This 15-Day Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking Tour takes you to up to six national parks and other destinations, marked by strong landscapes, waterfalls, wildlife, and the chance to meet mountain gorillas face to face.
15-Day Uganda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Day 2: Golden monkey trekking
- Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 4: Bwindi gorilla trekking
- Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 6: Game drive and afternoon boat ride
- Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale
- Day 9: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 10: Game drive and boat cruise
- Day 11: Transfer to Kampala
- Day 12: City tour in Kampala
- Day 13: Transfer to Jinja town
- Day 14: White water rafting and bungee jumping
- Day 15: Transfer to Entebbe and departure
Detailed 15-Day Uganda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Transfer from Kigali International Airport to Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda. The drive passes through Rwanda’s hills and Ruhengeri in Musanze province before reaching the border.
Along the way, take in views of the Virunga volcanoes and Lake Mutanda, with stops for photos. Arrive at your lodge, check in, and have dinner for the overnight stay.
Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking
Have breakfast at 7:00 am, then set out for golden monkey trekking at 8:00 am, through the bamboo forest on the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, one of the only places in the world where golden monkeys live.
Trekking time runs 2 to 6 hours, giving you time to observe these primates in their natural habitat.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have breakfast at 7:00 am, then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a 3-hour drive. En route, stop in Kisoro town to see the lava tube caves once used as shelter during past conflicts, including the Mwambike and Ruhenju caves in Gisozi parish.
Continue to Bwindi National Park, check in at your lodge, and rest for the evening ahead of dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
Have an early breakfast at 6:30 am, then head to park headquarters for the trekking briefing. Groups of up to 8 people are assigned to specific gorilla families. Trekking runs 2 to 6 hours, with up to one hour to observe and photograph the gorillas once found.
Gorillas sometimes approach quite closely, giving good chances for sightings and photos. After the trek, return to the lodge for a free afternoon, or take a community walk to the neighboring Batwa community.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have breakfast at 8:00 am, then transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a 3-hour drive. Stop in the Ishasha sector to look for tree-climbing lions, known to wait in the trees for passing Uganda kobs.
Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, check in at your lodge, and have dinner for the overnight stay.
Day 6: Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Ride
Have breakfast, followed by a morning game drive to look for buffalo, hyenas, elephants, and birds such as the African jacana and various storks. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel at 2:00 pm, with sightings of crocodiles, hippos, and a range of mammals and birds. Rest at the lodge with dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, transfer from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale National Park, a 2 to 3 hour drive via the Kasese-Fort Portal route. In Fort Portal, visit the Nyakasura Hills and the Amabere Ga’Nyinamwiru caves, historical sites shaped like cones, near the Nyakasura Falls. Continue to your lodge in Kibale National Park.
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale
Have breakfast, then head to Kanyanchu park headquarters for the pre-trek briefing before setting out to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat, moving through the canopy overhead. Return to the lodge for lunch, followed by rest or an optional Bigodi Wetland walk.
Day 9: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Have breakfast at 6:30 am, then transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, a 7-hour drive. En route, stop in Hoima town to visit the Mparo tombs and learn about the Bunyoro Kingdom and its royal burial grounds. Continue to your lodge in Murchison Falls National Park for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Have breakfast at 6:30 am, followed by a morning game drive to look for elephants, buffalo, lions, and leopards, along with a wide range of bird life. After lunch, transfer to Paraa Jetty for an afternoon boat cruise to the base of the falls, with sightings of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and water birds. Hike to view the falls from the top before returning to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 11: Transfer to Kampala
Have breakfast at 8:00 am, then transfer from Murchison Falls National Park to Kampala, a 6-hour drive. Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking and birdwatching. Have lunch en route, then continue to Kampala for dinner and an overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 12: City Tour in Kampala
Have breakfast at 8:00 am, then take a city tour covering Kisenyi, a Kampala neighborhood offering a look at local life, Owino Market, the city’s oldest market, and the Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo, to learn about Baganda tradition.
Close the tour with a visit to the Gaddafi Mosque, on one of Kampala’s oldest and tallest hills, with wide views over the city. Afterward, drive to Mabira Forest for a night of camping.
Day 13: Transfer to Jinja Town
After breakfast at 8:00 am, take a nature walk in Mabira Forest to see the area’s plant and bird life. Try zip-lining, then continue to Jinja town. Check in to your hotel and take in Jinja’s nightlife.
Day 14: White Water Rafting and Bungee Jumping
After breakfast at 8:00 am, spend the morning on a half-day white water rafting trip on the White Nile in Jinja. In the afternoon, try bungee jumping. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 15: Transfer to Entebbe and Departure
Have breakfast, then transfer from Jinja town to Entebbe Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your 15-Day Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking Tour.
End of 15-Day Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking Tour.
