Our 9 days safari in Uganda is 8 nights 9 days safari to Uganda starting and ending in Kampala/Entebbe. This 9 days Uganda trip takes you to Uganda’s premier safari destinations such as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park, to trek Mountain Gorillas, Kalinzu Forest to trek wild Chimpanzees, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth National Parks for wildlife game viewing, Lake Bunyonyi for community tours and scenic views.
The 9 days safari in Uganda tour also exposes you to chances of experiencing the iconic Big Five of Africa including the rare tree-climbing lions. You’ll also do four game drives to see numerous wild game and three boat cruises as you enjoy the amazing scenery that is naturally gifted to God’s country, “The Pearl of Africa”.
The adventure begins with tracking wild rhinos on foot in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before moving to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park, blessed with the world’s most powerful waterfalls, the world’s longest river and a collection of classic African wildlife including 76 mammal species such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalos, Giraffes, Hippos and numerous antelopes.
Here, you’ll enjoy a boat cruise along the Nile River to the bottom of the Murchison falls and hike to the top of the falls. You then undertake a scenic flight to Queen National Elizabeth Park. During your stay in Queen, you’ll have the opportunity to search for the rare tree-climbing lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalos and much more as the checklist of mammals reaches 95 species.
Here you’ll enjoy a boat on the famous Kazinga Chanel that will take you close-up to the largest concentration of hippos in the world and several of the park’s 610 bird species. We’ll also visit the nearby Kalinzu Forest to track some of the 300 Chimpanzees that live here.
After that, it’s on to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a natural habitat for almost half of the world’s Moutain Gorillas. You’ll take two memorable gorilla trek excursions to spend time near the world’s largest living primates. Besides gorillas, Bwindi hosts 120 mammal species, 200 butterfly species, and 351 bird species. After our adventurous gorilla trek, we embark on a scenic drive to the magical Lake Bunyonyi (one of Africa’s deepest and most beautiful lakes) for a relaxing boat cruise exploring some of its 29 islands and relaxing at the lodge later on. The following morning, we enjoy a village community walk to interact with local homes, schools, and hospitals.
Mountain gorilla trekking – 2 days
Tracking wild chimpanzees on foot in Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Amazing game viewing Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls Parks
Tracking wild white rhinos on foot in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Searching for the legendary tree-climbing lions of Ishasha
Stunning boat cruises on the Nile River, Kazinga Channel and Lake Bunyonyi
Superb bird watching during game drives and boat cruise
Scenic flight from Murchison to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Culture interactions with local communities
A visit to Equator crossing
A traditional cultural meal experience at Igongo Cultural Center
Day 1 & 2: Murchison Falls National Park & Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 3 & 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park & Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Day 6 & 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 8: Lake Bunyonyi
Day 9: Departure
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en-route
Day 2: Morning game drive & an afternoon Nile launch cruise with a hike to the top of the falls
Day 3: Flight Transfer from Murchison to Queen Elizabeth NP for evening game drive
Day 4: Morning game drive & an afternoon launch cruise along long the Kazinga Channel
Day 5: Morning Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu Forest Reserve & evening game drive.
Day 6: Game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions as you transfer to Bwindi.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & relax at the Lodge
Day 8: Second Gorilla trekking. Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for evening boat cruise & relaxation
Day 9: Morning lake Bunyonyi community walks. Drive back to Kampala/Entebbe.
We’ll start our day with an early breakfast (at around 6.30 am) in the hotel in Kampala. We’ll then pack our bags, check out and embark on a 311km (5 to 6 hours) panoramic drive northwest to Uganda’s largest national park, Murchison Falls National Park which covers 3,840km². This park is blessed with a high diversity of habitats, the world’s most powerful waterfalls, the world’s longest river and a collection of classic African wildlife including over 451 bird species and 76 species of mammals.
On the way to Murchison, we’ll drive through the impressive stretches of the Nakasongola district, before branching off at Nakitooma for a 7km drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the proud home of the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Here you get the opportunity to undertake a 2 hours rhino tracking expedition on foot. The sanctuary is endowed with over 22 re-introduced Southern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum simum). The Rhino tracking exercise begins with a briefing from an expert site ranger and thereafter you proceed to track the Rhinos. This activity normally takes 1½ to 2½ hours depending on where the Rhinos are located within the sanctuary.
While at the sanctuary you may also encounter a range of other wildlife species including Uganda kobs, oribis, bushbucks, waterbucks among others and a number of bird species. This activity is a once in a lifetime opportunity and should not be missed! Retreat from the activity, settle for lunch at Kabalega dinner and continue to Murchison Falls National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Highlight of the day: – Tracking the Southern white rhinos on foot Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range:- Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Basic/Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 375km or 7-8 hours
Activities & Services of the day:-
Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After an early breakfast at the lodge (at around 6.30 am), we’ll set off on our first real game drive of this 9 days safari in Uganda trip. We will cross the Nile River by ferry and then drive to the northern section of Murchison Falls Park, a beautiful portion of the park with rolling savanna grassland dotted with impressive stands of Borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine woodland.
During our game drive (which will take 3-4 hours), we’ll search for Lions, Leopards, African Buffalos, African elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, Spotted hyenas, Oribi, Common warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeests, Defassa waterbucks, Bushbucks, Hippos, Uganda kobs, the ground-dwelling Patas monkeys, Olive baboons and Crocodiles. There are also a variety of special birds to look for including Shoebills, Goliath heron, Grey-crowned cranes, Secretary birds, Abyssinian ground hornbills, Saddle-bellied storks, Denham’s bustard, Squacco Heron, Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher, African Jacana, Sandpipers, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Piapiac, Silverbird, Weaver Birds, Pied, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eater, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver and African Quail-Finch, to name just a few.
We’ll then retreat from the activity and return to the lodge for relaxation and good lunch. After lunch, we’ll gather at Paraa jetty for what will surely be one of the highlights of the entire trip: – the afternoon boat cruise along the Nile River to the bottom of the Murchison Falls! The 3-hour boat trip will depart at and 2 pm and will open you to the thrilling Nile waters in their relaxed flow as they join the Albert delta. There are abundant hippos, crocodiles and buffaloes; thousands of birds, including many fish eagles, shoebills; and usually elephants along this 17km stretch of the Nile.
Upon arriving at the bottom of the falls, you’ll embark on a 45 minutes hike to the top of the Murchison Falls. These falls are arguably the world’s most powerful! They’re not very big or wide like some you may have seen before but think of the world’s longest river which is 50 metres wide squeezing through a narrow cleft of up to 7 meters and fall 45 meters down. After this incredibly exciting activity, we will return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Highlight of the day: – The afternoon boat cruise on the Nile to the bottom of Murchison Falls.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range:- Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Basic/Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services of the day:-
Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After a relaxed breakfast (at around 9.00 am), we’ll drive through the Honeymoon track in the southern sector before connecting to Paraa Jetty to cross with 11 am a ferry to the northern bank for the midday scenic flight south to the renowned Queen Elizabeth National Park. This 45 minutes flight departs Pakuba Airstrip and lands at Mweya Airstrip where another expert driver-guide with the vehicle will be waiting for you. You’ll spend the afternoon at leisure enjoying the comfort of your lodge or you can take up an evening game drive.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second-largest National Park in Uganda covering 1,978km². Spanning the Equator, the park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park and renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains or ‘Mountains of the Moon’, Queen Elizabeth Park contains a fabulously diverse landscape: rolling savannah grassland, moist acacia woodland, tropical rainforests, dozens of natural saline volcanic lakes, freshwater lakes and wetlands.
As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any national park in the world, including a total of 610 recorded bird species and more than 95 species of mammals including the rare and regal tree-climbing Lions, Savannah Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes, Giant-forest hogs, Uganda kobs, spotted hyenas and Chimpanzees and other 9 species of primates.
Highlight of the day: – The scenic flight transfer from Murchison Falls to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Mweya Safari Lodge/Mazike Valley Lodge/Katara Lodge
Midrange/Standard: – Enganzi Game Lodge/Bush Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp
Budget/Basic: – Pumba Safari Cottages/Park View Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After breakfast at around 7.00 am, we’ll embark on a 3-4 hours game driver in the scenic savannah plains of Kasenyi Area of Queen Elizabeth NP in search of wildlife including Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Leopards, Spotted hyenas, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Common warthogs, Giant forest hogs, Uganda kobs, Hippos, Side-striped jackals and various smaller creatures. This section, apart from the great wildlife, is also one of the prettiest in the park, especially in the golden light of the morning.
The game drive will also offer superb views of special bird species including Grey-crowned crane, Red-throated spurfowl, Yellow-throated longclaw, White-backed vulture, White-headed vulture, Palm-nut vulture, Hooded vulture, Flappet lark, Long-crested Eagle, Black-bellied bustard, Sitting cisticola, Grey-backed fiscal, African Skimmer and Brown Snake Eagle, to name just a few. After our game drive, we’ll return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, we drive to Mweya Jetty for another remarkable, unforgettable activity planned; the 2-hour boat trip on the 40 Kazinga channel which is home to the largest concentration of Hippos in the world.
You’ll also be fascinated by the large numbers of Crocodiles, Elephants, Buffalos on the shore along with numerous waterbirds including African Open-billed, Yellow-billed, Saddle-billed and Marabou Storks, Pink-backed pelicans, African spoonbills, Water Thick-knee, Swamp Flycatcher and Lesser Swamp Warbler as well as several species of Gulls, Terns. Retreat from the activity and do a game drive along the channel track as you connect to the lodge for overnight.
Highlight of the day: – An amazing wild boat cruise along the spectacular Kazinga Channel.
Accommodation:-
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
Wake up for breakfast at around 6.30 after which you embark on the trek to see our closest living relatives, Chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest Reserve. This 137km² forest reserve is an extension of Queen Elizabeth Park’s Maramagambo Forest. Kalinzu comprises more than 400 tree species and at least 300 chimpanzees, including a 40-strong community habituated for visitors. Chimpanzee tracking Kalinzu starts at 8.00 am. The trek tends to take 2-5 hours and you’re allowed to stay 1 hour with them after encountering them.
Chimp trek in Kalinzu now comes with about a 90% success rate, making the site almost as reliable as Kibale National Park and the quality of sighting is usually very good. During our encounter, we’ll traverse the jungle with sights of magical lush mature tropical forest and several other primates including Black and white colobus, Red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Olive baboon and many of the 378 bird species.
The eventual encounter with the chimpanzees as they munch fruits, make pant hooting calls, socialize, patrol, copulate and roll themselves in tree branches derive an exciting memory that will last for a lifetime. Retreat from the encounter and connect back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, you take up an evening game drive in the park exploring the views of the wild game and the savannah at the sunset.
Accommodation:-
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 45km or 50 minutes
Activities & Services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We’ll have our breakfast at around 8.30 am and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Before leaving Queen, we’ll undertake a game drive in the park’s southern Ishasha sector in search of the rare tree-climbing Lions that tend to lie on giant fig tree branches overlooking their prey in the plains. We’ll continue on the drive to Bwindi for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Covering 321 km², Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is an amazing piece of land; it survived the last Ice Age when most other forests in Africa disappeared. In the local language, Bwindi actually means ‘a place of darkness’. The park is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla trekking opportunities, hosting almost half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas − about 459 individuals at last count. The rugged landscape features dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys and steep ridges. This untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site because of its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance.
Aside from the majestic Mountain Gorillas, there are other drawcards including over 120 mammal species, 10 species of primates, over 350 species of bird to spot, 1000 species of flowing plants and a variety of colourful butterflies.
Highlight of the day: – Encountering the rare tree-climbing Lions in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth Park.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge/Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Mid-range/Moderate: – Gorilla Valley Lodge/ Bakiga Lodge/ Silverback Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/ Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & time: – Approx. 130-220km or 4-7 hours
Activities & Services:-
Today is going to be an undoubted highlight. And we don’t mean just of this 9 days Uganda safari in Uganda, but of your life. Gorilla trekking is a bucket list experience that naturalists from all over the world dream of doing! We’ll rise very early at around 6.00 am. We’ll have a hearty breakfast and embark on a short drive to the Buhoma park headquarters and meet with the excellent local ranger guides. At around 8.00 am, the guides will provide an informative talk on the gorilla trekking etiquette and the experience. Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure and allow only a maximum of 6 visitors per day (currently) to visit a particular gorilla family.
After the briefing, the trekking group will then head into the forest in search of these great apes. The trek takes 2-8 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family and you allowed 1 hour with them after encountering them. Owing to the nature of the terrain and the need to explore to find the gorillas, the trek doesn’t follow a path and instead, the guides will cut a route through the undergrowth. Strong footwear is essential and we recommend hiring a local porter to help you carry your bag/camera equipment and provide a steady, supportive hand (porters will be arranged and paid for locally on the day).
Seeing wild Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience you will never forget. An adult male can weigh up to 220kg and reach 6 feet in height. Gorillas are gentle creatures and are not known to attack unless very severely provoked. The minimum distance that we must keep when we are with the gorillas is 10 metres – we’re not permitted any closer because gorillas are very susceptible to human disease since they share over 98% of our DNA. Please note that if you’re unwell with anything contagious, even a common cold, you’ll not be allowed to trek gorillas. After your one hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point and connect to the lodge for relaxation.
Highlight of the day: – A face to face encounter with one of the surviving families of mountain gorillas who roam Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/ Upmarket: – Gorilla Forest Camp/Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Mid-range/ Moderate: – Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Haven Lodge Buhoma
Budget/ Basic: – Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
After breakfast, you embark on the second gorilla trekking encounter where you have the option of tracking a different gorilla family and gain a different experience than you had on the previous day. The second Uganda gorilla trek in Bwindi offers the opportunity to explore the Mountain Gorillas in detail including their behaviours, the foraging patterns among others.
You retreat from the activity and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (‘place of many little birds’) the loveliest lake in Uganda. Its contorted shore encircles 29 islands, surrounded by the beautiful Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa.
At Lake Bunyonyi, we’ll undertake a 1-hour sunset boat ride on the serene waters of this magical lake, exploring some of the lake’s legendary islands such as: – the Akampane (Punishment) Island where unmarried girls who became pregnant would be exiled. Here they face one of two possible fates: Any man who did not own sufficient cows to pay for an untainted bride was permitted to fetch the disgraced girl from the island and make her his wife. Failing that, the girl would usually starve to death. Retire from the activity return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Highlight of the day: – Gorilla trekking and the experiential evening boat ride on the magical lake Bunyonyi.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/ Upmarket: – Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
Mid-range/ Moderate: – Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort/Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
Budget/ Basic: – Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 55-85 km or 1-3 hours
Activities & Services:-
We’ll have breakfast at around 7.30 am. We’ll then undertake a 2 community tour as we visit some of the local schools here where you get to meet the local students who are striving for a better future. We’ll retire from the activity return and embark 477km (about 8 hours) drive to Entebbe.
We’ll have our first stop at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara for lunch (Traditional dishes) and another stop at Uganda Equator crossing at Kayabwe for more photos and passing through the gift shops to secure yourself memorabilia as a commemoration of your gorilla and Uganda wildlife safari tour. We’ll continue to Entebbe.
Highlight of the day: – Lake Bunyonyi community tour and the equator experience.
Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch
Drive distance & time: – 477km or 8 hours
Activities & Services:-
Full-time English professional safari driver-guide
4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with pop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C
Full board accommodation
Gorilla/chimpanzees trekking permit fees
Boat cruise fees
Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
Bottled water
International & domestic flight fees
Visa fees
Laundry services
Items of personal nature
Gratuities and tips
Other beverages/ drinks
Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above
Cate
Samuel
Robert
If you're looking for exceptional safari recommendations or require professional assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to us.
