The Pearl of Africa — Gorillas, Chimps & Tree-Climbing Lions
Trek mountain gorillas in the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, track chimpanzees in Kibale, and search for tree-climbing lions on the plains of Queen Elizabeth. Uganda is the most biodiverse safari destination in Africa — a lush, green land of primates, savannah game and the source of the Nile. The complete African wildlife journey, at remarkable value.
Fully private, unhurried and all-inclusive — from the four-day gorilla tracking adventure to the eight-day ultimate journey pairing Bwindi's gorillas with chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions and the savannah of Queen Elizabeth. Private guides, the finest forest lodges, permits and porters handled, and every detail crafted entirely around you.
Eight Days of Mountain Gorillas, Tree-Climbing Lions & the Pearl of Africa
Six Days of Gorillas, Savannah Game & the Kazinga Channel
Four Days & a Once-in-a-Lifetime Hour with Mountain Gorillas
Three Days & an Unforgettable Gorilla Encounter
Uganda is, in Winston Churchill's enduring phrase, the Pearl of Africa — and no country on the continent packs such astonishing diversity into so compact and green a land. Its crown jewel is the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, an ancient UNESCO-listed rainforest that shelters almost half of all the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Trekking into this misty, primeval jungle to spend a permit-protected hour with a wild gorilla family is one of the great experiences of any life. But Uganda offers so much more. In Kibale Forest you track chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, through the canopy. In Queen Elizabeth National Park you cruise the wildlife-thronged Kazinga Channel and search the Ishasha plains for the famous tree-climbing lions — a rare behaviour seen in only a handful of places on Earth. Add the thundering Murchison Falls, the source of the Nile, over 1,000 bird species and a warm, welcoming culture, and Uganda emerges as the most complete primate-and-wildlife destination in Africa. With gorilla permits at half the cost of neighbouring Rwanda, it offers all this at remarkable value — a richly rewarding journey for the adventurous traveller.
Africa's most profound gorilla experience, in one of the oldest forests on the continent. From tracking a mountain gorilla family through the tangled undergrowth of the Impenetrable Forest to meeting chimpanzees in Kibale, from the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha to the thunder of the Nile at Murchison Falls — Uganda rewards every moment. Here is what makes it unforgettable.
Bwindi shelters almost half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas
Kibale Forest holds one of the highest chimp densities in Africa
Queen Elizabeth's Ishasha lions famously rest in fig trees
Both savannah and forest elephants roam Uganda's parks
Large herds gather along the Kazinga Channel and plains
Elusive but present in the savannah parks
The Kazinga Channel holds one of Africa's densest hippo populations
The richest birdlife in Africa, including the rare shoebill stork
Where the Uganda story unfolds. Track a mountain gorilla family through the Impenetrable Forest, meet chimpanzees in Kibale, seek out the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, and drift the Kazinga Channel past elephants and hippos — each one built into your itinerary by your private concierge.
Trek into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with expert trackers to spend a permit-protected hour with a wild mountain gorilla family. One of the wildest and most moving wildlife encounters on Earth — and at half the permit cost of Rwanda.
Track habituated chimpanzees through the rainforest of Kibale, the primate capital of East Africa. Listen for their calls and watch them feed, groom and play high in the canopy — an exhilarating encounter with our closest living relatives.
Search the remote Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for its famous tree-climbing lions, which drape themselves over the branches of fig trees — a rare behaviour seen in only a handful of places on Earth.
Cruise the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where one of Africa's greatest concentrations of hippo and elephant gathers along the shore alongside prolific birdlife — a relaxed, spectacular wildlife experience.
The gorillas are the reason you come — but Uganda rewards those who linger. Add the thundering power of Murchison Falls, the tree-climbing lions and Kazinga Channel of Queen Elizabeth, or the chimpanzees of Kibale, and shape a longer journey through the Pearl of Africa — each of these curated journeys leads to a real itinerary our concierge will tailor to you.
Looking for more Southern African safari and adventure experiences? Visit Gray Line South Africa — our sister company — for a full catalog of instant-book tours across the region, with live availability and instant confirmation.
Browse Gray Line South AfricaBwindi is one of the oldest rainforests on earth — a tangled, mist-laden world that has grown undisturbed for more than 25,000 years, sheltering nearly half of all the mountain gorillas left in the wild. To track a family here is to earn the encounter: a climb through dense undergrowth, a hush as the trackers point ahead, and then one carefully protected hour in the presence of a silverback at rest, mothers cradling infants, youngsters swinging through the vines. Beyond the forest, chimpanzees call from Kibale, lions drape themselves in the fig trees of Ishasha, and the Nile explodes through a seven-metre gorge at Murchison Falls. This is the Pearl of Africa — wild, ancient and unforgettable.
For adventurous couples, Uganda offers an unforgettable and richly varied honeymoon — trekking gorillas hand in hand, cruising the Nile, and retiring to intimate forest lodges deep in the Pearl of Africa.
Trek together to a gorilla family — a bond you'll treasure forever.
Intimate eco-lodges on the rainforest edge, far from the crowds.
Gorillas, chimps, tree-climbing lions and the Nile in one journey.
An extraordinary honeymoon at a fraction of the usual cost.
Uganda's gorillas pair beautifully with the great sights of East Africa. Track the families in the Impenetrable Forest, then cross the border to Rwanda's Volcanoes for a second trek, or sweep across the plains of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara for the migration and the big cats — we'll weave it all into one seamless itinerary.
Uganda offers the richest wildlife variety in Africa at exceptional value — here's how it compares to Rwanda.
The most popular time, with drier forest trails for gorilla and chimp trekking and excellent game viewing. Book permits well ahead.
18–28°C, drierA second excellent window with good trekking conditions, lush scenery and fewer crowds between the rains.
18–28°C, drierWetter, muddier trails but gorillas and chimps are tracked year-round, the forests are gloriously green and lodges are quieter.
16–27°C, frequent rainThe practical details that make a gorilla journey effortless — gathered from years of crafting private Uganda itineraries for our guests.
Bwindi gorilla permits are limited daily and cheaper than Rwanda's, so they go fast. Secure yours months ahead in peak season.
Treks can be long and steep through dense, muddy forest. A decent level of fitness and a hired porter make the day far more enjoyable.
This is rainforest — expect showers any month. Waterproofs, gloves, gaiters and boots that grip are worth their weight.
Add chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, tree-climbing lions in Ishasha or a launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel for a fuller Uganda trip.
A yellow-fever certificate is required to enter Uganda. Take malaria prophylaxis and follow the gorillas' distance and health rules.
Roads to Bwindi are long but beautiful. Consider a light-aircraft flight to save time, or break the drive with a stop en route.
Fly into Entebbe International Airport, near the capital Kampala. From there, Uganda's parks can be reached by scenic road transfer or by light aircraft to airstrips near Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth. Many travellers also access Bwindi via Kigali in Rwanda, which is closer to the southern gorilla sectors. We arrange all flights, transfers and permits for a smooth journey through the Pearl of Africa.
From the forest-edge suites of Bwindi Lodge to the volcano and savannah retreats of Uganda's finest camps, the most coveted addresses at the edge of the Impenetrable Forest, each held for you by our concierge.
The only camp set deep inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — eight tented suites where gorillas regularly wander through, putting you closer to the trailheads than anywhere else.
The only camp set deep inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest itself, where gorillas regularly wander through the grounds and you wake to the sound of their soft morning calls filtering through the mist. Eight luxury tented suites under canvas, a spa, and trailheads minutes away — closer to the encounter than anywhere else.
Sanctuary Retreats · Bwindi's only in-forest campFromR 17,934per person, per night
Perched at 2,000m on the Nkuringo ridge, Uganda's first ultra-luxury lodge offers eight volcanic-stone cottages with vast views across Bwindi to the Virunga volcanoes.
Perched at 2,000 metres on the Nkuringo ridge, Uganda's first ultra-luxury gorilla lodge offers eight volcanic-stone cottages framing sweeping views across Bwindi to the Virunga volcanoes beyond. Private butler service, a spa and lounge, and the quiet knowledge that you are staying at one of the most coveted addresses in East Africa.
Wildplaces Africa · community-partnership lodgeFromR 21,960per person, per night
Volcanoes Safaris' flagship perched on the very edge of Bwindi — eight elegant bandas overlooking a forested valley where gorillas frequently appear at the treeline.
Volcanoes Safaris' flagship, perched on the very edge of the Impenetrable Forest with eight elegant bandas overlooking a forested valley where gorilla families frequently appear at the treeline. An eco-conscious design, warm Ugandan hospitality, and the intimacy of a small camp that feels like a home in the mountains.
Long Run Global Ecosphere RetreatFromR 15,555per person, per night
A warm, community-rooted lodge on the southern Nkuringo edge of Bwindi, with sweeping cottages framing the Virunga volcanoes and direct access to a quieter gorilla sector.
A warm, community-rooted lodge on the southern Nkuringo edge of Bwindi, with sweeping cottages and farmhouse rooms framing panoramic views of the Virunga volcanoes across the border in Rwanda. A quieter gorilla sector, a wellness centre, and the knowledge that your stay directly supports the local community.
Responsible Tourism · Nkuringo community lodgeFromR 11,346per person, per night
Uganda offers the most varied wildlife in Africa at remarkable value — here is what makes it so rewarding.
Bwindi shelters almost half of all remaining mountain gorillas — and a gorilla permit costs $800, half the price of Rwanda.
Gorillas in Bwindi, chimpanzees in Kibale, golden monkeys and more — no country offers richer primate tracking.
Queen Elizabeth's Ishasha sector is one of only a few places on Earth to see lions lounging in fig trees.
Rainforest, savannah, wetlands and mountains in one compact country — over 1,000 bird species and the Big Five.
All this diversity comes at a fraction of the cost of more famous destinations — Africa's best-value primate-and-wildlife safari.
Every journey is privately guided, fully bonded and backed by our 4.9/5 rating from more than 200,000 guests since 2008 — with a dedicated concierge from first enquiry to final farewell.
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD $800 per person — half the price of neighbouring Rwanda — and includes park entry, expert trackers and guides, and your permit-protected hour with a gorilla family. Permits are limited and in high demand, so we recommend booking several months in advance. The fee directly funds gorilla conservation and local communities.
Both offer superb mountain gorilla trekking, but Uganda is far more varied and better value. Beyond gorillas in Bwindi, Uganda offers chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, the tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth, classic Big Five savannah safaris and Murchison Falls — all at a gorilla-permit cost half that of Rwanda. Rwanda, by contrast, offers easier access and more ultra-luxury lodges.
Bwindi is aptly named 'impenetrable' — treks can be steep, muddy and last from one to several hours through dense forest at altitude. A reasonable level of fitness helps, and you are matched to a gorilla family suiting your ability. Hiring a porter (highly recommended) makes the trek much easier and supports the local community.
Yes — this is one of Uganda's great attractions. Kibale Forest offers world-class chimpanzee tracking, and our longer itineraries combine gorillas in Bwindi with chimps in Kibale and savannah wildlife in Queen Elizabeth for the complete primate-and-wildlife experience.
The drier seasons — June to September and December to February — offer the easiest trekking conditions and excellent game viewing, though gorillas and chimps are tracked year-round. The rainy seasons bring muddier trails but lush scenery, fewer crowds and a greater chance of permit availability.
No wildlife sighting can be guaranteed, but the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the few places on Earth where lions habitually rest in fig trees, and sightings are frequent. Your expert guide knows their favoured trees and movements, maximising your chances.
Yes, Uganda is a malaria zone, so anti-malarial prophylaxis is strongly recommended — consult your doctor four to six weeks before travel. Lodges provide mosquito nets, repellent and well-screened rooms. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.
A minimum of three to four days allows for a gorilla trek and a little more, but we recommend six to eight days to combine gorillas, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions and the Kazinga Channel for the full Pearl of Africa experience. Uganda also pairs beautifully with Rwanda or a Kenyan safari.
Tell us how you love to travel and we'll shape a private gorilla journey around you — every flight, every permit, every trek and every evening at a forest lodge taken care of. One dedicated concierge, start to finish.