12-Days Ultimate Uganda Safari: Gorillas & Wildlife

Welcome to the Pearl of Africa—Uganda, one of East Africa’s top safari destinations! Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport or Kampala, you will be warmly welcomed by our professional guide and transferred to your lodge for check-in.

After your long international flight, spend the evening at leisure, relaxing and unwinding in a comfortable setting as you prepare for the exciting Uganda safari experience ahead. This is the perfect time to rest and get ready for unforgettable adventures, from wildlife encounters to breathtaking landscapes across Uganda.

After breakfast, depart on an early morning drive to Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s most accessible and scenic safari destinations. Enjoy a brief stop at the Equator in Masaka for photos, sightseeing, and a memorable geographical experience.

Continue your journey into the park, arriving in time for an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo, where you can spot diverse wildlife and enjoy the tranquil beauty of the lake’s rich ecosystem.

Later, take a scenic drive through Lake Mburo National Park en route to your lodge. Upon arrival, settle in and relax, unwinding after a rewarding day of travel, wildlife viewing, and exploration.

Enjoy an early breakfast before going on a morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park, which offers excellent opportunities to spot wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, impalas, buffaloes, and other plains game.

After the game drive, return for lunch before continuing your scenic journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the endangered mountain gorillas.

Upon arrival, check in at your lodge, settle into your accommodation, and spend the evening relaxing and unwinding. This restful evening allows you to prepare for your upcoming gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi the following day.

Enjoy an early breakfast as you prepare for an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of Uganda’s most iconic safari highlights. For your comfort and safety, we recommend bringing sturdy hiking shoes, a light rain jacket, drinking water, insect repellent, and a small backpack for essentials.

Your driver-guide will transfer you to the trekking headquarters, where you will receive a detailed briefing on the guidelines, safety protocols, and what to expect during the trek. The experience typically lasts between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the location of the assigned gorilla family.

The terrain in Bwindi is often steep, uneven, and muddy—especially after rainfall—so a moderate to good level of fitness is recommended. Some sections may involve climbing or descending slippery forest trails, and the pace can be steady and physically demanding at times. However, the reward is well worth the effort.

Once you locate the gorillas, you will spend a magical one hour observing these endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, watching their behaviors and social interactions up close in a rare and unforgettable wildlife encounter.

After the trek, return to the lodge and relax. Spend the evening at leisure reflecting on your extraordinary gorilla trekking adventure while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of Bwindi.

Good morning! After breakfast, depart the mist-covered hills and set off on a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse and popular safari destinations. The journey offers stunning views of rolling landscapes, crater lakes, and opportunities to spot wildlife along the way.

Upon arrival, embark on an evening game drive across the savannah plains, where you may encounter elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, hyenas, and a wide variety of antelope species, along with abundant birdlife.

After the game drive, proceed to Bush Lodge for check-in. Spend the evening at leisure, relaxing and soaking in the tranquil surroundings of the park as you prepare for the next day’s safari adventures in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Start your day with an early breakfast before heading out on a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. As the sun rises over the savannah, enjoy excellent opportunities to observe a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, and an impressive diversity of bird species in their natural habitat.

In the afternoon, embark on a scenic boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. This rewarding excursion offers close-up views of hippos, elephants cooling off along the shoreline, crocodiles basking on the banks, and abundant birdlife gathered along the channel.

As the day comes to an end, return to your lodge and unwind. Spend a peaceful evening relaxing in the tranquil surroundings of the park, reflecting on a memorable day of wildlife encounters in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

After breakfast, depart for Kibale National Park, famously known as the primate capital of East Africa and home to the region’s highest diversity of primates. Enjoy a scenic drive through Uganda’s lush countryside, arriving in time for lunch at your lodge.

Spend the afternoon at leisure, relaxing and settling into the tranquil forest surroundings. In the evening, you may opt for optional activities such as visiting the nearby tea plantations, exploring the breathtaking crater lakes, or discovering the scenic landscapes of the legendary “Mountains of the Moon” (Rwenzori region).

Alternatively, you can simply unwind at the lodge and rest, preparing for the exciting chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale Forest National Park the following day.

Your driver-guide will transfer you to the briefing point, where experienced rangers will provide a detailed orientation before you set off on your trek. You will then venture into the lush Kibale Forest in search of chimpanzees, guided by knowledgeable experts who will share fascinating insights about the forest ecosystem along the way.

Once you locate the chimpanzee community, you will spend an unforgettable hour observing them up close—watching their social interactions, behaviors, and movements in their natural habitat, with excellent opportunities for photography.

In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a rich ecosystem known for its exceptional birdlife, primates, and diverse plant species. After the excursion, return to your lodge and unwind, enjoying a restful evening as you reflect on your remarkable wildlife experiences in Kibale Forest National Park.

After breakfast, depart for Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest national park, known for its spectacular waterfalls and abundant wildlife. As this is a long but scenic drive, you will stop along the way for lunch, as well as take breaks to stretch, take photos, and enjoy the changing landscapes.

By evening, you will arrive at Fort Murchison, where you will check in and settle into your accommodation. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure, relaxing after the journey and preparing for the exciting safari experiences that await you in Murchison Falls National Park the following day.

Begin your day with an early breakfast before setting out on an exhilarating game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. As you explore the vast savannah, keep an eye out for iconic wildlife, including lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, and numerous other species thriving in their natural habitat.

After lunch, embark on a memorable boat cruise along the River Nile towards the base of the magnificent Murchison Falls, one of Uganda’s most powerful natural attractions. Along the way, enjoy close encounters with hippos and crocodiles, while also spotting a variety of vibrant bird species such as kingfishers, bee-eaters, and fish eagles along the riverbanks.

As the day comes to a close, return to your lodge and unwind. Spend a peaceful evening surrounded by the park’s tranquil atmosphere, reflecting on an unforgettable day of wildlife and scenic beauty in Murchison Falls National Park.

Enjoy breakfast before driving to the Top of Murchison Falls, where the mighty River Nile forces its way through a narrow 7–8 meter gorge before plunging into a powerful cascade—creating a thunderous roar, a rising mist, and often a spectacular rainbow that crowns the falls. This breathtaking viewpoint offers one of the most dramatic scenes in Murchison Falls National Park.

In the afternoon, embark on an evening game drive across the savannah plains. This is an ideal time to spot a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and possibly lions and leopards, as well as various reptiles and bird species, as they become more active in the cooler hours of the day.

Begin your journey to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda’s only place where you can track wild rhinos on foot. Upon arrival, set out on a guided trek to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat—a rare and unforgettable wildlife experience in Uganda’s conservation success story.

After the rhino tracking experience, continue your transfer to Entebbe via Kampala, enjoying the final views of Uganda’s scenic countryside along the way. Arrive in time for your evening flight.

This marks the end of your safari, concluding an extraordinary journey through Uganda filled with remarkable wildlife encounters, iconic national parks, and breathtaking landscapes