11 Day Best of Uganda Safari
11 Day Best of Uganda Safari
Overview
The 11 Day Best of Uganda Safari is a comprehensive journey through some of the country’s most iconic national parks and wildlife destinations. This tour combines unforgettable primate encounters with classic wildlife experiences, giving you the opportunity to explore Uganda’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, and birdlife.
During this safari, you will visit Lake Mburo National Park for game drives and a boat cruise, trek through the rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to see the endangered mountain gorillas, and explore Queen Elizabeth National Park with exciting game drives and a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel.
The adventure continues to Kibale National Park, known as one of the best places in Africa for chimpanzee trekking, followed by a guided walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, an excellent area for bird watching and spotting other primates.
Finally, you will travel to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park, where you will enjoy game drives and a boat cruise to the bottom of the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge before plunging dramatically downstream.
This safari starts and ends in Entebbe, offering a well-rounded experience of Uganda’s primates, wildlife, and scenic landscapes.
Safari Highlights
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Game drives in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls National Parks
- Boat cruises on Lake Mburo, Kazinga Channel, and the Nile River
- Visit to the Top of the Murchison Falls
- Guided walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
- Optional rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Scenic drives through Uganda’s countryside and national parks
- Travel in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Entebbe
Trip Itinerary
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your safari guide and transferred to your hotel in Entebbe. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax at the hotel or explore some nearby attractions.
Optional activities include a boat excursion to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, or exploring the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.
Drive time: Approximately 15 minutes
Accommodation Options
- Admas Grand Hotel
- Hotel No.5
- Protea by Marriott Hotel Entebbe
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast, you will begin your journey to Lake Mburo National Park located in western Uganda. Along the way, you will stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe where you can take photographs and enjoy a short demonstration about the Equator.
You will arrive at the park in time for lunch before heading out for an afternoon game drive where you may see animals such as zebras, impalas, buffaloes, and antelopes.
Later in the evening, you will enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Mburo where you can see hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species along the shoreline.
Drive time: Approximately 4–5 hours
Accommodation Options
Budget
- Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Mid-range
- Kigarama Wilderness Lodge
- Mihingo Lodge
Luxury
- Kigambira Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, you will continue your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
You will enjoy an en route game drive through Lake Mburo National Park before continuing through scenic countryside with views of banana plantations, tea estates, and rolling hills.
After lunch along the way, you will proceed to Bwindi where you will check in at your lodge and relax while preparing for the gorilla trekking experience the following day.
Drive time: Approximately 6–7 hours
Accommodation Options
Budget
- Rushaga Havens Lodge
- Bakiga Lodge
- Ride 4 A Woman
- Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Mid-range
- 4 Gorillas Lodge
- Gorilla Leisure Lodge
- Buhoma Haven Lodge
Luxury
- Buhoma Lodge
- Gorilla Heights Lodge
- Sanctuary Forest Camp
- Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
- Kiho Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After an early breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before beginning the gorilla trek.
The trek through the dense rainforest can take between 30 minutes and several hours depending on where the gorillas are located that day. Once the gorillas are found, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them as they interact, feed, and move through the forest.
After the trek, you will return to your lodge where you can relax and reflect on this incredible wildlife experience.
Accommodation: Same as Day 3
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular wildlife destinations.
The drive offers beautiful views of tea plantations, banana farms, and rural landscapes. You will arrive at the lodge in time for lunch before relaxing.
In the late afternoon, you will head out for an evening game drive in the Kasenyi Plains where you may spot elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and with some luck predators such as lions and leopards.
Drive time: Approximately 4–5 hours
Accommodation Options
Budget
Mid-range
- Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Elephant Hab Lodge
- Park View Safari Lodge
Luxury
- Elephant Plains Lodge
- Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Early in the morning, you will enjoy another game drive in the Kasenyi Plains when wildlife is most active.
After returning to the lodge for lunch, you will head to the jetty for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. This channel is famous for its large concentration of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and many species of birds.
You will return to the lodge in the evening for relaxation and dinner.
Accommodation: Same as Day 5
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, you will enjoy a short morning game drive before continuing the journey to Kibale National Park known for its rich primate population.
You will drive through scenic countryside to Fort Portal where you will stop for lunch before continuing to your lodge near Kibale National Park.
Drive time: Approximately 3–4 hours
Accommodation Options
Budget
- Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
- Isunga Lodge
- Kibale Forest Camp
Mid-range
- Turaco Treetops Lodge
Luxury
- Primate Lodge
- Tabebuia Spa and Safari Resort
- Ndali Lodge
- Chimpundu Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, you will head to Kibale National Park headquarters for a briefing before beginning the chimpanzee trek.
Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend one hour observing them as they move through the forest, communicate, and search for food.
After lunch at the lodge, you will visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run conservation area known for its birdlife and primates.
Accommodation: Same as Day 7
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, you will begin the journey to Murchison Falls National Park, passing through scenic countryside, small towns, and rural villages.
Along the way, you will stop for lunch before continuing to the park. You will also visit the Top of the Falls where you can enjoy incredible views of the Nile squeezing through a narrow gorge.
Drive time: Approximately 6–7 hours
Accommodation Options
Budget
- Red Chilli Safari Lodge
Mid-range
- Pakuba Safari Lodge
- Sambiya Safari Lodge
Luxury
- Nile Safari Lodge
- Paraa Safari Lodge
- Chobe Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Early in the morning, you will head out for a game drive in the northern sector of the park where you may see giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, elephants, and with luck predators such as lions and leopards.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls where you can see large numbers of hippos and crocodiles while witnessing the Nile crashing through the narrow gorge.
Accommodation: Same as Day 9
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, you will begin the journey back to Entebbe. Along the way, you may stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking experience.
After lunch along the route, you will continue the drive to Entebbe or Kampala arriving in the evening where you will transfer to your hotel or Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.
Drive time: Approximately 5–6 hours
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Tour Inclusions
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- All park entrance fees
- Game drives in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls National Parks
- Boat cruise on Lake Mburo
- Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- Boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary guided walk
- Visit to the Top of the Falls
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Entebbe
- Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water during the safari
Tour Exclusions
- International flights
- Uganda visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Optional rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and telephone calls
- Alcoholic and soft drinks not included in meals
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari unless requested
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