangers to spend time with endangered mountain gorillas.
Heading north, you'll track chimpanzees in the Kalinzu Forest Reserve, visit a tea plantation and stop at Lake Mburo National Park, before crossing back over the Equator to Jinja, the riverside town known for rafting and outdoor adventures on the Nile.
It's an active, hands-on way to see Uganda, best suited to travellers who enjoy early starts, muddy boots and wildlife on its own terms. Your Soca Islands Host travels with the group of 6 to 16 throughout.
Why This Journey
Uganda is one of the few places where you can see mountain gorillas and wild chimpanzees on the same trip, and this route builds both into a loop that never feels rushed. The gorilla trek sits in the middle of three nights on Lake Bunyonyi, so there's a quiet lake day to recover and take it all in.
The second half swaps forest for savannah and river: tea country, Lake Mburo's open plains and a last two nights in Jinja, where you choose between white water on the Nile and a slow morning at the markets. It suits travellers who want real wildlife encounters with a sense of the country between them.
Where You'll Stay
Kampala (1 night): Kampala Serena Hotel, set in gardens in the city centre. Lake Bunyonyi (3 nights): Birdnest Resort, on the lakeshore. Kalinzu (1 night): Kalinzu Eco Lodge, on the edge of the forest reserve. Lake Mburo (1 night): Mihingo Lodge, overlooking the national park. Jinja (2 nights): The Haven Eco River Lodge, on the banks of the Nile. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly in and out of Entebbe International Airport (EBB); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Hike into Bwindi's forest for time face to face with endangered mountain gorillas
From Lake Bunyonyi's island-dotted waters to the green canopy of Kalinzu Forest
Track chimpanzees, cross safari country and pick your own Nile adventure in Jinja
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required; proof of cover must be provided)
- Visa for Uganda (and for Rwanda if you take the optional day trip)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities (Rwanda day trip, Lake Mburo boat cruise or guided walk) and personal expenses
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Arrive at Entebbe whenever your flight lands; your arrival transfer brings you into Kampala to check in.
In the evening you'll meet your Soca Islands Host and fellow travellers and head out together for your first night in the city. Back at the hotel, the pool and terrace are good spots to swap travel stories and get to know the group.
A long, scenic drive south takes you over the Equator (stop for the photo) and on through banana plantations and small trading towns into the hills of south-western Uganda.
By afternoon you'll reach Lake Bunyonyi, a web of terraced slopes and small islands that many consider the country's loveliest lake. With no dangerous wildlife in the water, a swim is very much on the cards.
The day many travellers come to Uganda for. With experienced rangers leading the way, you'll hike into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to find a family of mountain gorillas.
The trails can be steep, muddy and slow going, so good boots and rain gear help. Sitting quietly while these great apes feed and play around you is worth every step.
Take it easy after yesterday's trek. Paddle a canoe between the islands, go for a hike or a swim, look for birds along the shoreline, or join an optional day trip across the border into Rwanda.
In the evening, relax with the group and relive your time with the gorillas.
Drive north through changing countryside to the Kalinzu Forest Reserve. This corner of Uganda mixes dense forest with open savannah and the wetlands around Lake George.
You'll spend the night close to the forest, ready for tomorrow's early start.
Set out early with a guide to track chimpanzees through Kalinzu Forest, listening for their calls as they move through the trees.
Afterward you'll stop at a tea plantation, then continue to Lake Mburo National Park, where you can put your feet up or add an optional boat cruise or guided walk.
Cross the Equator again, pausing to see the curious effects on either side of the line.
A meal at a community-supported café breaks up the drive before you continue to Jinja on the banks of the Nile.
Jinja is Uganda's adventure capital, and today you choose how to spend it: white-water rafting on the Nile, a mountain bike ride, or a slower morning browsing the local markets.
Keep your eyes open, as wildlife often wanders through the area, and end the day watching the light fade over the river.
Drive back to Kampala, where the trip ends in the early afternoon. Your departure transfer takes you on to Entebbe International Airport (EBB).
Not ready to leave? Consider staying on to see more of Uganda.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Kampala Serena Hotel
A large city hotel set in about 17 acres of gardens and water features on Kintu Road in central Kampala, close to the business district and a short drive from the city's markets and restaurants.
It has an outdoor pool with a pool bar, a spa and health club, and several restaurants and bars, which makes it a comfortable first night after a long flight. Deluxe rooms are 47 m² (506 ft²), with a king-size bed or two single beds.
Hotel websiteBirdnest Resort
A lakeside resort on the shore of Lake Bunyonyi near Kabale, looking out over the terraced hills and small islands of south-western Uganda.
Canoes are free for overnight guests, and there is a sauna, a restaurant and bar, and easy access for swimming in the lake. It is a relaxed base for the Bwindi gorilla trek and a lake day.
Hotel websiteKalinzu Eco Lodge
A lodge on the edge of the Kalinzu Forest Reserve in Bushenyi, so the morning's chimpanzee tracking starts close by. Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Lake George wetlands lie to the north.
Guests stay in cottages, with a restaurant and bar, a swimming pool and a spa with sauna.
Mihingo Lodge
A small lodge of ten rooms on a rocky outcrop next to Lake Mburo National Park, looking over a savannah valley and waterhole.
Rooms are thatched and raised on wooden platforms for privacy, and there is an infinity pool overlooking the valley. The lodge offers walking and horseback safaris, boat trips and night game drives.
Hotel websiteThe Haven Eco River Lodge
A riverside lodge on the west bank of the White Nile at Kangulumira, about 20 km from Jinja town, looking over rapids that mark the start of the rafting stretch.
Accommodation is in bungalows and thatched bandas with private terraces, around a swimming pool and a restaurant and bar overlooking the river. The lodge runs on solar power and has Wi-Fi.
Hotel websiteRooms
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- Extra cost
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly in and out of Entebbe International Airport (EBB).
Proposed accommodation is Kampala Serena Hotel (1 night), Birdnest Resort on Lake Bunyonyi (3 nights), Kalinzu Eco Lodge at Kalinzu Forest (1 night), Mihingo Lodge at Lake Mburo (1 night) and The Haven Eco River Lodge near Jinja (2 nights), or similar, subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers to and from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
The trip includes 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners. Other meals are at your own cost; your Soca Islands Host will let you know which meals are included each day.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Uganda Overland: Gorillas & Chimps trip?
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