8-Day Uganda Primate & Big Game Safari: Murchison Falls, Chimps, Queen Elizabeth and Gorillas

Experience Uganda's exceptional wildlife on this action-packed 8-day safari through four of the country's leading national parks. The journey combines unforgettable primate encounters—including mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest—with classic savannah game viewing in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth national parks. Look out for the Big Five, diverse birdlife, and abundant plains animals, while also visiting Murchison Falls, widely known as the world's most powerful waterfall.

This 8-Day Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Safari begins with rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Continue to Murchison Falls National Park for rewarding game drives and a scenic boat cruise on the Nile, offering excellent chances to spot wildlife and birds along the riverbanks. From there, travel to Kibale Forest for chimpanzee tracking and a guided nature walk through the fascinating Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

In Queen Elizabeth National Park, enjoy a relaxed boat cruise on the wildlife-rich Kazinga Channel and search for the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector. The adventure concludes in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you will trek through misty rainforest for a life-changing encounter with endangered mountain gorillas.

• Exclusive Rhino Tracking Encounter at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Classic Savannah Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park
• Scenic Victoria Nile Boat Safari in Murchison Falls National Park
• Immersive Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
• Authentic Bigodi Wetland and Community Experience
• Wildlife Boat Safari on the Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Kasenyi Plains Big Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions Discovery Expedition
• Once-in-a-Lifetime Mountain Gorilla Trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Uganda Equator Crossing Experience

Your safari begins with an early pick-up from your hotel or preferred location in Kampala or Entebbe. You will meet your professional driver-guide or company representative before setting off for Murchison Falls National Park.

Along the way, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an unforgettable guided rhino-tracking experience on foot. The sanctuary is home to Uganda's reintroduced southern white rhinos and offers a rare opportunity to observe these remarkable animals in their natural habitat. After the trek, enjoy lunch before continuing northwards toward Murchison Falls National Park.

Enter the park through Kichumbanyobo Gate near Masindi and proceed to your lodge, arriving in the evening. Settle in, relax, and enjoy the peaceful wilderness setting as you prepare for the next day's safari adventures.

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Begin the day with an early breakfast before setting out on a rewarding morning game drive through the Nile Delta sector of Murchison Falls National Park. This fertile area, where the Victoria Nile meets Lake Albert, is one of the park's most productive wildlife-viewing zones. Keep watch for large herds of African elephants, Rothschild's giraffes moving through the acacia woodland, Uganda kobs grazing on the open plains, Cape buffaloes, lions, warthogs, waterbucks, and an impressive variety of birds.

Return to the lodge in time for lunch and a short period of relaxation. At approximately 2:00pm, continue to the river for an afternoon boat safari on the Victoria Nile. Cruise upstream toward the thunderous base of Murchison Falls while taking in the dramatic river scenery. The banks are often alive with hippos in the water, Nile crocodiles basking in the sun, and animals such as elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and waterbucks arriving to drink or cool off.

At the end of the boat journey, disembark near the base of the falls and take a guided hike to the top. Experience the power of the Nile as it is forced through a narrow rocky gorge before plunging into the river below in a spectacular cloud of spray. Your safari guide will meet you at the top and transfer you back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Begin your day with an early breakfast before setting off on a scenic full-day drive to Kibale Forest National Park, Africa's premier destination for chimpanzee trekking. Journey through Uganda's changing countryside, passing rolling hills, rural communities, tea plantations, and fertile landscapes en route to the lush forests of western Uganda.

Arrive in the Kibale area in the late afternoon or evening and continue to your lodge, beautifully positioned near the forest. Settle into your peaceful surroundings, enjoy dinner, and relax in preparation for the chimpanzee-tracking adventure ahead.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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After breakfast, set off for an exciting chimpanzee trekking experience in the forest, carrying your packed lunch and sufficient drinking water. Upon arrival at the park headquarters, meet your experienced ranger guide for a briefing before entering the lush rainforest in search of the habituated chimpanzee communities. The trek typically lasts between 2 and 5 hours, depending on the location and movement of the chimpanzees.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you will have up to one hour to observe them closely in their natural habitat. This is an excellent opportunity to photograph them, watch their social interactions, and appreciate their fascinating behavior.

Following the trek, return to the lodge to freshen up before heading out for a guided nature walk through the remarkable Bigodi Wetland. Spend approximately 2–3 hours exploring the swamp, where you may encounter a variety of bird species, monkeys, butterflies, and other wildlife while learning about the area's ecosystem from your guide.

After the Bigodi experience, continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes approximately three hours from Fort Portal, with a memorable stop at the Equator along the way. Continue to the park for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

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Enjoy an early breakfast before setting off for a morning game drive across the wildlife-rich Kasenyi plains. Look out for African elephants, Rothschild's giraffes, Cape buffaloes, and a variety of antelope species as they roam the savannah. Return to the lodge for a leisurely lunch, then head out for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lakes Edward and George. This scenic cruise offers excellent opportunities to view wildlife along the shoreline and spot numerous bird species.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and proceed through the scenic Ishasha sector, Uganda's celebrated home of the tree-climbing lions, for a rewarding game drive before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Enjoy a packed or en-route lunch, then arrive at your lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Start the day with an early breakfast before travelling to the park offices, carrying your packed lunch and enough drinking water. At the headquarters, the park warden will brief you on gorilla-tracking rules, safety, and what to expect in the forest. By 8 a.m., you will join your assigned trekking group, meet the ranger guides, and set off in search of a habituated gorilla family.

The duration of the hike varies with the gorillas' movements and can last from 2 to 8 hours. Once the family is located, you will have a memorable one-hour encounter to watch their interactions, feeding habits, and unique personalities while maintaining the required 6-metre distance. After the experience, trek back and transfer to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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After breakfast, begin the final leg of your 8-day Ugandan safari with a scenic road journey back to Kampala. Along the way, enjoy a lunch stop in Mbarara before continuing toward the Equator, where you will have time to take memorable photographs and experience this iconic geographical landmark.

From the Equator, proceed with the journey to Kampala, arriving in the late evening. Depending on your travel arrangements, you will be dropped off at your hotel or transferred directly to the airport for your onward or departure flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch