This 7-day safari takes you through Uganda’s most iconic national parks to witness the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) and experience the thrill of gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking. It’s a perfect balance of wildlife viewing, primate adventures, and scenic beauty.
Safari Highlights
Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Game drives in Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth National Parks
Boat cruise on the Nile River and Kazinga Channel
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Scenic landscapes of the Albertine Rift and rolling hills of southwestern Uganda
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Murchison Falls
Meet your safari guide on arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Drive northwards with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking, the first of the Big Five. Continue to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit the top of the falls for breathtaking views before heading to your lodge.
Accommodation: Lodge in Murchison Falls NP
Day 2: Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls NP
Enjoy a morning game drive on the northern bank of the Nile, spotting elephants, buffaloes, lions, giraffes, and antelopes. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Nile to the bottom of the falls, famous for hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife. Optional hike to the top of the falls.
Accommodation: Same lodge in Murchison Falls NP
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, drive through the beautiful Albertine Rift landscapes to Kibale Forest National Park, known as the primate capital of the world. Arrive in the evening and relax at your lodge.
Accommodation: Lodge near Kibale Forest
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Swamp Birding
Start with a chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale Forest. You may also encounter red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and grey-cheeked mangabeys. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk in Bigodi Swamp, home to diverse bird species such as the Great Blue Turaco.
Accommodation: Same lodge near Kibale
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park with en route crater lake and scenic photo stops. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Kasenyi plains where you can spot lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes.
Accommodation: Lodge inside/near Queen Elizabeth NP
Day 6: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Begin the day with another game drive or a visit to the Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Arrive in the evening and check into your lodge.
Accommodation: Lodge near Bwindi
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Transfer to Entebbe/Kampala
After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing before starting your gorilla trek. Once you find the gorillas, spend a magical one hour observing them. Later, drive back to Entebbe/Kampala, with lunch en route. Evening drop-off at the airport or your hotel.
Journey time: 8–9 hours