11 Days Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari – Big Five, Chimpanzees & Gorillas
This 11 Days Uganda Safari takes you across the Pearl of Africa, blending breathtaking landscapes, thrilling wildlife encounters, primate trekking, cultural experiences, and relaxation. Explore Uganda’s top destinations including Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Bunyonyi, and Lake Mburo National Park. Track rhinos, gorillas, and chimpanzees, spot the Big Five on game drives, and enjoy boat cruises on the mighty Nile and Kazinga Channel.
Day 1: Pickup – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Top of Murchison Falls
Wake up early for breakfast and meet your driver/guide for a briefing. If you forgot any essentials, your guide will help you pick them up before departure. Begin the journey north, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. Uganda once had rhinos roaming freely, but poaching wiped them out. Today, Ziwa is home to reintroduced rhinos, and your trek here gives you the rare chance to observe them up close.
Continue to Masindi for lunch, then proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, visit the top of the falls, where the Nile forces itself through a narrow gorge before crashing 40 meters below. The roaring sight is unforgettable.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Nile Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge / Fort Murchison
- Budget: Red Chilli Rest Camp / Murchison River Lodge
Day 2: Morning Game Drive – Boat Cruise on the Nile
Rise before dawn for a morning game drive on the Nyamsika Plateau. Spot giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, lions, hyenas, and leopards. The vast savannah also supports warthogs, reedbuck, hartebeests, and the elegant Uganda kob.
Return to your lodge for lunch, then head out for a 3-hour boat cruise on the Nile. Watch hippos and crocodiles bask in the water while elephants and buffaloes gather along the riverbanks. Bird enthusiasts will love sightings of kingfishers, cormorants, bee-eaters, and perhaps the rare shoebill stork. The boat stops at the “Devil’s Cauldron” for photo opportunities of the dramatic Murchison Falls.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi Wetlands Visit
After breakfast, set off for Kibale, passing through Hoima, Fort Portal, and the Albertine Rift Valley with scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains. Kibale is home to 13 primate species and 335 bird species. On arrival, visit the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary for a guided walk rich in birdlife and cultural encounters.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Primate Lodge Kibale
- Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp / Turaco Treetops
- Budget: Kibale Guest Cottages
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, head to Kibale’s visitor center for a briefing before chimpanzee trekking. Track them in the forest, and enjoy encounters with other primates such as red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and baboons. Birding is excellent too.
Later, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its diverse ecosystems and stunning landscapes.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Lodge
- Mid-range: Elephant Plains Lodge / Enganzi Lodge
- Budget: Bush Lodge / Simba Safari Camp
Day 5: Game Drive – Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start the day with a game drive in the Kasenyi plains, where lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes roam. After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lakes George and Edward. The channel is packed with hippos, crocodiles, and flocks of birds.
Day 6: Tree-Climbing Lions at Ishasha – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, drive to Bwindi through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions lounging in fig trees. Continue to Bwindi, home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas and incredible biodiversity.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Buhoma Lodge / Mahogany Springs
- Mid-range: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge / Gorilla Valley Lodge
- Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking – Batwa Community Visit
After an early briefing, embark on the highlight of your safari: gorilla trekking. Hike through thick forest until you find your assigned gorilla family. Spend one unforgettable hour observing them feed, play, and interact.
In the afternoon, visit the Batwa community, the forest’s original inhabitants. Learn about their hunter-gatherer traditions, music, and stories.
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – Relaxation
Leave Bwindi for the scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa’s deepest and most beautiful lakes. With its 29 islands, the lake is ideal for relaxation after your gorilla trek. Activities include canoeing, island hopping, and birdwatching.
Day 9: Canoeing & Hiking on Lake Bunyonyi
Spend a full day exploring Lake Bunyonyi. Take a canoe ride to visit islands such as Akampene (“Punishment Island”), hike along surrounding hills, and interact with local communities. The tranquil scenery makes this day special.
Accommodation: BirdNest Lodge / Arcadia Cottages / Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Boat Cruise
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. Stop for lunch in Mbarara town before checking in at your lodge. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on Lake Mburo to see hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Mihingo Lodge / Mantana Lake Mburo Camp
- Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock / Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
- Budget: Eagles Nest Camp / Rwonyo Rest Camp
Day 11: Morning Game Drive – Return to Kampala / Entebbe
Start your last safari morning with a game drive or walking safari. Lake Mburo is rich in zebras, impalas, elands, and giraffes. With luck, you may spot leopards.
Afterward, drive back to Kampala or Entebbe. Stop at the Equator Crossing for photos and souvenirs, and visit the Mpigi Drum Makers before reaching your hotel or airport.
Plan Your Safari
This 11 Days Uganda Safari is the ultimate journey through Uganda’s wilderness. It combines the thrill of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking with classic wildlife safaris and cultural encounters. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned explorer, this adventure captures the very essence of Uganda.
Ready to book? Contact Gecko Safaris Africa today and let’s start planning your dream safari.
