Trip Highlights

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Chimpanzee trekking in both Kibale Forest and Kyambura Gorge
• Rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Boat cruises on the Nile (Murchison Falls), Kazinga Channel, Lake Bunyonyi, and Lake Mburo
• Tree-climbing lions in Ishasha
• Shoebill stork searches at both the Nile Delta and Mabamba Swamp
• Game drives across four national parks

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival at Entebbe

Arrival at Entebbe Airport, where you’ll be met by your driver/guide for a trip briefing. Transfer to 2 Friends Beach Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 2 — Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park

A scenic drive north through the Luwero Triangle’s traditional homesteads, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino trekking and lunch at Kabalega Diners. Enter the park and visit the top of Murchison Falls, viewed from several vantage points along the Nile. Sunset drive to Pakuba Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 — Game Drive & Boat Cruise, Murchison Falls

Morning game drive toward the Delta area in search of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hartebeests, waterbucks, oribis, jackals, hyenas, lions, and possibly leopards, plus varied birdlife. A 2:00pm, 17km boat cruise on the Nile follows, offering close-up views of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, kobs, baboons, and bushbucks. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 — Full Day in Murchison Falls National Park

Morning fishing trip by boat below Murchison Falls, targeting tilapia, catfish, and Nile perch, with game viewing along the way. Return to the lodge for lunch, then a second boat cruise toward the delta in search of the rare shoebill stork. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 5 — Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park

Drive south via Hoima and Fort Portal, passing homesteads, farms, and tea plantations, with lunch en route. Arrive in the evening and check in to Primate Lodge Kibale for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 — Chimpanzee Trekking, Kibale National Park

A guided forest walk in search of chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and red colobus monkeys in a forest known for East Africa’s greatest primate diversity. After lunch, a walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 7 — Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Transfer via Fort Portal and Kasese, with the Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop. A mini game drive on entry, then check-in at Bush Lodge. Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel (connecting Lakes Edward and George), known for prolific birdlife. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 — Full Day in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning game drive across the Kasenyi plains, taking in the park’s grassland, forest, river, lake, swamp, and volcanic crater ecosystems, with elephants, buffaloes, kobs, warthogs, and bushbucks among the wildlife. Afternoon game drive for better predator sightings. Dinner and overnight.

Day 9 — Kyambura Gorge & Maramagambo Forest

Drive through the grasslands to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee trekking in its riverine forest, home to habituated chimps, black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, and occasional hippos and giant forest hogs. After lunch, visit the bat cave in Maramagambo Forest, home to millions of bats along with cobras, African rock pythons, and bat hawks. Dinner and overnight.

Day 10 — Transfer to Ishasha Sector, QENP

Drive south to the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Check in to Ishasha Topi Lodge for lunch, then an evening game drive in search of topis, elephants, buffaloes, kobs, leopards, hyenas, and the climbing lions. Dinner and overnight.

Day 11 — Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Morning drive to look for lions in the trees (they typically climb around 11am to escape the heat). Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with lunch en route, arriving in the evening at Trekkers’ Tavern Cottages for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 — Bwindi Gorilla Trekking

Registration and briefing at the visitor center around 7:45am, followed by the day’s centerpiece: mountain gorilla trekking through dense, steep rainforest. Trekking time varies from 2–8 hours depending on gorilla movement, with a strictly limited one hour observing the habituated group once found. Other wildlife along the way may include L’Hoest’s monkeys and elephants. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 13 — Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi

Transfer through Bwindi’s Ruhija sector and the terraced hills of the Kigezi highlands, often called the “Switzerland of Africa,” to Kabale. Check in to Arcadia Cottages for dinner and overnight.

Day 14 — Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park

Morning boat cruise around Lake Bunyonyi’s islands, then transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, arriving in the evening at Eagle’s Nest for dinner and overnight.

Day 15 — Lake Mburo National Park

Early morning ranger-escorted nature walk (about 2 hours) in search of zebras, impala, buffaloes, Bohor reedbuck, topis, oribis, hyenas, eland (Africa’s largest antelope), warthogs, and bush pigs. After breakfast and lunch, a 2:00pm boat trip on the lake, with a chance of spotting the rare African finfoot.

Day 16 — Lake Mburo to Mabamba Swamp

Early morning game drive for zebras, impala, warthogs, bush pigs, oribis, klipspringers, bushbucks, buffaloes, elands, and leopards. After breakfast, transfer to Entebbe with lunch en route, arriving in the evening at Nkima Forest Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 17 — Mabamba Swamp & Departure

Early morning boat trip into Mabamba Swamp in search of the rare shoebill stork and other water birds. Return for lunch, then transfer to the airport for departure.

Destinations Covered

1. Entebbe
2. Murchison Falls National Park
3. Kibale Forest National Park
4. Queen Elizabeth National Park
5. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
6. Lake Bunyonyi
7. Lake Mburo National Park
8. Mabamba Swamp
9. Entebbe (return)

Accommodation Used

Pricing

Included

• Transport
• Private guide
• Accommodation
• All meals
• Entrance fees
• Park fees
• Trekking permits (gorilla and chimpanzee)

Not Included

• International flights
• Uganda visa costs
• Medical insurance
• Travel insurance
• Drinks
• Gratuities
• Laundry
• Personal expenses
• Other/optional activities

Itinerary provided by Terrain Safaris. Additional tours available: Uganda Wildlife Adventure & Sport Fishing Excursions, Gorilla Trekking Tour, Uganda Cultural Tour, Uganda Birding Tours, Rwanda Birding Tours, Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park, and Karamoja Cultural Tours.