Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
A Classic Ugandan Safari Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Rhinos
Uganda - Murchison Falls - Kibale - Queen Elizabeth - Bwindi - Lake Mburo
After a whirlwind overnight stay in Entebbe, kick your classic safari off with a visit to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before heading to Murchison Falls National Park. Here, you’ll be treated to a visit with the park’s chimpanzees, who have become accustomed to humans thanks to a thriving habituation programme, along with buffalo, elephants and – if you’re lucky – lions and leopards.
Next, it’s onto Kibale National Park, where you’ll spot swooping birds and a whopping eight species of monkey in the Bigodi Marshes, before continuing to Queen Elizabeth National Park, comprised of dense forest, shimmering lakes and arid plains. After a few more days of wildlife watching on foot and by 4x4, head to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for a day with the park’s resident gorillas. There’s no such thing as too many monkeys, after all…
Round off your trip in Lake Mburo National Park, where you can observe local flora from the comfort of your pool. Enjoy a final walking safari before hopping on your flight home, ready to regale your friends and family with tales of your bucket-list safari sightings.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Passports at the ready: your trip to Uganda begins today. Head to the airport bright and early, speed through security and enjoy some coffee and breakfast in the lounge before boarding your flight to Entebbe. With a quick stopover, the journey will take around 13 hours, and you’ll touch down in Uganda this evening.
When you arrive, you’ll be met and privately transferred to the centre of the city, where you’ll be staying for the night. It’ll be late by the time you arrive, so grab a quick bite to eat and flop into bed, ready for the real adventure to begin tomorrow.
Rise bright and early this morning to meet your friendly driver-guide and begin the journey north, passing by verdant fields and traditional villages.
Along the way, catch your first glimpse into Uganda’s safari scene with a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. After Uganda's endemic black and white rhinos were poached to virtual extinction, conservationists established this sanctuary in 2005 and successfully reintroduced rhinos to Ugandan soil. Alongside a knowledgeable ranger, you’ll have the chance to learn about the sanctuary’s 30-strong rhino population, as well as their hippos, antelopes, monkeys and birds.
Suitably wowed, hop back in the car and continue the journey to your next hotel, set a stone’s throw from Murchison Falls National Park. The rest of the afternoon is yours for the taking, so unpack and spend some time spotting elephants and hippos from your private terrace before heading down for a delicious dinner overlooking the park.
Today is entirely dedicated to discovering Murchison Falls National Park. Punctuated by the winding Victoria Nile River, this 2,380-square-mile game reserve is Uganda’s largest, complete with sweeping savanna, sparkling lakes and an array of wonderful wildlife, including hippos, elephants, buffalo, monkeys, lions and leopards.
Today, you’ll be heading to Budongo Forest for a day with the park’s chimpanzee population. Thanks to an incredible habituation programme, these gentle giants have become accustomed to humans, so follow an expert guide into the Kaniyo Pabidi area to search for the chimpanzees and observe them as they go about their daily lives. That’s one bucket list experience ticked off…
Wave goodbye to Murchison Falls this morning as you’re collected and privately transferred five-and-a-half hours south towards Kibale National Park. Along the way, glide along the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, watching as the calm waters of Lake Albert transform into dense forests and plantations.
When you arrive, check in for two nights in the heart of Uganda’s crater lakes region. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy, whether you’d rather cool off in the pool or simply sit back and admire the view over the majestic Rwenzori mountain range – preferably with an ice-cold drink in hand.
Another day, another ecosystem. Fuel up with a hearty breakfast before heading out to explore the Bigodi Marshes, set on the edge of Kibale National Park. Set off on a guided three-mile hike across the area, keeping your eyes peeled for the many (and we do mean many) species that call this region home.
Birdwatchers, you’re in luck: the Bigodi Marshes are home to over 200 bird species, including hornbills, parrots, cranes and kingfishers. As if that wasn’t enough, you can also spot the great blue turaco, one of the region’s most iconic birds. Birdlife aside, Bigodi is also a haven for monkeys, including colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and olive baboons.
Along the way, you’ll also have the chance to meet local communities and learn about their everyday life and activities, including basket weaving and vanilla and coffee harvesting (yes, please).
Fill up with a hearty breakfast before grabbing your bags and meeting your private driver for the two-and-a-half-hour journey south to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Set across a whopping 50,000 acres, this popular park is overflowing with tropical forests, sparkling lakes and arid plains, along with all manner of flora and fauna.
When you arrive, check in for three nights in a lodge overlooking Lake George. If you’re keen to explore, we can arrange a calming wildlife cruise along the Kazinga Canal; if you’d rather rest your weary legs after yesterday’s hike, simply collapse into a deckchair on the terrace and watch as elephants and hippopotamuses frolic in the water below.
The next two days are entirely dedicated to exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park, so haul on your hiking boots and head out to explore.
During your time here, you’ll have the chance to explore the park by 4x4 and on foot – talk about the best of both worlds. Spend a morning hiking in the Kyambura River Gorge, a ten-mile-long and 330ft-deep canyon known as the ‘Valley of the Monkeys’ for its playful primate population. With an expert ranger, follow the winding Kyambura River, watching for colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and chimpanzees along with visiting hippos, elephants and crocodiles.
When you’re not wandering, jump in a comfortable vehicle for a 4x4 safari across the Ishasha region, led by a knowledgeable driver-guide. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to see elephants splashing about in lakes, colourful birds soaring above your head and Ishasha’s famous tree-climbing lions, who stretch lazily from their spot in the fig trees.
It’s time for the next leg of your trip to begin. This morning, meet your driver and set the sat nav for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, set three-and-a-half hours southwest on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Once you arrive, check in for two nights surrounded by rolling hills and overlooking Lake Mutanda. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs before heading back for a tasty dinner at your peaceful lodge.
Today, dive into another monkey habituation programme, this time swapping chimpanzees for Bwindi’s resident gorillas. Home to half of the global gorilla population, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the best places to meet these majestic species, so head out with a ranger to look for them.
After a trek through the forest, your guide will lead you to the park’s gorilla hotspots, where you’ll have the chance to watch the gorillas eat, play and interact. Cue a chorus of awws as the little ones somersault through the undergrowth under the watchful eye of their parents…
Grab your bags and hop back in the car this morning for the five-hour drive east to Lake Mburo National Park, passing through some of Uganda’s most beautiful green spaces as you go.
When you arrive, settle in for your final night on the edge of the eponymous national park. You’ll likely be tired after the journey, so spend the afternoon lounging with a good book, cooling off in the pool or catching your first glimpse of Lake Mburo’s wonderful wildlife, set against a backdrop of lush hills and awe-inspiring savannah.
Start your final day in style with a walking safari through Lake Mburo’s lavish landscapes. Led by an expert guide, wander through the savannah, learning about the park’s medicinal plants and keeping your eyes peeled for a local resident.
Come afternoon, it’s sadly time to begin the journey back home. Say one last goodbye to the savannah, then grab your bags and set off through the Ugandan countryside to Entebbe, a five-and-a-half-hour drive away.
When you arrive at Entebbe airport, spend a final few hours in the lounge before boarding your overnight flight home. With another quick connection, the flight will take around 13 hours, and you’ll touch down the next morning, armed with a camera roll to rival Sir David Attenborough’s…
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
CRUISE ALONG THE KAZINGA CANAL
Set in the east and west corners of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the 25-mile Kazinga Canal connects Lake George and Lake Edward. It winds its way through the park, offering a watering hole and meeting point for its wildlife. With a knowledgeable guide, set off on a cruise along the water, spotting everything from tiny endemic birds to bumbling hippos and stealthy Nile crocodiles. The cruise also boasts some pretty stellar viewpoints, where you’ll be able to spot other animals in their natural habitat, including buffalo and elephants.
Why visit Uganda with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Uganda
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
