9-Day Uganda Gorilla Safari from Kigali

Safari Highlights

• Day 1: Kigali – Uganda border – Kabale lunch stop – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

• Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking and Batwa community visit.

• Day 3: Bwindi – Ishasha sector – Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kazinga Channel boat cruise.

• Day 4: Morning game drive, afternoon Lake Katwe salt-mining community visit and evening Lake Munyanyange.

• Day 5: Queen Elizabeth – Kikorongo Equator Monument – Kibale Forest National Park.

• Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Wetland walk.

• Day 7: Transfer from Kibale to Murchison Falls National Park.

• Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon Murchison Falls Nile boat cruise.

• Day 9: Murchison Falls – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Kampala.

9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali – Kabale – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Your Uganda safari begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. Meet your professional driver-guide and begin the journey towards southwestern Uganda. Drive through Rwanda's beautiful countryside before reaching the Uganda border, where you will complete immigration formalities.

Continue to Kabale town, where you will have a lunch stop and an opportunity to relax before proceeding to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Enjoy the scenic drive through the rolling hills, terraced farmlands and rural communities of southwestern Uganda.

Arrive at your lodge near Bwindi in the afternoon. Depending on your gorilla trekking permit, accommodation will be arranged around the Rushaga or Nkuringo sector. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and preparing for the following day's gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation: Lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Visit

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will receive instructions about gorilla trekking before entering Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with experienced guides and trackers to search for a habituated mountain gorilla family.

The trek takes you through dense tropical rainforest, following forest trails and sometimes navigating steep hills in search of the gorillas. The duration depends on the location and movements of the gorilla family.

Once you locate the mountain gorillas, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watch as they feed, groom, play and interact with one another. This is one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife experiences.

After returning from the forest, enjoy lunch and some time to relax at your lodge.

In the afternoon, visit a Batwa community near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Batwa are among the indigenous communities historically associated with the forests of southwestern Uganda. During the visit, learn about their traditional forest lifestyle, hunting and gathering practices, medicinal plants, cultural heritage, music and dances.

This cultural experience provides an opportunity to understand their history, their relationship with Bwindi Forest and how their communities have adapted to life outside the forest following the establishment of the national park.

Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Day 3: Bwindi – Ishasha Sector – Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and depart Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Travel through the beautiful landscapes of southwestern Uganda, passing rural villages, rolling hills and scenic countryside.

Depending on your route and travel time, drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Enjoy a game drive through the open savannah plains as you search for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, topis and other wildlife. With some luck, you may spot lions resting in the branches of large fig trees.

Continue towards the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park and proceed to the Kazinga Channel for an afternoon boat cruise.

The Kazinga Channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and is famous for its large concentrations of hippos, Nile crocodiles and other wildlife. During the cruise, look out for elephants and buffaloes gathering along the water's edge to drink and cool off. The channel is also an excellent location for birdwatching, with numerous waterbirds found along its shores.

Enjoy the beautiful scenery and opportunities for wildlife photography before returning to your lodge.

Accommodation: Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 4: Morning Game Drive – Lake Katwe Salt Mining – Lake Munyanyange Evening Visit

Start your day with an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, exploring the Kasenyi plains in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs and other savannah wildlife.

The Kasenyi plains are particularly known for their large populations of Uganda kobs, which attract predators such as lions. Your driver-guide will help you explore the best wildlife viewing areas and identify the different animals encountered during the drive.

Return to your lodge for breakfast and some relaxation before proceeding to the Katwe area in the afternoon.

Visit the traditional salt-mining community at Lake Katwe, where local residents have practised salt extraction for generations. Learn about the traditional salt-mining process, the different methods used to extract salt and the importance of the lake to surrounding communities.

Walk around the salt pans, observe the work of local salt miners and take photographs of this unique landscape. You will also have an opportunity to learn about the challenges of working in the saline environment and the economic importance of salt production to the local population.

In the evening, visit Lake Munyanyange, a seasonal crater lake known for attracting flamingos and other waterbirds when conditions are favourable. Enjoy birdwatching, the peaceful surroundings and beautiful views as the day comes to an end.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kikorongo Equator Monument – Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and depart Queen Elizabeth National Park for Kibale Forest National Park.

Travel through the scenic countryside of western Uganda, passing traditional villages, crater lakes, agricultural landscapes and beautiful views of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Along the way, make a stop at the Kikorongo Equator Monument, located along the Kasese–Fort Portal road. Here, you will have time to take photographs at the Equator monument and enjoy the surrounding scenery. This is a memorable photography stop where you can capture pictures marking your crossing of the Equator.

Continue towards Fort Portal, a beautiful town surrounded by green hills, crater lakes and tea plantations. Proceed to your lodge near Kibale Forest National Park and arrive in the afternoon.

Check in and spend the remainder of the day relaxing in preparation for the following day's chimpanzee trekking experience.

Accommodation: Lodge near Kibale Forest National Park.

Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk

After breakfast, proceed to Kibale Forest National Park for a briefing before beginning your chimpanzee trekking experience.

Kibale is one of Africa's most important primate destinations and is home to a large population of wild chimpanzees. Accompanied by experienced park guides, enter the tropical rainforest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community.

As you walk through the forest, you may encounter other primates, including red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Once the chimpanzees are located, spend the permitted viewing time observing their behaviour. Watch them feed, communicate, groom and move through the forest canopy.

After the trekking experience, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk. The wetland is known for its rich biodiversity and offers opportunities to spot several monkey species and colourful birds, including the great blue turaco.

Your local guide will explain the wetland ecosystem, its importance to surrounding communities and the conservation initiatives that support its protection.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Lodge near Kibale Forest National Park.

Day 7: Kibale Forest – Murchison Falls National Park

Enjoy an early breakfast before departing Kibale Forest for Murchison Falls National Park in northwestern Uganda.

This is a long but scenic journey through Uganda's countryside. Travel northwards, passing rural settlements, agricultural landscapes, trading centres and local communities.

Enjoy a lunch stop along the way before continuing towards Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, proceed to your lodge and check in.

Depending on your arrival time, you may have an opportunity for a short evening game drive or simply relax at the lodge and enjoy the surrounding wilderness.

Prepare for the following day's wildlife activities in Uganda's largest national park.

Accommodation: Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park.

Day 8: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Murchison Falls Nile Boat Cruise

Start the day with an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. Explore the northern banks of the Nile, which offer excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing across open savannah grasslands.

Look out for elephants, Rothschild's giraffes, buffaloes, lions, hartebeests, waterbucks, warthogs and other wildlife. Your driver-guide will help you explore different sections of the park in search of animals and explain the wildlife and ecosystem.

After the game drive, return to your lodge for breakfast or lunch and some relaxation.

In the afternoon, proceed to the Victoria Nile for a boat cruise towards the bottom of Murchison Falls. As you travel upstream, look out for hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and numerous bird species along the riverbanks.

The cruise takes you close to the base of Murchison Falls, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow rocky gorge before plunging down with tremendous power. Enjoy spectacular views of the waterfall and the surrounding landscape.

After the boat cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park.

Day 9: Murchison Falls – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Entebbe

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and depart Murchison Falls National Park for Kampala.

Along the way, visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda's only destination for wild rhino tracking. Accompanied by an experienced sanctuary ranger, take a guided walking excursion to search for southern white rhinos in their natural environment.

Learn about the sanctuary's conservation programme and the ongoing efforts to restore Uganda's rhino population.

After the rhino tracking experience, continue towards Entebbe, with a lunch stop along the way.

Arrive in Entebbe in the late afternoon or evening and transfer to your hotel or another agreed drop-off location.