Wildlife and Cultural Adventure
Through Uganda
14
DAYS
1
DESTINATIONS
3
BIOMES
Best suited
Families | Couples
Experiences
Gorilla trekking | walking safaris | bush sundowners | conservation research
Explore Uganda’s Pristine Forests and Parks
14-day adventure exploring Uganda
From there, you’ll trek through the misty rainforest of Mgahinga National Park, meeting mountain gorillas and playful golden monkeys, while connecting with the Batwa people and their rich forest traditions.
Next, in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you’ll spend unforgettable time with mountain gorillas during a unique habituation experience, explore local culture, and enjoy guided forest walks.
At Queen Elizabeth National Park, you’ll track chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, cruise the Kazinga Channel spotting wildlife, and join researchers on lion conservation patrols.
Finally, in Kibale Forest, you’ll walk with researchers during chimpanzee habituation, help plant trees in a reforestation project, and discover the vibrant birdlife and wildlife of the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, completing a truly immersive Ugandan wildlife adventure.
Trip Highlights
Mgahinga’s Mountain Gorillas and Batwa Cultural Immersion
Trek with the rare Nyakagezi gorilla group in the stunning rainforest and volcano landscape of Mgahinga National Park, followed by a cultural visit to the Gahinga Batwa Village to learn about their ancestral traditions and land restoration efforts.
Bwindi’s Intimate Gorilla Habituation Experience
Spend up to four hours on a unique Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gaining an intimate connection with mountain gorillas while supporting vital conservation work.
Wildlife Tracking and Boat Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura Gorge to track chimpanzees in their natural habitat, cruise the wildlife-rich Kazinga Channel, and join researchers on lion tracking missions that contribute to protecting big cats.
Primate Encounters and Conservation in Kibale Forest
Immerse yourself in Kibale Forest’s diverse primate population through guided hikes and chimpanzee habituation, participate in a reforestation project to restore native forest, and discover the rich birdlife and wildlife of the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary.
Activities tailored for all experiences
Boating or Fishing
Boating or fishing on Lake Victoria and visiting the botanical gardens.
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park to spend time with the Nyakagezi gorilla group amid the Virunga volcano rainforest.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Golden monkey trekking through scenic forest trails in Mgahinga to observe these playful primates in their natural habitat.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, spending up to four hours closely observing mountain gorillas adapting to human presence.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge within Queen Elizabeth National Park, involving a guided hike through rugged terrain to find habituated chimpanzees.
Tree Nursery and Reforestation Project
Participating in the Tree Nursery and Reforestation Project or taking a guided walk through Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary near Kibale Forest to experience diverse birdlife and wildlife.
Your Journey Overview
Visit Entebbe
Entebbe, located on the shores of Lake Victoria, is a peaceful town ideal for a stopover before or after a gorilla trek or safari in Uganda. It hosts Uganda’s International Airport and is about an hour from Kampala. Surrounded by the lake on three sides, Entebbe offers opportunities for boating and fishing.
Visitors can also explore the botanical gardens or visit Ngamba Island, a chimpanzee sanctuary run by the Jane Goodall Institute.
Exceptional Stay at No.5 Boutique Hotel
Adventure onwards to Mgahinga National Park
Located in southwestern Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park forms part of the much larger conservation area bordering Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga in the DRC.
The striking landscape contains three conical volcanoes, blanketed in rainforest which are a vital protected home for mountain gorillas.
Wildlife Encounters and Cultural Experiences in Mgahinga National Park
In Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park, visitors can enjoy a range of enriching experiences that blend wildlife encounters with cultural immersion.
Gorilla trekking offers a rare opportunity to spend time with the Nyakagezi gorilla group, the park’s sole habituated family, after a challenging but rewarding hike through the rainforest-covered slopes of the Virunga volcanoes.
Another highlight is golden monkey trekking, where travellers trek through scenic forest paths to observe these playful, brightly colored primates in their natural habitat. Complementing the wildlife adventures is a visit to the Gahinga Batwa Village, where guests connect with the
Batwa people – once forest dwellers – on a guided walk that shares their ancestral traditions, music, medicinal plant knowledge, and the inspiring story of their cultural and land restoration efforts.
Exceptional Stay at Mount Gahinga Lodge
Discovering Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda is a biodiverse rainforest sanctuary home to chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, colorful birds, and nearly half the world’s mountain gorillas.
A key highlight is the Gorilla Habituation Experience, where visitors spend up to four hours with a gorilla group as they adapt to human presence – a vital part of conservation efforts. Guests can also visit Bwindi Bar, a training center offering hospitality skills to local youth and serving delicious local fare.
Guided nature walks through the forest reveal rich wildlife and offer cultural encounters with the Batwa people, who share their traditional forest knowledge.
Exceptional Stay at Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge
Wildlife Adventures in Queen Elizabeth National Park
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, visitors can track chimpanzees deep within the lush Kyambura Gorge – a dramatic, 100-meter-deep forested ravine. Guided treks last 2 – 3 hours and involve hiking through challenging terrain to find and follow a habituated troop of chimps in their natural habitat.
On the Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometer waterway linking Lakes Edward and George, boat safaris offer a chance to spot elephants, hippos, lions, and more along the water’s edge.
For big cat enthusiasts, lion tracking in the park’s northern section allows guests to join researchers in the field to monitor radio-collared lions and learn about their behavior and conservation.
Supporting this effort, the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project – launched in 2023 – uses fieldwork and camera traps to collect vital data on lions, leopards, and hyenas, helping guide long-term predator conservation and benefit surrounding communities.
Exceptional Stay at Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Immersive Wildlife and Conservation Experiences in Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest National Park, a lush and ancient rainforest in Uganda, is home to over 13 primate species including chimpanzees, baboons, and colobus monkeys.
Visitors can take private guided hikes through its dense canopy and scenic waterfalls, while the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience offers a rare chance to spend extended time with wild chimps alongside researchers as they become accustomed to human presence – a key step in long-term conservation.
Guests can also engage in the Tree Nursery and Reforestation Project at Kibale Lodge, planting native trees and learning about habitat restoration efforts led by conservation experts.
Just nearby, the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary provides a rich biodiversity experience with a guided 4.5 km walk through a birding paradise that’s home to over 200 species, as well as mammals like sitatungas and bushbucks, viewed from boardwalks and canopy treehouses.
Exceptional Stay at Kibale Lodge
Our purpose
Journeys With Purpose engage guests with the world’s most ambitious and exciting conservation projects across our seven continents. We believe travel can be a powerful force for learning, for expanding horizons and shifting perspectives on the magic and wonder of our natural world.
Our journeys invite you to step outside of your daily ecosystem and engage with new cultures, environments and people in the world’s wildest corners. At this moment in history, we are placing unprecedented pressure on the planet and wildlife, communities and nature is under threat. True wilderness is increasingly rare, yet there are remarkable examples of nature rebounding, and flourishing.
These conservation successes showcase the resilience of our natural world, and our journeys serve to spotlight, and support, these projects. Whether on a safari, diving trip or mountain expedition, by travelling with JWP you contribute to our mission: to conserve and restore 30 million acres of land and 30 million acres of seas by 2030. We are proud members of 1% for the Planet, through which we donate 1% of our annual revenue to grass-root initiatives.
Journeys With Purpose is also a member of The Long Run, a Conde Nast Traveller specialist travel agency, and a Certified B Corp, awarded “Best for the World: Environment 2022”.
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