The 10 Day Uganda Safari Tour: Rhino, Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Holiday unleashes the best Uganda has to offer. You will visit Uganda’s best national parks, which include Murchison Falls National Park with a detour visit to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. You will get a chance to see all of Africa’s big 5 mammals (Lions, leopards, Elephants, buffalo, and Rhinos). Continue to Bwindi via Ishasha renowned for the tree-climbing lions. Enjoy the epic gorilla trekking, and then connect to Lake Mburo National Park for more safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda for your 10 Days Uganda Gorillas and Big 5 Safari
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our professional safari guide and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a relaxing visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the shores of Lake Victoria. This day allows you to recover from your journey and also receive a comprehensive briefing about the safari ahead. You will spend the evening at leisure, enjoying the tropical atmosphere while preparing for the adventure through Uganda.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino Trekking – Visit Top of Falls
After an early breakfast at your Hotel, depart for Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area. Along the way, you will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where to see Rhinos in their natural habitat. Accompanied by experienced rangers, you will walk through the sanctuary while learning about rhino conservation efforts and also the successful reintroduction program that aims to restore Uganda’s rhino population. Seeing these massive animals at close range while on foot provides an exciting and intimate wildlife encounter.
Continue with the journey and have a lunch stopover in Masindi and then head to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, visit the top of Murchison Falls where the mighty Nile River squeezes through a narrow seven-meter gorge before plunging 43 meters below. The power of the water creates spectacular views, thunderous sounds, and also excellent photographic opportunities.
Day 3: Full day in Murchison Falls National Park with Game Drive and afternoon Boat Cruise Safari
Start your day with an early morning game drive on the northern banks of the Nile. This is the best time to search for wildlife when temperatures are cool and also animals are most active. The open savannah supports large populations of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, lions, and several bird species.
Your guide will explain animal behavior, ecology, and also conservation efforts while helping spot predators and herbivores across the plains. The morning light also provides ideal conditions for good photography.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat safari on the Nile River toward the bottom of Murchison Falls. This cruise offers a unique perspective of the park and exceptional wildlife viewing. Hippos gather in large pods along the riverbanks, crocodiles bask in the sun, while elephants frequently come to drink. Bird enthusiasts may as well spot species like the African fish eagles, bee-eaters, kingfishers and the elusive shoebill stork.
Day 4: Transfer from Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Murchison Falls and travel south through scenic countryside characterized by rolling hills, traditional villages, tea plantations, and agricultural landscapes.
You will arrive in Kibale Forest National Park in the late afternoon and check in for rest. Kibale is Known as the primate capital of the World and it protects one of Africa’s most beautiful tropical rainforests. It also hosts the highest diversity of primates on the continent.
Check into your lodge and relax while listening to the sounds of the forest, including birds, and monkeys.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today after an early briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, enter the rainforest for the chimpanzee tracking experience. This activity involves searching for habituated chimpanzee communities while learning about forest ecology as well as primate behavior.
Once you find the chimpanzees, you will spend one full hour observing them. Watching chimpanzees interact, groom one another, forage for food, communicate, and care for their young ones offers fascinating insights into our closest living relatives. Rangers will provide detailed explanations about chimpanzee social structures, conservation challenges, and also ongoing research efforts.
Immediately after your lunch, you will continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through scenic crater lakes and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. You will arrive in the evening and enjoy views of the savannah and surrounding landscapes.
Day 6: Full day in Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start the day with an exciting morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. This area is famous for its abundant wildlife and excellent predator sightings. Large herds of Uganda kob attract lions and other carnivores, whereas elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and several antelope species roam the grasslands.
In the afternoon, you will take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George. The Kazinga channel supports one of Africa’s highest concentrations of hippos. During the cruise, you will observe elephants bathing, buffaloes cooling off, crocodiles resting along the banks, and a remarkable variety of birdlife at close range.
Day 7: Game drive in Ishasha Sector for Tree-Climbing Lions and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, you will have a game drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its unique tree-climbing lions.
A game drive in Ishasha focuses on locating lions resting in large fig and acacia trees. While the exact reason for this behavior remains debated, it is believed to help the lions escape heat and also the biting insects while providing elevated vantage points.
Following the wildlife experience, drive south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive passes through beautiful mountain scenery, terraced farms, and traditional villages. You will arrive in the evening at your lodge on the edge of the forest.
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today is the highlight of your safari. After an early briefing, you will join experienced trackers and guides for a mountain gorilla trek through Bwindi’s dense rainforest.
The duration of the trek varies depending on the gorillas’ location, it can range from a few hours to most of the day. Along the way, guides interpret signs of wildlife, identify plant species, and also explain the ecological importance of the forest.
Upon finding the gorilla family, you will spend one unforgettable hour in their presence. You will use this time to watch these gentle giants feed, play, interact, and care for their young ones. The encounter offers a rare opportunity to witness one of the world’s most endangered species in their natural habitat while supporting vital conservation initiatives.
Day 9: Transfer from Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park for Evening game drive
After your delicious breakfast, depart Bwindi and then travel to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah park but one of its most scenic.
You will arrive the park in the late afternoon for some rest. Later, you will embark on an evening game drive to search for wildlife species for example impalas, elands, zebras, topis, and many others.
Day 10: Walking Safari in Lake Mburo and then Return to Entebbe for your departure
Begin your final day with a guided walking safari, one of the park’s most unique activities. Accompanied by an armed ranger, you will explore the wilderness on foot, while observing wildlife from ground level.
The walk offers opportunities to learn about animal tracks, birdlife, vegetation, and ecosystem interactions while encountering several species. These include giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and others. Walking safaris provide a deeper appreciation of the bush and it often reveals details that are missed during game drives.
Thereafter begin the journey back to Entebbe. En route, you will stopover at the Equator crossing for photographs, souvenir shopping, and demonstrations illustrating the effects of the Earth’s hemispheres. Then continue with the journey to Entebbe for your departure flight.