6-Day Uganda Game Safari Adventure
Perfect for nature lovers, this journey takes you through savannah parks, lakes and forests.
11-Day Best of Uganda Safari
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable 11-day journey through Uganda’s untamed wilderness, where the Big Five roam, gorillas trek misty forests, and rare shoebills grace wetlands. This expertly crafted itinerary balances thrilling game drives, boat safaris, primate encounters, and cultural immersion, showcasing the Pearl of Africa’s diverse ecosystems—from Murchison Falls to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest—for an epic safari experience.
Tour Inclusions & Exclusions
Transportation
Meals & Accommodations
Gorilla Trekking Permit
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit
Park Entrance Fees
Game Drives & Boat Cruise
Bottled Drinking Water
International Flights
Visa
Food and Drinks
Optional Activities
Tour Program
Day
01
01
Arrival in Entebbe and Shoebill Tracking in Mabamba
Your Ugandan adventure begins with a seamless arrival at Entebbe International Airport, where your private guide awaits with a warm welcome. After a brief transfer, head straight to Mabamba Wetland, a RAMSAR site teeming with papyrus swamps and birdlife. Here, embark on an exhilarating shoebill tracking excursion by canoe. These prehistoric-looking birds, known as “Moses of Uganda” for their biblical stature, stand nearly 1.5 meters tall with massive bills like shoe soles. Gliding silently through the reeds, you’ll spot them alongside African jacanas, kingfishers, and otters. It’s a serene yet thrilling opener, perfect for shaking off jet lag.
Meal Plan: Half-Board
Accommodation: Via Via Guest House
Day
02
02
Transfer to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Rise early for a scenic 5-hour drive northwest to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area. En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the nation’s rhino conservation success story. Since their reintroduction in 2005, the sanctuary now boasts over 40 white rhinos, offering intimate encounters on guided walks. Witness mothers with calves grazing peacefully, learning about anti-poaching efforts that make Uganda rhino-proud. Picnic amid the savanna before continuing to the Nile’s dramatic roar at Murchison.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Hornbill Safari Lodge
Day
03
03
Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Dawn breaks with an early game drive into Murchison’s lush plains, where the Big Four—elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards—roam alongside yesterday’s rhinos, completing your Big Five checklist. Spot giraffes silhouetted against the sunrise, playful hyenas, and vast herds of Uganda kob. Return for breakfast, then board a boat cruise up the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. Spray mists the air as crocodiles bask, hippos yawn massively, and over 400 bird species like the African fish eagle soar.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Hornbill Safari Lodge
Day
04
04
Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
On this day, journey south through undulating countryside to Kibale Forest National Park, Africa’s primate capital. The 5-6 hour drive winds past tea plantations and villages, building anticipation for chimpanzee country. Kibale hosts 1,500 chimps in 795 square kilometers of rainforest.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Day
05
05
Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Nature Walk
Morning brings the highlight: chimpanzee habituated trekking in Kibale. After a briefing, hike into the forest (1-2 hours moderate) to observe wild chimps in their natural habitat—fishing for termites, drumming on roots, and swinging through vines. Permits are limited for an intimate experience with these expressive apes sharing 98% of our DNA. Afternoon shifts to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk, spotting red colobus monkeys, sitatungas, and 200+ birds amid boardwalks and butterfly gardens. It’s a gentler pace revealing community conservation.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Day
06
06
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive 3-4 hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a biodiversity hotspot spanning savanna, lakes, and marshes.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Kazinga Wilderness Camp
Day
07
07
Kasenyi Plains Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise
Fuel up for a morning game drive across Kasenyi Plains, teeming with elephants thundering in herds, cape buffaloes wallowing, prides of lions lounging, elusive leopards, and antelopes like Uganda kob, impala, and warthog. Birders rejoice with shoebills and pelicans. Afternoon, cruise the famed Kazinga Channel, a 35km waterway linking Lakes George and Edward. Thousands of hippos grunt territorially, crocs lurk, and birds flock en masse—it’s Uganda’s most wildlife-dense waterway.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Kazinga Wilderness Camp
Day
08
08
Ishasha Game Drive and Drive to Bwindi
Venture to Ishasha Sector for a morning game drive famed for tree-climbing lions—lazy cats lounging in acacias like living trophies, unique to this region. Spot more plains game before a 4-hour transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Day
09
09
Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience
The trip’s pinnacle: gorilla trekking in Bwindi, home to half the world’s mountain gorillas. After briefing, trek 2-7 hours through lush montane forest to habituated families. Spend a magical hour observing silverbacks, mothers with babies, and playful juveniles—life-changing intimacy (permit required). Afternoon optional: Batwa Cultural Experience with Pygmy descendants, sharing forest lore, dances, and hunting demos.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Day
10
10
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and Canoe Ride
Relax with a 2-hour drive to Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda’s deepest crater lake famed for terraced hills and no bilharzia. Paddle a traditional dugout canoe amid 29 islands, spotting otters and birds.
Meal Plan: Full-Board
Accommodation: Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Day
11
11
Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe for Departure
Enjoy a leisurely morning before the 5-hour scenic drive back to Entebbe. Reflect on your epic safari as you depart, hearts full of Uganda’s wild magic.
Meal Plan: Half-Board
Accommodation: None unless requested at extra cost.
