8 Day Wildlife and Gorilla Safari

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your professional safari guide and transferred to your hotel. Located on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe offers a relaxed introduction to Uganda and provides the perfect opportunity to unwind after your international flight.

Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax at the hotel, enjoy views of Lake Victoria, or explore some of Entebbe's attractions. Optional activities include visiting the botanical gardens, local craft markets, or taking a leisurely walk along the lakeshore. Your guide will provide a detailed briefing about your safari and answer any questions you may have before the adventure begins.

Following an early breakfast, depart Entebbe and begin your journey north towards Murchison Falls National Park. The drive takes you through rural Uganda, passing local villages, farms, and bustling roadside markets that offer an authentic glimpse into everyday life.

Your first major stop is at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where rhinos can be observed in the wild. Accompanied by experienced rangers, you will enjoy a guided rhino tracking excursion on foot. Walking through the bush while observing these magnificent animals at close range is one of Uganda's most exciting wildlife experiences and completes the opportunity to see all members of the Big Five during your safari.

After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls National Park. Before proceeding to your lodge, visit the famous Top of the Falls, where the Nile River is forced through a narrow seven-meter gorge before plunging dramatically into the gorge below. The thunderous roar and mist generated by the falls create a spectacular natural phenomenon and provide outstanding photographic opportunities.

Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon and enjoy dinner overlooking the Nile River or surrounding wilderness.

Rise early for a sunrise game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park, widely regarded as one of Uganda's finest wildlife viewing areas. The cool morning hours provide excellent opportunities to spot wildlife while animals are still active.

During the drive, your guide will search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, Uganda kob, hartebeests, waterbucks, and numerous bird species. Murchison Falls is particularly famous for its thriving population of Rothschild's giraffes, making it one of the best places in East Africa to see these endangered animals.

Following the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation before embarking on the park's famous Nile boat cruise. This unforgettable excursion takes you upstream towards the base of Murchison Falls. Along the way, expect close encounters with large pods of hippos, giant Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and an incredible variety of water birds.

The cruise culminates at the base of the falls where the immense power of the Nile can be fully appreciated before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls National Park and travel southwest towards Kibale Forest National Park. This scenic journey showcases the incredible diversity of Uganda's landscapes, transitioning from savannah grasslands to lush agricultural regions, tea plantations, and rolling hills.

As you travel through western Uganda, enjoy stunning views of traditional homesteads, crater lakes, fertile farmlands, and the distant Rwenzori Mountains. The Fort Portal region is often considered one of the most beautiful parts of the country, known for its cool climate and picturesque scenery.

Arrive at your lodge near Kibale Forest in the afternoon. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing and enjoying the tranquil surroundings while preparing for tomorrow's chimpanzee trekking adventure.

Following an early breakfast, proceed to the Kibale Forest visitor center for a briefing before entering the forest in search of habituated chimpanzees. Kibale Forest National Park contains the highest concentration of primates in Africa and is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees.

Accompanied by experienced ranger guides, venture into the rainforest while listening for vocalizations that reveal the location of the chimpanzee community. Along the way, you may encounter red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and numerous forest birds.

Once the chimpanzees are located, spend one unforgettable hour observing them as they feed, groom, communicate, and interact with one another. Their remarkably human-like behavior makes this one of Africa's most fascinating wildlife encounters.

After lunch, continue south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in the late afternoon. The park's vast savannah plains, crater lakes, wetlands, and forests support one of the highest levels of biodiversity in Africa.

Begin the day with an early morning game drive across the wildlife-rich Kasenyi Plains in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is renowned for its large herds of Uganda kob, which attract predators including lions and leopards. Other wildlife commonly seen includes elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, warthogs, waterbucks, and numerous bird species.

After breakfast, enjoy one of Queen Elizabeth National Park's signature experiences—a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. This natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George hosts one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa. Wildlife sightings frequently include elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and hundreds of bird species.

Following the cruise and lunch, continue south through the Ishasha Sector, famous for its rare tree-climbing lions. With luck, you may spot lions resting in large fig trees before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Arrive at your lodge near the gorilla trekking sector in the evening and enjoy dinner surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest.

Today marks the highlight of your Uganda safari. After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before being assigned a gorilla family.

Accompanied by expert guides and trackers, begin your trek through the dense rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Depending on the movements of the gorillas, the trek may take anywhere from two to eight hours. The journey itself is rewarding as you pass through ancient forest, observe unique plant species, and enjoy the rich biodiversity of Bwindi.

Upon locating the gorilla family, you will spend one magical hour in their presence. Observe the dominant silverback, playful juveniles, caring mothers, and curious infants as they go about their daily lives. Few wildlife experiences anywhere in the world compare to the privilege of observing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Return to the lodge after the trek for relaxation and celebration of this extraordinary achievement.

After breakfast, begin the return journey to Entebbe. The drive takes you through the scenic Kigezi Highlands and central Uganda, passing terraced hillsides, banana plantations, cattle farms, and traditional villages.

A stop will be made at the Uganda Equator Crossing for photographs, souvenir shopping, and lunch. Here, you can stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres simultaneously while learning about the geographical significance of this landmark.

Continue to Entebbe, arriving later in the day. Depending on your departure schedule, you will be transferred directly to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight home, bringing your unforgettable Uganda safari adventure to a close.