Day 1 – Arrival in Entebbe or Kampala

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be greeted by your safari guide who will brief you about your upcoming adventure. You’ll then be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala to relax and recover from your flight. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore local attractions such as the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.

Recommended Hotels:

• Luxury: Hotel No.5 Entebbe or Serena Kampala Hotel

• Mid-range: 2 Friends Beach Hotel or Fairway Hotel

• Budget: Forest Cottages or Airport Guesthouse

Day 2 – Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast, depart for Murchison Falls National Park, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — the only place in Uganda where you can track wild rhinos on foot. Guided by expert rangers, you’ll walk through the savannah bush to observe these incredible animals up close. Continue your journey to Murchison Falls, stopping in Masindi for lunch.

By late afternoon, you’ll enter Uganda’s largest and oldest national park, home to elephants, lions, giraffes, and a stunning variety of birdlife. Arrive at your lodge overlooking the Nile River for dinner and overnight stay.

Recommended Lodges:

• Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge

• Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Fort Murchison Lodge

• Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge or Red Chilli Rest Camp

Day 3 – Game Drive & Boat Cruise to the Base of Murchison Falls

Start your morning with a thrilling game drive across the northern savannah plains, where you’ll spot elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, and possibly leopards. The golden light and endless grasslands make this one of Uganda’s most scenic safari experiences.

In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls, where the river explodes through a narrow 7-meter gorge. Along the way, you’ll encounter hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and countless birds. You can opt for a short hike to the top of the falls to witness the Nile’s full force thundering down — an unforgettable sight. Return to your lodge for a relaxing evening.

Day 4 – Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, set off on a long but scenic journey to Kibale Forest National Park, known as the “Primate Capital of the World.” The drive passes through tea plantations, crater lakes, and traditional Ugandan villages, offering a glimpse into rural life. Arrive in the charming Fort Portal area by late afternoon, check into your lodge, and relax amid the lush surroundings.

Recommended Lodges:

• Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge

• Mid-range: Turaco Treetops or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

• Budget: Kibale Forest Camp or Rweteera Safari Park

Day 5 – Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk

After an early breakfast, report to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for your chimpanzee tracking experience. Accompanied by trained guides, you’ll trek through the forest to find a habituated chimpanzee community. Watching these intelligent primates interact, play, and communicate in their natural habitat is deeply moving.

In the afternoon, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-based conservation area filled with monkeys and birdlife. It’s an excellent opportunity for photography and a glimpse into local eco-tourism efforts. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, depart Kibale and drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular wildlife reserve. The park’s varied landscapes — from savannah plains to crater lakes and volcanic hills — host an incredible range of species.

Arrive by midday, check into your lodge, and enjoy an evening game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Expect sightings of elephants, buffaloes, lions, warthogs, and antelopes as the sun sets behind the Rwenzori Mountains.

Recommended Lodges:

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge

• Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge or Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

• Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages or Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

Day 7 – Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Rise early for another game drive through the park’s open grasslands, where wildlife is most active at sunrise. You may spot lions hunting, elephants grazing, or leopards retreating into the trees.

After lunch, enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. This waterway is one of Uganda’s most photogenic wildlife havens, famous for its dense hippo population, basking crocodiles, and elephants drinking along the shore. Birdwatchers will delight in sightings of fish eagles, kingfishers, and pelicans.

Day 8 – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector

After breakfast, journey south through the Ishasha sector, renowned for its tree-climbing lions that often rest in the branches of fig trees. If lucky, you’ll spot these unique predators before continuing to the highlands of Bwindi.

Arrive in the late afternoon and check into your lodge nestled in the misty rainforest foothills. The evening is for relaxation as you prepare for your gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Recommended Lodges:

• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge or Gorilla Forest Camp

• Mid-range: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Gorilla Mist Camp

• Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp or Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 9 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Today’s adventure is the highlight of your safari — tracking the endangered mountain gorillas of Bwindi. After a pre-trek briefing by the park rangers, you’ll set off into the thick forest to find one of the habituated gorilla families. The trek can be challenging, but the experience of standing face-to-face with a silverback and his family is one of the most profound wildlife encounters on earth.

You’ll spend an hour observing these gentle giants before returning to your lodge for a well-deserved rest. In the evening, you can take an optional cultural walk to meet the Batwa community, the original forest dwellers, and learn about their heritage and traditions.

Day 10 – Return to Kampala or Entebbe

After breakfast, begin your drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, with a stop for lunch and a photo break at the Equator line in Kayabwe. You’ll arrive in the evening, marking the end of your 10-day journey through Uganda’s greatest wilderness areas — a journey filled with discovery, emotion, and adventure.