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Uganda magic:


Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys, Safaris, and the Nile River

July 5th - 13th, 2025 —

Gorillas & Primates Focus: Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys

July 13th - 24th, 2025 —

Complete Uganda Trip: Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys + Safaris & Nile River

Learn more about our Uganda experiences

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This is Uganda magic

I lived in Uganda and believe it has some of the most amazing wildlife and natural experiences in the world.

There is no feeling like trekking up dense montane cloud forest to come face to face with a family of mountain gorillas.

Or quietly observing a chimpanzee slowly grooming himself in the shade of the forest.

Or searching a vast savannah plain for lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles.

Or walking alongside rhinos.

Or relaxing at a secluded lodge perched over the rapids of the Nile River.

Uganda is an incredible place and I cannot wait to share it with you.

Experiences

  • Mountain gorilla trek with special 4 hr permits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

  • Chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park

  • Golden Monkey trek in Mgahinga National Park

  • Day and night safari game drives in Murchison National Park and Mburo National Park in search of lions, leopard, buffalo, elephants, and zebra

  • River boat safari in Murchison National Park in search of hippos, crocodiles, and shoebills

  • Rhino trek in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

  • Seeing the “Top of the Falls” at Murchison Falls

  • Rafting on the Nile River

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Session 1 — Gorillas & Primates Focused Itinerary

A shorter itinerary focused on some of the most unique wildlife experiences you can have — trekking with mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys in their native highland cloud forest habitats.

This trip is designed to maximize our time with these incredible animals, including special habituation permits that give us 4x as much time with the gorillas.

Dates: Saturday July 5th - Sunday July 13th, 2025

Pricing: $5,900 twin sharing, single room supplement available.

Mountain gorilla in rain forest

  • Fly into Entebbe airport (EBB), where you will be picked up and taken to our hotel near the airport. We will have a trip briefing tonight before heading to Kibale National Park tomorrow.

  • We will drive to Kibale National Park today in preparation for our chimpanzee trek tomorrow. It will be a 6 hour drive with a stop for lunch along the way. At dinner we will have a  briefing on chimpanzees and what to expect on the trek.  

  • We will get up early and meet with the rangers in Kibale National Park for our Chimpanzee Trek. With luck, we will get close and intimate encounters with a group of chimpanzees. In the afternoon we will visit the nearby Bigodi Wetlands in search of other primate species, birds, and reptiles. 

  • We will drive to Mgahinga National Park in Uganda's far southwest. Mgahinga is the only place in Uganda where it is possible to trek with Golden Monkeys, an endangered species that only lives in this unique volcanic cloud forest habitat. 

  • In the morning we will go on a trek in search of Golden Monkeys, an endangered primate species that is only found here. After our trek, we will drive for 2 hours to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to prepare for our gorilla treks. 

  • Our first of two gorilla treks! Today we will go on a "standard" 1 hour gorilla trek with a habituated group. This is an unforgettable experience for almost everyone and I am excited for you to get to experience it. 

  • The grand finale of our trip and (in my opinion) one of the finest experiences in Africa -- the habituation mountain gorilla trek. This special, very limited permit (only 4 are issued each day) allows us to have 4 hours with a group of semi-habituated gorillas. It is a magical experience and rightfully serves as the capstone to this trip. 

  • We will leave early from our lodge in Bwindi to drive back to Entebbe. It will be about a 9-10 hour drive, with a stop along the way for lunch. There is an optional flight that guests can take that reduces the travel time to 2-3 hours, which is available for an additional $400 charge. 

  • Goodbyes and flights home from Entebbe (EBB). Thank you for joining this amazing adventure in Uganda!

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Session 2 — Complete Uganda: Gorillas + Safaris + Nile River

The best that Uganda has to offer, all in one trip: gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys, as well as safaris in Murchison National Park in search of lions, elephants, buffalo, and leopards, rhino treks, and rafting on the Nile River.

An incredibly varied trip full of different experiences each day — all of the things I loved most from living here. Suited for those who want to see and experience (almost) everything that Uganda has to offer.

Dates: Sunday July 13th, 2025 - Thursday July 24th, 2025

Pricing: $6,750 twin sharing, single room supplement available.

Shoebill bird standing in a wetland with green vegetation and water lilies.

  • Fly into Entebbe airport (EBB), where you will be picked up and taken to our hotel near the airport. We will have a trip briefing tonight going over what to expect during our trip.

  • Close encounters with rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and then traveling to Murchison National Park, Uganda’s preeminent safari destination where we will stay at a beautiful lodge near the river.

  • Morning and evening safari game drives in Murchison National Park, where we will search for lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, warthogs, antelope, and more.

    We will also visit the top of Murchison Falls to see the immense power of the Nile being pushed through a narrow slot canyon.

  • We will go on a boat safari in search of crocodiles, hippos, and the distinctive shoebill bird. With luck, we may even have the chance to see elephants and other animals coming to the river to drink.

    Afterwards we will travel to Kibale National Park to prepare for our chimpanzee trek.

  • We will get up early and meet with the rangers in Kibale National Park for our Chimpanzee Trek. With luck, we will get close and intimate encounters with a group of chimpanzees.  

  • Today we are traveling to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, an incredible area of highland montane cloud forest where the majority of Uganda’s mountain gorillas live.

    It will be about an 8 hour journey from Kibale to Bwindi, with a stop for lunch along the way.

  • One of the finest experiences in Africa -- the 4 hour habituation trek with a family of mountain gorillas. This special, very limited permit (only 4 are given each day) allows us to have 4 hours with a group of semi-habituated gorillas. It is a magical experience and I cannot wait to share it with you.

  • In the morning we will go on a trek in search of Golden Monkeys, an endangered primate species that is only found here.

  • In the morning we will travel from Mgahinga National Park to Mburo National Park, a 6 hour journey with lunch along the way.

    Mburo is one of the best destinations in Uganda for nighttime safari game drives and we will do one this night in search of leopards, zebra, and other game animals.

  • Today we will travel to Jinja, gateway to one of Uganda’s most spectacular areas: the headwaters of the Nile River.

    We will travel 7 hours with a stop for lunch along the way, and settle into our lodge overlooking the rapids of the Nile River.

  • An incredible capstone to our incredible trip. Rafting on the Nile River is one of the most exhilarating and breathtaking experiences you can have in Uganda. For those who do not want to do rafting, it is possible to set up alternate activities such as going to see the source of the Nile.

  • Time to say goodbye, until our next adventure together. We will be traveling from Jinja back to Entebbe in time for departure flights home. Guests can book flights home at any time today.

People hiking through dense jungle foliage on a narrow path
Two gorillas in a lush green forest, with one looking towards the camera and the other in the background.
Entrance gate labeled 'Home of Chimps' at night, viewed from a vehicle, surrounded by trees.
Gorilla resting on a tree branch in a lush forest environment.
Young gorilla in a forested area
Scenic view of terraced fields at sunset with cloudy sky, lush green vegetation, and distant hills.
Group of five people smiling in front of a vehicle with a whale design on the spare tire cover.
Two women observing two rhinoceroses grazing in a grassy savannah under a cloudy sky.
Leopard resting on a tree branch at night
Shoebill stork standing in wetland with water lilies, lush vegetation, and distant hills.
Three people in a boat navigating through a lush river under a cloudy sky.
Safari vehicle with "Thoughtful" branded tire covers and wildlife-themed artwork, parked in a nature setting.
People in a safari vehicle photographing elephants in the grasslands using a telephoto lens.
Chimpanzee sitting in tropical forest surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
Person pounding food in a wooden mortar outdoors.

Accommodation

We will be staying in lodges selected to give us the most unique experience possible:

  • A boutique lodge with rooms perched on a hillside with spectacular views overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

  • Classic African safari riverfront glamping tents with en-suite bathrooms where you have a chance of seeing wildlife right in front of your porch.

  • A quiet sanctuary overlooking some of the Nile River’s most amazing rapids.

And more.

Accommodation will be twin sharing (with single rooms available for a supplement) and meals are included.

Thatched roof outdoor restaurant with palm trees and illuminated wooden seating area, building in background.
River with mist rising, surrounded by lush greenery and a small boat
wooden deck with hammock overlooking lush landscape
Wooden porch overlooking lush green hillside and distant cottage, surrounded by trees and vegetation.
Rustic thatched-roof cottage surrounded by a green lawn and trees, with distant view of a river under a clear sky.
Rustic villa in lush landscape with palm trees and distant hills.
Outdoor restaurant by river with wooden tables, chairs, thatched roof, and lush greenery.
Luxury safari tent interior with a king-sized bed, mosquito net, wooden furniture, and seating area.
Tropical resort pool with loungers and palm trees
Cozy bedroom with a rustic wooden ceiling, featuring a bed with a mosquito net, a wooden table and chair, and a staircase leading to an upper level. The room has earthy tones and a warm ambiance.
Room with two wooden beds, white bedding, colorful decorative pillows, hanging mosquito nets, wall decor, and wood flooring.
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Booking Details

Ready to go on an incredible adventure

Learn more about our Uganda experiences

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Questions?

    • Session 1 — Primate Treks Focus: $5,900

    • Session 2 — Complete Trip: $6,750

    • This is a small, intimate trip: there will be a maximum of 4 guests. I believe this creates the best atmosphere for this type of adventure.

    • Everyone is welcome. You have to be fit enough to do some trekking / hiking. Reach out if you have concerns and we can discuss.

    • All activities & permits: treks, safari game drives, boat safaris

    • Informational talks

    • Accommodation

    • Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

    • Transport within Uganda

    • Scheduled airport pick up & drop off

    • Guide

    • Yellow Fever vaccination (required for entry into Uganda)

    • Uganda Visa fees

    • International flights

    • Snacks & drinks

    • Gratuities

    • Optional domestic flight to Bwindi National Park

    • Click the green “Book Now” button to submit your deposit for the trip.

    • You can also reach out to us at alex@thoughtfulexpeditions.com or by filling out the informational form below.

    • You can pay by credit card or bank transfer using the currency you prefer. (The trip is quoted in USD, but it is possible to pay in EUR, GBP, and other major currencies)

    • Yellow Fever vaccination

    • Uganda visa (apply at least 2 weeks before arrival)

    • Long sleeved trekking pants and shirt

    • Rain jacket and pants

    • Sturdy walking shoes suitable for forest trekking

    • A $1,500 deposit will be required to secure your spot on the trip.

    • The remaining balance will be split over 2 payments due 90 and 60 days before the trip begins.

    • Our payment processor charges no fees for bank transfers, and a standard 1.5% - 2.9% fee for credit cards.

  • No cancellations within 90 days of the trip starting.

  • We are always happy to talk about trip, answer questions, or offer recommendations.

    Please reach out to: