The 11 Days Best of Uganda Luxury Wildlife and Primate Tracking Tour by Gorilla Tour Rwanda is an exceptional journey through Uganda’s spectacular national parks, tropical rainforests, savannah plains and scenic landscapes. This luxury safari combines thrilling wildlife encounters, mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, cultural experiences and relaxing moments in some of the country’s most beautiful natural settings. You will explore the renowned Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Bunyonyi, enjoying a diverse range of experiences throughout your adventure.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and Transfer to Kampala
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your professional Gorilla Tour Rwanda guide will welcome you to Uganda and assist you with your luggage before transferring you to your luxury hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. During the drive, you will enjoy your first views of Uganda’s lively streets, green landscapes and the beautiful surroundings of Lake Victoria. After checking in, you will have time to relax, freshen up and recover from your international journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a gentle excursion to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or a lakeside walk to appreciate the area’s tropical scenery and birdlife. In the evening, your guide will brief you about the safari, review the itinerary and answer any questions about the upcoming wildlife and primate tracking experiences. You will then enjoy a delicious dinner at your hotel as you prepare for the adventure ahead.
Accommodation options: Kampala Serena Hotel, Latitude 0 Degrees Kampala, The Boma Hotel Entebbe.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After an early breakfast, you will begin your journey northwards to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park and one of its most celebrated wildlife destinations. Along the way, you will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino-tracking experience, where you can observe southern white rhinos on foot under the supervision of experienced sanctuary guides. This encounter offers an opportunity to learn about rhino conservation and Uganda’s efforts to restore its wild rhino population. You will continue through the Ugandan countryside, passing traditional homesteads, agricultural landscapes and local trading centres that provide a glimpse into everyday life outside the capital. After lunch, you will proceed towards Murchison Falls National Park, entering an area characterised by expansive savannah, woodland and riverine vegetation. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a short game drive before checking into your luxury lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Game Drive and Nile River Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
You will start the day with an early-morning game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park, when wildlife is often active in the cooler hours. With your experienced guide, you will explore open grasslands and woodland tracks in search of African elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, hartebeests and other savannah wildlife. You may also encounter lions and, with luck, leopards resting in shaded areas or moving through the vegetation. After returning to the lodge for breakfast and some relaxation, you will embark on a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. From the water, you will observe large groups of hippos, Nile crocodiles and numerous waterbirds along the riverbanks. The boat journey brings you close to the dramatic waterfall, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow rocky gorge before plunging downstream. You will return to your lodge later in the day, with an opportunity to enjoy the surrounding scenery and a relaxed evening in the wilderness.
Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Murchison Falls National Park and travel south-west towards Kibale Forest National Park, one of Africa’s most important destinations for chimpanzee tracking and forest primate encounters. The journey will take you through changing landscapes, including rural villages, cultivated farmland, rolling hills and traditional trading centres. Along the way, your guide will share information about Uganda’s geography, local communities and the ecosystems that support the country’s diverse wildlife. You will stop for lunch en route before continuing towards Fort Portal, a scenic town located near the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. As you approach Kibale, the scenery becomes increasingly lush, with tropical vegetation, tea plantations and forested hills surrounding the region. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a relaxed walk around the lodge or admire the nearby countryside before dinner. Your guide will also explain the chimpanzee-tracking procedures, appropriate forest etiquette and preparations for the following day’s activity.
Accommodation options: Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Today, you will experience one of Uganda’s most exciting primate adventures with a guided chimpanzee-tracking excursion in Kibale Forest National Park. After an early breakfast, you will travel to the park headquarters for a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, who will explain the tracking guidelines and introduce you to the forest environment. Accompanied by experienced guides, you will walk through the tropical rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities, listening for their calls and watching for movement in the canopy. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will have a regulated period to observe their behaviour, including feeding, grooming, playing and communicating within their social groups. After returning from the forest, you will enjoy lunch and some time to relax before visiting Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-managed conservation area known for its rich birdlife and primate diversity. During a guided nature walk, you may see red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and a variety of wetland birds, while learning how local communities benefit from conservation and responsible tourism. You will return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, you will leave Kibale Forest and travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, a diverse wildlife destination featuring savannah plains, crater lakes, wetlands and forested gorges. The journey offers beautiful views of the countryside and, weather permitting, the distant Rwenzori Mountains, whose snow-capped peaks are sometimes visible above the surrounding landscape. On arrival, you will check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch before preparing for an afternoon game drive. Your guide will lead you through selected wildlife areas in search of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs and other animals that inhabit the park’s grasslands. You may also spot lions resting in the shade or scanning the plains for potential prey, although sightings depend on wildlife movements and seasonal conditions. The park is also an excellent destination for birdwatching, with numerous species inhabiting its savannahs, wetlands and lakeshores. As the afternoon progresses, you will enjoy the changing colours of the landscape before returning to your lodge for dinner and a peaceful night surrounded by nature.
Accommodation options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
You will rise early for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, taking advantage of the cooler hours when many animals are active. Your guide will explore the Kasenyi Plains and other suitable wildlife areas, where you may encounter lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and a variety of antelope species. The open grasslands provide excellent opportunities for wildlife photography, while your guide will explain animal behaviour, predator-prey relationships and the ecological importance of the park. After breakfast or a return to the lodge, depending on the schedule, you will prepare for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. This excursion offers close views of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants drinking at the shoreline and buffaloes gathering near the water. The channel is also famous for its birdlife, including African fish eagles, kingfishers, pelicans and other water-associated species. Following the cruise, you will return to your lodge to relax, enjoy the scenery and reflect on the day’s wildlife encounters. Dinner will be served at the lodge, where you will spend another night in the heart of Uganda’s wilderness.
Accommodation options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Ishasha Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will depart for the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, a region famous for its possible sightings of tree-climbing lions. During a guided game drive, you will explore the open savannah and fig-tree-dotted plains, watching for lions resting on branches, elephants moving through the grasslands and herds of Uganda kobs grazing in the open. Although tree-climbing lion sightings are never guaranteed, Ishasha offers a distinctive safari experience and excellent opportunities to appreciate the park’s varied habitats. You will enjoy lunch along the way before continuing southwards towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. As you travel, the landscape will gradually change from open savannah to terraced hills, cultivated slopes and densely forested mountains. On arrival in the Bwindi region, you will check into your luxury lodge and enjoy time to rest after the journey. Your guide will brief you about the following day’s mountain gorilla trekking experience, including the physical demands of walking in the rainforest, appropriate clothing and the importance of following ranger instructions. You will have dinner at the lodge and an early night in preparation for one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in Africa.
Accommodation options: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today is one of the major highlights of your luxury Uganda safari, as you venture into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of endangered mountain gorillas. After an early breakfast, you will travel to the designated park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, who will assign you to a habituated gorilla family and explain the trekking rules. Accompanied by trained guides and trackers, you will walk through the dense rainforest, navigating forest trails, uneven ground and sometimes steep slopes as you follow signs of gorilla activity. Trekking duration varies according to the location of the gorilla family, so patience, a reasonable level of fitness and suitable walking gear are important. Once the gorillas are located, you will spend the permitted observation period watching their natural behaviour, including feeding, grooming, resting and interactions between adults and young gorillas. This close encounter offers a rare opportunity to appreciate their intelligence, family bonds and conservation significance while maintaining a respectful distance and following ranger guidance. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for a well-earned meal and time to relax. Depending on your energy levels and the time available, you may also arrange a community or cultural visit to learn about the traditions and livelihoods of people living near the forest.
Accommodation options: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and Relaxation by the Lake
After breakfast, you will leave Bwindi and travel towards Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda’s most scenic highland lakes, surrounded by terraced hills, green valleys and small islands. The drive offers a refreshing change of scenery after your time in the rainforest, with opportunities to observe rural life and appreciate the region’s agricultural landscapes. Upon arrival, you will check into your lakeside accommodation and enjoy lunch while taking in views across the calm waters. In the afternoon, you can enjoy a guided canoe excursion or a boat ride to explore some of the lake’s islands and secluded shores, subject to weather conditions and your preferred activities. You may also choose a guided walk through nearby communities, where you can learn about local farming practices, traditional lifestyles and the significance of the lake to surrounding residents. Birdwatching is another rewarding activity, as the area supports a variety of waterbirds and other species found in the surrounding hills. After a relaxed afternoon, you will return to the lodge for dinner, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and scenic views that make Lake Bunyonyi an ideal place to unwind before your departure the following day.
Accommodation options: BirdNest Resort Lake Bunyonyi, Arcadia Lodges Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 11: Departure
After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and begin the return journey towards Entebbe International Airport, bringing your 11-day Uganda luxury wildlife and primate tracking adventure to an end. The drive will take you through the scenic highlands of south-western Uganda, with rolling hills, terraced farmland and rural communities providing a final glimpse of the country’s beautiful landscapes. Depending on your flight schedule, you may stop for lunch along the way and make a brief visit to the Uganda Equator crossing for photographs and a short explanation of this geographical landmark. Your guide will ensure that the journey is arranged around your international departure time, allowing sufficient time to reach the airport and complete check-in procedures. If you are departing on an early flight, a domestic flight or an alternative transfer arrangement may be recommended and quoted separately to ensure a comfortable connection. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your guide will assist with the final arrangements before wishing you a safe onward journey. You will depart Uganda with lasting memories of its remarkable wildlife, unforgettable primate encounters, welcoming communities and spectacular natural scenery.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Items Included in the Tour Package
- Luxury accommodation for 10 nights, based on the agreed itinerary and room-sharing arrangements.
- Meals as specified in the itinerary.
- Private ground transportation in a comfortable 4WD safari vehicle suitable for Uganda’s national parks.
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide.
- Airport pickup and drop-off as specified in the itinerary.
- Fuel and transport costs for the planned safari route.
- Entrance fees for the national parks and reserves included in the itinerary.
- One chimpanzee-tracking permit for Kibale Forest National Park.
- One mountain gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Guided game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks.
- Boat cruise on the Victoria Nile in Murchison Falls National Park.
- Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Rhino-tracking activity at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, subject to the confirmed package arrangements.
- Guided visit to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
- Lake Bunyonyi canoe or boat excursion, if confirmed in the final booking.
- Bottled drinking water in the safari vehicle.
- Applicable taxes and service charges for the included services.
Items Excluded from the Tour Package
- International flights to and from Uganda.
- Uganda visa fees and other immigration charges.
- Comprehensive travel insurance, including medical, cancellation and evacuation cover.
- Personal expenses, including laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs and additional beverages.
- Alcoholic drinks and beverages not included in the accommodation’s meal plan.
- Tips and gratuities for the driver-guide, rangers, lodge staff and other service providers.
- Optional activities not specifically listed as included.
- Additional accommodation before or after the scheduled itinerary.
- Private porter fees for gorilla trekking, where applicable.
- Personal trekking equipment, including walking boots, waterproof clothing and gardening gloves.
- Additional costs arising from flight changes, delays, route alterations or circumstances beyond the operator’s control.
- Any services not expressly stated under the included items.