12 Day Uganda Big Five, Gorillas and Chimpanzee Safari
12 Days
Entebbe → ziwa rhino ranch → Murchison Falls National Park → Kibale Forest National Park → Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary → Queen Elizabeth National Park → Ishasha Sector → Bwindi Impenetrable National Park → Mgahinga national park → Lake Mburo National Park → Entebbe
01
DAY 1
Mabamba Shoebill Tracking and Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Your safari begins with a wetland and birding experience around Entebbe.
Travel to Mabamba Swamp, one of Uganda’s best-known wetlands for searching for the rare shoebill stork. Travel by traditional canoe through the papyrus channels with a local guide, watching for shoebills and other wetland birds such as African jacanas, malachite kingfishers, and papyrus gonoleks.
Later, continue to Entebbe Botanical Gardens for a relaxed guided nature walk. The gardens provide good opportunities for birdwatching and photography, with mature tropical vegetation and wildlife including vervet and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Return to your guesthouse in Entebbe for the evening.
Safari Activities
- Mabamba Swamp
- Shoebill tracking
- Traditional canoe excursion
- Wetland birdwatching
- Entebbe Botanical Gardens
- Nature and wildlife photography
Accommodation
karibu guest house
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
02
DAY 2
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Murchison Falls National Park
Depart Entebbe early and travel north toward Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda’s leading destination for rhino tracking.
On arrival, join trained sanctuary guides for an on-foot tracking experience in search of southern white rhinos. The activity provides an opportunity to observe the animals in a natural setting while learning about rhino conservation and the sanctuary’s role in restoring rhinos to Uganda.
After the experience and lunch, continue toward Murchison Falls National Park. Depending on timing, visit the Top of Murchison Falls, where the Nile is forced through a narrow rocky gorge before continuing downstream.
Proceed into the park and continue to your lodge.
Safari Activities
- Rhino tracking
- Rhino conservation experience
- Transfer to Murchison Falls
- Top of Murchison Falls visit
Accommodation
pakuba safari lodge
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
03
DAY 3
Murchison Falls National Park – Game Drive and Nile Boat Safari
Start early with a game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s prime areas for savannah wildlife viewing.
Explore the open plains in search of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda kobs, oribis, and other wildlife. Lions may also be encountered, depending on wildlife movements and conditions.
After lunch, head to the Victoria Nile for a boat safari toward the base of Murchison Falls. Watch for hippos and Nile crocodiles along the river, while elephants and buffalo often come to the water’s edge. The cruise also offers excellent opportunities for observing waterbirds.
Safari Activities
- Morning game drive
- Savannah wildlife viewing
- Nile boat safari
- Hippo and crocodile viewing
- Birdwatching
- Murchison Falls
Accommodation
pakuba safari lodge
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
04
DAY 4
Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, begin the long journey southwest toward Kibale Forest National Park.
The route passes through rural communities, farmland, small towns, and tea-growing areas as you move into western Uganda. This is primarily a transfer day, allowing you to settle into the forest environment ahead of the following day’s chimpanzee experience.
Arrive at your lodge later in the day and enjoy a relaxed evening surrounded by forest sounds.
Safari Activities
- Transfer to Kibale Forest
- Western Uganda countryside
- Tea-growing areas
- Lodge relaxation
Accommodation
kibale forest camp
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
05
DAY 5
Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Today is dedicated to chimpanzees, forest wildlife and community-based conservation.
In the morning, enter Kibale Forest with experienced guides and trackers for chimpanzee tracking. Follow forest trails in search of habituated chimpanzee communities and, when sightings are made, observe their behaviour as they move through the forest.
Kibale is also home to several other primate species, along with a wide variety of birds and forest life.
For travellers seeking a longer chimpanzee experience, the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience can be arranged as an optional upgrade, subject to availability.
In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-based conservation initiative known for its birdlife, monkeys, and wetland habitats. A guided walk provides a closer look at the area’s biodiversity while supporting local conservation and community projects.
Safari Activities
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Forest walking
- Primate viewing
- Birdwatching
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
- Community-based conservation experience
Accommodation
kibale forest camp
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
06
DAY 6
Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, leave Kibale and drive south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Arrive in time for lunch before heading to the Kazinga Channel for a boat safari. The channel connects Lakes Edward and George and attracts large concentrations of hippos, buffalo, elephants and waterbirds.
The cruise provides excellent opportunities for wildlife photography from the water and a different perspective of the surrounding park.
Depending on timing, finish the day with a short evening game drive before returning to the lodge.
Safari Activities
- Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Hippo and elephant viewing
- Birdwatching
- Wildlife photography
- Optional evening game drive
Accommodation
the bush lodge
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
07
DAY 7
Queen Elizabeth National Park to Ishasha – Tree-Climbing Lions
Begin with a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park before continuing south toward the Ishasha sector.
Ishasha is known for its population of lions that are sometimes found resting in the branches of large fig and acacia trees. While sightings are never guaranteed, the search for these unusual lions is one of the area’s distinctive wildlife experiences.
Continue exploring the sector by 4×4, watching for topi, buffalo, elephants, Uganda kobs, and other savannah species.
Safari Activities
- Morning game drive
- Transfer to Ishasha
- Tree-climbing lion search
- Wildlife viewing
- Wildlife photography
Accommodation
Topi Lodge Ishasha
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
08
DAY 8
Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, continue from Ishasha toward the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest region.
The journey takes you through the changing landscapes of southwestern Uganda, with rolling hills, cultivated slopes, and rural communities along the way.
Depending on your selected gorilla trekking sector, continue to your lodge near the appropriate trailhead. If staying around Lake Mulehe, settle into the lodge and enjoy views across the lake and surrounding hills.
The afternoon is free to relax and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking experience.
Safari Activities
- Transfer to the Bwindi region.
- Southwestern Uganda landscapes
- Lodge relaxation
- Gorilla trekking briefing and preparation
Accommodation
lake mulehe gorilla lodge
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
09
DAY 9
Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today is dedicated to one of Uganda’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences: mountain gorilla trekking.
After an early breakfast, report to the designated trekking centre for registration and a ranger briefing. Your trek then begins through the forest in search of your assigned gorilla family.
Trekking conditions vary depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain. Once the family is located, spend the permitted viewing time observing them in their natural habitat, following the guidance of the rangers.
The experience offers a rare opportunity to observe gorillas at close range while learning more about their social behaviour and the conservation work protecting them. Return to the lodge after the trek to rest and enjoy the evening.
Safari Activities
- Gorilla trekking
- Mountain forest hiking
- Gorilla observation
- Wildlife photography
- Conservation experience
Accommodation
mulehe gorilla lodge
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
10
DAY 10
Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga – Transfer to Lake Mburo
Begin the day early and travel toward Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for golden monkey tracking.
The trek takes you into the bamboo and montane forest habitats of the Virunga landscape in search of the endemic golden monkey. These active primates can be fast-moving and often travel through dense vegetation, making the tracking experience different from gorilla trekking.
After the activity, continue east toward Lake Mburo National Park. The journey takes several hours, so the remainder of the day is primarily a transfer. Arrive at your lodge and settle in for the evening.
Safari Activities
- Golden monkey tracking
- Forest hiking
- Primate viewing
- Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation
rwakobo rock lodge
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
11
DAY 11
Lake Mburo National Park – Wildlife and Nature Experience
Enjoy a full day exploring Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s smaller savannah parks and an excellent destination for walking safaris and close wildlife encounters.
Start with a morning game drive through the park in search of zebras, impalas, elands, giraffes, buffalo and other wildlife. Lake Mburo is also an important habitat for several antelope species and supports a diverse range of birds.
Later, take part in a guided nature walk where you can explore the savannah on foot, learn to identify animal tracks and signs, and observe wildlife from a different perspective.
Depending on your interests and arrangements, the day can also include a bush breakfast, picnic or evening game drive. Return to the lodge for your second night in the park.
Safari Activities
- Morning game drive
- Guided nature walk
- Wildlife tracking
- Birdwatching
- Wildlife photography
- Optional bush breakfast or picnic
- Optional evening game drive
Accommodation
rwakobo rock lodge
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
12
DAY 12
Lake Mburo – Equator – Entebbe
Enjoy a relaxed final morning at Lake Mburo before beginning your journey back toward Entebbe. Depending on your departure time, there may be an opportunity for a short morning activity before leaving the park. Continue toward Entebbe with a stop at the Equator, where you can take photographs, browse local crafts, and enjoy a final break before continuing to the airport or your Entebbe accommodation. Your 12-day Uganda safari ends with a transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight.
Safari Activities
- Final Lake Mburo experience
- Equator stop
- Photography and local crafts
- Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch
Included
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional driver-guide
- Accommodation as specified
- Meals as indicated
- Drinking water
- Park and conservation fees
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee tracking permit
- Golden monkey tracking permit
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa
- Nile and Kazinga Channel boat cruises
- Guided nature and walking experiences
- Airport and hotel transfers
Not Included
- International flights
- Uganda visa
- Travel insurance
- Medical and evacuation cover
- Drinks other than provided water
- Personal expenses and laundry
- Optional activities
- Tips and gratuities
- Souvenirs
- Accommodation or activity upgrades
