8-Day Sisterhood in the Wild: Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife Safari

Today is one special day that will see us get up-close with human’s closest relation with the wild. Our day will start with a quick breakfast and then we shall head the briefing. Get into the rainforest with experienced ranger-guides in search of wild chimpanzees. Long before you catch your first glimpse of black fur, your experience will be entirely dictated by sound. A tropical rainforest can feel deceptively quiet at dawn, but once a chimpanzee community wakes up, the canopy explodes. Listening to their calls echoing through the forest before finally observing them in their natural habitat is an experience that is both thrilling and deeply moving. After an hour in their presence, you will return to the facility for some repose. Then, later you will visit a nearby community where you’ll spend time with inspiring local women who are preserving traditional crafts, preparing local cuisine, and creating sustainable businesses for their families. Through shared conversations, laughter, and cultural exchange, you’ll discover that the most meaningful travel experiences often come from genuine human connections. The sweet memories will be engraved in you forever.

Accommodation: (Guereza Canopy Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer time: n/a.

Continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse ecosystems. Continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most diverse savannah ecosystem. A morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains feels like stepping directly into a live-action nature documentary. It is an intense, high-energy safari experience because Kasenyi is the primary theater of drama in Queen Elizabeth National Park. As the sun climbs higher and the savanna warms up, the plains fill with the park’s giants. The lions retreat into the thickets or climb into the low branches of thorny bushes to find shade. The drive ends with a sense of deep satisfaction and awe as you head back toward your lodge, with your camera full of memory-making shots and your heart still beating fast from the encounters. The afternoon is spent cruising (Exclusive private) along the famous Kazinga Channel, where remarkable wildlife gathers at the water’s edge. Watch large pods of hippos, elephants cooling off along the shores, buffaloes grazing nearby, and a number of bird species filling the shoreline with life. Back at the lodge, enjoy a relaxed evening with your group, celebrating another unforgettable day surrounded by nature, good food, music, and plenty of shared laughter. 

Accommodation: (Elephant Hab Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 2-3hours.

This day offers one final game drive before travelling towards the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After a slightly relaxed breakfast, you will check out and begin the journey to Bwindi with a game drive opportunity in Ishasha sector (en route). A game drive in the Ishasha Sector feels like stepping into a hidden, untouched wilderness. Located in the remote southern pocket of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha has a completely different atmosphere—it is quieter, wilder, and deeply mysterious. The primary focus here is to try and find the tree-climbing lions that have settled in this area. The chance of spotting these lions stands at about 60-70% but sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable. Continue south towards Bwindi through spectacular mountain scenery. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge before enjoying an intimate fireside conversation with a female conservation practitioner or community leader (subject to availability), who will share her experiences working alongside wildlife and neighbouring communities. This inspiring evening offers a deeper understanding of conservation from a woman’s perspective.

Accommodation: (Ruzogo Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 6 hours.

Today brings to you one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences. The morning air is cold, misty, and smells heavily of damp earth and moss. There is a tense but excited energy as trekkers test their walking sticks and do final gear checks. Following the briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, venture into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of one of the resident mountain gorilla families. Once you leave the trailhead, you step out of civilization and directly into a dense, prehistoric world. Bwindi is called “impenetrable” for a literal reason. The high altitude here combined with steep, rugged (sometimes muddy) terrain makes gorilla trekking physically demanding but rewarding. One moment you’re descending, and the next, you are ascending to a higher elevation. Trekking times vary according to the gorillas’ movements, but every step through this ancient rainforest adds to the anticipation. Once located, spend a magical hour quietly observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. After returning from the forest, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Those feeling refreshed may choose to visit a nearby women’s social enterprise or simply relax and reflect on this once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

Accommodation: (Ruzogo Lodge or similar Midrange Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a.

Today, you will slow down a bit as you allow the body to appreciate the time spent so far. No rush, call it a lazy morning. Be out of bed without a hurry, enjoy a delicious breakfast as you marvel at the beauty of the Bwindi while at the comfort your accommodation. At 8:30or 9am, we shall check out and embark on a transfer to accommodation at the edge of Lake Lake Mburo NP, a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Entebbe/Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah National Parks but home to so many bird species as well as animals such as: Giraffes, Zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, and the elusive leopard among others. We shall arrive and check in for some rest before heading out for a walking safari. It’s a day that pits you up-close with the untamed world. One of the most intimate and thrilling wildlife experiences in Uganda. Encounter a towering giraffe, meet the graceful zebras, feel the presence of several antelopes around you and all these with no fence, no car but just you and them. It’s moments like this that makes you appreciate life even more.

Accommodation: (Kigarama Wilderness Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 5 hrs.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before departing for Entebbe. En route, stop at the Equator Monument where you may take photographs, browse locally made crafts and enjoy lunch before continuing to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight. Thank you for choosing Home to Africa. We hope your Sisterhood of the Wild adventure leaves you with lasting memories, meaningful friendships and a deeper appreciation for Uganda’s remarkable people, wildlife and landscapes.

Accommodation: Recommended on request | Meals: Breakfast and Lunch | Transfer Time: Approx. 4-5 hours.