Western Uganda
Mountain gorillas and beyond
Destinations
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kibale Forest National Park, Kazinga Channel, Bwindi
Activity
Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Conservation, Photography
Physical Level
Easy
Experience Uganda’s incredible wildlife, starting with a safari at Murchison Falls on the shores of Lake Albert. From here begin your journey south, stopping off at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Continue south in search of chimps in Kibale Forest and then venture east to see hippos and elephants in the Kazinga Channel. From here head back to the western border and Queen Elizabeth National Park where you can spot the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Finish your wildlife-packed adventure by heading to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or the smaller Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Trip highlights
Jinja
Rafting in Jinja
Uganda’s Jinja is the source of the Nile, making it a great place to kayak or raft on the rushing water. Try horseback rides or mountain biking if you’re feeling a bit tamer.
Kazinga Channel
Watch hippos and elephants in the Kazinga Channel
Visit the Kazinga Channel in western Uganda and see one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos and elephants in their natural habitat. The channel is a wide, 20-mile long freshwater channel connecting Lake George and Lake Edward.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
While Bwindi Impenetrable Forest steals the limelight, the smaller Mgahinga has arguably better views and is directly connected to the extended Virunga conservation area
Queen Elizabeth National Park
See the tree lions of Ishasha
For an incredible wildlife experience with second-to-none photo opportunities, head to Ishasha in Western Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can see the area’s rare population of tree-climbing lions snoozing happily up above the ground in fig and acacia trees.
Bwindi
Visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi
The dense forests of Bwindi in the south-west corner of Uganda are home to over half of the world’s small population of the endangered mountain gorilla. These creatures can’t survive in captivity, so trekking to their natural habitat is your only chance to view them.
Kibale Forest National Park
Go chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest
Grab yourself a guide and set off into the evergreen jungle of the Kibale National Park in Western Uganda in search of chimps. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding them, as this beautiful forest is famous for its thriving primate population.
Approx. days
10
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