15 Day Uganda Safari, Gorillas, Chimps and Wildlife

Arrival in Entebbe and Hotel Transfer

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver guide and transferred to your hotel. This first day is kept simple to allow time to rest after your international flight. Depending on your arrival time, you may stay in Entebbe or continue to Kampala, based on the confirmed hotel arrangement.

Accommodation options: Budget: Forest Cottages · Mid-range: Skys Hotel Naguru · Luxury: Sheraton Hotel

Ziwa Rhino Tracking and Transfer to Murchison Falls

After breakfast, begin the journey north towards Murchison Falls National Park. Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking on foot. This guided activity gives you the chance to see southern white rhinos in a protected natural setting. After the activity, continue to Masindi for lunch. Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, entering through Kichumbanyobo Gate. Depending on timing, visit the top of the falls before continuing to your lodge.

Accommodation options: Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge · Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge · Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge

Murchison Falls Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise

After an early breakfast, go for a morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. The northern sector offers good chances to see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Uganda kob, hartebeests and other savannah wildlife. Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest.

In the afternoon, take a Nile boat cruise towards the base of Murchison Falls. Along the riverbanks, you may see hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and many water birds. The cruise also gives strong views of the falls from below.

Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After an early breakfast, begin the long transfer west towards Kibale Forest National Park. This is a full-day drive through the countryside, roadside markets, farms and western Uganda landscapes. As you approach the Fort Portal region, the scenery changes to crater lakes, tea plantations and forested hills. Arrive near Kibale Forest in the late afternoon and check in at your lodge.

Accommodation options: Budget: Isunga Lodge · Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House · Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest

After breakfast, transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest. You will attend a briefing by ranger guides before entering the forest to search for a habituated chimpanzee community. The trek can take 2 to 4 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are feeding or moving. Once located, you spend one hour observing them as they feed, call, groom and move through the forest.

Kibale is also home to other primates, forest birds, butterflies and rich tropical vegetation, which add value to the forest walk.

Bigodi Wetland Walk and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth

After breakfast, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature and community walk. Bigodi is known for birds, monkeys and community-based conservation. During the walk, you may see red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and birds such as the great blue turaco.

After the walk, return for lunch, then begin the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The transfer takes about 3 to 4 hours, passing crater lake scenery, farms and views of the Rwenzori region.

Accommodation options: Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages · Mid-range: Parkview Safari Lodge · Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge

Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

After an early breakfast, go for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your guide will search for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kob and other antelopes. The morning hours are usually better for wildlife viewing because animals are more active before the heat rises.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, take a Kazinga Channel boat cruise. The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and attracts hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and many water birds along the shores.

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, driving south through the highlands of western Uganda. The route passes tea estates, terraced hillsides and rural communities, with lunch arranged in Kabale or along the way depending on timing. The exact route and lodge location depend on your confirmed gorilla trekking sector. As you approach Bwindi, the landscape becomes steeper and more forested.

Accommodation options: Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp · Mid-range: Buhoma Haven Lodge · Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for registration and briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will be assigned to a gorilla family based on permit arrangements, group size and fitness considerations. Your guide can help arrange a porter, which is strongly recommended for comfort on steep or muddy terrain.

The trek can take from one hour to several hours depending on the location of the gorilla family. Trails pass through dense forest, vines and uneven slopes, making this a real forest hike. Once the gorillas are located, you spend one hour with them. You may see a silverback, mothers with infants and young gorillas feeding, resting or playing. Photography is allowed without flash. Optional community visits can be arranged if time and energy allow.

Bwindi Community Experience and Transfer to Kisoro

After breakfast, choose one optional activity around Bwindi depending on your interest and energy level. Options may include the Batwa cultural experience, a guided forest walk or a village visit near the park. These activities add cultural and conservation context after the gorilla trekking day. After lunch, transfer to Kisoro, bringing you closer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for the next day's activity.

Accommodation options: Budget: Mucha Lodge · Mid-range: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge · Luxury: Lake Mutanda Resort

Mgahinga Volcano Hike or Golden Monkey Tracking

After breakfast, drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for your selected activity.

Lake Bunyonyi Rest Day and Boat Trip

After breakfast, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a slower day after the primate and mountain activities. The drive takes about 2 hours, arriving late in the morning. Lake Bunyonyi is known for terraced hills, island scenery and calm waters, making it a good place to rest within a long safari circuit. In the afternoon, take a boat trip to selected islands, depending on your interests and timing. You may visit Kyahugye Island, Akampeine Island and other cultural or scenic stops around the lake.

Accommodation options: Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Resort · Mid-range: Arcadia Cottages · Luxury: Bunyonyi BirdNest Lodge

Transfer to Lake Mburo and Walking Safari

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park. On arrival, check in at your lodge and have lunch. Later in the afternoon, go for a ranger-guided walking safari.

Lake Mburo is one of the best parks in Uganda for walking safaris because travellers can experience savannah wildlife on foot under ranger guidance. You may see zebras, elands, impalas, topi, buffaloes, warthogs and many bird species.

Accommodation options: Budget: Eagles Nest Lodge · Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock Lodge · Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

Lake Mburo Game Drive or Boat Cruise and Transfer to Entebbe

After breakfast, choose between a morning game drive or a boat cruise on Lake Mburo, depending on your interests and final itinerary arrangement. The game drive gives another chance to see zebras, elands, impalas, buffaloes, warthogs and birds. The boat cruise focuses on hippos, crocodiles and water birds around the lake.

After the activity, begin the transfer to Entebbe, with lunch en route and a stop at the Uganda Equator at Kayabwe for photos and souvenir shopping. Arrive in Entebbe in the evening and check in at your hotel.

Accommodation options: Budget: Via Via Guesthouse · Mid-range: Best Western Garden Hotel or 2 Friends Guesthouse · Luxury: Entebbe Protea Hotel

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Departure

After breakfast, transfer to the boat departure point for Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. On arrival, you receive an introduction to the sanctuary, its conservation work and the chimpanzees under its care. You then view a chimpanzee feeding session from the visitors' platform.

Depending on time, optional activities may include a Ngamba trail walk or a visit to nearby fishing communities. After the visit, return by boat to the mainland, where your driver guide will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight. This marks the end of your 15-day Uganda safari.