Uganda Overland: Gorillas & Chimps – Self-Launched

Arrive in Kampala at any time. Head to Red Chilli Hideaway — a well-known budget traveller hub in Kampala — which is also the base used by the original G Adventures tour. It has camping, dorms, and private rooms, a pool-side bar, and a great terrace to meet fellow travellers. Spend the evening getting your bearings, grabbing a meal in the communal area, and planning the days ahead.

🚌Taxi or boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) from Entebbe Airport to Kampala (~£5–10). Arrange in advance or use a metered taxi.

🛏Red Chilli Hideaway, Kampala — dorm from ~£10/night or private room from ~£20/night

• →Check in to Red Chilli Hideaway (dorm or budget room)
• →Relax at the pool-side bar and meet other travellers
• →Get a local SIM card and sort any final logistics (gorilla permit confirmation, transport bookings)

Take an early shared minibus (matatu) from Kampala's Kisenyi bus park toward Kabale. The journey takes around 6–7 hours and passes through the equator — a great photo stop. From Kabale, take a boda-boda or shared taxi the remaining 6km to the lake shore. Settle in at one of the lakeside campsites or guesthouses and enjoy the stunning terraced hillsides and birdlife. Lake Bunyonyi is croc and hippo free, so an evening swim is a must.

🚌Shared minibus (matatu) Kampala to Kabale: ~£7–10. Shared taxi/boda-boda Kabale to Lake Bunyonyi: ~£2–3.

🛏Byoona Amagara Island Retreat or Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort — camping from ~£6/night, dorm from ~£12/night

• →Cross the equator en route — stop for photos at the marker near Masaka
• →Arrive at Lake Bunyonyi and explore the shoreline
• →Swim in the safe, calm waters of the lake
• →Canoe hire to explore nearby islands (self-bookable on arrival, ~£5–8)

Today is the highlight of the trip. Rise early for your pre-booked gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The gorilla trekking permit must be booked well in advance directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) — permits cost USD $700 (approx. £555) and include a ranger guide. Treks vary from 1–8 hours depending on where the gorilla family is located. You'll spend one hour with the gorillas once located. Only 8 people are allowed per gorilla family per day, so book as early as possible. Arrange transport from Lake Bunyonyi to Bwindi (approx. 2–3 hours) via shared taxi or hired boda-boda.

🚌Shared taxi or hired vehicle from Lake Bunyonyi to Bwindi: ~£8–15 per person

🛏Bwindi Budget Guesthouse or Ride 4 A Woman Guesthouse near park gate — from ~£15/night

• →Guided mountain gorilla trek with UWA ranger (permit pre-booked via Uganda Wildlife Authority: www.ugandawildlife.org)
• →1 hour with a habituated gorilla family in the wild
• →Birdwatching in Bwindi's biodiverse forest

Return to Lake Bunyonyi after the gorilla trek and spend the day exploring this beautiful lake at your own pace. Hire a dugout canoe to paddle between the 29 islands, visit Punishment Island, or simply relax and reflect on the previous day's incredible experience. The morning mist rising off the water is a magical sight. This is a well-earned rest day.

🚌Shared taxi/boda-boda back from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi: ~£8–15

🛏Byoona Amagara Island Retreat or Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort — camping from ~£6/night, dorm from ~£12/night

• →Hire a dugout canoe to explore the islands (~£5–8)
• →Visit Punishment Island (historical significance)
• →Swimming, birdwatching, and relaxing on the lake shore
• →Optional: community walk to nearby villages (~£5)

Head north from Lake Bunyonyi to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda's premier wildlife reserves. Take a shared matatu to Bushenyi or Mbarara and then another onward toward Kasese — ask locals or your guesthouse to help with the most direct connection. The park is famous for tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffalo, and hippos. Book a budget guesthouse or camp just outside the park gates.

🚌Shared matatu Lake Bunyonyi to Kasese/park area via Bushenyi: ~£8–12

🛏Simba Safari Camp or Pumba Safari Cottages — camping from ~£8/night, budget rooms from ~£20/night

• →Travel day through Uganda's lush western corridor
• →Arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park and check in
• →Evening game drive along the Kazinga Channel road (self-drive or shared jeep hire: ~£15–25/person)

Spend the morning on a shared game drive through the Kasenyi Plains in search of lions, elephants, and buffalo — arrange a shared jeep with other travellers at your camp to split costs. In the afternoon, take the famous Kazinga Channel boat cruise, bookable directly at the UWA offices at Mweya — this is one of the best wildlife boat cruises in Africa, offering close encounters with hippos, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species.

🚌Local transport within the park via shared jeep or boda-boda

🛏Simba Safari Camp or Pumba Safari Cottages — camping from ~£8/night, budget rooms from ~£20/night

• →Shared game drive on the Kasenyi Plains (shared jeep hire ~£20–30/person)
• →Kazinga Channel boat cruise (2 hours, book via UWA Mweya office: ~£20)
• →Birdwatching — Queen Elizabeth NP hosts over 600 bird species

Head to Kalinzu Forest Reserve, located just off the main Kampala–Kasese highway near Bushenyi. This is a fantastic and more affordable alternative for chimpanzee tracking compared to Kibale. Book chimp tracking directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or the forest office on arrival — permits are significantly cheaper than gorilla permits (around USD $50–60, approx. £40–48). Spend the morning trekking through the forest with a guide in search of habituated chimpanzee groups. Kalinzu is one of Uganda's underrated gems.

🚌Shared matatu from Queen Elizabeth NP area to Kalinzu Forest junction: ~£5–8. Boda-boda to forest gate: ~£2.

🛏Kalinzu Forest Camp (on-site budget bandas/camping) — from ~£10/night

• →Guided chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu Forest (~£40–48 permit, book via UWA or on arrival at forest office)
• →Birdwatching — Kalinzu is a birding hotspot
• →Nature walk through the forest canopy

Travel from Kalinzu toward Kampala and then east to Jinja — Uganda's adventure capital and home to the source of the Nile. The journey takes most of the day via shared matatus (change at Kampala). Arrive in Jinja in the afternoon. If you haven't pre-booked white water rafting, you can arrange it here directly with Nile River Explorers or Adrift — both offer Grade 5 rafting day trips on the Nile for around USD $125–140 (£100–110). Book for tomorrow morning or enjoy the evening along the Nile.

🚌Shared matatus Kalinzu to Kampala (~£8–12), then Kampala to Jinja (~£3–5). Total travel ~6–8 hours.

🛏Nile River Camp or Haven Lodge Jinja — camping from ~£8/night, dorms from ~£12/night

• →Travel to Jinja via shared transport
• →Visit the Source of the Nile monument (small entry fee ~£2)
• →Optional: book white water rafting with Nile River Explorers or Adrift for tomorrow (~£100–110)
• →Evening at a Jinja bar or restaurant overlooking the Nile

If you booked white water rafting, do it this morning — it's a full-day adrenaline rush through Grade 5 rapids on the Nile. If not, spend a leisurely morning in Jinja before heading back to Kampala. Shared minibuses run regularly between Jinja and Kampala's bus park (~2 hours). Back in Kampala, grab a final Ugandan meal of rolex (chapati with eggs) or matoke before heading to Entebbe Airport. Note: flights must depart no earlier than 16:00 to allow time for the journey from Kampala.

🚌Shared minibus Jinja to Kampala: ~£3–5. Taxi Kampala to Entebbe Airport: ~£10–15.

🛏N/A – departure day

• →Optional: White water rafting on the Nile with Nile River Explorers (~£100–110 if not pre-booked)
• →Return to Kampala via shared minibus (~£3–5)
• →Final Ugandan meal — try a local roadside rolex or matoke stew
• →Transfer to Entebbe Airport (taxi ~£10–15)