This 10-day Uganda gorilla safari is designed for travellers who want to experience some of the country’s most remarkable wildlife, forests, landscapes and cultures in one journey. The route takes you from the shores of Lake Victoria and the northern savannahs of Murchison Falls to the primate-rich forests of Kibale, the wildlife plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the misty mountains of Bwindi.
The safari also includes some of Uganda’s most memorable experiences, including a game drive in search of elephants and lions, a boat cruise on the Nile, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Along the way, you will see changing landscapes, meet people from different communities and have opportunities to experience some of Uganda’s local food, traditions and ways of life.
Our driver-guide will handle the driving and help you make the most of each destination while giving you time to enjoy the journey.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe (Welcome to Uganda)
When you land at Entebbe International Airport, our driver will be there waiting for you
Your Uganda safari starts the moment you arrive at Entebbe International Airport. Our driver will pick you up from the airport and warmly welcome you to Uganda. After helping you with your luggage, we will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe where you can check in, freshen up and relax after your journey.
Entebbe is a peaceful lakeside town on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. Unlike Kampala, which is busy and energetic, Entebbe has a quieter atmosphere and is a good place to begin a safari.
Depending on your arrival time, you can take a relaxed walk around the town, visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or spend some time near Lake Victoria. If you arrive late, we recommend keeping the evening simple and getting enough rest for the journey ahead.
This is also a good opportunity to meet your driver-guide, discuss the safari and go through the programme for the following days.
Your first evening can also be your introduction to Ugandan food. Depending on the hotel or restaurant, you may try dishes such as matooke with groundnut sauce, beef stew, beans, grilled tilapia or the popular Ugandan rolex.
Accommodation: Budget guesthouse, mid-range hotel or luxury hotel in Entebbe.
Day 2: Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park (Journey to the northern savannah)
After breakfast, our driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel and we will begin the journey towards Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. The drive is approximately 300-350km and takes about 6-7 hours depending on stops and road conditions.The journey itself is part of the experience. As we leave the Lake Victoria basin behind, the landscape gradually changes from urban and agricultural areas to open countryside, small trading centres and villages. You will see local farmers working in their gardens, roadside markets and communities going about their daily activities.
Depending on the timing and your interests, we can make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you can track rhinos on foot with a trained ranger. This is an excellent addition to the safari because Uganda’s rhinos are protected in this sanctuary before being reintroduced into suitable protected areas.
After the rhino experience, we continue towards Murchison Falls. The final section of the journey brings you closer to the park’s northern savannah landscapes.
Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest protected area and is famous for the powerful Murchison Falls, where the Victoria Nile is forced through a narrow gorge before plunging downstream.
The park is also one of Uganda’s important wildlife destinations. Its savannahs support elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, hippos and many bird species. The Nile is particularly important to the park because it provides water and supports a large concentration of wildlife.
Once we arrive, you will check into your lodge and have time to relax. If time allows, we can take an evening drive around the park or simply enjoy the view from your lodge.
Accommodation: Budget campsite/lodge, mid-range safari lodge or luxury lodge.
Day 3: Murchison Falls wildlife safari and Nile boat cruise
Enjoy an unforgettable boat experience at the bottom of Murchison Falls.
Activities: Game drive, Nile boat cruise and Murchison Falls visit
We will start the day early because the cooler morning hours are one of the best times for wildlife viewing. Our driver-guide will take you on a morning game drive through the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. This part of the park is particularly rewarding for wildlife viewing because of its open savannah and the concentration of animals around water sources.
You may encounter large herds of Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest, buffaloes and elephants. Giraffes are also common in several areas, while lions may sometimes be seen resting after an early hunt. With patience and a little luck, you may also encounter leopards.
Rather than rushing from one sighting to another, we will take time to observe the animals and enjoy the landscape.
After the game drive and lunch, you will take a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the bottom of Murchison Falls. The boat ride is one of the highlights of the park. Along the riverbanks, you can see large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes. The river also attracts numerous birds, making the cruise interesting for birdwatchers.
The boat eventually takes you towards the base of the falls, where millions of litres of water are forced through the narrow gorge.
You can then visit the Top of Murchison Falls, where you will see the Nile squeezing through the approximately seven-metre-wide gorge before continuing its journey westward.
The power of the water is impressive, particularly during periods of high river flow. We return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Same as Day 2.
Day 4: Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest (From savannah to tropical forest)
After breakfast, we leave Murchison Falls and begin our journey towards Kibale Forest National Park. The journey is about 300-350km and takes between 6-8 hours. This is one of the longer driving days of the safari, but it allows you to see another side of Uganda. The landscape gradually changes as we travel southwards, with extensive farmland, small towns, plantations and rolling countryside replacing the open savannah of Murchison.
Kibale is particularly famous for its primates and is often described as one of Africa’s best destinations for chimpanzee tracking.
The park protects one of Uganda’s most important tropical forests. The forest is home to chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys and many other primate species.
Chimpanzees are the main attraction, but the forest offers much more than chimpanzee trekking. The dense vegetation, birds, butterflies and different monkey species make the forest interesting even when you are not tracking a particular animal.
Kibale is also closely connected to the communities surrounding the forest. The area is known for tea growing, banana farming and other agricultural activities.
As we approach the park, you will notice the scenery becoming greener and more heavily forested. We check into our lodge and rest in preparation for the following day’s chimpanzee experience.
Accommodation: Budget lodge/campsite, mid-range lodge or luxury forest lodge.
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi community experience
Close up portrait of old chimpanzee Pan troglodytes resting in the jungle of Kibale forest in Uganda
Activities: Chimpanzee trekking, forest walk and Bigodi community experience
After an early breakfast, we head to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning our chimpanzee trekking experience.
Chimpanzee trekking is different from a traditional game drive. You will walk through the forest with trained guides and trackers looking for chimpanzee groups. The trek can be relatively short or take several hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located.
Once the chimpanzees are found, you will have an opportunity to observe their behaviour. You may see them feeding, climbing through the trees, communicating with each other or moving through the forest.
The experience gives you a completely different perspective of Uganda’s wildlife because you are moving through the animals’ natural forest environment rather than viewing them from a vehicle.
After the trek, we can visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, located near Kibale Forest.
Bigodi is more than a nature walk. It is a community-based tourism initiative where local people participate in conservation and tourism activities. The wetland supports birds, monkeys and other wildlife, while the surrounding community benefits from tourism.
During the community experience, you may see traditional crafts, local gardens and demonstrations of everyday activities. Depending on availability, you can also learn about traditional food preparation or local coffee and banana production.
This is a good place to understand the connection between conservation and the communities living around Uganda’s protected forests.
Accommodation: Same as Day 4.
Day 6: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park, into Uganda’s wildlife heartland
After breakfast, our driver-guide will pick you up and we will drive towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, approximately 120-160km and 3-4 hours drive.
The journey is considerably shorter than the previous day’s drive, giving us time to enjoy the changing scenery. We travel through the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and into the region surrounding Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Along the way, you will see banana plantations, crater lakes, small villages and the dramatic Rwenzori landscape on clear days.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s most diverse wildlife destinations. It covers a large area of savannah, wetlands, forests, lakes and volcanic landscapes.
The park is home to elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs, hippos and several other species. Lions are also found in the park, including the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park.
One of the park’s defining features is its collection of crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George.
After arriving, we check into our lodge. Depending on our arrival time, we can take a relaxed evening game drive to begin exploring the park.
Accommodation: Budget safari lodge/campsite, mid-range lodge or luxury lodge.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari and Kazinga Channel cruise
Queen Elizabeth is home to the rare tree climbing lions that can be found in Ishasha Sector
Activities: Game drive and Kazinga Channel boat cruise
We begin the morning with a game drive through the park. The early hours offer cooler temperatures and good opportunities to find animals before they retreat into thicker vegetation during the heat of the day.
The Kasenyi Plains are particularly well known for wildlife viewing. The open grasslands support large numbers of Uganda kob and other antelopes, which in turn attract predators.
We will look out for elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos, lions and different antelope species. The park is also an important birding destination, with hundreds of recorded bird species.
After lunch, we head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise.
The cruise gives you a different view of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Instead of searching for animals across the savannah, you observe them from the water. Large numbers of hippos can often be seen in the channel, while elephants and buffaloes may come to the water to drink.
Bird lovers will also enjoy the cruise because the channel attracts numerous water birds.
The Kazinga Channel is an important part of the park’s ecosystem because it connects two major lakes and provides a reliable source of water for wildlife.
We return to our lodge in the evening.
Accommodation: Same as Day 6.
Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi
After breakfast, we leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is about 200km from Queen Elizabeth National Park and is a 5-6 hour drive
This is one of the most scenic sections of the safari. The flat and open savannah gradually gives way to rolling hills, terraced farmland and increasingly mountainous landscapes.
If conditions and the route allow, we may travel through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is famous for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings are never guaranteed. We also look out for elephants, buffaloes, topi and other wildlife along the route.
As we approach Bwindi, the landscape changes dramatically. The road climbs into the highlands, and the forested hills become a defining feature of the region.
Bwindi is one of Uganda’s most important conservation areas and is internationally known for its population of mountain gorillas.
The forest is ancient, dense and mountainous. Walking through it is an experience in itself, with thick vegetation, tall trees, vines, birds and numerous other species.
Bwindi is also surrounded by communities whose lives are closely connected to the landscape. The area is home to the Batwa people and Bakiga communities, among others, and cultural experiences can provide an opportunity to learn about local traditions, food, crafts and the history of communities around the forest.
We check into our lodge and have an early dinner because the following day will be one of the biggest highlights of the safari.
Accommodation: Budget lodge/campsite, mid-range lodge or luxury lodge near your trekking sector.
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Trek through the dense forest of Bwindi for a unforgettable on-on-one experience with the endangered mountain gorillas
After an early breakfast, our driver-guide will take you to the appropriate Bwindi gorilla trekking briefing point.
Gorilla trekking begins with a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and guides. You will then enter the forest with your trekking group.
The duration of the trek depends on where the gorilla family you are tracking is located. Some groups can be reached within a few hours, while others require a longer hike through steep and thick forest.
Finding the gorillas is an unforgettable experience. You may watch them feeding, resting, grooming or moving through the vegetation. You will spend a regulated amount of time with the gorilla family while following the instructions of your ranger guide.
After the trek, we return to the lodge for lunch, and visit the Batwa community.
Later, we continue towards Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda’s most beautiful highland lakes.
Lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by steep green hills and numerous small islands. Its name is commonly associated with the local word for “little birds”, reflecting the area’s rich birdlife.
The lake is popular with travellers because of its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful scenery. After several days of driving, wildlife viewing and trekking, it provides an opportunity to slow down and enjoy Uganda’s highlands.
Depending on your energy levels and arrival time, you can take a boat ride on the lake, visit one of the islands, relax at your accommodation or simply enjoy the views.
The communities around Lake Bunyonyi are predominantly agricultural, and you will see terraced gardens covering many of the surrounding hills.
Accommodation: Budget lakeside guesthouse, mid-range lodge or luxury lakeside resort.
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe Driving distance: Approximately 420–500 km
After breakfast, we begin our journey back towards Entebbe which takes about 8-10 hours of driving.
This is a long driving day, so we leave Lake Bunyonyi early. The journey takes us through several parts of central and western Uganda, giving you another opportunity to observe the countryside and communities outside the national parks.
We can make stops along the way for lunch, refreshments and photographs. Depending on your interests and flight schedule, we may also make a brief stop at a local market or roadside trading centre.
As we approach Entebbe, the landscape becomes more urban and busy.
Our driver will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or at your accommodation if you are spending another night in Uganda.
Your safari ends with memories of Uganda’s savannahs, forests, mountains, lakes and people.
Important planning note
The exact driving times can change depending on road conditions, weather, traffic, stops and the location of your accommodation. Gorilla trekking also varies in duration, so accommodation should be booked according to the specific Bwindi trekking sector where your gorilla permit is issued.
For travellers who prefer a slower pace, we recommend adding an extra night around Bwindi or Lake Bunyonyi. This gives you more time to recover after gorilla trekking and reduces the pressure of the final journey to Entebbe.
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