Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Welcome to the Pearl of Africa

Upon landing at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be warmly greeted by your safari guide and transferred to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay. Depending on arrival time, you can enjoy optional visits to the Botanical Gardens, the vibrant craft markets, or simply relax and prepare for the adventure ahead. A safari briefing sets the tone for what’s to come—a journey that will unfold slowly, beautifully, and with purpose.

Day 2: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Onward to Murchison Falls

Your adventure begins early as you drive north to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see wild rhinos on foot. With a ranger guide, you’ll track these powerful but gentle giants through acacia woodland, observing their behavior from a safe and thrillingly close distance. It’s your first Big Five member—up close and unforgettable.

After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area, where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge in a thunderous waterfall. Check in to your lodge overlooking the Nile and relax as hippos grunt and water birds call through the dusk.

Day 3: Game Drive & Nile Boat Safari in Murchison Falls

Wake up with the sun and head out for a morning game drive in the Buligi sector of Murchison, a land teeming with giraffes, elephants, lions, hartebeest, and more. The golden grasses and wide skies feel endless, and every bend in the track holds new possibilities—perhaps a leopard lounging in a tree or a lioness stalking prey through the brush.

In the afternoon, embark on a boat safari up the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. Along the riverbanks, you’ll encounter massive crocodiles, bloated pods of hippos, elephants drinking at the edge, and countless bird species. The cruise ends dramatically as the river narrows, and you feel the thunder and spray of the most powerful waterfall in East Africa. Optional: Hike to the top of the falls for a panoramic view before returning to your lodge.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest – Through Uganda’s Heartland

Today you’ll traverse the beautiful countryside as you head southwest to Kibale Forest National Park, often referred to as the “Primate Capital of the World.” The journey winds through tea plantations, crater lakes, and colorful roadside villages. Arrive at your forest lodge in time for a relaxed dinner, surrounded by the sounds of nature. Tomorrow, the forest will speak.

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale & Bigodi Wetland Walk

After breakfast, you’ll report to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing before setting off on your chimpanzee tracking expedition. Kibale’s chimps are among the best-habituated in Africa, and your time with them—listening to their shrieks, watching them groom, forage, or swing effortlessly between branches—is as wild and thrilling as anything on the savannah.

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run project rich in birds, monkeys, and conservation storytelling. This experience introduces you to both nature and the deep-rooted traditions of the local Batooro people.

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Safari on Arrival

After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, descending into the western rift valley where savannah meets forest and wetlands stretch toward Lake Edward. Upon arrival, enjoy an afternoon game drive through the Kasenyi sector—a hotspot for lion activity. The mix of open plains and volcanic features gives this park a unique atmosphere, and the wildlife viewing is superb.

Later, check in at your lodge with views of the savannah or crater lakes. You’re in Uganda’s safari heartland now, where every hour promises something wild.

Day 7: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

Rise early for a morning game drive, watching the golden light sweep across herds of Uganda kob, buffalo, and elephant. Queen Elizabeth is home to over 95 mammal species and offers high chances of spotting lion, leopard, and hyena in action.

In the afternoon, embark on a Kazinga Channel boat safari, drifting past dense hippo pods, crocodiles, elephants, and countless water birds. Few places offer this kind of intimacy with wildlife—from eye-level on the water to panoramic views of the park’s vast beauty.

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha – Tree-Climbing Lions

Today’s route takes you through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth—a wild, remote area famed for its tree-climbing lions, often seen draped across fig tree limbs in the mid-day heat. After your game drive in Ishasha, continue on to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of Africa’s oldest and most biologically rich rainforests.

Arrive at your forest lodge surrounded by thick vegetation and enveloped in cool mist. Tomorrow, you meet the guardians of this jungle: the mountain gorillas.

Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – A Sacred Hour

Wake early, enjoy a hearty breakfast, and head to the gorilla trekking headquarters for a full briefing. Assigned to a specific gorilla family and guided by rangers and porters, you’ll begin the life-changing trek through one of the most pristine ecosystems on Earth.

The hike can be steep and demanding, but when you arrive and see the gorillas—feeding, grooming, playing, resting—mere feet away, nothing else matters. For one sacred hour, you are allowed to be a quiet observer in their world. The gaze of a silverback. The innocence of a nursing infant. The stillness of the forest. It’s an experience that marks your soul.

After the trek, return to your lodge for a well-earned lunch, a warm shower, and perhaps a celebratory drink to honor what will likely be the most powerful wildlife experience of your life.

Day 10: Return to Entebbe – Departure

On your final day, begin your return journey to Entebbe, either by domestic flight or scenic road transfer, with lunch en route. Depending on your departure time, you may visit the Equator monument, shop for souvenirs, or relax in a dayroom before your outbound flight.