12-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari with Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking

Pickup from the airport and transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Our adventure begins at 8 am when we transfer from Entebbe Old Town or downtown Kampala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Rhinos became extinct in Uganda in the early 1980s, and the Ziwa site is now used as a breeding sanctuary for black and white rhinos. During our 2 hours at the sanctuary, we will see these creatures roaming across 7,000 hectares of land and observe their daily interactions.

As we leave the rhinos behind, we will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, on the shore of Lake Albert, where the River Nile roars through a narrow gap to create Murchison Falls. We will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.

Early in the morning, you will go for a game drive in the park to spot elephants, lions, giraffes, and other wildlife. In the afternoon, you will take a relaxing boat trip on the River Nile, where you will have a chance to see crocodiles, hippos, and a range of rare birds. You will also see for yourself the point where the River Nile joins Lake Albert, one of the major highlights of this trip.

Later in the afternoon, visit the top of Murchison Falls. This trip will take you to the upper part of Murchison Falls National Park, where you will enjoy spectacular views of Murchison Falls along the Nile River.

After an early morning breakfast, drive to Kibale National Park. The journey to Kibale National Park passes through western Uganda's major cities, including Hoima, Kyenjojo, and Fort Portal. There will be a scheduled stop for lunch along the way.

You will head to Kibale Forest immediately after breakfast to trek the chimpanzees in their forest home. If you are lucky on the trek, you might also encounter other species of monkeys in Kibale Forest, including black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys.

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park immediately after the chimpanzee trek. The drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park will pass through the famous Fort Portal crater lakes.

You will start the day with an early morning breakfast at the lodge. Afterward, we proceed to the famed Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot various species of wild animals. The Kasenyi plains lie in the vast savannahs of the Albertine Rift in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It will be a morning full of adventure. Expect to encounter lions, herds of buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, and bushbucks. While spotting the Big Five in the park is not guaranteed, on a lucky day you may sight leopards, making it the Big Four.

After lunch, join the Kazinga Channel boat cruise for an afternoon of wild game viewing. You will spot crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and a wide range of bird species on the channel waters.

On the way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we will drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for the tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts on the Kasenyi plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees to enjoy the warm temperatures in the park. While sighting the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, a stopover at Ishasha is well worth the visit.

You will head to the Bwindi National Park gate immediately after breakfast to receive a briefing about the gorilla trek. The national park guide will conduct the presentation, covering what to expect during the trek, and will assign the gorilla trekking groups during the pre-trek briefing. Other visitors will likely join you. The gorilla trek can take from a few hours to many hours, depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest. After the gorilla trekking, drive to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

This is the day you will transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Mburo National Park. At 6:30 pm, you will have the option to do a night game drive to spot leopards, which mostly hunt at night, along with other nocturnal animals. We shall return to the lodge around 10:00 pm for a late dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, we shall head to the national park for a game drive. Wildlife to see includes zebras, impalas, warthogs, giraffes, and elands, among others. Later, we shall return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation, or you may take a bike from the lodge and cycle around the village.

On this day, we shall transfer to Entebbe with a planned stopover at the Equator for souvenir shopping, photography, and coffee. Later, we shall proceed to Entebbe.

The Mabamba wetland, located west of Entebbe, is one of the best and most convenient places to encounter the elusive shoebill and is a prime birding site. After a few minutes in a small canoe, the papyrus reeds open into a flat grassy wetland where shoebills are regularly sighted. Shoebills are most relaxed in the morning when they stalk their main prey, such as fish or frogs, though they can be spotted all day. They may stand still for long periods waiting for the movement of their prey, then suddenly strike with astonishing speed.

We shall take a boat tour across Lake Victoria, arriving at Mabamba by boat. The boat ride allows you to see many birds that you might otherwise miss.

After the Mabamba trek, you will drive back to the guest house to prepare for your flight. In the evening, you will be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport to depart for your next destination.