Discover Uganda’s incredible wildlife, encounter mountain gorillas in Bwindi, track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, explore the savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and experience the mighty Murchison Falls.

Prepared by: Raptors Africa Safaris

Duration: 11 days / 10 nights

Destination: Uganda

Safari highlights: Shoebill tracking, Lake Mburo National Park, walking safari, mountain gorilla trekking, Ishasha sector, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kazinga Channel boat cruise, chimpanzee tracking, Murchison Falls, Nile boat cruise, and rhino tracking at Ziwa.

Safari overview

This 11-day Uganda safari is designed for travelers who want to experience the country’s remarkable diversity of wildlife and landscapes in one adventure. The journey combines wetland birdwatching, savannah game drives, guided walking safaris, encounters with endangered mountain gorillas, chimpanzee tracking, and a boat cruise along the Nile toward the spectacular Murchison Falls.

Your adventure begins in Entebbe with a relaxing stay at 2 Friends Beach Hotel before heading out to Mabamba Wetland to search for the prehistoric-looking shoebill stork. From there, you travel to Lake Mburo National Park, continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, and explore the Ishasha and Kasenyi areas of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The journey then takes you to Kibale Forest for a chimpanzee experience before continuing north to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. Your safari concludes with wildlife viewing, a Nile boat cruise, and a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before returning to Entebbe for your onward flight.

Throughout the trip, Raptors Africa Safaris coordinates the transfers, accommodation, park activities, and guiding arrangements to help you enjoy a well-organized Ugandan adventure.

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda – Transfer to 2 Friends Beach Hotel

Destination: Entebbe

Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

Meal plan: Depending on arrival time and booking arrangements

Welcome to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa!

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by a representative of Raptors Africa Safaris. After the airport formalities, you will transfer to 2 Friends Beach Hotel, a comfortable lakeside property where you can relax after your international journey.

The transfer provides your first introduction to Entebbe and the shores of Lake Victoria, one of Africa’s largest lakes.

After checking in, spend the remainder of the day relaxing at the hotel. Depending on your arrival time and energy levels, you may enjoy the lakeside setting, take in the views, or simply unwind before the safari begins.

Your guide will brief you on the journey ahead and help confirm the arrangements for the following morning.

Overnight: 2 Friends Beach Hotel, Entebbe.

Day 2: Shoebill Tracking at Mabamba Wetland – Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Destination: Mabamba Wetland and Lake Mburo National Park

Accommodation: Hyena Hill Lodge

Activities: Shoebill tracking, scenic drive, evening relaxation and optional night safari

Rise early for one of Uganda’s most exciting birdwatching experiences: a boat excursion through Mabamba Wetland in search of the remarkable shoebill stork.

Located along the shores of Lake Victoria, Mabamba is a renowned wetland habitat for this unusual bird. Accompanied by a local boat guide, you will navigate narrow channels through papyrus vegetation, watching for shoebills and other wetland bird species.

The shoebill’s enormous bill, prehistoric appearance, and patient hunting behavior make it one of the most sought-after birds for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the wetland itself offers an enjoyable birdwatching experience.

After the excursion, return to the mainland and begin the journey toward Lake Mburo National Park in western Uganda. Enjoy the changing scenery as you travel through rural communities, agricultural landscapes, and the rolling hills of southwestern Uganda.

Upon arrival at Hyena Hill Lodge, check in and settle into your accommodation.

Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at the lodge before enjoying an optional night safari, subject to the lodge’s arrangements and the relevant park permissions. A guided night drive offers the opportunity to search for nocturnal wildlife that is less active during the day.

This may include night-active mammals and, with luck, species such as bushbabies or other nocturnal animals. Sightings vary according to conditions.

Overnight: Hyena Hill Lodge, Lake Mburo area.

Day 3: Walking Safari in Lake Mburo – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Destination: Lake Mburo National Park and Bwindi

Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Activities: Guided walking safari and scenic transfer

Begin the day with a guided walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park, an experience that allows you to appreciate the African wilderness from a different perspective.

Accompanied by an authorized ranger, explore the park’s savannah and woodland habitats on foot. Lake Mburo is known for wildlife including zebras, impalas, elands, buffaloes, giraffes, and a variety of bird species.

Walking through the landscape allows you to notice animal tracks, plants, insects, and other details that can be missed during a conventional game drive. Your ranger will explain how the animals use their habitat and how to observe wildlife responsibly and safely.

After the walking safari, return to the lodge for breakfast and prepare for the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The drive takes you through the scenic countryside of southwestern Uganda, with terraced hills, small trading centres, cultivated slopes, and increasingly forested landscapes as you approach gorilla country.

Upon arrival at Gorilla Leisure Lodge, check in and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Your safari team will confirm your gorilla trekking arrangements, including your permit, designated trekking sector, departure time, and the equipment you should carry.

Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for the highlight of your Uganda safari: meeting mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Overnight: Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Bwindi area.

Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Activity: Mountain gorilla trekking

Today is one of the most memorable days of your journey: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After an early breakfast, transfer to your designated park briefing point. The exact location depends on your gorilla permit and assigned trekking sector.

At the briefing, park rangers explain the trekking procedures, safety rules, and responsible viewing guidelines before you enter the forest with your guides and trackers.

Bwindi is a magnificent rainforest characterized by steep hills, dense vegetation, tangled roots, and a rich variety of plant and animal life. The search for gorillas can involve anything from a relatively short walk to several hours of hiking, depending on the location of the assigned gorilla family and the terrain.

As you follow your guides through the forest, look out for birds, butterflies, forest plants, and signs of wildlife along the trail.

When the gorillas are located, you will have a limited period, traditionally one hour, to observe the family under the guidance of the park rangers.

Watching a powerful silverback, observing mothers caring for their young, or seeing juveniles playing among the vegetation is an extraordinary experience. The gorillas’ social behavior and resemblance to humans make the encounter especially moving.

Photography is generally permitted, subject to park rules. Visitors must follow the required viewing distance and all instructions given by their guides.

After the encounter, trek back to the park’s designated exit and return to Gorilla Leisure Lodge.

Spend the rest of the day relaxing, enjoying the forest scenery, and reflecting on your gorilla trekking experience.

Overnight: Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Bwindi area.

Day 5: Transfer to Ishasha – Game Drive Through the Southern Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Destination: Ishasha sector, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation: Embogo Lodge

Activities: Scenic transfer and Ishasha game drive

After breakfast, leave Bwindi and travel toward the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This journey introduces you to another side of Uganda’s wildlife landscape, as the densely forested hills around Bwindi gradually give way to more open countryside and savannah habitats.

Ishasha is particularly famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are sometimes seen resting in the branches of large fig trees. The behavior is unusual enough to make the sector one of the most intriguing places for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Uganda.

Depending on road conditions and your arrival time, enjoy a game drive through Ishasha’s open plains and woodland areas. Search for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs, and other savannah wildlife while keeping an eye out for lions.

Although tree-climbing lions are a major attraction, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Your guide will use local knowledge and recent wildlife information to help make the most of the drive.

Later, proceed to Embogo Lodge and check in.

Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge, enjoying dinner, and preparing for the following day’s exploration of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Overnight: Embogo Lodge, Ishasha area.

Day 6: Ishasha Game Drive – Transfer to the Kasenyi Plains

Destination: Kasenyi plains, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge

Activities: Morning game drive and scenic transfer

Wake up early for a game drive through Ishasha, when wildlife activity can be rewarding and the morning light creates excellent conditions for photography.

Your guide will help you explore the sector’s open grasslands and fig-tree habitats in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, and other wildlife. If you missed the tree-climbing lions on the previous day, you will have another opportunity to look for them.

After the game drive, continue toward the Kasenyi plains in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The landscape changes as you travel through the park, revealing broad savannahs, open grasslands, crater-lake scenery, and views toward the Rwenzori Mountains when the weather is clear.

Kasenyi is well known for its Uganda kob populations and associated predator-prey interactions. The plains are an important area for wildlife viewing and offer opportunities to encounter elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and, with luck, lions.

Upon arrival at Aardvark Safari Lodge, check in and relax.

The remainder of the day can be spent enjoying the lodge and its surroundings or preparing for the next day’s game drive and boat cruise.

Overnight: Aardvark Safari Lodge, Kasenyi area.

Day 7: Game Drive in Kasenyi – Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel

Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge

Activities: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Spend the morning exploring the Kasenyi plains on a guided game drive.

The early hours are a rewarding time to search for wildlife before the day becomes hotter. Your guide will take you through suitable tracks and open areas in search of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs, and predators.

The plains support a range of grazing animals, and your guide can explain how the different species use the habitat and interact within the ecosystem.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation before heading out for your afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.

The Kazinga Channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and is one of the park’s most famous wildlife-viewing locations. From the boat, you can observe large numbers of hippos in the water, Nile crocodiles along the banks, and buffaloes and elephants gathering near the shoreline.

The channel is also an excellent location for birdwatching. Depending on the season, you may see African fish eagles, pelicans, kingfishers, herons, and numerous other waterbirds.

The boat excursion offers a different perspective from the morning’s land-based safari, bringing you close to the wildlife that depends on the channel.

After the cruise, return to Aardvark Safari Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Overnight: Aardvark Safari Lodge, Kasenyi area.

Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Afternoon Chimpanzee Tracking

Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

Accommodation: To be confirmed

Activities: Scenic transfer and planned chimpanzee tracking

After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel toward Kibale Forest National Park, one of Uganda’s most celebrated destinations for chimpanzee tracking.

The journey takes you through the countryside of western Uganda, with views of farmland, crater lakes, rural settlements, and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains when conditions permit.

Kibale is known for its rich primate diversity and extensive tropical forest. It supports chimpanzees and several other primate species, making it an important destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

Upon arrival in the Kibale area, proceed to your accommodation, settle in, and prepare for the planned chimpanzee tracking excursion.

During the guided experience, park staff introduce you to the forest environment and explain the rules for observing chimpanzees responsibly. You will then enter the forest with authorized guides and trackers to search for a habituated chimpanzee community.

Chimpanzees are active, intelligent primates that communicate through calls, gestures, and complex social interactions. Depending on their movements, you may see them feeding, grooming, moving through the canopy, or traveling across the forest floor.

The duration of the tracking experience varies according to the location and movements of the chimpanzees. A successful encounter offers an exciting opportunity to observe their behavior in the wild.

Important planning note: Afternoon chimpanzee tracking is dependent on the available session, permit arrangements, and your arrival time from Queen Elizabeth National Park. If the timing is not practical, the tracking should be moved to the following morning, with the onward transfer to Murchison Falls adjusted accordingly.

Overnight: Kibale Forest area, accommodation to be confirmed.

Day 9: Transfer from Kibale Forest to Murchison Falls National Park

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation: To be confirmed

Activity: Scenic transfer across western and northwestern Uganda

After breakfast, begin the journey from Kibale toward Murchison Falls National Park.

This is one of the longer road journeys of the safari, taking you through the landscapes of western and northwestern Uganda toward the Nile River and the expansive savannahs of Murchison Falls.

Along the way, you will pass through rural communities, cultivated landscapes, and changing vegetation zones. Depending on the route, road conditions, and timing, there may be opportunities for short refreshment stops.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park and is known for its varied wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, and a wide range of birds.

The park’s defining feature is the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the Victoria Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge before plunging into the river below.

Upon arrival, transfer to your accommodation, check in, and relax after the journey.

Depending on your arrival time and the lodge’s location, there may be an opportunity to enjoy the surrounding landscape. However, the main wildlife activities are planned for the following day.

Overnight: Murchison Falls National Park area, accommodation to be confirmed.

Day 10: Game Drive in Murchison Falls – Boat Cruise to the Bottom of the Falls

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 9

Activities: Morning game drive and afternoon Nile boat cruise

Today is dedicated to exploring Murchison Falls National Park, combining a savannah game drive with a boat excursion along the Victoria Nile.

Start early with a guided game drive through the park’s wildlife-rich plains. The morning is a good opportunity to search for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kob, hartebeests, and other savannah species.

Depending on the area visited and current wildlife movements, you may also encounter lions. Your guide will help interpret animal behavior and identify tracks and signs along the way.

After the game drive, return to your lodge for lunch or a short rest before proceeding to the river for the afternoon boat cruise.

The boat trip travels upstream toward the base of Murchison Falls, offering spectacular views of the river and its surrounding landscape.

Along the banks, you may see hippos resting in the water, crocodiles basking near the shore, elephants approaching to drink, and a variety of birds feeding along the river.

As the boat approaches the falls, the Nile narrows and the sound of rushing water grows louder. The powerful flow of water through the rocky gorge creates one of Uganda’s most impressive natural spectacles.

The boat cruise provides excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and a close appreciation of the river ecosystem. It is important to note that the standard cruise to the base of the falls does not itself take visitors to the top of the falls; that viewpoint can be arranged separately if time and logistics permit.

After the cruise, return to your lodge and enjoy your final evening in the national park.

Overnight: Murchison Falls National Park area.

Day 11: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Transfer to Entebbe International Airport

Destination: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Entebbe

Activities: Rhino tracking and airport transfer

After an early breakfast, depart Murchison Falls National Park and begin the journey back toward Entebbe.

Along the way, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, an important conservation destination dedicated to protecting Uganda’s white rhinos.

Subject to advance arrangements and the sanctuary’s operating schedule, enjoy a guided rhino-tracking experience on foot. Accompanied by an authorized guide, you will learn about the sanctuary’s conservation work and the efforts to protect and increase Uganda’s rhino population.

Tracking rhinos on foot offers a distinctive wildlife experience and complements the safari’s earlier encounters with gorillas, chimpanzees, and savannah wildlife.

The guide will explain how to observe the animals safely and responsibly while sharing information about rhino behavior and conservation.

After the activity, continue toward Entebbe, with a suitable stop for refreshments along the way if time allows.

Arrive in Entebbe in the evening for drop-off at Entebbe International Airport and your onward flight.

Important departure note: The Ziwa stop should only be included if your international flight time allows sufficient time for the drive, the rhino activity, and airport check-in. For an early-evening departure, an earlier start or a revised schedule may be necessary.

Your 11-day Ugandan adventure concludes with memories of extraordinary wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and some of East Africa’s most remarkable natural attractions.

End of safari – Raptors Africa Safaris

Accommodation summary

Safari inclusions to confirm in the final quotation

• • Airport transfers on arrival and departure.

• • Private 4×4 safari vehicle and professional driver-guide.

• • Accommodation as listed, subject to availability.

• • Meals according to the confirmed lodge meal plans.

• • Mabamba shoebill excursion.

• • Lake Mburo walking safari and applicable night-drive arrangements.

• • Bwindi gorilla trekking permit.

• • Queen Elizabeth National Park activities and Kazinga Channel boat cruise.

• • Kibale chimpanzee tracking permit.

• • Murchison Falls game drive and Nile boat cruise.

• • Ziwa rhino-tracking activity, subject to availability.

• • Applicable park entrance fees and taxes, as specified in the final quotation.

Important notes

• • Gorilla and chimpanzee permits should be secured before confirming the itinerary.

• • Confirm the correct accommodation locations and the available chimpanzee tracking session.

• • The Kibale–Murchison transfer and the final Ziwa–Entebbe journey require careful timing.

• • International flights, visas, travel insurance, tips, drinks, and personal expenses should be specified separately in the quotation.

• • Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and activities remain subject to weather, park rules, and operational conditions.

Book your 11-day Uganda safari with Raptors Africa Safaris and experience the country’s extraordinary wildlife, from the shoebill wetlands and mountain gorilla forests to the open savannahs and the mighty Nile.