Gorillas & Wildlife of Uganda—Custom Safari

When you choose Natural Habitat Adventures for your custom Uganda safari, you may select from a wide range of smaller luxury and deluxe safari camps and lodges, with each property comprising 4–15 guest rooms or tents. We track gorillas in groups of eight. As the world’s premier nature travel company, we focus solely on small-group journeys and avoid the large impersonal hotels that devalue an authentic safari experience. Please consult with one of our Adventure Specialists to determine which camps and lodges can best accommodate your group’s size and preferred travel style.

Our vehicles are an important component of the safari experience. They were designed especially for adventures in Uganda and Rwanda, with two goals in mind: comfort during overland drives on sometimes-rough roads, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. We use several different sizes of Nissan Patrols, Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rovers. Depending on the group size, we may use a vehicle that seats seven, five, or three passengers, plus a driver, and each traveler is always assured a window seat. All vehicles have roof hatches that are open during game drives for 360-degree viewing and photo opportunities, but which can be closed for comfort (including air conditioning) on longer drives. All vehicles have 4-wheel-drive and are fitted with high-quality imported tires to enable us to press on through rough spots. Seat belts are three-point, instead of the typical lap belts found in most safari vehicles, for added safety. All vehicles are outfitted with a cooler box for cold drinks; tea- and coffee-making supplies; guide books on mammals, birds and flora; umbrellas in case of rain; and beanbags upon request for photographers. Each vehicle was designed with an environmentally friendly oil bypass filtration system that allows for an extended engine service period. This limits the amount of waste oil that must be disposed of, as Uganda and Rwanda do not yet have oil-recycling facilities.

Most companies that arrange custom tours of Uganda hand their guests over to a local company that provides a vehicle and a driver, and that’s it. Our private, custom Uganda safaris are different: Each one is led by a hand-selected, top-quality NHA-approved driver-guide who not only ensures that your safari will be a positive experience of a lifetime, but also gains you special “backstage access” to the country, its wildlife and its cultures in a manner that is not offered on a typical standardized tour package.

• Trip price includes: Accommodations as noted in your confirmed proposal, services of a private Nat Hab-approved safari guide, services of local guides, lodge staff and gorilla trackers, meals and drinks as specified in your confirmed proposal, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, all activities and entrance fees as described in the itinerary, all taxes, permits and service fees.

• Internal air cost includes: Scheduled flights and transfers as noted (this will be listed separately on our invoicing).

• Permit fees include: Two gorilla treks and two chimpanzee treks (to be added to your invoice and subject to change through day of departure).

Travel to and from start and end point of trip, beverages at some camps and lodges, gratuities, passport and visa fees, optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes, required medical evacuation insurance, optional travel insurance.

Moderate to Difficult
Trekking in search of mountain gorillas is a strenuous activity. This challenging hike through the rain forest usually takes between two and five hours, but it can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as eight hours (on infrequent occasions, we’ve had a few treks take even longer than that). Travelers must be prepared for a full day outdoors in humid or occasionally rainy conditions, as the exact distance to locate the gorillas is impossible to determine ahead of time. The terrain is often uneven as we traverse the forest floor and usually involves a gradual ascent, but we will travel at a pace to accommodate all hikers with a designated porter to assist each traveler.

Travelers are not required to participate in all activities and are welcome to forego any portion of the program, but in order to take full advantage of the itinerary, and in order to view the primates, guests must be able to participate in the hikes. Travelers should be aware that if they turn around due to fatigue, illness or any other reason, the remainder of the group, including the Expedition Leader, will go on. The returning traveler will be escorted by a local guide. Additionally, this trip involves long hours sitting in a vehicle during transfers and sometimes bouncing around on rough roads during wildlife drives. While we don't consider such conditions strenuous, they can post a physical demand on the body. All travelers must be able to climb into and out of the raised 4x4 trucks that serve as our safari vehicles. They must also be able to walk to and from our safari camp accommodations. We recommend that travelers have an adventurous spirit, as they will often enjoy the closest animal encounters.

This trip is designed for those who wish to experience the full diversity of Uganda’s ecosystems. Each aspect reveals a different angle on Uganda, from the chimps of Kibale to the lush crater highlands, from the wildlife-laden savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park to the dense forest habitat of the mountain gorillas of Bwindi. Nat Hab has been visiting gorillas in Africa since 1989, and this itinerary includes two separate gorilla-tracking expeditions. We ask our guests to understand that the accommodations in this region are collectively not of the standard that may be found in other, better-established safari countries. Some lodgings are luxurious while others are simple but always clean and comfortable. Because this is a custom adventure, we will check availability on your dates of choice. Depending on the time of year and the movement of wildlife, camp selection will heavily influence the quality of your safari. Our team of professional safari consultants can help you choose the best camp combination for your specific dates. Call our experts at 800-543-8917.

This itinerary departs daily, subject to availability of your preferred accommodations on your chosen dates. You can arrive at any time on Day 1 of the adventure. We can best serve you if our Natural Habitat Adventures Travel Desk makes your air reservations, as our staff is intimately familiar with the special requirements of these programs and can arrange the most efficient and cost-effective travel. Please call us at 1-800-543-8917. Note that while we offer you the best possible rates available to us on airfare, you may find special web rates or better fares online.