From the roaring Nile in Uganda’s largest national park, Murchison Falls, to the green hills of Kibale, the golden savannah in Queen Elizabeth and the rainforest with its rare gorillas in Bwindi.
This tour of Uganda offers an unforgettable blend of nature, wildlife, and adventure.
You'll visit five of Uganda’s stunning national parks, experiencing the country’s unique nature and wildlife through classic game drives, walking safaris, and reserve visits.
Most people visit Uganda to see the great primates, the chimpanzees and gorillas, but Uganda also offers many other fantastic wildlife and nature experiences. In fact, there is a chance to see the Big 5 during this tour, as you will visit Uganda's only rhino sanctuary, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
It's not without reason that the country is nicknamed ‘The Pearl of Africa’!
This tour is also suitable for families, and although some experiences like gorilla and chimpanzee tracking are not ideal for younger children, there are plenty of opportunities to experience Uganda's magic through more child-friendly activities. You can tailor the tour to include what you wish, perhaps taking a leisurely day at your own pace to recharge for more adventures ahead.
Today marks the departure day as your tour begins with flights to Entebbe in Uganda, with connecting flights along the way
Upon your arrival in Entebbe, you’ll be greeted at the airport by our local partners.
You will be transferred to your hotel, located not far from the airport. You’ll stay for one night before the experiences begin tomorrow.
Departing from the hotel in the morning, you’ll head to Murchison Falls National Park. The park is about a 6-hour drive north of Entebbe and is Uganda’s largest national park.
The drive takes you through small villages and lush agricultural areas where everything from sugar cane to maize and tea is cultivated. You’ll also pass by one of Uganda’s largest forests, Budongo, during today’s journey.
One of the major highlights at Murchison Falls is where the 500-metre-wide (White) Nile thunders through a gorge just 7 metres wide, plunging 45 metres into a lower river. The sight of the roaring, frothing water is a remarkable reminder of nature’s forces.
Before reaching this spectacle, you’ll visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Rhinos were extinct in Uganda by the mid-1980s, but thanks to donations and tourist revenue, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was established in 2005. Today, it’s a successful project with many white rhinos. They roam freely but are well protected by a large team of rangers. It is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos, so it’s a must if you’re aiming to tick off the Big 5 on this tour.
In addition to the Nile, Murchison Falls National Park is renowned for its diverse wildlife. Nile crocodiles bask along the riverbanks, lurking for animals coming to drink. Elephants are usually left in peace, though crocodiles occasionally target buffalos or antelopes. Hippos also inhabit the waters, coming ashore to graze at night. You can also spot lions, leopards, and giraffes in the national park.
If you’re a bird enthusiast, Murchison Falls will delight you with over 450 bird species, including the peculiar shoebill stork.
Spend the day enjoying the wonders of the national park.
If you missed seeing the roaring Nile yesterday, today’s trip will naturally include a visit there, combined with a safari along the way.
There’s also time for a boat cruise on the Nile, offering a chance to take in the sights from the water – an experience that leaves most visitors breathless.
Lunch is either packed or taken back at the lodge, where there might also be a chance to take a short rest. You have a say in shaping how the day unfolds.
Today’s drive is both beautiful and varied.
South of Murchison Falls – and just north of Queen Elizabeth National Park – you’ll find Kibale National Park.
While Murchison Falls offers a rich diversity in landscapes with river, savannah, swamp, and forest, Kibale is primarily composed of dense, humid rainforest. It’s one of Africa’s best spots to see primates in the wild. The chimpanzee is perhaps the most renowned, but the forest is also home to red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, the striking L’Hoest’s monkey, and several other species.
Between the two national parks lie small local villages with markets offering everything from fruits to handicrafts – and perhaps a chicken or two – set against the backdrop of stunning landscapes with tea plantations forming a beautiful scenery against the Rwenzori Mountains.
You will visit one of the tea plantations, where you can learn about tea production before arriving in Kibale, where you’ll spend two nights.
Today, the agenda is yours to decide.
If you’re travelling as a family, you might need a day to relax. You’re more than halfway through the tour, so there’s an opportunity to sleep in, play games, and take a leisurely stroll through the small town.
In addition, we offer several optional tours.
Most visitors come to Kibale for chimpanzee tracking. You must be over 15 and reasonably fit to follow the primates through the forest. Chimpanzee tracking isn’t for everyone.
It’s also possible to purchase a walking tour in the beautiful landscapes surrounding Kibale. Lastly, the hotel can assist in arranging shorter walks in the nearby forest or village.
It’s time to say farewell to Kibale and head towards the next stop on your tour: Queen Elizabeth National Park. The landscape dramatically changes throughout the day. Kibale’s dense rainforest gives way to crater lakes and later, the savanna, and at times you’ll catch glimpses of the sporadically snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains – a stunning sight against the green hills around Kibale.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s second-largest national park after Murchison Falls and the country’s most popular. It boasts a vast biodiversity with savanna, forest, and swamp areas. This varied landscape naturally attracts a myriad of different animals, and the park is truly a paradise for bird-lovers. Over 600 bird species and 95 different mammals call this place home, so there’s plenty to see.
Your day begins early with a morning safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Rising early is well worth it to enjoy the sunrise in the northern part of the park, in the Kasenyi area. This area attracts antelope – and where there are prey, predators follow. The early morning hours are the best time to see the big cats actively on their daily hunts.
You’ll drive across the savanna and around crater lakes in search of leopards, lions, hyenas, antelopes, and many other animals. After the safari, you’ll return to the hotel where breakfast awaits. The hot midday hours can be spent relaxing by the pool.
In the afternoon, you’ll embark on a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. The 40-km channel attracts a large number of animals, offering great opportunities to see crocodiles, hippos, and other animals cooling off in the refreshing waters. Along the channel’s banks, you might spot elephants and buffaloes – and maybe even European migratory birds gathering in large flocks.
After breakfast, you’ll head towards Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. But first, there’s a game drive through the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in an area called Ishasha. These plains are especially known for the tree-climbing lions, which love to lounge on the branches of large African fig trees.
You will then continue to Bwindi for another two nights.
In the afternoon, there’s time for a leisurely stroll through the small village of Buhoma in Bwindi, to visit the local market, or simply to enjoy the view from your lodge – perhaps with a good book.
Today, you have the option to choose from various excursions.
The main attraction in Bwindi is naturally the rare mountain gorillas, and an encounter with them will likely be on most people’s wish list. However, the journey to the gorillas is physically demanding, and children under 15 are not allowed to participate in gorilla tracking.
If you’re travelling in a group where not everyone can or wishes to go gorilla tracking, you can choose from a range of different activities today, ensuring everyone has an enjoyable experience.
Bwindi’s rainforest is one of the world’s oldest and its biological diversity goes far beyond the mountain gorillas. There are over 200 butterfly species and 350 different bird species here, and the ‘impenetrable forest’ is home to a diverse and lush flora.
Before the area was declared a national park, the forest was home to the Batwa people, who now live in the surrounding villages.
Below you can see which activities you can opt for today. Note that if you choose gorilla tracking, you must set aside the entire day. Sometimes the tour takes 2 hours – other times up to 9 hours.
Most lodges in the area are deeply involved in local projects, and if time permits, it is always possible to arrange visits to a village or one of the projects directly on site.
If you are travelling as a family and the children are not old enough for gorilla tracking, we can arrange an excursion for them with your guide (who does not participate in the gorilla tours). This incurs an extra cost – contact your travel specialist for more information.
It’s time to bid farewell to Bwindi. The journey continues eastward, with today’s stop being Lake Mburo National Park. The park is one of Uganda’s smallest with an area of only 260 km², but Lake Mburo is a true gem, boasting beautiful scenery and rich wildlife. It is also the only place in Uganda where you can see impalas.
Today’s drive is relatively short, so the afternoon can be spent relaxing before an evening that offers a different kind of safari experience. You’ll be going on a night game drive, particularly looking out for the nocturnal animals seldom seen in daylight.
The Lake Mburo National Park is one of the few in Uganda where you can go on a walking safari – and this is what you’ll do today.
It’s a completely different way to safari, focusing here on tracking footprints, scents, and plants rather than getting as close to the animals as possible. However, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll also see some animals; for example, you can often get quite close to zebras during the walk.
From Lake Mburo, your journey returns to Entebbe, where there is an opportunity to freshen up and change clothes before dining with your guide. You will be driven to the airport where it’s time to begin your journey home.
You will arrive at your chosen airport after an extraordinary safari experience.
From £959 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £639
Single room supplement from £19
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Catriona is passionate about helping other people fulfill their travel dreams, as she knows how much travel has only improved her life for the better!
