Your driver-guide will pick you up from the hotel or airport in the morning for your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, northwest of Kampala. En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos and other wildlife on foot. This is the only place to see rhinos in Uganda’s wilderness, where they have thrived since their reintroduction.

After your Ziwa visit, enjoy lunch before continuing to Murchison Falls National Park, soaking in the countryside views, roadside markets, local businesses, trading centres, and beautiful scenery. Upon entering the park, head to the top of the falls to marvel at the river squeezing through a narrow gorge. Feel the cooling splashes of water as you stand at different viewpoints at the Baker’s Summit.

Arrive at your hotel, where you can relax and unwind for the rest of the evening.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Pakuba Lodge

After an early breakfast, set out for an exhilarating game drive with an experienced ranger. You’ll spot giraffes, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeest, antelopes, buffaloes, oribis, waterbucks, and a variety of savannah woodland birds, all while searching for lions, hyenas, and leopards. After the game drive, return to the lodge to relax, freshen up, and enjoy lunch.

In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise that takes you close to the base of Murchison Falls, where you can feel the sheer power of the Nile. This cruise offers excellent views of elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, herds of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and an array of birds along the riverbank.

After the boat cruise, return to the lodge for some downtime and relaxation before enjoying dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Pakuba Lodge

Start your day with an early breakfast at the lodge before checking out and beginning your journey to Kibale National Park. The drive takes you through Uganda’s picturesque countryside, featuring sprawling hills, farms, villages, and small towns. Along the way, visit tea plantations and join the women in harvesting tea leaves.

Stop for lunch in Fort Portal town and take a detour to the Toro Kingdom Palace, the traditional monarchy of the Batooro people. Learn about its rich history and hear folktales, including the story of the youngest king in the world, crowned in 1995.

Arrive in Kibale in the evening, check into your hotel, and spend the rest of the evening relaxing.

Meal Plan:     Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:  Rubalika Safari Lodge and Farm

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast before heading to the park headquarters. Here, you’ll receive a detailed briefing on the chimpanzees you’re about to track, followed by an exhilarating hike through the lush forest of Kibale.

Kibale National Park is renowned for its diverse primate species and rich birdlife. During your trek, you’ll encounter chimpanzees and possibly other forest animals. Spend an hour observing these fascinating primates in their natural habitat, gaining insights into their behaviour and social dynamics.

After the chimpanzee-tracking adventure, enjoy a leisurely lunch before embarking on the Bigodi community walk. This immersive experience introduces you to the local community, providing insights into their culture and daily life.

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:  Rubalika Safari Lodge and farm

Begin your day at Rubalika Safari Lodge with a hearty buffet breakfast, preparing you for a day filled with exploration and relaxation. Embark on a guided nature walk and farm tour where you’ll delve into the intricacies of farming crops such as vanilla, avocado, cocoa, matoke and the other farm’s agricultural activities.

Explore the lodge’s botanical garden to learn about traditional and medicinal plants native to Uganda. Experience the fascinating process of making banana juice and Uganda’s renowned Waragi Gin (‘War Gin’) with an opportunity to sample these local delicacies.

As the day winds down, unwind and soak in the tranquillity of the lodge’s grounds, perhaps indulging in a soothing massage by the banks of the River Dura. In the evening, gather around a campfire for lively conversations before enjoying a sumptuous three-course dinner, ending the day with a well-deserved rest at Rubalika Safari Lodge.

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:  Rubalika Safari Lodge and farm

Start your day early with a hearty breakfast at the lodge, setting the stage for an immersive African culinary experience. Today, engage with a local women’s group as they prepare their traditional lunch, participating in every step from harvest to cooking.

Experience a variety of local community activities. Visit a Ugandan rural family to understand their daily life. Explore local trades, including visits to grocery shops and witnessing the preparation of Uganda’s famous Rolex at local hubs. Take leisurely village walks to absorb the rural atmosphere, visiting sites like traditional healers and churches.

Depending on timing, engage in community activities such as visiting local schools (during term times) and reading storybooks to students. Experience traditional fishing using ancient methods, or join farm workers in tasks like caring for animals, weeding, and harvesting vanilla.

These enriching activities are all within a 2km radius of Rubalika Safari Lodge.

Finally, conclude your day with a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park located nearby, where new wildlife adventures await.

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:  Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge   

Start the day with a tasty breakfast and then get deeper into the highlights of this amazing park. During the morning game drive, explore the park’s flora and fauna including elusive bird species, and a wild array of wildlife abundant in this park.

Don’t miss out on the scenic views of the crater lakes like Nyamunuka which is medicinal to the animals.

Immerse yourself in the culture of the Lake Katwe people as you learn about traditional rock salt mining methods. Engage with the locals, share cultural experiences, and then return to your lodge for lunch.

After lunch, embark on a captivating boat cruise on the Kazinga Chanel where you’ll spot a variety of birds and animals such as hippos, buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, and more, as they gather to drink water and cool off. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Mweya peninsula and a local fishing village along the lake shores.

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

After your morning breakfast, check out of your lodge and transfer to the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Ishasha is well known because of its tree-climbing lions that majestically watch their wilderness from the trees. The experience of seeing these tree-climbing lions is fascinating and feels like walking into a version of the lion king.

After you search for the lions, you will continue your drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park a journey that will take you through the terraced hills of the Kigezi highlands.

Check in to your hotel and spend the evening relaxing and envisioning your day tomorrow.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

On this day, you will wake up very early for your breakfast and then transfer to the park headquarters. You will have to be at the park offices by 7:00 am to attend the briefing about your gorilla tracking activity. 

After your briefing, you will join the other visitors in a group of 8 and head into the forest searching for gorillas. The gorilla trek takes you through the steep slopes and thick vegetation of Bwindi Impenetrable.

When you reach the gorillas, you will spend 1 hour with them and get to see them interact with each other, feed and play around. After the time with gorillas, you will return to the starting point and receive your gorilla tracking certificate.

Depending on how long your gorilla trek takes, you might have enough time in the afternoon to go for a community visit and learn about the Batwa- the early forest dwellers of Bwindi. You will then spend some leisure time at the lodge to relax and let the gorilla experience sink in.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

As your safari ends, you’ll depart from Bwindi with a sense of fulfilment and gratitude for the unique experiences you’ve had. You will wake up early and have breakfast before you start your drive to Entebbe where your safari will officially end. You will have several stops along the way for lunch, photography and souvenir shopping including the stop at the Equator in Masaka.

Your driver will drop you off in Entebbe or If you have an onward flight on the same day at Entebbe International Airport for your departing flight out of Uganda.

The memories of the breathtaking landscapes, incredible encounters with gorillas, and enriching cultural interactions will stay with you long after you’ve left this remarkable corner of Uganda.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: None