Day-by-Day Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Welcome to Uganda

Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy optional activities such as a visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or a sunset walk by Lake Victoria.

Overnight: Hotel in Entebbe
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Kalinzu Forest – Into the Primate Corridor

After breakfast, begin your journey west through Uganda’s rolling countryside and tea plantations toward Kalinzu Forest Reserve, located just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kalinzu is a dense tropical forest known for its wild chimpanzee population and over 400 species of trees, birds, and butterflies.

Settle into your lodge near Kalinzu and enjoy the peaceful forest surroundings. This area forms part of the larger Albertine Rift ecosystem and is one of Uganda’s best lesser-known primate tracking destinations.

Overnight: Lodge near Kalinzu Forest
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kalinzu – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP

Rise early for your chimpanzee tracking experience. Accompanied by a forest ranger, you’ll trek through the forest, listening for calls and watching the canopy for signs of movement. Once located, you’ll observe these playful and intelligent apes in their natural habitat for up to one hour.

After lunch, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its diverse wildlife and dramatic landscapes. On your way, you may spot elephants or buffalo grazing near the road. Enjoy an evening game drive en route to your lodge.

Overnight: Safari lodge inside or near Queen Elizabeth NP
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Game Drive & Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel

Start the day with a morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, an area known for high concentrations of lions, Uganda kobs, elephants, and occasionally leopards. Your guide will help track big cats, especially during the cool hours of the morning when predators are most active.

In the afternoon, head to Mweya Peninsula for a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, one of the top wildlife experiences in East Africa. The cruise offers close encounters with hippos, Nile crocodiles, and hundreds of water birds like African fish eagles, kingfishers, and cormorants.

Overnight: Safari lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Ishasha Sector Game Drive – Transfer to Bwindi

After breakfast, drive south through the remote and beautiful Ishasha Sector, a region of Queen Elizabeth famous for its tree-climbing lions—a rare and fascinating behavior observed in only two regions in Africa.

Enjoy a game drive through the fig and acacia woodlands in search of these lions perched high above. Continue through the rugged hills of southwestern Uganda to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, your base for the ultimate gorilla encounter.

Overnight: Lodge near Bwindi (Buhoma, Ruhija, or Rushaga depending on permit)
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – A Life-Changing Experience

Today, you’ll experience one of the greatest wildlife encounters on Earth. After breakfast and a briefing at the park headquarters, head into the forest with your ranger guide to locate one of Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families. The trek can take 2 to 6 hours, depending on the gorilla’s movements.

Once found, you’ll spend one magical hour in their presence. Watch as they groom, feed, and interact. Few experiences rival the emotional impact of gazing into the eyes of a silverback or watching a baby gorilla cling to its mother.

Return to the lodge to relax or enjoy a Batwa cultural experience, learning how this indigenous group once lived in harmony with the forest.

Overnight: Lodge near Bwindi
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Uganda’s Hidden Gem

After breakfast, travel northeast toward Lake Mburo National Park, a small but wildlife-rich park known for its zebras, impalas, topis, and elands—which you won’t find in most other Ugandan parks. The park also features picturesque rolling hills and five lakes.

Arrive in time for a short game drive or evening walking safari to stretch your legs and catch sight of animals up close in the golden evening light.

Overnight: Safari lodge in Lake Mburo NP
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Walking Safari – Transfer to Entebbe

Wake up early for a guided walking safari—a rare and exciting opportunity to explore the savannah on foot. Spot zebras, warthogs, bushbucks, and a wide range of birds while learning about animal tracks and plant life from your ranger.

After brunch, begin the drive back to Entebbe, stopping at the Equator Monument for a photo and craft shopping. Arrive in the early evening and check into your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel in Entebbe
Meal Plan: Half Board

Day 9: Departure – End of Your Uganda Safari

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before being transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight. Optional activities or additional nights in Entebbe can be arranged upon request.

Meal Plan: Breakfast