15-Day Ultimate Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari

This 15-day safari blends intense wildlife encounters with scenic relaxation across Uganda's most iconic parks and lakes. Begin at Murchison Falls National Park, where you'll hike to the summit of the falls—often called the most powerful waterfall on earth—and watch wildlife along the riverbanks. Continue to Kibale Forest for immersive chimpanzee trekking and a guided Bigodi Swamp walk through rich birdlife and wetland habitats. Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and a visit to Ishasha to search for the famous tree-climbing lions.

Venture into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for a life-changing trek to see endangered mountain gorillas in their natural home. After gorilla trekking, unwind at Lake Bunyonyi, taking in tranquil island-dotted vistas and optional relaxation activities. Conclude your wildlife circuit with a visit to Lake Mburo National Park for game viewing and a cultural encounter before returning to Kampala. Finish the journey with an adrenaline-charged white-water rafting experience on the Nile in Jinja.

• Kibale Forest National Park – Nature Walk in Kibale Forest
• Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest
• Bigodi Swamp Nature Walk
• Crater Lake Excursion
• Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive
• Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
• Tree-Climbing Lions Safari in Ishasha Sector
• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Mountain Gorilla Trekking
• Batwa Cultural & Forest Experience
• Lake Bunyonyi – Canoeing, Swimming & Island-Hopping
• Lake Mburo National Park – Game Drive & Nature Walk
• Jinja & Nile – Source of the Nile Visit & White-Water Rafting
• Uganda Equator Line Experience
• Kampala City Tour

Your safari guide will collect you from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe after breakfast and begin the scenic transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, heading away from the city into remote countryside. En route we will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an exciting rhino tracking experience, then enjoy lunch at Kabalega Dinners.

Afterward we continue to the park and ascend to the top of the falls to behold the dramatic sight where the Nile is forced through a 7‑metre-wide gorge and plunges with thunderous power. We then make our way to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Rise early for breakfast at the lodge, then set out for a two-hour game drive across Uganda's largest park, where you'll search for leopards, hippos, lions, warthogs, Cape buffalo, African elephants, antelopes, Rothschild's giraffes, waterbuck and a dazzling array of birdlife. Return to the lodge for lunch and a restful break, then embark on a three-hour launch cruise along the River Nile, scanning the riverbanks for elephants, hippos, Nile crocodiles, antelopes, monkeys and water birds.

Continue toward the base of the falls and hike to the top in about one hour and thirty minutes, then return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Rise early for breakfast, then check out and enjoy a scenic game drive as you depart for Kibale Forest National Park via Fort Portal. Celebrated as one of Africa's most enchanting tropical rainforests, Kibale shelters 13 primate species, including its renowned chimpanzees, and offers exceptional birdwatching with over 325 recorded species.

En route, take in dramatic scenery, verdant forests, and the quiet beauty of Uganda's rural countryside. On arrival, join a gentle evening nature walk before proceeding to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a pre-trek briefing before venturing into the dense rainforest in search of chimpanzees. Once the troop is located, enjoy a memorable hour observing these remarkable primates in their natural habitat. The forest also shelters red-tailed, blue, L'Hoest's, black-and-white colobus monkeys, as well as elephants, antelopes, and Cape buffaloes.

Return to the lodge for lunch and time to relax. Later in the afternoon, explore Bigodi Wetland on a guided nature walk, with opportunities to see colorful birdlife, olive baboons, bush babies, sitatunga, and other wetland wildlife.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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After breakfast, depart for a scenic four-hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda's premier wildlife destinations. The park supports more than [600] bird species and abundant wildlife, including African elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, and more.

Enjoy spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains en route, with a refreshing stop near the beautiful crater lakes. On arrival, embark on an evening game drive for your first chance to encounter the park's diversity.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

After breakfast, head out for an early-morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you'll search for waterbuck, lions, African elephants, hartebeest, Rothschild's giraffes, various antelope, cape buffalo and elusive leopards, and take in views of the scattered crater lakes.

After the three-hour drive, return for lunch and prepare for an afternoon two-hour launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel, home to the world's largest concentration of hippos and a dazzling array of birds, with Nile crocodiles, elephants, antelope and other wildlife often seen along the banks.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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On this day, wake up early in the morning and head out for another game drive through the Kasenyi plains looking out for African elephants, leopards, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, and various beautiful birds. Later embark on the 2 hours drive to Ishasha which is a home to the tree-climbing lions. With the help of the experienced ranger guide you will search out for these lions in the fig trees.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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This day begins with an early morning breakfast before you set out for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the gentle giants—endangered mountain gorillas. The road trip winds through the scenic Kigezi highlands, where terraced hills roll past your window. Enjoy lunch either en route or at the lodge, depending on your arrival time.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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The day begins with an early breakfast at your lodge, then transfer to the Park headquarters for the mandatory briefing. Bwindi is divided into four trekking sectors: Buhoma and Ruhija in the north, and Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. After the briefing, your trek begins, searching for the gorillas can take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours, depending on where they were last seen.

Once the family is located, you will have a full hour to photograph, film and ask the rangers and guides about these magnificent apes. Along the route you can also encounter the forest's other inhabitants such as butterflies, birds, monkeys and small mammals. Because gorilla treks can be lengthy and demanding, we strongly recommend carrying a packed lunch and hiring porters.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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You're leaving after a leisurely breakfast, still savoring memories of yesterday's gorilla encounter, and head toward Lake Bunyonyi — Africa's second-deepest lake and a birdwatcher's paradise. Enjoy sweeping views of terraced, interlocking hills where local farmers cultivate their crops, and take in the serene landscape at the location once dubbed the "Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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A relaxed breakfast greets you as the sunrise paints the surrounding hills and forests in gold. Afterward set out for a tranquil canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi — home to 29 islands, each with its own story, including the infamous "Punishment Island." Listen to your guide's local tales as you glide between emerald isles.

Return to the lodge for lunch, then enjoy a leisurely afternoon: unwind at the lakefront with a book, take a restorative swim (Bunyonyi is bilharzia-free and safe from crocodiles), or hike the nearby hills for sweeping views and excellent birdwatching. Later join a community walk to meet locals and learn about island life before dinner.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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The day begins with an early breakfast before a scenic 4½-hour drive to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda's smallest yet wildlife-rich reserve. En route we'll stop for lunch in Mbarara town, passing rolling farms, bustling markets, and verdant plantations.

Lake Mburo shelters healthy herds of zebra, impala, oribi, Cape buffalo, warthog, and waterbuck, and supports over 332 bird species. Arriving in the afternoon, we'll settle in and take a guided boat cruise across the lake to watch hippos, waterbirds, and shoreline wildlife in the golden light.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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The day begins with an early breakfast before you set off on a scenic game-drive out of Kampala. Pause at the Equator for photos and browse local craft stalls for unique souvenirs. Lunch will be taken either at the Equator stop or back in Kampala. After lunch, continue east toward Jinja to discover the legendary Source of the Nile.

Arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Enjoy an early breakfast before heading out for today's adventures. Your guide will take you to Jinja, where the mighty Nile begins its 4,000 km journey north. Board a guided boat cruise to the very source of the Nile, then continue with an exhilarating half-day of rafting over rapids and falls — a thrilling and unforgettable experience.

After lunch, relax at the lodge by the pool or choose from optional activities such as kayaking, quad biking, horseback riding, or tubing.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Have an early breakfast, then depart Jinja for a relaxed Kampala city tour with time to pick up souvenirs and keepsakes. Depending on your international flight schedule, enjoy a guided exploration of Kampala's highlights such as historic monuments, bustling markets, and cultural landmarks, soak up one last taste of Uganda's vibrant life before a timely transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your flight home.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch