Luxury Uganda: Gorillas, Chimps & Savanna in Style

After a leisurely breakfast you transfer to the airstrip for a private scenic flight over Uganda's breathtaking patchwork of forests, crater lakes and terraced highlands to the west, landing near Kibale National Park, home to Africa's finest chimpanzee tracking. Your guide meets you and drives you the short way to a sublime forest lodge set amid tall trees and birdsong, where you settle into an elegant suite and enjoy a gourmet lunch. The afternoon is yours to relax in beautiful surroundings, perhaps with a spa treatment, a guided walk in the nearby Bigodi wetland alive with monkeys and birds, or simply a book on your private deck as the forest hums around you. This evening, savour fine dining and fine wine by the fire, with the anticipation of tomorrow's chimps. Rest well in the comfort of the forest sanctuary, surrounded by the sounds of the wild.

After an unhurried breakfast and a briefing, you set off with an expert ranger into the towering forest of Kibale in search of wild chimpanzees, following the hoots, screams and drumming that echo through the trees until you find a habituated community feeding, grooming, resting or swinging noisily through the canopy overhead. Spending time with these charismatic, intelligent great apes, our closest living relatives, is exhilarating and moving, and (as an option) the longer habituation experience allows even deeper immersion. You may also see red colobus, mangabeys and blue monkeys. Back at your sublime lodge for a gourmet lunch, your afternoon is one of indulgent relaxation, a spa treatment, a swim, or a gentle Bigodi wetland walk. This evening, savour fine dining and reflect on a day among the chimps. Rest well in the elegant comfort of the forest, ready to fly to the savanna tomorrow.

After a leisurely breakfast you transfer to the airstrip for a scenic flight south over the crater lakes and green plains to Queen Elizabeth National Park, set beneath the Rwenzori Mountains between two lakes. Your guide meets you and drives you to an elegant savanna lodge with plunge pools and sweeping views over the plains, where you settle in and enjoy a gourmet lunch as wildlife passes below. In the golden light of late afternoon you set out on a private game drive across the Kasenyi plains in search of elephant, buffalo, kob and the chance of lion, pausing for a sundowner as the sky flames over the savanna and the Rwenzoris glow on the horizon. Returning to the lodge, you enjoy an indulgent dinner beneath the stars. Rest well in effortless comfort, surrounded by the sounds of the African bush, ready for more wildlife tomorrow.

Today you savour the wildlife riches of Queen Elizabeth in effortless style. A morning private game drive offers the chance of lion, elephant and buffalo across the plains, and later you glide along the hippo-filled Kazinga Channel on a private boat cruise, watching elephants and buffalo come down to drink, crocodiles basking, and a dazzling array of birds, perhaps with chilled drinks and canapes aboard. In the afternoon you journey into the remote, beautiful Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, scanning the great fig and acacia trees for tawny bodies draped along the branches, an unusual sight seen in only a few places on Earth. A gourmet bush moment may be arranged in a beautiful spot. As the day ends, you return to your lodge for an indulgent dinner beneath the stars. Rest well, ready to fly to the gorilla forest tomorrow.

After a leisurely breakfast you transfer to the airstrip for a scenic flight to the far southwest, landing near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to almost half the world's mountain gorillas, and are driven to a sublime forest lodge perched above the endless green canopy, where mist curls through the ancient trees. You settle into an exquisite suite and enjoy a gourmet lunch with breathtaking views over the forest. The afternoon is yours to relax in this magical setting, perhaps with a spa treatment, a fireside afternoon tea, or a gentle guided community walk to meet local Batwa or Bakiga people and learn how tourism protects the gorillas. This evening, savour fine dining and fine wine by the fire, with the anticipation of tomorrow's great encounter. Rest well in the sublime comfort of the forest sanctuary, cradled by the sounds of the ancient rainforest.

Today you experience the pinnacle of African wildlife travel in the finest style. After an unhurried breakfast you gather for a private briefing, then set off with expert trackers and porters into the dense, dripping forest of Bwindi, home to almost half the world's mountain gorillas, at your own pace and with every effort eased by your team. When you reach the habituated gorilla family, everything else falls away, and you spend a breathless, closely regulated hour just metres from a mighty silverback, gentle mothers with infants and playful youngsters, in one of the most moving experiences on Earth. You return to your sublime forest lodge to celebrate with a hot bath, a gourmet lunch or dinner and fine wine by the fire, savouring the emotion of the day in exquisite comfort. This evening, toast an unforgettable encounter beneath the forest stars. Rest well, glowing and content.

Today is yours to savour the magic of Bwindi in sublime comfort. You might choose a second gorilla trek to a different family (a wonderful optional addition, permits permitting), or the deeper gorilla habituation experience, spending longer with a family still being habituated alongside researchers. Or you might simply relax in the exquisite surroundings of your forest lodge, indulging in a spa treatment, a leisurely lie-in above the misty canopy, a fireside afternoon tea, or a gentle nature or community walk to meet the welcoming people who live beside the forest. Birdwatchers will find Bwindi one of Africa's richest forests. Whatever you choose, the day is unhurried, indulgent and beautiful. This evening, savour a final gourmet dinner in the forest, reflecting on the sublime journey you have made. Rest well in the comfort of your sanctuary above the ancient rainforest of Bwindi.

After a final leisurely breakfast above the misty canopy of Bwindi, you transfer to the nearby airstrip for a scenic private flight back over the green hills, forests and shining lakes of Uganda to Entebbe, arriving refreshed to connect with your onward international departure, with day-room and lounge access arranged as needed. You leave having experienced the very best of the Pearl of Africa in sublime style, private treks to wild chimpanzees in Kibale and mountain gorillas in Bwindi, the lions, hippos and plains of Queen Elizabeth, and some of Africa's finest lodges, all linked by effortless scenic flights. The images stay vivid long after you land, the silverback among the leaves, the chimps in the canopy, the tree-climbing lions and the mist over the forest at dawn. You depart already dreaming of a return to the green and welcoming heart of Uganda.