Highlights of Uganda: Entebbe, Kibale & Bwindi – 7 Days

Welcome to Uganda! Known as the "Pearl of Africa," this country is filled with natural wonders ranging from exotic wildlife to majestic bodies of water like the Nile River and Lake Victoria. Most famously, Uganda boasts highland forests and jungles home to chimpanzees and mountain gorillas—which you'll get to see in the wild. First, you'll arrive in Entebbe, a city on the north end of Lake Victoria—the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. This metropolis is known for its friendliness and laid-back atmosphere, which you'll experience upon arrival when you meet your driver. After transferring to your hotel in the city, you can head out for a self-guided walking tour. Perhaps take a stroll along the lakeshore, shop at Victoria Mall, and sample the local cuisine. Try the tilapia, the tastiest fish in the country.

In the morning, you'll meet your driver for the ride an hour north to Kampala, the capital of Uganda. During a day tour, you'll experience the highlights of the city. First up is a trip to the Uganda Museum, which features exhibits detailing the ethnological and natural history of the country and its heritage. After the museum, you'll take a 30-minute food tour around Kampala. During this culinary adventure, you'll stop at restaurants and food stalls to taste traditional dishes. Highlights include the famous "Ugandan Rolex," a street food staple made by rolling a vegetable omelet in chapati. For lunch, sit down for a plate of luwombo, a popular dish of various ingredients cooked in a banana leaf. It originated among the Baganda people here. They are members of the Bantu tribe who come from the Buganda Kingdom, one of the largest pre-colonial kingdoms in East Africa. In the afternoon, continue exploring the city with stops at landmarks like Kabaka's Palace. This grand palace dates to 1885 and since then has been home to the monarchs of the Buganda Kingdom. Your day ends with a visit to a local craft market to hunt for unique souvenirs to take back home.

After an early breakfast, you'll meet your driver for the seven-hour journey west from Entebbe into the highlands of Kibale National Park. It's a long drive, but you'll stop en route for lunch and to stretch your legs. Eventually, you'll arrive at Kibale a 296-square-mile (776 sq km) park protecting virgin rainforests. Among other exotic flora and fauna, this tropical ecosystem is home to 13 species of chimpanzees. Also living here are other unusual primates, including the red colobus, the L’Hoest's monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, black-faced vervet monkeys, baboons, and more.

In the morning, you'll embark on a half-day excursion into the rainforest. Along with a team of researchers and expert guides, you'll hike along the famous Kanyanchu Primate Walk, which will take you through the habitats of the park's resident chimpanzees. The chance of spotting these primates is high, as they are accustomed to human presence. You'll even get to spend up to an hour observing their behavior, how they socialize, and their patterns of patrolling the forest. But chimps aren't the only exotic animals you'll likely see on this safari. Keep an eye out for other forest denizens, including elephants, wild pigs, and colorful birds such as the Abyssinian ground thrush, African pitta, and collared apalis. After working up an appetite trekking around the park, you'll head over to Tinka's Homestead where you'll sit down with your group and guides for a home-cooked lunch. You'll also meet the family members who run this homestay and watch some local dance performances.

Early this morning you'll hop back in the 4WD vehicle for the 7.5-hour ride to the southernmost end of Uganda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Located at the edge of the Rift Valley, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a pristine biological and botanical ecosystem covering 128 square miles (331 sq km). It protects ancient rainforests that are a habitat for around 400 wild mountain gorillas, representing about half the world's population of these apes. Your destination is the Rushaga Sector, which is located at the western end of the park. You'll arrive in the village of Rushaga in the afternoon and check into your hotel. Then you'll head out for a walk to stretch your legs after the long drive. The route will take you from the hotel to the town center, stopping in the neighborhoods and little communities as you go. It's a great opportunity to meet locals as you browse the shops and marketplaces, which are abuzz with activity. At the end of the day, you'll have dinner then rest up for the exciting gorilla hike tomorrow.

Leave in the morning on a hike deep into the park to try and spot troops of mountain gorillas. The unique topography of these misty mountains ensures that this is one of the only places in the world you can see these animals in their natural environment. The forest here is known as "impenetrable" due to the endless bamboo and thick ground cover of plant growth that has historically kept outsiders from entering the gorillas' communities. Today, though, your guides will lead you right to them. It begins at the park headquarters with a safety briefing covering the dos and don'ts regarding interactions with the gorillas. After the briefing, your group will assemble and, along with researchers and guides, you'll hike into the forest. Once you locate the gorillas, you'll spend up to four hours observing them. The guides will point out the behavior of the apes as the researchers monitor their social activities. If conditions allow for it, you may help the researchers collect samples, name primate group members, and perhaps attempt a few of the 16 types of gorilla calls. After visiting the gorillas, you'll embark on another nature hike, this time led by Batwa guides. The Batwa are one of the oldest surviving Indigenous tribes in Africa, and they are the original inhabitants of this forest. Unfortunately, they were displaced due to conservation efforts, but the tribespeople will lead you on a tour in which you'll learn about their hunter-gatherer culture. During the excursion, you'll witness their traditional farming methods, hear songs and stories, and witness dances. You'll also sit down for a traditional meal of goat stew made with local ingredients. Afterward, you'll return to your hotel.

Unfortunately, today you must bid farewell to your human and primate friends of Uganda. In the morning, you'll hop in the car for the return trip to Entebbe and the airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Until next time!