Private • Uganda
🌍 9-Day Best of Uganda Safari with Gorilla Trekking 🦍🦁🦏
Gorillas, chimpanzees, big game, and the Nile — all in one sweep
Overview
About this journey
- Region
- East Africa
- Duration
- 9 days
- Departures
- All year round
- Party size
- Up to 8
Experience the ultimate 9-day Uganda safari adventure, combining thrilling wildlife encounters, unforgettable primate experiences, and breathtaking landscapes across Uganda's most iconic national parks. This carefully curated journey takes you to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.
Enjoy rhino tracking, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla encounters, game drives, scenic boat cruises, and cultural experiences in the heart of the Pearl of Africa.
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Highlights
What you'll experience
Mountain Gorilla Trek in Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest holds roughly half the world's mountain gorillas. Your UWA-assigned ranger leads you through tangled fig roots and stinging nettles until the silverback is simply there — five metres away, pulling at a celery stalk with the calm of an old man reading the paper.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale
Kibale Forest National Park hosts East Africa's densest population of chimpanzees. The tracking begins before the mist lifts, following the sound of knuckle-drumming through a cathedral of mahogany. When the troop descends to feed, the noise and movement are extraordinary.
Boat Cruise Below Murchison Falls
The Victoria Nile narrows to a seven-metre gap at Murchison Falls, and the force of it is something you feel in your ribs. On the boat cruise upstream, Nile crocodiles idle on sandbanks and African fish eagles call from the Borassus palms lining every bend.
Rhino Tracking at Ziwa
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is Uganda's only place to encounter white rhinos in the wild, and the tracking is done entirely on foot. Standing twenty metres from a two-tonne animal with no fence between you is a different register of experience from any game-drive window.
Game Drives on the Kasenyi Plains
The open savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park's Kasenyi sector draw Uganda kob in their thousands, and the lions that follow them. At first light the grass holds the colour of old bronze, and the tracks read like a story written overnight.
Kazinga Channel Cruise
The Kazinga Channel connects Lakes George and Edward, and its banks hold one of Africa's highest concentrations of hippos. As the boat drifts past, African skimmers cut the surface and yellow-billed storks stand motionless in the shallows — birders count fifty species in an afternoon without trying.
Why choose us
Why choose a Private Journey?
Nine days is enough time to move slowly, to let each park breathe before the next one begins. Here is why this itinerary holds together.
Private, Paced, and Responsive
This is your vehicle, your guide, and your schedule. If the lions at Kasenyi demand two more hours, you stay two more hours. No other group is waiting.
Guides Who Know the Forest
Our team at Bwindi and Kibale have worked these parks for years. They know the gorilla groups, the chimpanzee ranging patterns, and where the great blue turaco sits at 7 a.m. That knowledge is the difference between sighting and understanding.
Conservation That Goes Beyond the Park Fee
A portion of every booking supports the community ranger programmes adjacent to Bwindi and Kibale. The forests stay intact because the people who live beside them benefit from their protection — and we are transparent about how that works.
Itinerary
Your day-by-day journey
Day 1
Arrival in Kampala
After an early breakfast, your professional safari guide will pick you up and begin your journey to the spectacular Murchison Falls National Park, home to the world's most powerful waterfall. En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an exciting rhino tracking experience, where you'll encounter some of Uganda's protected southern white rhinos. After lunch, continue to Uganda's largest national park. Upon arrival, visit the iconic Top of the Falls, where the mighty Nile River forces its way through an 8-metre-wide gorge before plunging 43 metres below.
Enjoy a guided hike around the falls and take in the breathtaking views before heading to your lodge. 📍 Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
🏨 Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge – Mid-range lodge located inside the park
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🥤 Drinking Water Included (other beverages excluded)
Meals · Dinner
Day 2
10th November: Game Drive & Nile Launch Cruise
Begin your day with an early morning game drive across the park's vast savannah plains. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, waterbucks, elands, giraffes, warthogs, lions, and, with a bit of luck, elusive leopards. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, embark on a memorable boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. Watch for hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, and an incredible variety of birdlife while admiring the dramatic scenery.
📍 Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
🏨 Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🥤 Drinking Water Included
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
11th November: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, check out and journey south to Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda's primate capital. Travel through the stunning Albertine Rift Valley, passing scenic countryside landscapes and traditional villages. Enjoy lunch in Hoima before arriving at Kibale Forest in the evening.
📍 Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
🏨 Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp (Safari Tent)
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🥤 Non-Alcoholic Drinks Included
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
12th November: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, transfer to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing before embarking on your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Explore the tropical rainforest in search of chimpanzees and other primates, including black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, and olive baboons. After lunch, continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park while enjoying scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the "Mountains of the Moon."
📍 Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
🏨 Accommodation: Tembo Safari Lodge
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🥤 Non-Alcoholic Drinks Included
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
13th November: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Enjoy an early breakfast before heading out for a game drive across the Kasenyi Plains. Search for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, Defassa waterbucks, warthogs, leopards, and the famous tree-climbing lions. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, set out on a scenic launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where you'll encounter large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and a rich diversity of bird species.
📍 Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
🏨 Accommodation: Tembo Safari Lodge
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🥤 Non-Alcoholic Drinks Included
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
14th November: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a leisurely breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Keep your camera ready for sightings of the famous tree-climbing lions, along with buffaloes, elephants, and Uganda kobs. Enjoy lunch in Kihihi before continuing to Bwindi.
📍 Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
🏨 Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🥤 Non-Alcoholic Drinks Included
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7
15th November: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Cultural Experience
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a detailed briefing before setting off into the rainforest to search for endangered mountain gorillas. The trek can last between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family. Once you locate the gorillas, spend one unforgettable hour observing their social interactions and behaviors in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. If time permits, enjoy an optional cultural visit to the Batwa community and learn about their fascinating traditions and heritage.
📍 Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
🏨 Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🥤 Non-Alcoholic Drinks Included
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8
16th November: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & Sunset Boat Cruise
After breakfast, depart for Lake Mburo National Park. Enjoy a lunch stop at the renowned Igongo Cultural Centre, where you can sample traditional Ankole cuisine. Arrive at the park in the afternoon and embark on a sunset boat cruise, offering excellent opportunities to spot hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of aquatic bird species.
📍 Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park
🏨 Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
🥤 Non-Alcoholic Drinks Included
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9
17th November: Morning Game Drive & Departure
Wake up early for your final game drive through the acacia woodlands, rocky outcrops, and open savannahs of Lake Mburo National Park. Look out for zebras, giraffes, impalas, topis, elands, waterbucks, bushbucks, and a variety of bird species. After breakfast, check out and begin your return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. Depending on your departure schedule, you will be transferred directly to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight.
📍 Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport
🏨 Accommodation: Not included (end of tour)
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
🥤 Non-Alcoholic Drinks Included
🌟 Safari Highlights
✅ Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
✅ Top of the Falls hike in Murchison Falls National Park
✅ Nile River boat cruise
✅ Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
✅ Game drives in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Lake Mburo National Parks
✅ Kazinga Channel boat safari
✅ Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
✅ Batwa cultural experience
✅ Sunset boat cruise on Lake Mburo
✅ Exceptional birdwatching and wildlife photography opportunities
📌 Optional Extra: Additional accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala can be arranged at an extra cost.
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions
What is and isn't included
Included
- All accommodation on a full-board basis (days 1 dinner through day 9 lunch)
- Private 4WD safari vehicle and driver-guide throughout
- One mountain gorilla trekking permit per guest
- One chimpanzee tracking permit per guest (Kibale)
- White rhino tracking fee at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Nile boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls
- All national park entry fees
- Bigodi Wetland community walk and guide
- Kihihi to Entebbe flight on day 9
- Entebbe airport arrival and departure transfers
- Bottled water in the vehicle throughout
Not included
- International flights to and from the region
- Entry visas and any transit visas
- Travel and medical insurance, which is mandatory
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
- Laundry, telephone and other items of a personal nature
- Tips and gratuities for your guide, drivers and lodge staff
- Optional activities not listed in the day-by-day itinerary
Pricing
Available all year round
A private itinerary with no fixed departure dates. Rates are per person in USD.
Journey Details
Essential information
Minimum Age
15 years for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking (UWA requirement)
Safari Duffel
A soft-sided bag of no more than 15 kg is recommended for days involving light aircraft transfers
First Group Event
Dinner on Day 1 in Kampala
Last Group Event
Lunch at Mahogany Springs on Day 9 before transfer to Kihihi airstrip
Guaranteed Departures
All departures on this itinerary are private; your trip runs regardless of group size
Alternate Sightseeing
In the rare event that a gorilla group cannot be accessed on the scheduled day, UWA rangers will attempt to relocate tracking to an alternative habituated group. Permit fees are non-refundable per UWA policy.