Experience the very best of Uganda on this 12 Days Ultimate Luxury Uganda Wildlife Safari Adventure, an exceptional journey designed for you to discover the country’s remarkable wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage and exclusive safari experiences. With Gorilla Tour Rwanda, you will explore some of Uganda’s most celebrated national parks, from the spectacular Murchison Falls National Park and the wildlife-rich Queen Elizabeth National Park to the ancient forests of Kibale and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The adventure combines luxury accommodation, private safari transportation, expert guiding and carefully planned activities to deliver a memorable African safari.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by a professional representative from Gorilla Tour Rwanda, who will assist you with your luggage before transferring you to your luxury accommodation. During the drive, you will enjoy your first impressions of Uganda, including views of Lake Victoria, attractive residential neighbourhoods and the vibrant surroundings of Entebbe. After checking in, you will have time to relax, recover from your international journey and enjoy the facilities at your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may take a leisurely walk through the hotel gardens or visit the nearby lakeside to appreciate the scenery. In the evening, your safari guide will provide a detailed briefing about the journey, including the destinations, wildlife experiences and planned activities. You will then enjoy a welcome dinner featuring a selection of international and Ugandan dishes before retiring for the night.
Accommodation options: Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa, Kampala Serena Hotel, Hotel No.5.
Meals: Dinner.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After an early breakfast, you will depart for northern Uganda in your private 4×4 safari vehicle, travelling through picturesque countryside, traditional trading centres and rural communities. Your first major stop will be Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, a protected conservation area where you can participate in a guided rhino-tracking experience. Accompanied by trained rangers, you will learn about the conservation of southern white rhinos and observe them from a safe distance in their natural environment. Following this experience, you will enjoy lunch before continuing towards Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park and one of its most rewarding wildlife destinations. Upon arrival, you will proceed to your luxury lodge, where you can unwind while enjoying views of the surrounding wilderness or the River Nile. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a short nature walk within the lodge grounds before dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Nile Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise at Murchison Falls
You will rise early for a morning game drive across the northern savannah plains of Murchison Falls National Park, when wildlife is often active and the temperatures are cooler. Accompanied by your experienced guide, you will search for African elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, hartebeests and other antelope species. With some luck, you may also spot lions resting in the grass or leopards concealed among the vegetation. After returning to your lodge for lunch and a short period of relaxation, you will embark on a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. From the water, you will have excellent opportunities to observe hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants drinking along the riverbanks and numerous waterbirds. The cruise will bring you close to the dramatic point where the Nile forces its way through a narrow rocky gorge, creating one of Uganda’s most impressive natural spectacles. You will return to your lodge in the late afternoon for relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Nile Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4: Scenic Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will leave Murchison Falls National Park and begin a scenic journey towards western Uganda and Kibale Forest National Park. The drive will take you through changing landscapes, from open savannah and cultivated farmland to rolling hills, traditional settlements and lush green countryside. Along the way, you will have opportunities to observe everyday Ugandan life, including local markets, roadside produce stalls and tea-growing communities. You will stop for lunch at an appropriate location before continuing towards Fort Portal, a charming town known for its beautiful scenery and proximity to the Rwenzori Mountains. As you approach Kibale, the landscape becomes increasingly forested, with tropical vegetation and fertile farmland surrounding the protected forest. Upon arrival, you will check into your luxury lodge and enjoy time to relax while listening to the sounds of the forest. If time permits, your guide can arrange a short excursion to a nearby crater lake viewpoint before you return for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale, Kyaninga Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Today, you will experience one of Uganda’s most exciting primate encounters with a guided chimpanzee-tracking excursion in Kibale Forest National Park. After breakfast, you will report to the relevant park headquarters for a briefing on forest etiquette, safety procedures and the behaviour of chimpanzees. Accompanied by trained park guides, you will enter the tropical rainforest and follow trails in search of chimpanzee communities moving through the trees and forest floor. During the trek, you may encounter other primates, including red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys, alongside a variety of forest birds and butterflies. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend the permitted viewing period observing their social interactions, feeding habits, vocalisations and movements through the canopy. After lunch and a short rest, you can visit the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk, where you will learn about wetland conservation, local birdlife and community-led tourism. In the evening, you will return to your lodge for dinner and a peaceful overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale, Kyaninga Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Safari
Following breakfast, you will depart Kibale for Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse wildlife destinations. The journey will take you through the scenic landscapes of western Uganda, with views of crater lakes, agricultural communities and the distant Rwenzori Mountains when weather conditions are favourable. After arriving in the park area, you will check in at your luxury lodge and enjoy lunch before beginning an afternoon wildlife excursion. Depending on your lodge location and arrival time, your guide will take you on a game drive across the savannah plains in search of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs and other wildlife. The park is also home to several carnivores, and you may encounter lions or other predators during your exploration. Along the way, your guide will explain the park’s ecosystems, wildlife behaviour and conservation initiatives. You will return to your lodge in the late afternoon to relax, enjoy the views and prepare for dinner in the African wilderness.
Accommodation options: Elephant Plains Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 7: Kasenyi Plains Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Your day will begin with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, an area renowned for its open grasslands and opportunities to observe wildlife. With your private safari guide, you will search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and other grazing animals that inhabit the plains. The area also offers excellent opportunities for wildlife photography, particularly during the softer morning light. After the game drive, you will return to your lodge for breakfast or a relaxed late-morning meal, depending on the day’s schedule. In the afternoon, you will embark on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway connecting Lakes George and Edward. This cruise provides exceptional views of hippos gathering in the water, crocodiles basking along the banks, elephants approaching to drink and buffaloes grazing near the shoreline. The channel is also a haven for birdlife, with opportunities to spot African fish eagles, kingfishers, pelicans and other waterbirds. After the cruise, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Elephant Plains Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8: Game Drive in the Ishasha Sector and Transfer to Bwindi
After breakfast, you will leave the main wildlife-viewing areas of Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel towards its southern Ishasha sector before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Ishasha is particularly famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are occasionally seen resting in large fig trees, although sightings cannot be guaranteed. During your game drive, you will also search for elephants, buffaloes, topis, Uganda kobs and other wildlife across the open grasslands. You will have opportunities to appreciate the changing scenery as you leave the savannah behind and approach the forested highlands of south-western Uganda. After lunch, you will continue towards Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and endangered mountain gorilla population. On arrival, you will check into your luxury forest lodge, where the cool mountain air, thick vegetation and dramatic views create a distinctive atmosphere. Your guide will brief you about the following day’s gorilla trekking activity, including the required equipment, fitness considerations and park regulations. You will then enjoy dinner and an early night in preparation for your gorilla encounter.
Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today is one of the highlights of your luxury Uganda safari, as you venture into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to search for endangered mountain gorillas. After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the designated trekking headquarters for registration and a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority personnel. You will then join your assigned ranger-guides and begin trekking through dense vegetation, steep forest trails and varied terrain in search of a habituated gorilla family. The duration of the trek varies according to the location and movements of the gorillas, so you should be prepared for several hours of walking in humid forest conditions. When the gorillas are located, you will spend the permitted one-hour viewing period observing their feeding, grooming, resting and social behaviour while maintaining the required distance and following all conservation rules. This remarkable experience offers a rare opportunity to appreciate the lives of these gentle giants in their natural habitat. After the trek, you will return to the park headquarters and transfer back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. If time and energy permit, you may arrange a guided Batwa cultural experience to learn about the heritage, traditional knowledge and forest history of the Indigenous Batwa community before dinner.
Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and Scenic Lakeside Relaxation
After breakfast, you will depart Bwindi and travel towards Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda’s most beautiful highland lakes, surrounded by terraced hills, small settlements and numerous islands. The journey offers spectacular views of south-western Uganda’s countryside, with opportunities to stop for photographs and observe local farming activities along the way. Upon arrival, you will check into your luxury lakeside accommodation and enjoy lunch overlooking the tranquil waters. In the afternoon, you can take a guided boat excursion to explore some of the lake’s islands while learning about local traditions, community life and the natural history of the area. Alternatively, you may choose to relax at the lodge, enjoy the scenery from a private terrace or take a gentle walk through the surrounding landscape. The lake’s peaceful atmosphere provides an ideal contrast to the active trekking and game drives of the preceding days. As evening approaches, you can enjoy the changing colours of the hills reflected in the water before sitting down for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: BirdNest Resort, Arcadia Lodges Lake Bunyonyi, Bunyonyi Overland Resort.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Game Drive
Following breakfast, you will leave Lake Bunyonyi and travel north-east towards Lake Mburo National Park, enjoying views of Uganda’s rolling hills, cultivated landscapes and rural communities along the route. You will stop for lunch during the journey before proceeding to the park, which is known for its savannah habitats, acacia woodland, wetlands and diverse antelope populations. Once you arrive, you will check into your luxury lodge and have time to refresh before heading out for an afternoon game drive. Your guide will help you search for zebras, impalas, elands, topis, buffaloes, giraffes and other wildlife found within the park. Lake Mburo is also home to numerous bird species, making the area appealing for birdwatching and wildlife photography. Depending on the lodge’s location and the time available, you may enjoy views across the surrounding plains as the sun sets over the landscape. After the excursion, you will return to your lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay on this Uganda safari.
Accommodation options: Mihingo Lodge, Kigambira Safari Lodge, Mantara Lake Mburo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 12: Return to Kampala and Departure
On your final day, you will enjoy breakfast before setting out for a final wildlife experience in Lake Mburo National Park, depending on your flight schedule. You may choose a morning game drive or, where available and suitable, a guided walking safari led by an authorised ranger, offering a different perspective on the park’s wildlife and habitats. During the excursion, you may encounter zebras, impalas, giraffes and other animals while learning about tracks, plants and the smaller details of the savannah ecosystem. After returning to the lodge, you will check out and begin your transfer towards Entebbe International Airport. Along the way, you may stop at the Uganda Equator crossing for photographs, souvenir shopping and a brief introduction to the geographical significance of the Equator, subject to the time available. You will then continue towards the airport, allowing sufficient time for check-in and international departure procedures. As your 12 Days Ultimate Luxury Uganda Wildlife Safari Adventure comes to an end, Gorilla Tour Rwanda will thank you for travelling with us and wish you a pleasant onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Items Included in the Safari Package
- Airport pick-up on arrival and transfer to the airport on departure.
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with a professional English-speaking driver-guide.
- Fuel and transport costs for the itinerary.
- Eleven nights of luxury accommodation, subject to the selected package and confirmed availability.
- Meals as specified in the itinerary.
- Park entrance fees for Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
- Guided game drives as outlined in the itinerary.
- Boat cruise on the Victoria Nile in Murchison Falls National Park.
- Boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel.
- Rhino-tracking experience at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch.
- Chimpanzee-tracking permit and activity, if included in the final quotation.
- Mountain gorilla trekking permit and activity, if included in the final quotation.
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary guided walk, if included in the final quotation.
- Lake Bunyonyi boat excursion, if included in the final quotation.
- Drinking water in the safari vehicle.
- Applicable government taxes and levies for the services confirmed in your quotation.
Items Excluded from the Safari Package
- International flights to and from Uganda.
- Uganda visa fees and other immigration charges.
- Travel insurance, including medical and emergency evacuation cover.
- Personal expenses, including laundry, souvenirs and telephone calls.
- Alcoholic drinks and beverages not specified in the package.
- Tips and gratuities for guides, rangers, lodge staff and other service providers.
- Optional activities not listed as included in the confirmed itinerary.
- Additional accommodation or meals resulting from early arrival, late departure or changes to international flight schedules.
- Any domestic charter flights or scheduled internal flights not expressly included in the quotation.
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits if these have not been included in the confirmed package price.
- Any services not specifically listed under the inclusions.