9 Days Ultra-Luxury Wildlife & Double Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda
Luxury Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Vacation | Stays at the River Station & Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge
This Ultra-Luxury Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Holiday brings you into Uganda’s most exclusive wildlife settings with a smooth blend of comfort and adventure. Your journey starts in Entebbe before a fly-in experience to the western savannahs, where the Rwenzori foothills frame game viewing by vehicle, boat and gentle walks at the River Station a Wildplaces Property in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The trip reaches its peak in the rainforest of Bwindi, where a stay at Gorilla Forest Lodge an A&K Sanctuary sets the stage for two privileged encounters with mountain gorillas. Quiet moments at the lodge, forest views and a final scenic flight back to Entebbe create a seamless luxury safari from start to finish.
Day to Day:
9 Days Ultra-Luxury Wildlife & Double Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda
Luxury Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Tour Highlights:
- Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and Transfer to Your Boutique Hotel
- Day 2: Scenic Flight to Kasese and Arrival at The River Station
- Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Nature Walk
- Day 4: Morning Boat Safari and Evening Game Drive
- Day 5: Flight to Bwindi and Arrival at Gorilla Forest Lodge
- Day 6: First Gorilla Trek and Batwa Cultural Experience
- Day 7: Leisure Day in the Heart of the Forest
- Day 8: Second Gorilla Trekking Experience
- Day 9: Flight to Entebbe and Departure
Luxury Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and Transfer to Your Boutique Hotel Latitude 0°
Your journey starts as you touch down at Entebbe International Airport, where a private representative from Engabi Tours and Travel welcomes you and assists with arrival formalities. You are then transferred to Latitude 0 Degrees, an elegant boutique property known for its art-filled interiors, sophisticated dining and panoramic views. This first evening gives you time to relax, adjust to the Ugandan atmosphere and enjoy a quiet night before your adventure begins.
Day 2: Scenic Flight to Kasese and Arrival at The River Station
After breakfast, you board a scheduled flight from Entebbe to Kasese Airstrip, a beautiful air route that reveals Uganda’s countryside and distant mountains. On arrival, your guide transfers you with a private boat access to The River Station, a tranquil hideaway set along the river with sweeping views and a refined, safari-chic atmosphere. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at the lodge and later head out for an evening dhow cruise for game viewing, gliding across calm waters as the sun sinks behind the Rwenzori peaks. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Nature Walk
Your morning opens with Breakfast and thereafter a game drive through the savannah landscapes that surround the lodge. This area is known for its diverse wildlife, and the early hours offer the best chance to spot lions, elephants, buffalo and a variety of plains game. Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you wander on a guided walk on the crater rim, taking in the smaller details of the bush that you might miss from a vehicle and a sundowner in the evening. The walk is gentle, interpretive and designed to connect you more deeply with the ecosystem.
Day 4: Morning Boat Safari and Evening Game Drive
After Breakfast, you return to the water, this time for a wildlife-rich boat cruise that brings you close to hippos, crocodiles and an extraordinary number of birds. The stillness of the channels and the proximity to wildlife make this one of the most memorable experiences of the region. Return to the lodge for lunch and later in the day, another game drive gives you a chance to encounter animals as they begin to move again in the cooler evening hours. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Flight to Bwindi – Kihihi Airstrip and Arrival at Gorilla Forest Lodge
After Breakfast, you will be transferred to Kasese Airstrip and board a scheduled flight from Kasese to the Kihihi Airstrip, a short and scenic hop that brings you into the highlands of southwestern Uganda. A private transfer takes you through winding forest roads to the luxurious Gorilla Forest Lodge. As part of the A&K Sanctuary portfolio, the lodge blends refined comfort with the deep tranquility of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Enjoy Lunch and a relaxing afternoon at the lodge and later prepare for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: First Gorilla Trek and Batwa Cultural Experience
Your first gorilla trek begins after breakfast early in the morning with a briefing from the rangers of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The hike leads you through dense rainforest, alive with birds, butterflies and the scent of wet earth. When you finally reach your gorilla family, the moment is quiet, humbling and unforgettable. You spend an hour with them as they feed, groom and interact.
Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you meet members of the Batwa community, the original forest people of this region. Their stories, music and demonstrations offer insight into a way of life deeply tied to the rainforest, enriching your understanding of Bwindi’s cultural heritage. Later have dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Leisure Day in the Heart of the Forest
This day invites you to slow down and enjoy the lodge at your own pace. You may choose a gentle forest walk, a massage overlooking the canopy or simply time on your private verandah with a cup of Ugandan coffee. After the intensity of your first trek, this quiet day of luxury and rest feels perfectly timed.
Day 8: Second Gorilla Trekking Experience
After Breakfast, head back to the park headquarters for your second trek that allows you to visit a different gorilla family and appreciate how varied each group can be. The guides choose your trek based on your preference and fitness, and the experience often feels even more immersive the second time. Spending time with another family adds depth and contrast to your understanding of these remarkable primates and creates a fuller, more rewarding gorilla adventure. Return to the lodge for lunch and enjoy a relaxed afternoon. Later have dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Flight to Entebbe and Departure
After breakfast, you are transferred back to Kihihi Airstrip for your scenic flight to Entebbe International Airport arriving in time for check-in for your international departure flight, bringing your luxury Ugandan safari to a graceful close.
Tour Includes:
- Exclusive Safari transport in custom made Safari 4 by 4 wheel drive Land Cruiser with air conditioner.
- Scheduled Internal Flights
- Services of English-speaking expert guides.
- Private airport transfers.
- Eight nights in a luxury safari lodge with full-board meals.
- Gorilla trekking permits and park entry fees.
- Community and cultural visits.
Tour Excludes:
- International Flights and Visa entry charges to East Africa.
Personal expenses and gratuities.
Additional optional activities.
Best Time To Travel:
Although wildlife viewing and gorilla trekking are possible through out the year, the best time to enjoy this luxury wildlife & gorilla trekking safari is during the drier months from June to August and December to February. These periods offer clearer skies, easier trekking conditions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and excellent wildlife viewing in the savannahs around Queen Elizabeth National Park. Trails are more manageable, vegetation is less dense and animals gather around water sources, creating ideal conditions for a high-end, seamless safari experience.
How To Get There:
Your journey begins at Entebbe International Airport, the gateway to Uganda. From here, the first flight takes you to Kasese, a scenic hop that usually lasts about one hour and covers roughly 300 kilometers. The approach into Kasese offers sweeping views of the Rwenzori Mountains and opens the way to your stay at The River Station.
When it is time to continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you depart from Kasese on a shorter bush flight of about forty-five minutes to the Kihihi Airstrip, covering an estimated 140 kilometers across rolling hills and terraced highlands. From Kihihi, the road transfer to Gorilla Forest Lodge takes around an hour and a half, as the route winds through forested landscapes and small villages.
Your return from Bwindi to Entebbe follows the same air route. The flight from Kihihi to Entebbe usually takes about one hour, giving you one last look at Uganda’s dramatic geography before arriving back at the lakeside city to connect with your international departure.
Steps To Book With Us
Let us create exclusive,
tailor-made itineraries for your luxury safari or vacation.
Contact us with your travel preferences, and our experts will tailor a luxury itinerary to suit your needs.