Overview:
This 15-day safari through Uganda offers a rich blend of adventure, wildlife, and primate encounters. You’ll track rhinos at Ziwa, enjoy game drives and boat cruises in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth, hike scenic trails in Fort Portal, and track chimpanzees in Kibale. The highlight is gorilla trekking in Bwindi and golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga, followed by relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi and a walking safari in Lake Mburo before ending in Entebbe.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your professional driver-guide who will brief you about the safari and transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala for an overnight stay. Depending on your arrival time, you may opt for optional activities like a visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, or a sunset cruise on Lake Victoria.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, you will set off for Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest national park. En route, you’ll stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a thrilling rhino tracking experience, your first of the “Big Five” sightings. Lunch will be en route before continuing to the park. Upon arrival, enjoy a short game drive as you head to your lodge.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Trip to the Falls
Rise early for a game drive on the northern bank of the Nile, where you’ll search for elephants, lions, giraffes, leopards, buffaloes, and several antelope species. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Nile to the base of the spectacular Murchison Falls, spotting hippos, crocodiles, and numerous water birds. Optional hike to the top of the falls after the boat trip.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Today’s scenic drive takes you southwest through the Albertine Rift Valley to Kibale Forest National Park, famed for its primate diversity. Enjoy picturesque views of tea plantations and traditional villages. Arrive in Fort Portal town in the evening and check in to your lodge near the forest.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: “Top of the World” Hike & Fort Portal Exploration
After breakfast, enjoy the “Top of the World Hike”, which offers panoramic views of crater lakes, the Rwenzori Mountains, and lush tea estates. In the afternoon, explore Fort Portal town, visiting cultural sites like the Tooro Palace, Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves, and local markets.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Head into Kibale Forest for an exciting chimpanzee tracking adventure. You may also encounter other primates like red colobus, L’Hoest monkeys, and more. After lunch, take a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, rich in birdlife and cultural experiences.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – Afternoon Boat Safari on Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, descending into the rift valley. On arrival, check in to your lodge and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, take a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes Edward and George. Spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and an abundance of bird species.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Morning Game Drive & Crater Lake Drive
Start the day with an early game drive in Kasenyi Plains, where lions, elephants, buffaloes, and Uganda kobs roam. After lunch, embark on a scenic crater drive, exploring ancient explosion craters with stunning views and birdlife.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Ishasha Sector – Search for Tree-Climbing Lions
Transfer to the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Enjoy a game drive in this remote and beautiful part of the park, which also hosts herds of elephants, topis, and buffaloes.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
After a relaxed breakfast, enjoy a short morning game drive before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Arrive in the afternoon and relax at your lodge as you prepare for the next day’s highlight.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking Experience – Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla NP
Today is the highlight of your safari, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest. After a briefing by the park rangers, you will embark on a guided trek to encounter one of the habituated gorilla families. Once found, you’ll spend up to one magical hour in their presence. After the trek, transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, located in the Virunga Volcanoes.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Golden Monkey Tracking – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
This morning, enjoy a golden monkey tracking experience in Mgahinga. These rare and playful primates are endemic to the Albertine Rift and are a delight to watch. After the trek, transfer to the scenic Lake Bunyonyi, known as the “Switzerland of Africa.”
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
Spend the day relaxing and exploring Lake Bunyonyi. Activities include a canoe ride to explore the islands, swimming, hiking around the lake, or simply relaxing at your lodge. Optional cultural visit to a Batwa community.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Evening Game Drive
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest savannah park in Uganda and home to zebras, elands, impalas, and more. Upon arrival, enjoy an evening game drive as you check in to your lodge.
Accommodation: Mid-Range
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Walking Safari – Return to Entebbe International Airport
Begin your day with a guided walking safari, a unique opportunity to get up close to wildlife like zebras and antelopes. After breakfast, check out and drive back to Entebbe with a lunch stop en route. You’ll be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport for your evening departure flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
END OF TOUR
Trip Includes:
- All accommodation as per itinerary
- A 4×4 pop-up roof land cruiser
- A professional English-speaking driver/guide
- All park entrance fees
- 1 Gorilla permit & 1 Chimpanzee permit
- All activities described unless labeled as optional
- All meals as mentioned
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Airport transfers
Trip Excludes:
- International & Domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips (Tipping guideline $20pp per day)
- Optional activities not mentioned on itinerary
- Alcoholic drinks
