The 10 Days Best of Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari combines Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife and primate experiences into one unforgettable journey. Explore Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Mburo while experiencing Uganda’s diverse landscapes and rich wildlife.
10 Days Best of Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari
The safari includes Big Five wildlife viewing, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest and mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi. You will also enjoy a boat cruise on the Nile, a Kazinga Channel boat safari, a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the scenic Ishasha sector, a Batwa cultural experience and a stop at the Equator.
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and Transfer to Entebbe
Welcome to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your professional safari driver-guide.
After a warm welcome, your guide will brief you about the safari before transferring you to your hotel in Entebbe. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing and recovering from your journey.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Overnight: Entebbe
Day 2: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Transfer to Murchison Falls
After breakfast, meet your safari guide and begin your journey towards Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s premier wildlife destinations.
Your first stop will be at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola. The sanctuary provides a protected environment for rhino conservation and offers an opportunity to see these impressive animals on foot with an experienced ranger.
After the rhino tracking experience, enjoy lunch before continuing your journey towards Murchison Falls National Park.
Upon arrival, check into your lodge and, depending on your arrival time, enjoy an optional evening game drive. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes and other wildlife as you explore the park.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Game Drive, Nile Boat Cruise and Murchison Falls
Rise early and enjoy breakfast before heading out for a morning game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park.
The early hours offer excellent opportunities to see wildlife while temperatures are cooler and animals are more active. Keep an eye out for elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi and other wildlife.
Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.
In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. Along the riverbanks, you can expect to see hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks and numerous water birds.
After the boat cruise, continue with a hike to the top of Murchison Falls, where the Nile is forced through a narrow gorge before plunging downstream. Enjoy spectacular views of the powerful falls before returning to your accommodation.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls and begin your journey to Kibale Forest National Park, widely recognized for its remarkable concentration of primates.
The journey takes you through changing landscapes, local communities and beautiful countryside. Enjoy lunch along the way before continuing to Kibale.
Upon arrival, check into your lodge and relax.
Later, if time permits, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided community-based nature walk. The wetland is home to several monkey species, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Kibale Forest National Park
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Community Experience
Today, experience one of the highlights of your Uganda safari — chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park.
After breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing before entering the forest with experienced guides and trackers.
As you walk through the tropical rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities, you may encounter other primates, including red-tailed monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys. The forest is also rich in birdlife, butterflies and unique plant species.
Once you locate the chimpanzees, spend time observing their natural behaviour as they move through the forest, feed and interact with one another.
In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi community and wetland area. This community-based experience provides an opportunity to interact with local people and learn about traditional lifestyles while supporting local conservation and development initiatives.
Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Kibale Forest National Park
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Crater Lakes
After breakfast, depart Kibale Forest and continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular wildlife destinations.
Along the way, enjoy views of the beautiful crater lake region and the dramatic landscapes around the Rwenzori Mountains. Depending on your itinerary and available time, you can make a stop to explore one of the scenic crater lakes.
Continue towards Queen Elizabeth National Park and enjoy an en-route lunch.
Upon entering the park, you may have the opportunity for a short game drive as you make your way towards the lodge.
Check in, relax and enjoy dinner.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start the morning with an early breakfast before heading into the park for a wildlife game drive.
Explore the Kasenyi Plains and surrounding savannah in search of elephants, buffaloes, lions, Uganda kob, waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas and other wildlife. With some luck, you may also encounter a leopard.
After the game drive, return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation.
In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George.
The cruise offers excellent opportunities to see large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes along the shores. Numerous water birds can also be seen during the cruise.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8: Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions and Transfer to Bwindi
After breakfast, continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are sometimes seen resting in the branches of large fig trees. During the game drive, keep watch for these lions as well as elephants, topi, buffaloes, Uganda kob and other wildlife.
Enjoy lunch in the Ishasha area before continuing towards Bwindi.
As you approach Bwindi, the landscape changes dramatically from open savannah to rolling cultivated hills and densely forested mountains.
Upon arrival, check into your accommodation and, depending on time and arrangements, enjoy a Batwa cultural experience. Learn about the traditional forest lifestyle of the Batwa people and enjoy their cultural performances and storytelling.
Return to your lodge and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Transfer to Lake Mburo
Today is the main highlight of your 10 Days Best of Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari — mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guides. You will then begin your trek through the ancient rainforest in search of a habituated gorilla family.
The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain. Expect steep slopes, dense vegetation and sometimes muddy or slippery trails.
Once you locate the gorillas, you will spend the permitted viewing time observing them in their natural habitat. Watching these remarkable primates interact, feed and care for their young is an experience you are unlikely to forget.
After the trek, return to the lodge, collect your belongings and begin the journey towards Lake Mburo National Park. Depending on the trekking duration and road conditions, you may arrive in the evening.
Check into your accommodation, enjoy dinner and rest.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Lake Mburo National Park
Day 10: Lake Mburo Safari and Transfer to Entebbe via the Equator
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before exploring Lake Mburo National Park.
Depending on your preference and arrangements, enjoy a morning game drive or guided horseback safari. Lake Mburo is known for its populations of zebras, impalas, giraffes, elands, topi, Uganda kob and Cape buffaloes. The park also supports a variety of bird species.
After the morning activity, return to the lodge, check out and begin your journey to Entebbe.
Along the way, stop at the Uganda Equator crossing. This is an excellent opportunity to take photographs, browse local craft shops and enjoy a final memorable experience before leaving Uganda.
Continue to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight, bringing your 10 Days Best of Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari to an end.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch