Gorilla trekking in Uganda with Zanzibar beaches

Itinerary in brief:

• 1 night Entebbe
• 2 nights Murchison Falls NP
• 1 night Kibale Forest NP
• 1 night Queen Elizabeth NP
• 2 nights Bwindi NP
• 7 nights Zanzibar

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights

Day 2: Arrive Uganda

On arrival you will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel in Entebbe. Depending on what time you arrive, we can arrange a sunset cruise on Lake Victoria – it’s the perfect welcome to Uganda as you watch the fishermen cast their nets in the dusk as you enjoy a drink and watch the sunset.

Included: Transfers, dinner, 4* hotel  

Day 3: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, you’ll spend the morning being driven towards beautiful north-western Uganda. Murchison Falls National Park sits on the shore of Lake Albert and is famous for the waterfall, where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop. On the drive, you’ll pass by the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you enjoy a walking safari, looking for the endangered rhinos that are protected here. Once you locate the Rhinos, you can stay a maximum of one hour in their presence. You’ll also have a chance of other animal sightings on this nature walk, including bushbucks, kobs and duikers, before heading to your lodge for the night.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, driver guide, 4* lodge             

Day 4: Nile Delta & Murchison Falls

After an early breakfast, you’ll go for a boat journey to the Nile Delta. This relaxing cruise will take you through the papyrus delta, where the river flows into Lake Albert. There are lots of animals to look out for, including the rare shoebill, which you have a good chance of spotting. Enjoy a bush breakfast before heading out on a game drive. Drive across the savannah and through the Borassus Palm Forest to Lake Albert, looking for lions, leopard, hyenas and elephants. There also numerous birds to look out for as you explore the grasslands, including secretary birds, black chested snake eagles and swallow tailed bee-eaters.

In the afternoon you’ll take another boat ride up the Nile, to Murchison Falls, where you can feel the spray and look for Nile crocodiles basking at the bottom of the falls.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, driver guide, 4* lodge             

Day 5: Fly to Kibale Forest National Park

Today you’ll fly from Murchison Falls to Kasese Airstrip, before being driven to Kibale Forest National Park, where the evergreen forest awaits. Check into your lodge for one night and spend the evening relaxing before your exciting day tomorrow.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, driver guide, 4* lodge             

Day 6: Chimpazee Trekking

After breakfast, you’ll head off to go chimp tracking, exploring the scenic forest as you go. Kibale is made up of beautiful and vaired tropical forest, and is home to 13 species of primate including the chimpanzees. You’ll walk most of the morning looking for different wildlife, before being driven onward to Queen Elizabeth National Park, enjoying a game drive on your way into the park.

Queen Elizabeth NP has a wide variety of habitats, including savannah, wetlands and lowland forest – this evening you’ll enjoy a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, looking for elephants and zebras in the dusk.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, driver guide, 4* lodge             

Day 7: Ishasha to Bwindi National Park

Before you leave Queen Elizabeth NP behind, you’ll stop for the morning in the Ishasha Sector of the park, where the tree climbing lions are found – watching these incredible cats lounging on the long tree branches is such an incredible sight! Have lunch here before driving to Bwindi, the home of the mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best known for the gorillas however there are lots of other animals that make their home here including elephants, monkeys and antelopes. This afternoon you’ll check into your lodge and start preparing for your gorilla trek tomorrow.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, driver guide, 4* lodge            

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for! You’ll get up early and head off for your gorilla trek with a primate expert. Trekking with mountain gorillas is one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on the planet – the hike will be between 2 and 6 hours depending on where you find the gorillas, but it is well worth the effort.

Once you have begun your hike into the wild bush in Bwindi, at some point the gorillas will start to emerge – watching them munch on the lush foliage and move slowly around you is just indescribable. You might experience babies playing and swinging on the branches or the silver back gorillas lounging in the undergrowth – you’ll spend around an hour with them, and we can guarantee it will be an hour you’ll never forget. At the end of the day, you’ll be driven back to the lodge, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner and sharing your memories of such a special day together.

Included: Gorillas trek (with permit), all meals, 4* lodge 

Day 9: Fly to Zanzibar

After breakfast, you’ll be able to spend the morning relaxing in the lodge, before being taken to the airport for your flight to Entebbe, where you’ll connect onto a flight to Zanzibar. When you arrive in Zanzibar, you’ll be collected at the airport and transferred to Tulia Zanzibar, where you’ll stay in a luxury seafront villa on an all-inclusive basis for the next five nights. Voted the ‘Most Romantic Beach Resort in the World’, there really is nowhere better to stay on your honeymoon and your luxury seafront villa is in the best location in the resort.

Your villa will be perched overlooking the beach with uninterrupted sea views, a private decking area and a breathtaking sunrise. During your stay, you’ll be treated to a complimentary massage and a bottle of wine in your room on arrival.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flights,       

Days 10 - 15: Zanzibar

The next few days are free for you to relax, soak up the tropical sunshine and swim in the clear turquoise waters from the resort’s private beach. If you’re keen to explore, you can book a snorkelling expedition or take a trip to Jozani Forest. All meals and drinks are included, and the resort specialises in fresh organic food with a traditional Tanzanian vibe.

Included: All inclusive, Tulia Zanzibar   

Day 16: Depart Zanzibar

Today, you’ll be collected from your resort and driven to the airport in time to catch your flight home to the UK.

Included: Breakfast, transfers international flights         

Day 17: Arrive UK