10-Days Uganda Wildlife, Culture And Primate Tour

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport – Transfer to Hotel & Botanical Gardens Visit (Optional)

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be welcomed by our company representative and your professional English-speaking safari guide. You will be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe—just a 10 to 20-minute drive from the airport on the shores of Lake Victoria.

After checking in and freshening up, you’ll be briefed about your 10-day Uganda wildlife and primate safari. If time permits, enjoy an optional visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens for a walking safari. Explore the lush gardens teeming with Vervet monkeys, bird species, and indigenous plant life. This relaxed start introduces you to Uganda’s natural beauty.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: ViaVia Guesthouse

• Mid-range: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

• Luxury: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe

Meal Plan: Dinner

Day 2: Entebbe – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Murchison Falls National Park

Start your day early at 6:30 AM with a drive toward Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest national park. En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola for an exciting white rhino tracking experience. This is the only place in Uganda to see rhinos in the wild—an essential stop to complete your Big Five safari in Uganda.

With the help of an expert ranger, track rhinos on foot and spend up to an hour observing and photographing them. After this exhilarating encounter, proceed to Kabalega Diner for lunch before continuing to the park.

Upon arrival in Murchison Falls National Park, visit the top of the falls to witness the mighty Nile squeeze through a 7-meter-wide gorge and plunge 43 meters below—an awe-inspiring natural spectacle. Later, cross the Nile River to check in at your lodge. In the evening, embark on a night game drive, a unique opportunity to spot nocturnal animals such as leopards, lions, civets, porcupines, and hyenas.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: Hornbill Bush Lodge

• Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge

• Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Murchison Falls – Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise

Rise early for a morning game drive in the northern sector of the park. Explore the savannah in search of elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffaloes, oribis, Uganda kobs, Jackson’s hartebeest, and more. Your guide will help you spot and identify these animals while providing insight into their behavior and ecology.

Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation before heading out at 2:00 PM for a boat cruise along the Nile River. Sail upstream toward the base of Murchison Falls, passing pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and water birds such as goliath herons, kingfishers, fish eagles, and bee-eaters. The cruise offers exceptional photographic opportunities and a chance to view land animals cooling off at the riverbanks.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: Hornbill Bush Lodge

• Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge

• Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Murchison Falls – Scenic Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, check out and drive south toward Kibale Forest National Park, a journey filled with scenic beauty—rolling hills, tea plantations, and distant views of the Rwenzori Mountains. En route, enjoy lunch in Fort Portal, a charming town nestled in the foothills of the mountains.

Upon arrival in Kibale, embark on a guided nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for its incredible biodiversity. Spot up to 8 species of primates, including black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys, as well as over 138 bird species like the great blue turaco. You’ll also engage in a community visit, learning about local traditions such as banana gin brewing, coffee roasting, and craft-making.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: Rwetera Safari Park

• Mid-range: Isunga Safari Lodge

• Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Tracking & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Start your day with an early breakfast and transfer to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest. After a short briefing by the rangers, embark on a guided trek through the tropical forest in search of wild chimpanzees. Upon locating a habituated troop, you’ll spend up to one hour observing their behavior watch them feed, groom, play, and swing through the trees.

Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species, including grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, and olive baboons, making this one of the richest primate ecosystems in Africa.

After the tracking experience, return to the lodge for lunch, check out, and begin your scenic drive southward to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes, and traditional homesteads along the way. Upon arrival, check in and relax at your lodge in preparation for the next day’s adventures.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: Pumba Safari Cottages

• Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Rise early for a sunrise game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, one of the best areas in the park for wildlife viewing. Look out for lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, and warthogs. The open savannah provides excellent photography opportunities, especially during the golden morning light.

Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and rest before heading to Mweya Peninsula for an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. This 32-kilometer natural waterway connects Lake Edward and Lake George and attracts large concentrations of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and water birds such as African fish eagles, pink-backed pelicans, and saddle-billed storks. You may also spot elephants and buffaloes on the banks.

After the boat cruise, return to your lodge to relax and enjoy the evening.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: Pumba Safari Cottages

• Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth – Ishasha Game Drive – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Enjoy breakfast and check out for a game drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for its rare tree-climbing lions that can often be seen lounging in the branches of fig trees. Other wildlife sightings in this remote southern section include topis, elephants, and buffaloes.

Continue the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home of more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most biologically diverse rainforests in Africa. Arrive in the afternoon and check in to your lodge, where you can relax and prepare for the unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

• Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp

• Luxury: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Bwindi – Gorilla Trekking Experience – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for Relaxation

After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines. You’ll be placed in a tracking group and led into the dense forest by experienced rangers. Trekking may take 2 to 6 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family, but the reward is immense: spending one hour in the company of a mountain gorilla family—an awe-inspiring and emotional experience that many describe as life-changing.

After your trek, return to the lodge for lunch and freshen up before driving to the serene and scenic Lake Bunyonyi, known for its beautiful terraced hills, birdlife, and island-dotted waters. It’s the perfect place to unwind after days of trekking and game drives.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: Bunyonyi Overland Resort

• Mid-range: Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi

• Luxury: BirdNest Resort Lake Bunyonyi

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi – Canoeing or Nature Walk – Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Enjoy a relaxed morning by the lake with optional activities such as canoeing to explore the islands, swimming in bilharzia-free waters, or a guided nature walk to learn about local traditions and the area’s ecology. After breakfast, check out and begin your scenic drive to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah park and the only one with zebra and impala populations.

Arrive in the afternoon, check in at your lodge, and head out for an optional evening game drive or bush walk with a ranger. Lake Mburo is also one of the few parks where you can enjoy horseback safaris, providing a unique, non-intrusive way to explore the savannah and observe wildlife like giraffes, elands, topis, zebras, and warthogs up close.

Accommodation Options:

• Standard: Eagle’s Nest

• Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock

• Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Lake Mburo – Morning Walking Safari – Return to Entebbe & Departure

Wake up to the sounds of the wild and embark on a guided walking safari, one of the park’s highlights. This allows you to experience nature on foot and spot wildlife at close range, guided by an armed ranger who will explain animal tracks, droppings, and plants along the way.

After breakfast, check out and begin your drive back to Entebbe, with a stopover at the Equator line monument for photo opportunities and souvenir shopping. You’ll arrive in Entebbe in the afternoon for your international flight or a post-safari hotel stay, depending on your travel arrangements.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Safari Inclusions:

• Airport pick-up and drop-off

• Accommodation and meals as per itinerary

• All park entrance fees

• Gorilla and chimpanzee permits

• Rhino tracking fees

• Game drives, boat cruises, and walking safaris

• Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof

• Professional English-speaking safari guide

• Bottled drinking water in the vehicle