8 Days Best of Uganda Safari

We will pick you up at Kigali Airport or your hotel in Kigali and drive you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The scenic drive takes about 4 hours through Rwanda’s northwestern town of Ruhengeri, which is the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, another famous place for gorilla trekking. We’ll then drive around the mountains and cross into Uganda at either the Cyanika or Katuna border posts. Our journey continues through the town of Kisoro, a charming town nestled in the green hills at the base of the Virunga Mountains. We’ll wind through mountain roads until we reach Orugano Bwindi Lodge in the early afternoon. Once we arrive, you can relax or enjoy optional activities, such as hiking through the beautiful hills or visiting the local Batwa community. Overnight at Orugano Bwindi Lodge.

In the morning, you'll head to Bwindi National Park for one of the most exciting parts of your trip: gorilla trekking. The Bwindi impenetrable rainforest is a key place for gorilla trekking, as it's home to nearly half of the world's mountain gorillas. Besides gorillas, the park is also home to 120 species of mammals and 350 species of birds. During your trek, you'll walk through the dense forest with the help of expert guides from the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA), searching for signs of a gorilla family. You'll spot clues like droppings, nests, chewed bamboo, and broken branches, signaling you're getting closer. And when you finally come face to face with a silverback gorilla calmly watching you while protecting his family, you'll realize this is an experience you'll never forget. You'll spend the night at Orugano Bwindi Lodge.

Today, you'll enjoy a canoe ride on the beautiful Lake Mutanda. During the trip, you’ll visit the historic Punishment Islands, which have deep cultural and historical significance. Afterward, you’ll return to the lodge for some time to relax. There are also plenty of optional activities to enjoy in this lush area of Uganda. In nearby Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you can hike the Virunga volcanoes or go Golden Monkey trekking. In Bwindi's rainforest, besides gorilla trekking, there are many scenic walks to explore. You can also visit the Batwa pygmies or take a tour of the local village. If you have any special interests, let our travel specialist know, and they can help you plan what to book in advance or arrange on-site. You’ll spend the night at Orugano Bwindi Lodge.

Today, you’ll enjoy a 15km walk through the Bwindi Forest to the Buhoma Sector. Keep an eye out for duikers and other wildlife along the way. Afterward, you’ll drive from the lush green mountains of Bwindi to the golden savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This large park, almost 2000 km², is located in the Rift Valley and is bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains to the north and Lake Edward to the west. The park is home to elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, and many other animals. With over 600 bird species, there’s always something to spot! As you drive through the park, you might even catch sight of the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha resting in the trees. If you arrive early, you can visit the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative to learn about Ugandan culture. Set in beautiful surroundings, this cooperative lets you experience the coffee production process while savoring freshly roasted coffee. Meeting the passionate women behind the cooperative will offer inspiring stories and give you a glimpse of the warm hospitality of the local community. You’ll spend the night at Engazi Lodge.

Start your day with an exciting game drive, where you’ll have the chance to spot animals like elephants, buffalo, jackals, hyenas, leopards, lions, Uganda kobs, warthogs, and giant forest hogs. It’s an amazing way to begin the day! After lunch, you’ll enjoy a boat ride along the Kazinga Channel, a 35-kilometer long and 2,500-foot-wide stretch of fresh water that connects Lake Rutanzige (Lake Edward) and Lake Katunguru (Lake George). The boat ride is one of the highlights of your visit to the park. You’ll likely see dozens of hippos in one place, along with huge crocodiles, buffaloes relaxing by the shore, and a variety of birds. And when you spot elephants splashing water on each other, you’ll know you’ve had an unforgettable day! You’ll spend the night at Enganzi Lodge.

After an early breakfast, you'll head out for a sunrise game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park. You might see lions, elephants, hyenas, and leopards! The park’s landscape is diverse, with grasslands, crater lakes, and lush forests. After the safari, you’ll drive past tea plantations and crater lakes on your way to Kibale Forest, stopping for lunch along the way. When you arrive at your lodge, you'll feel like you're in a completely different world—one full of monkeys! Kibale Forest is known for being one of the best places in Africa to see primates, with 13 different species, including red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and diademed monkeys. You’ll stay at a beautiful lodge with a stunning view and a relaxing swimming pool. Spend the afternoon enjoying the scenery, watching birds, and spotting monkeys. You can also take a walk through the nearby rainforest. On this Forest Walk, you'll explore areas of rainforest and wetlands, where you can encounter 6 species of primates, follow the large footprints of forest elephants, and stroll along wooden walkways. Along the way, you might spot birds like Turacos, Hornbills, and Kingfishers. The walk is easy and takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. You’ll spend the night at Turaco Treetops Lodge.

Today is all about the primates that live in this beautiful rainforest. In the morning you will undertake the special chimpanzee trekking. Using broken branches, droppings, food remains and sounds, you and a ranger search for these noisy primates. It is always the question in what way you will encounter the chimpanzees, but eye to eye with a great ape that looks very much like us is a fascinating experience. This excursion takes 3 to 5 hours. Afterward, you’ll return to your lodge for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, you'll take a guided cultural walk in Bigodi Village. During this walk, you’ll visit traditional healers, meet women who make crafts, explore local homesteads, and hear stories from an Mzee (elderly man). After a full day of adventure, you’ll head back to your lodge to relax and freshen up. Then, we’ll enjoy a nice dinner and a good night’s rest at Turaco Treetops.

After your final breakfast in the lush Kibale rainforest, you'll embark on a five hour to Entebbe. Once there, you can enjoy a delicious pizza by Lake Victoria before being dropped off at the airport for your return flight. This marks the end of your incredible journey through Rwanda and Uganda. We hope you’ve had an unforgettable experience!