The journey
Straddling the Equator, Uganda is a country of extraordinarily diverse landscapes and experiences. A journey here takes you from shimmering Lake Victoria and emerald green farmland cleaved by red-earth roads to mist-cloaked highlands, where tea is grown, and to the dense foliage of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Beyond ventures into the wilderness, there are stops at the hilly capital of Kampala and the lakeside city of Jinja, where visitors can immerse themselves in the balmy ambience of contemporary East Africa. This 12-day adventure captures it all, from culture-rich Kampala to up-close encounters with white rhinos, chimpanzees, and the famous gorillas during a stay at the just-opened Gorilla Forest Lodge, an Worldway Travels x A&K Sanctuary.
Day 1
All about Kampala
From Entebbe International Airport you will have a private transfer to the city of Kampala. Like Rome, the Ugandan capital of Kampala was built on seven hills, but today it occupies more than 20. This is a city of panoramic views, parks, palaces, cathedrals, and mosques, as well as flea markets, pork joints, and kafundas (roadside bars with plastic chairs and tables) that sell locally brewed gin,
Day 2
Hip-hop and history
Dance, sing, and connect on a visit to Breakdance Project Uganda, a nonprofit that uses hip-hop as a tool for education and empowerment. Curated exclusively for this itinerary, the experience includes a talk by a local musician and a chance to meet with BPU community members. Head next to the Afriart Gallery to experience its collection of contemporary art and photography, all exclusively by Afric
Day 3
Water world
About 50 miles east of Kampala lies the town of Jinja, founded by British settlers in 1901. Your accommodation for the next two nights is Lemala Wildwaters Lodge, set on a private island about 15 miles from Jinja and accessible only by boat. True to its name, it occupies a granite outcrop in the middle of the Nile, surrounded by grade-five rapids. The soothing sound of the water is constant, wheth
Day 4
For the birds
Begin by kayaking a calmer stretch of the White Nile with an expert instructor. Uganda is home to more than 1,000 bird species (about 10% of the world’s bird species can be found here), thanks to its varied habitats––rainforest, savannah, lakes, papyrus swamps, wetlands, and the Nile itself––making it an extraordinary birdwatching destination. Learn about them from your guide as you paddle. After
Day 5
North along the Nile
Set out early from Jinja to Murchison Falls National Park, stopping at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a lesson in wildlife conservation. Comprising 27 square miles of woodland, swamp, and savannah, the facility is home to Uganda’s only wild southern white rhinos—named not on account of their color but their wide (“wyd” in Afrikaans) lower lip, which distinguishes them from black rhinos. Here, the animal
Day 6
Deep into Murchison Falls National Park
Bisected by the White Nile (or Victoria Nile), Murchison Falls National Park is home to lions, giraffes, chimpanzees, and Uganda’s largest population of Nile crocodiles. The exceptional birdlife elevates the park even further. More than 460 species have been documented here, from shoebills and Goliath herons to dwarf kingfishers, white-thighed hornbills, and great blue turacos.
Day 7
The high life
Take in the 360-degree views with a guide from the top of Murchison Falls. Here, the Nile passes through a 23-foot-wide gap in the rocks before tumbling 141 feet and then flowing into Lake Albert. With its sensational vistas and roaring soundtrack, the summit is a perfect breakfast spot.
Day 8
Forest secrets
The forest will be eerily silent as you leave the lodge early in search of chimpanzees. Several families here have been habituated, meaning they are used to humans. Less sedentary than gorillas, chimpanzees move through the forest canopy or at ground level, and you follow their progress with trackers and a guide. Watching these intelligent animals swing through the trees, play, eat, and groom one
Day 9
Human touch
Fly south to Uganda’s gorilla heartland. Wild, remote, and dense with foliage, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is astounding in its beauty: a high-altitude realm of misty mountains, streams, steep ravines, and valleys carpeted with a tangle of trees, creepers, vines, and ferns. More than 500 mountain gorillas thrive here.
Day 10
Guileless gorillas
Set off early on a mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Begin with a briefing from the rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, whose trackers will have already located 12 gorilla families and assigned one of them to your group. Trek toward the animals along trails that cut through the dense forest, venturing within a few yards of them. Thanks to the trackers’ efforts, si
Day 11
Bwindi and the Batwa
After meeting the giants of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, focus on the smaller things as you walk along forest trails to a scenic waterfall in the company of expert ranger guides. In addition to pointing out vivid butterflies, rare chameleons, dazzling forest birds, and insects found nowhere else on earth, they’ll talk about how local communities utilize the forest, including different medici
Day 12
Out of Africa
After breakfast at the lodge, drive to the airstrip and board your bush plane for the flight to Entebbe. There, a dayroom has been reserved at Protea Hotel Entebbe, where you can spend time at leisure ahead of your journey home.
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