Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Entebbe Airport Pickup & Optional Entebbe Experiences
Your Ugandan adventure begins with a warm welcome at Entebbe International Airport. Our guide will meet you and transfer you to your lodge in Entebbe.
Depending on your arrival time, we can arrange an optional activity around Entebbe.
Possible Optional Experiences
- Shoebill experience: search for Uganda's remarkable Shoebill in suitable wetland areas when time and conditions allow.
- Uganda Reptile Village: learn about Uganda's fascinating reptiles, including snakes, lizards and tortoises.
- Entebbe Botanical Gardens: enjoy a relaxed walk through tropical vegetation while looking for birds and other wildlife.
The exact optional activity will depend on your arrival time and interests.
Meal Plan: Dinner & Breakfast | Accommodation: Lodge in Entebbe
Day 2 – Entebbe → Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, begin your journey westwards towards Kibale Forest National Park. The drive takes you through changing Ugandan landscapes, from busy central Uganda into greener countryside and agricultural areas.
Upon arrival around Kibale, settle into your lodge and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, experience local community activities that introduce you to important crops and traditions of the area.
Banana Experience
Discover the importance of bananas to local communities. Learn how bananas are grown, harvested and used in everyday life, including their role as an important food crop and their cultural significance.
Coffee Experience
Continue with a local coffee experience where you can learn about coffee growing, harvesting, processing and preparation. Meet local farmers and discover the journey of coffee from the garden to the cup.
Meal Plan: Full Board | Accommodation: Lodge near Kibale Forest
Day 3 – Chimpanzee Tracking → Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, prepare for one of the major highlights of the safari — chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest.
Chimpanzee Tracking Briefing & Forest Walk
Before entering the forest, you must attend a pre-tracking briefing. Your guides explain how tracking is conducted, forest safety procedures, responsible wildlife viewing, the appropriate distance from chimpanzees, photography guidance and how to protect the forest environment.
You will then enter the forest accompanied by trained guides and trackers. While searching for chimpanzees, you may encounter other monkeys, birds, butterflies, plants and fascinating rainforest environments.
Once chimpanzees are located, your guides will help you observe them responsibly while explaining their behaviour, communication and social interactions.
What to Carry for Chimpanzee Tracking
- Comfortable hiking shoes
- Long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Drinking water and a packed snack
- Insect repellent and sunscreen
- Hat or cap
- Camera and binoculars
- Small backpack and optional walking stick
After the experience, return to the lodge for lunch and check out. Continue towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, making an Equator photo stop along the way. Enjoy spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains before arriving at your lodge.
Evening Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
Later, head out for an evening boat safari along the Kazinga Channel. Depending on conditions, you may see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and numerous bird species along the shoreline. The evening light can also provide beautiful photography opportunities.
Meal Plan: Full Board | Accommodation: Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4 – Kasenyi Game Drive → Ishasha Sector
Wake up early and prepare for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. The early hours are an exciting time for wildlife viewing as animals become active.
Possible sightings include lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, antelopes, warthogs, hyenas and numerous bird species.
After the game drive, continue towards the Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive at your lodge and enjoy lunch.
Evening Ishasha Game Drive
In the afternoon, head out for an evening game drive in search of Ishasha's famous tree-climbing lions. Your guide will search the large fig and acacia trees where these lions are sometimes found resting above the ground.
The drive also provides opportunities to encounter elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, topi and other wildlife inhabiting the Ishasha plains.
Meal Plan: Full Board | Accommodation: Lodge in Ishasha
Day 5 – Ishasha Game Drive → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, enjoy an early morning game drive in Ishasha before leaving the sector. This provides another opportunity to search for the famous tree-climbing lions and other wildlife while temperatures are still pleasant.
Continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The journey takes you through beautiful highland landscapes as the scenery changes towards the forested mountains of southwestern Uganda.
Enjoy a coffee stop along the way before continuing to your lodge near Bwindi.
Evening Batwa Cultural Experience
Depending on arrival time, visit the Batwa community and learn about their traditional relationship with the forest, cultural heritage, way of life and experiences through storytelling, interaction and cultural demonstrations.
Meal Plan: Full Board | Accommodation: Lodge near Bwindi
Day 6 – Gorilla Trekking → Lake Bunyonyi
Wake up early and have breakfast before heading to the designated gorilla trekking briefing point.
Gorilla Trekking Briefing
Before entering the forest, you will receive a mandatory briefing from park staff and guides covering gorilla trekking rules, safety, responsible wildlife viewing, appropriate distance, photography guidance, health precautions and general trekking expectations.
You will then begin your trek into the ancient rainforest accompanied by experienced trackers and guides. The duration and difficulty can vary considerably depending on where the gorilla family is located. The terrain can be steep, muddy and challenging in places.
Once you locate your assigned gorilla family, you will spend the permitted viewing time observing these incredible animals as they feed, rest, groom and interact. Your guides will provide information about the gorillas, their behaviour, family structure and conservation.
What to Carry for Gorilla Trekking
- Sturdy waterproof hiking boots
- Long trousers and long-sleeved shirt
- Waterproof jacket
- Drinking water
- Packed lunch and snacks/energy food
- Insect repellent and sunscreen
- Hat and camera
- Binoculars and a small backpack
- Gardening gloves for protection from vegetation
- Walking stick if desired
After the trek, return from the forest, collect your belongings and check out. Continue towards Lake Bunyonyi.
Bwindi → Kabale → Lake Bunyonyi
The journey towards Kabale is one of the most scenic drives of the safari. The road winds through dramatic hills and valleys, with terraced farms covering many slopes. Continue to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda's beautiful highland lakes.
Meal Plan: Full Board | Accommodation: Lodge at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7 – Lake Bunyonyi Boat Experience → Lake Mburo
After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing boat tour on Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is surrounded by steep green hills and dotted with numerous small islands.
During the boat experience, your guide will introduce you to the history and cultural stories of Lake Bunyonyi, as well as the communities living around the lake.
The peaceful waters, terraced hills and islands create excellent opportunities for photography and relaxation after the gorilla trek.
After lunch, drive towards Lake Mburo National Park. Enjoy the changing scenery before arriving at your accommodation.
Meal Plan: Full Board | Accommodation: Lodge near Lake Mburo
Day 8 – Lake Mburo Nature Walk With Wildlife → Entebbe
Wake up early for a special final safari experience — a guided nature walk with wildlife in Lake Mburo National Park.
Walking Safari Experience
Unlike a traditional game drive, a nature walk allows you to experience the African wilderness on foot, accompanied by a trained ranger/guide. Before beginning, the ranger provides a safety briefing and explains how to behave around wildlife.
During the walk, learn to recognize animal tracks, droppings, plants, birds and other signs of wildlife activity. Depending on the route and conditions, you may encounter zebras, impalas, warthogs, Ankole cattle, antelopes, giraffes, buffaloes and various bird species.
After the nature walk, return to the lodge, check out and begin your journey back towards Entebbe.
Meal Plan: Breakfast | End of Tour in Entebbe
