This 10-day safari in Uganda is designed to give you a complete experience of the Pearl of Africa. The journey combines classic wildlife safaris with close encounters with primates, including mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. You will travel through Uganda’s most important national parks, enjoy boat cruises, game drives, forest walks, and peaceful lake stays.
The safari covers Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, and Lake Mburo National Park.
Your safari begins and ends in Kampala or Entebbe.
Day 1: Wildlife Trip to Murchison Falls National Park
After an early breakfast, start your drive to Murchison Falls National Park using the Kampala to Luweero to Masindi route. The journey takes about six to seven hours.
On the way, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. This is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild. After the guided walk, continue to Masindi town for lunch.
From Masindi, drive to the park and visit the top of Murchison Falls, where the Nile River forces itself through a narrow gorge. Continue to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Full-Day Wildlife Safari in Murchison Falls National Park
Begin the day with breakfast, then head out for a morning game drive in the northern sector of the park. This drive lasts about two to three hours. You may see lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, giraffes, warthogs, and many bird species.
Return to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on the Nile River to the base of the falls. During the cruise, look out for hippos, crocodiles, water birds, and animals along the riverbanks. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, check out and drive south to Kibale National Park. The route passes through Hoima and Fort Portal.
Stop in Fort Portal town for lunch before continuing to the park. Along the way, you will see crater lakes, tea plantations, and local villages. Arrive at your lodge near Kibale Forest in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park
Have breakfast and drive to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking rules. The trek starts at 8:00 am with a park guide.
Chimpanzee trekking takes about two to four hours, including one hour spent observing the chimpanzees. Kibale is home to many primates such as red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and baboons.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you may visit Bigodi Wetland for a guided walk or continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dinner and overnight stay near Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 5: Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, go for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. This area is known for lions, spotted hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and many birds. The drive lasts about two to three hours.
Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George. Expect to see hippos, crocodiles, and many bird species. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha
After breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda.
Drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for tree-climbing lions. Keep an eye on fig trees as you pass through this area. Continue to Bwindi and check in at your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up early for breakfast and transfer to the park offices for a gorilla trekking briefing. You will be assigned to one of the habituated gorilla families.
The trek can take between two and six hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. Once you find them, you will spend one hour observing them. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and rest.
In the evening, visit the Batwa community to learn about their culture and history. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, drive to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale. The drive takes about three to four hours.
Arrive at your lodge for lunch, then enjoy a boat ride to one of the islands, such as Punishment Island. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the lake or swimming. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park
Enjoy breakfast, then take a short morning boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi. After the activity, depart for Lake Mburo National Park.
Arrive in time for lunch at the lodge. In the evening, you may choose to go for a night game drive to look for leopards, hyenas, and other animals that are active after dark. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Lake Mburo and Departure
After breakfast, go for a short game drive or nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park. The park is known for impalas, zebras, buffaloes, and antelopes.
Later, drive back to Kampala or Entebbe. Stop at the Equator for photos and lunch. Continue to your hotel or the airport for departure, marking the end of your 10-day safari in Uganda.
