15-Day Best of Uganda Safari

Day-by-day itinerary

Route: Entebbe / Kampala → Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary → Murchison Falls → Kibale → Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi → Mgahinga / Kisoro → Lake Bunyonyi → Lake Mburo → Entebbe

1. Day 1

   Entebbe / Kampala via Ziwa to Murchison Falls

   Breakfast is taken before you set out from Entebbe / Kampala via Ziwa for the drive to Murchison Falls, travelling north through Ziwa and the Masindi road country. Once you reach Murchison Falls there is time to check in before heading out among open savanna, borassus palms and the Victoria Nile forcing through a narrow rock gorge. This is good country in which to look for elephant, giraffe, lion, hippo, crocodile and Uganda kob. At Murchison the Nile is squeezed through a gap only a few metres wide before dropping to the valley below, and a launch trip runs to the base of the falls. This is a joining departure, so the safari vehicle is shared with other guests. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Murchison Falls.

2. Day 2

   Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Murchison Falls

   Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary bound for Murchison Falls, travelling north through Ziwa and the Masindi road country. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into open savanna, borassus palms and the Victoria Nile forcing through a narrow rock gorge. Look for elephant, giraffe, lion, hippo, crocodile and Uganda kob as the light softens through the afternoon. At Murchison the Nile is squeezed through a gap only a few metres wide before dropping to the valley below, and a launch trip runs to the base of the falls. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Murchison Falls.

3. Day 3

   Murchison Falls to Kibale

   Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Murchison Falls bound for Kibale, crossing western Uganda's tea estates and crater-lake country. You arrive in time to settle in, and the day continues with a game drive across moist tropical forest running along the Albertine Rift, one of Africa's richest primate habitats. There is the possibility of seeing chimpanzees, red colobus, L'Hoest's monkey and a long list of forest birds, depending on movement and conditions on the day. Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale is a permit-dependent activity arranged through the park authority, and places must be confirmed in advance. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Kibale.

4. Day 4

   Murchison Falls to Kibale

   You leave Murchison Falls after breakfast and head for Kibale, crossing western Uganda's tea estates and crater-lake country. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through moist tropical forest running along the Albertine Rift, one of Africa's richest primate habitats. This is good country in which to look for chimpanzees, red colobus, L'Hoest's monkey and a long list of forest birds. Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale is a permit-dependent activity arranged through the park authority, and places must be confirmed in advance. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Kibale.

5. Day 5

   Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi

   After breakfast you leave Queen Elizabeth and travel on toward Bwindi, travelling the winding roads of the south-western highlands through terraced farmland. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through steep Afromontane rainforest ridges and valleys in south-western Uganda. Wildlife commonly associated with this area includes mountain gorillas, forest elephant, many primate species and numerous Albertine Rift endemics. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a permit-dependent activity, and a permit must be confirmed in advance for every trekker. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Bwindi.

6. Day 6

   Kibale to Queen Elizabeth

   Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Kibale bound for Queen Elizabeth, crossing the equator and descending into the western Rift Valley. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through savanna, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George. Wildlife commonly associated with this area includes elephant, buffalo, hippo, Uganda kob and, in the Ishasha sector, lions sometimes seen in fig trees. A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel gives close views of hippo pods, buffalo and one of the densest concentrations of water birds in the region. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Queen Elizabeth.

7. Day 7

   Mgahinga / Kisoro to Lake Bunyonyi

   You leave Mgahinga / Kisoro after breakfast and head for Lake Bunyonyi. On arrival at Lake Bunyonyi you check in and the remainder of the day is at a relaxed pace. Expect a straightforward road journey, with the exact timing depending on conditions. Dinner is served at your Lake Bunyonyi camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

8. Day 8

   Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo

   You leave Lake Bunyonyi after breakfast and head for Lake Mburo, travelling the Masaka road through Ankole cattle country. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into acacia woodland, rocky ridges and a chain of small lakes in western Uganda. There is the possibility of seeing zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, hippo and the shy sitatunga in swampy margins, depending on movement and conditions on the day. Lake Mburo is one of the few Ugandan parks that also allows walking safaris and horseback rides alongside vehicle drives. Dinner is served at your Lake Mburo camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

9. Day 9

   Ishasha to Bwindi

   Breakfast is taken before you set out from Ishasha for the drive to Bwindi, travelling the winding roads of the south-western highlands through terraced farmland. Once you reach Bwindi there is time to check in before heading out among steep Afromontane rainforest ridges and valleys in south-western Uganda. Your guide works the area for mountain gorillas, forest elephant, many primate species and numerous Albertine Rift endemics, with sightings varying by season and conditions. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a permit-dependent activity, and a permit must be confirmed in advance for every trekker. The evening is spent at your Bwindi accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

10. Day 10

    Full-Day Entebbe Safari

    Today is spent entirely in Entebbe, beginning with a game drive shortly after first light. The drives cover the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport, moving between habitats as conditions change. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. Depending on the plan for the day, lunch is served at camp or packed to eat in the field. The evening returns you to your Entebbe accommodation for dinner and overnight.

11. Day 11

    Bwindi to Mgahinga / Kisoro

    The morning starts in Bwindi, from where you continue overland to Mgahinga / Kisoro, travelling the winding roads of the south-western highlands through terraced farmland. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into steep Afromontane rainforest ridges and valleys in south-western Uganda. There is the possibility of seeing mountain gorillas, forest elephant, many primate species and numerous Albertine Rift endemics, depending on movement and conditions on the day. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a permit-dependent activity, and a permit must be confirmed in advance for every trekker. Dinner is served at your Mgahinga / Kisoro camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

12. Day 12

    Mgahinga Golden Monkey Tracking to Lake Bunyonyi

    Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Mgahinga Golden Monkey Tracking bound for Lake Bunyonyi. You arrive at Lake Bunyonyi, check in and have time to settle before the next stage of the journey. The drive is broken with stops to stretch, and timings are approximate rather than fixed. Dinner is served at your Lake Bunyonyi camp or lodge, where you spend the night. Golden monkey tracking is a permit-dependent golden monkey tracking activity and is confirmed only when permits are available.

13. Day 13

    Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo

    The morning starts in Lake Bunyonyi, from where you continue overland to Lake Mburo, travelling the Masaka road through Ankole cattle country. Arrival is followed by check-in and a first drive into acacia woodland, rocky ridges and a chain of small lakes in western Uganda. This is good country in which to look for zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, hippo and the shy sitatunga in swampy margins. Lake Mburo is one of the few Ugandan parks that also allows walking safaris and horseback rides alongside vehicle drives. Dinner is served at your Lake Mburo camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

14. Day 14

    Full-Day Entebbe Safari

    Today is spent entirely in Entebbe, beginning with a game drive shortly after first light. The drives cover the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport, moving between habitats as conditions change. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. You return to your camp or lodge for dinner and a second night at Entebbe.

15. Day 15

    Lake Mburo to Entebbe

    After breakfast you leave Lake Mburo and travel on toward Entebbe, following the lakeshore road from Kampala. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. The day ends with a drop-off in Nairobi at your hotel or the airport.