7-Day Ultimate Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari
Tour Description
Discover Uganda’s most iconic wildlife experiences on this unforgettable safari. From Murchison Falls and classic game drives to chimpanzee tracking in Kibale and a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trek in Bwindi, this journey blends breathtaking landscapes, rich wildlife, and remarkable primate encounters.
Tour Highlights
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Sanctuary
- Game drives and Nile boat cruise in Murchison Falls
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
What's Included
- Transport in a comfortable, tourist-class safari Landcruiser vehicle
- Full-board accommodation during the safari
- Services of an experienced English-speaking driver-guide
- All park entrance and vehicle entry fees as per the itinerary
- One gorilla trekking permit per person
- One chimpanzee tracking permit per person
- One rhino tracking permit per person
- Scheduled game drives as per the itinerary
- Boat cruises and launch trips
- Guided nature walk
- Visit to the Top of Murchison Falls
- Bottled mineral water and meals en rou
What's Not Included
- Accommodation in Kampala before and after the safari
- International and domestic flights
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Drinks: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and telephone calls
- Any optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Required or recommended vaccinations and medical expenses
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Kampala – Ziwa Sanctuary - Murchison Falls National Park
Depart from Kampala and drive north through scenic countryside dotted with traditional farms and villages. En route, enjoy an unforgettable stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino viewing.
After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls National Park and visit the Top of the Falls for spectacular views.
Accommodation and meals: Sambiya River Lodge – Cottages (or similar)
Murchison Falls National Park, Boat Cruse
After breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive in search of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kob, lions, and other wildlife. After lunch, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls, offering excellent wildlife and bird viewing along the riverbanks.
Accommodation and meals: Sambiya River Lodge – Cottages (or similar).
Murchison Falls – Kibale Forest (Fort Portal Area)
Early departure for a scenic drive southwest to the Fort Portal region, passing tea plantations and countryside landscapes. Lunch enroute. Continue to Kibale Forest, renowned for its rich primate life.
Accommodation and meals: Kibale Guest Cottages (or similar).
Kibale Forest – Chimpanzee Tracking – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Begin the day with an early morning chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest (minimum age: 15 years). In addition to chimpanzees, the forest hosts several other primates including grey cheeked mangabeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, red colobus, black and white colobus, Red tailed monkey and many others.
Proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, lunch enroute. In the late afternoon, enjoy a scenic boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George and offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
Accommodation and meals: Mweya Safari Lodge (or similar).
Queen Elizabeth (Ishasha Sector) – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Enjoy an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, searching for Uganda kobs, elephants, buffaloes, and—if lucky—leopards.
After a packed breakfast, drive to the remote Ishasha Sector, famed for its tree-climbing lions and vast savannah landscapes dotted with flat-topped acacia trees.
Later, continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Accommodation and meals: Engagi Lodge.
Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After an early breakfast, attend a briefing by guides before setting off for the once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking experience, starting at 8:30 a.m. You will carry packed lunch, drinking water, and appropriate trekking gear like rain jacket and jungle boots to track the rare Mountain Gorilla.
The trek may take 2–6 hours, depending on the movement of the gorillas. Encountering a powerful silverback or playful gorilla family in their natural habitat is a deeply moving and unforgettable experience, enriched by expert guides who interpret the forest’s ecology and gorilla behavior.
Accommodation and meals: Engagi Lodge (or similar
Departure
After breakfast, drive back to Kampala with lunch en route.
End of the tour