Track wild primates, see a huge range of animals and birds and gain an insight into community life on this Ugandan adventure
This comprehensive wildlife and primate safari takes you to a range of habitats to encounter a host of wildlife and enjoy exquisite scenery.
Experience primate tracking through tropical rainforests and spend time with Uganda’s mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.
Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to view southern white rhino and learn about this successful conservation project.
Also, view game during boat rides on some of the country’s most beautiful stretches of water.
This safari also allows time to interact with local communities to learn about their culture and participate in some of their traditional activities.
Tour Highlights
Gorilla tracking
What a rare privilege to observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Watch dominant Silverback males, infants playing and family members grooming and eating.
Chimp tracking
Track through the tropical rainforest in search of the chimps, then spend an hour watching their behaviour and listening to their communication.
Tree-climbing lions
The lions of Ishasha love to climb the local fig trees. Are they on the lookout for prey, seeking shade, avoiding insects on the ground, keeping a kill to themselves? Who knows.
Rhino tracking
A guided nature walk in this huge sanctuary is a really nice way to track rhino and you can get pretty close too. You may also see bush buck, monkeys and various bird species.
Coffee farm visit
Visit a coffee farm for an insight into village life. Get hands on and pick coffee cherries (in season), plant a tree, try wet processing and prepare a cup for yourself.Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Evening arrival
Day 2: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Rhino tracking
Day 3: Visit a mango farm. Murchison Falls national park. Top of the falls
Day 4: Game drive. Nile River boat cruise
Day 5: Birding boat trip down the Nile. Transfer to Lake Albert. Bush dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale national park. Nature walk at Lake Nkuruba
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking. Swamp walk for primates and birds
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth park. Game drive
Day 9: Lion tracking. Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Day 10: Transfer to Ishasha. Game drive. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable forest
Day 11: Gorilla tracking
Day 12: Travel to Lake Mburo national park. Visit Bahima cattle-keepers
Day 13:. Safari walk in the park. Game drive
Day 14: Drive to Masaka. Coffee farm visit. Continue to Entebbe via Equator
Day 15: Boat ride through the swamp in search of Shoebill. Evening flight
Click on the boxes below to see the day by day itinerary
Day 1 - Evening arrival
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your guide who will take you to your hotel, a short drive away. They will accompany you throughout your safari.
Accommodation: The Boma Hotel – Entebbe.
Meal Plan: Depending on arrival time
Day 2 - Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Track rhinos and enjoy a nature walk
Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (approx. 3-4-hours). In the afternoon, take a guided nature walk, tracking rhinos with chances to see them at very close range. The sanctuary also has bush buck, monkeys and many bird species that can be spotted during your walk.
Accommodation: Amuka Lodge – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Mango farm visit. Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Drive approx. 1 hour to Masindi and spend time visiting a fruit farm. Take a tour of the gardens, see the animals, and learn about local juice and wine making. Have lunch and then continue to Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest national park (2 hours). Visit the top of the powerful waterfalls for spectacular views. Then drive to your lodge. .
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison Falls National Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Game drive. Boat cruise on River Nile
Your day starts with an early morning game drive in the northern sector of the park while animals are most active. Search for lions, elephants, buffalos, hartebeest, antelopes and tropical birds. After lunch, enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on the Nile to the bottom of Murchison falls, where you will see animals along the shore, as well as a wealth of birds
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison Falls National Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Local boat trip to Lake Albert. Transfer to Kibale national park via Fort Portal
A local fisherman will take you on a 2–4-hour birding trip down the Nile and on to Lake Albert where you can search for the iconic Shoebill and other bird species. Your guide will be waiting at Wanseko fishing village to transfer you to Lake Albert Lodge approx. 2-3 hours, driving against the stunning backdrop of the blue mountains of Congo. Settle-in and, later, prepare for a bush dinner overlooking Lake Albert.
Accommodation: Lake Albert Lodge, Kibale National Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Transfer to Kibale national park. Nature walk at Lake Nkuruba
After breakfast, you will transfer to Kibale national park – the famous primate capital of East Africa (approx. 4-5 hours). The scenic countryside drive takes you past roadside markets, tea plantations, forested areas, small villages, enjoying the sights and sounds of rural Uganda along the way. Later in the afternoon, drive to Lake Nkuruba for approx. 1-2-hour nature walk, watching wildlife, birds and primates in the forest and around the crater lake.
Accommodation: Turaco TreeTops, Kibale National Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Chimpanzee tracking (12 years+) and swamp walk for primates and birds
After an early morning briefing, track chimpanzees in Kibale forest. Once you find them, you can spend an enchanting hour with them watching as they go about their activities. Later in the afternoon, explore Bigodi Swamp, a community initiative to protect the environment and wildlife. The swamp is home to a number of monkey species, plants and birds.
Accommodation: Turaco TreeTops, Kibale National Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Drive through the crater lakes region to Queen Elizabeth national park. Game drive
Head to Queen Elizabeth national park via the beautiful, and geologically fascinating crater lakes region. In the early evening take a game drive in the park to make the most of the excellent wildlife-spotting opportunities.
Accommodation: Kasenyi Safari Camp, Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Lion tracking. Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
This morning, you will join rangers and researchers for your lion tracking experience monitoring the animals, climate and habitat and learning about tracking and animal behaviour. After lunch, take a boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel, known for its high concentration of hippos. Also look out for crocodiles, buffalo and water birds along the shores.
Accommodation: Kasenyi Safari Camp, Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Ishasha sector. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a two-hour drive, you will reach Ishasha, home of the famous tree-climbing lions. Explore this amazing sector in search of the many animals including the lions and large herds of antelope. After lunch, continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – home of the endangered mountain gorillas another two hours away.
Accommodation: Engagi Lodge – Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 - Gorilla tracking (15 years+)
After an early morning briefing, you will trek into the forest with your group in search of your gorilla family. Once found, you can watch the gorillas for one magical hour as they eat, play, groom and sleep – a truly memorable experience. On your return, if time allows, take a community walk, interact with the locals, learn about their culture and watch a cultural music and dance performance at Ride 4 A Woman.
Accommodation: Engagi Lodge – Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 - Travel to Lake Mburo national park. Cultural visit.
Transfer to Lake Mburo, one of the amazing national parks in the country, approx. 5-6 hours. Settle-in and have lunch as you relax at the lodge. Later, visit a nearby Bahima community to learn about the Ankole long-horn cows. Visit the calves, talk to the cattle-keepers and learn about the wooden milk pots and how milk is traditionally processed into products like ghee.
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 - Safari walk. Game drive.
Start your day with a guided nature walk for about two hours. This provides a different pace and a different view of the park and you will learn a lot from your guide as you go. Keep an eye out for giraffe, translocated here from another park – another great conservation success story. Later, head out for a game drive. Look out for the zebra, impala, eland and other wildlife.
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 - Coffee farm visit and drive to Entebbe via the Equator
Transfer to Masaka (approx. 3 hours) and spend time on a local coffee farm. Visit the gardens, pick the coffee cherries in season, plant a tree and prepare a cup for yourself. This is such a good opportunity to learn all about village life in this area. After lunch, continue to Entebbe with a stop at the Equator to stretch your legs, enjoy photo moments and cross from the southern to the northern hemisphere.
Accommodation: The Boma Hotel – Entebbe – Entebbe
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15 - Shoebill search. Evening flight home
Visit Mabamba wetlands, one of Uganda’s 12 RAMSAR sites – sites of international importance to conservation. Take a boat ride on this extensive marsh, in search of the globally threatened Shoebill and other water birds. Return to visit Entebbe’s craft village for souvenir shopping before transferring to the airport for your flight home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Extend or customise this itinerary
If you have specific interests or target species we will be happy to suggest alternative and additional activities that fit this itinerary. Simply get in touch.
Relax in comfort
We recommend mid-range properties suitable for this itinerary. We are looking for a good location; somewhere clean, safe and comfortable. We want good service, good food and, where possible, strong responsible travel practices. We are happy to suggest alternative properties and properties in different price brackets.
Responsible travel highlights
We offer fabulous holidays that have a positive impact. We consider people and planet as much as profit and try to ensure, that overall, your visit to Uganda is a force for good. We don’t claim to be perfect but we actively try.
Locally-owned suppliers
We are a Ugandan company and we want Ugandan tourism to benefit Ugandans. We also want our clients to meet the locals.
Authentic experiences
We work with community partners to develop tourist experiences, in real settings, to give you an insight into different aspects of life in Uganda.
Expert local knowledge
Together, our team has extensive local knowledge which we use to design your holiday. And our guides enrich your experience by sharing their local knowledge – from wildlife to culture.
Responsible accommodation
We prefer to work with responsible properties. That could mean anything from using solar power to being a good employer to sourcing food directly from local community members.Our guests regularly spot…
Gorilla
Chimpanzees
Giraffe
Zebra
Elephant
Lion
Shoebill
Rhino
Hippo
Various antelope
Buffalo
Crocodile
Wart hog
Mongoose
Various primates
Insects and butterflies
Various reptiles
Numerous bird species
Where the tour goes
Tour Gallery
Tour information
Duration: 15 days
Tour Type: Private
Price: please contact us for options and detailed price information
Included in this price
1 gorilla & 1 chimp tracking permit each
A double room in mid-range, non-air-conditioned accommodation
Full board meal plan
Private safari vehicle with driver and fuel for this itinerary
All entrance and other fees for the activities included in the itinerary
Mineral water in transit
All government taxes
Not included in this price
International flights
Visas
Travel insurance
Personal expenses: alcohol, laundry services and souvenirs
Tips (normally 5–10% and around $10 per day for your guide)
What Philo says about this safari…
Safaris include some early starts so consider adding some downtime into your itinerary. Many lodges have great views or quiet corners to read a book, some even have swimming pools and spas. You may even find grazers or lovey birds around your lodge.
Philo, Venture Uganda Travel Consultant
Extend & Customise
If you have specific interests or target species we will be happy to suggest alternative and additional activities that fit this itinerary.
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Got any questions?
If there’s anything you’re not sure about or you would just like to chat about this itinerary, email: philo@ventureuganda.org. Tell me when you’re free, leave a contact email/whatsapp No. and I’ll be in touch.
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