9 Days Best of Uganda Wildlife Safari, Gorillas and Chimpanzees
Overview
This 9 Days Best of Uganda Wildlife Safari ,Gorillas and Chimpanzees takes you to the best tourist destinations in Uganda, where you will encounter breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife and cultural experiences. It involves visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. While at Bwindi, you will track the mountain gorillas and visit the Batwa pygmies for a cultural tour. Uganda has half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas.
Throughout your 9-day Uganda wildlife safari journey, you’ll witness the mighty Murchison Falls, spot the Big Five in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and encounter chimpanzees in Kibale Forest. The Uganda wildlife safari also includes unique experiences like night game drives, a boat cruise along the wildlife-rich Kazinga Channel, and cultural interactions with local communities that showcase Uganda’s warm hospitality.
Your Uganda wildlife safari adventure culminates with a walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park, where you’ll get remarkably close to zebras, impalas, and other wildlife. With comfortable accommodations, expert guides, and carefully planned activities, this Uganda wildlife safari delivers the perfect introduction to Uganda’s remarkable biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes.
Price Includes
Chimpanzee tracking permit
Gorilla trekking permit
Park fees
All activities
Ground transport per 4WD custom
Bottled water in the safari vehicle
Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
Driver allowances
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Price excludes
Uganda Visa
International and Internal Flights
Personal needs such as gratitude, beverages, etc.
Visa
Air ticket
Optional Activities
Laundry fees
Tips
Life insurance
Other drinks apart from water
Itineraries
Day 1Arrival and Transfer to Your Booked Hotel
Your Uganda wildlife safari begins with a warm welcome at Entebbe International Airport, where our representative will greet you and provide an initial briefing about your upcoming adventure. This exciting Uganda wildlife safari will take you through diverse ecosystems and national parks where you'll encounter magnificent wildlife and primates in their natural habitats. After approximately 45 minutes (15 km) of transfer to your comfortable accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala, you'll settle in and prepare for the Uganda wildlife safari of a lifetime. Take this opportunity to ask questions about your itinerary and prepare for tomorrow's early start to explore Uganda's rich biodiversity.
Day 2Shoebill Tracking Mabamba Swamp
Begin your Uganda wildlife safari with an early breakfast before departing for Mabamba Swamp, located about 1.5 hours (50 km) west of Entebbe on Lake Victoria's northern shores. This Uganda wildlife safari experience at Mabamba Wetland Sanctuary offers one of Africa's best opportunities to observe the prehistoric-looking shoebill stork in its natural habitat. Your Uganda wildlife safari adventure continues as you board traditional motorized canoes guided by local experts who know exactly where these rare birds hunt in the extensive papyrus swamps. During this rewarding Uganda wildlife safari excursion, you'll also spot numerous other wetland species, including African jacanas, purple herons, and the colorful malachite kingfisher, before returning to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Day 3Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, drive to Murchison Falls National Park and Visit the Falls
Your Uganda wildlife safari journey continues northward as you depart early for a 3-hour drive (175 km) to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola district, the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild. This important Uganda wildlife safari stop introduces you to conservation efforts to reintroduce rhinos to Uganda's wilderness as you track these magnificent creatures on foot with experienced rangers. After lunch, your Uganda wildlife safari proceeds with a 2-hour drive (120 km) to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest protected area covering 3,840 square kilometers. Before checking into your lodge, your Uganda wildlife safari includes a visit to the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the mighty Nile forces itself through a narrow 7-meter gorge before plunging 43 meters with thunderous force.
Day 4Morning Game Drive Safari, Afternoon Boat Cruise Along the River Nile and Night Safari Experience
Today's Uganda wildlife safari activities begin at dawn as you cross the Nile by ferry to the northern bank of Murchison Falls National Park for an exhilarating game drive across the Buligi savannah plains. During this peak Uganda wildlife safari experience, you'll encounter elephant herds, Rothschild's giraffes, herds of buffalo, and Uganda kobs while searching for prides of lions that often lounge in the fig trees. The afternoon segment of your Uganda wildlife safari features a remarkable 3-hour boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls, where you'll spot massive crocodiles, hippo pods, and numerous waterbirds. As evening falls, your Uganda wildlife safari adventure continues with a thrilling night game drive offering rare glimpses of nocturnal species like leopards, spotted hyenas, and bushbabies active in the darkness.
Day 5This is day oneMurchison Falls National Park, and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, your Uganda wildlife safari journey takes you southward through the Albertine Rift Valley on a scenic 6–7-hour drive (370 km) to Kibale Forest National Park. This transitional day of your Uganda wildlife safari offers breathtaking views of traditional villages, tea plantations, and the mist-shrouded Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon) rising to over 5,000 meters. Your Uganda wildlife safari route includes a lunch stop in Fort Portal, a charming town at the foothills of the Rwenzori range, before continuing to your lodge near Kibale Forest. The day's Uganda wildlife safari activities conclude with a cultural excursion to Rubalika community, where you'll learn about traditional banana gin production, coffee processing, and how local communities coexist with the forest and its wildlife.
Day 6Chimpanzee Tracking Safari, Crater Lake s, and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today's highlight of your Uganda wildlife safari is tracking habituated chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, home to over 1,500 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species. After an early breakfast and briefing, your Uganda wildlife safari guides lead you into the lush tropical forest to locate a chimp community, where you'll spend an hour observing their remarkably human-like behaviors. Following this extraordinary Uganda wildlife safari experience, you'll enjoy lunch before hiking to the "Top of the World" viewpoint overlooking the scenic Kasenda crater lakes field formed by volcanic activity. Your Uganda wildlife safari continues with a 2-hour drive (100 km) south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, traversing the equator before arriving at your accommodation overlooking the park's vast savannah landscapes.
Day 7Morning Game Drive, Mid-Morning Boat Cruise on The Kazinga Channel and Drive to Bwindi
Wake early for a highlight of your Uganda wildlife safari a game drive in the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its high concentration of lions that often climb fig trees. This morning Uganda wildlife safari activity offers excellent opportunities to observe elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs (the national antelope), and numerous predators, including leopards. By mid-morning, your Uganda wildlife safari continues with a 2-hour boat cruise along the 40km Kazinga Channel connecting Lakes Edward and George, allowing close views of hippos, crocodiles, and elephants coming to drink. The afternoon segment of your Uganda wildlife safari involves a 4-hour drive (180 km) through the southern Ishasha sector (famous for tree-climbing lions) before reaching Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to half the world's remaining mountain gorillas.
Day 8Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience and Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
The pinnacle of your Uganda wildlife safari arrives as you embark on gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park after an early breakfast and briefing at park headquarters. This challenging but rewarding Uganda wildlife safari activity might require 1-6 hours of hiking through dense montane forest before spending a magical hour with a habituated gorilla family. After this transformative Uganda wildlife safari experience, you'll enjoy a late lunch before embarking on a 5-hour drive (240 km) to Lake Mburo National Park, the only place in Uganda where you can see impalas and one of just two parks with zebras. Your Uganda wildlife safari day concludes at your comfortable lodge overlooking Lake Mburo's acacia-dotted savannah, home to over 350 bird species and numerous mammals.
Day 9Morning Walking Safari and Drive to Entebbe International Airport
Conclude your Uganda wildlife safari with a unique walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park, one of the few protected areas in Uganda where you can explore on foot with an armed ranger. This final Uganda wildlife safari experience brings you remarkably close to zebras, giraffes, elands, and various antelope species in the early morning light when wildlife is most active. Following this intimate Uganda wildlife safari encounter, begin your 4-hour return journey (230 km) to Entebbe, stopping at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe for the water demonstration experiment and souvenir shopping. Your unforgettable Uganda wildlife safari concludes as you reach Entebbe International Airport with plenty of time for your departure flight, carrying memories of Uganda's remarkable biodiversity and warm hospitality.
