14 Days Best Of Uganda Safari Tour

Welcome to Uganda! As soon as you land at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll feel the warm tropical breeze and the friendly vibe that sets the stage for your adventure. After meeting your guide, you’ll be driven to your hotel in Entebbe, a quiet town on the shores of Lake Victoria. It’s the perfect place to rest and shake off the travel fatigue. You can relax with peaceful lakeside views, take a gentle walk nearby, or just unwind at your lodge.

Accommodation: The Boma Hotel (Upgrade: Hotel No.5)

Meal Plan: Dinner

After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, your guide will pick you up in a 4x4 vehicle for the journey to Kibale. The drive takes about five hours and takes you through beautiful rolling hills, tea plantations, and lively rural towns. There’s always something to see along the way. You will have a lunch stop in Fort Portal, it’s just a short drive to Kibale. The team at Turaco Treetops Lodge will be ready to welcome you with great hospitality. Kibale is a paradise for primate lovers, home to 13 monkey and ape species, including colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and colorful diademed monkeys. Turaco Treetops offers lovely views and a refreshing pool. If there’s time, you can do some birdwatching, look for monkeys, or take a light walk through the nearby rainforest and wetlands. Keep an eye out for forest elephants, turacos, hornbills, and kingfishers.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today is all about the incredible primates that call this rainforest home. In the morning, head into the forest with a ranger to go chimpanzee trekking. You’ll follow clues like broken branches, droppings, leftover food, and calls to track these playful apes. Each encounter is different, but meeting these wild chimpanzees face-to-face is a magical and moving experience. The trek can last anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.

After the trek, return to your lodge for a tasty lunch and a bit of rest. In the afternoon, enjoy a cultural walk-through Bigodi village. You’ll meet traditional healers, women who make beautiful crafts, and learn about local life from an elder (Mzee). You’ll get to see homesteads, hear stories, and learn about everyday village life. It’s a great way to experience Ugandan culture up close.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, say goodbye to Turaco Treetops and begin the three-hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The road winds around the majestic Rwenzori Mountains, and you’ll pass small towns and farmlands along the way. You'll also cross the Equator — a perfect photo stop! As you enter the park, you’ll start spotting wildlife right away, including herds of Ugandan kob, elephants, and buffalo in the distance. Take a break for a light lunch before continuing into the heart of the park, where you’ll enjoy your first game drive. By late afternoon, you’ll reach Enganzi Game Lodge, your base for exploring the park. Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s top big game park, with incredible wildlife like lions, leopards, buffalo, crocodiles, and primates.

Accommodation: Enganzi Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Start your day early with a 3–4-hour game drive through the Kasenyi Plains. These open grasslands are great for spotting lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and the ever-elegant Uganda kobs. You might also get lucky and spot a giant forest hog — one of the world’s most fascinating wild pigs! After the drive, return to the lodge for lunch and some downtime. In the afternoon, you’ll head out again, this time for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. This relaxing 2-hour cruise gives you a close-up look at hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and countless birds like kingfishers, pelicans, and African fish eagles.

Accommodation: Enganzi Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Start your day with an exciting predator tracking experience led by a knowledgeable park biologist. This unique safari takes you off the beaten path as you track and study the behavior of lion prides and, if fortunate, leopards in their natural habitat. Using radio collars, the biologist follows the movements of the lions, giving you a rare opportunity to witness the "king of the savannah" up close while learning about their behavior, social structure, and hunting techniques. While leopards are not guaranteed sightings, the focus on lions and their dynamic interactions makes this a fascinating experience. This excursion is not just about observation but also supports crucial wildlife research, with the income helping to fund conservation efforts. After this thrilling morning, return to the lodge to relax and unwind, reflecting on the incredible wildlife encounter.

Accommodation: Enganzi Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today’s drive takes you through the remote Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth Park — known for its famous tree-climbing lions. These unique lions have adapted to rest in fig trees, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of them lounging in the branches. Even if they’re hiding, Ishasha is a beautiful, wild part of the park worth visiting. From here, you’ll drive on through scenic landscapes of terraced hills and villages before reaching the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This mystical forest is one of the richest ecosystems on Earth and is home to half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

Accommodation: Orugano Bwindi Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This is the big day! After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing, then begin your trek into Bwindi’s dense jungle with experienced guides. Following signs like footprints and nests, your group will track a specific gorilla family.

The trek can take anywhere from 2 to 7 hours depending on the gorillas’ location. Once you find them, you’ll spend a magical hour watching the gorillas interact, play, eat, and rest. It’s a truly unforgettable encounter that few people on Earth get to experience. To protect the gorillas, visitors are limited to one hour of observation and must follow strict guidelines — your guide will explain everything.

Accommodation: Orugano Bwindi Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today, head out for a peaceful canoe ride on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Mutanda. It’s one of Uganda’s most scenic lakes, surrounded by volcanoes and lush hills. As you paddle, you’ll visit Punishment Island, which has a haunting history from local tradition.

Afterward, head back to your lodge for some rest, or choose from optional activities. You can hike in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, go Golden Monkey trekking, take scenic walks through Bwindi’s Forest trails, or visit the Batwa pygmy community. If you have special interests, let your travel planner know so they can book activities in advance or arrange them on-site.

Accommodation: Orugano Bwindi LodgeMeal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

While gorilla trekking is undoubtedly the highlight of this adventure, there are numerous other incredible experiences to be had along the way. Today, you'll begin with a captivating village walk, immersing yourself in the local culture and interacting with the community. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet the Batwa Pygmies, one of Uganda’s indigenous tribes, and learn about their unique traditions and way of life. Afterward, you'll bid farewell to the lush forests of Bwindi and embark on a scenic journey to Lake Mburo National Park. Though one of Uganda’s smaller parks, Lake Mburo offers a stunning savannah landscape teeming with wildlife. Upon arrival, you’ll be treated to an exciting game drive. You can also opt for the thrill of an adventurous night game drive, where you’ll have the chance to see nocturnal creatures like leopards, owls, hyenas, bush babies and more.

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Upgrade: Mihingo Lodge)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Begin your day at 6:00 AM with a visit to the Enyemebwa Center to join the herdsmen as they milk the Ankole long-horned cattle. Take part in traditional hand milking, brushing the cows with a local fiber brush (Enkuyo), and helping care for any sick animals. Follow the herd as it heads to the grazing fields, listening to the herdsmen's unique sounds and watching how the cows naturally form a line behind their leaders. After grazing, visit a traditional hut where women churn milk in gourds. Then, explore the surrounding banana plantations, learn about different banana varieties, and join in local farming practices like pruning and weeding. Help prepare ingredients for a traditional lunch. Next, go to a red-soil well to smear and fill a handmade water trough, and water the cattle when they return. You may also choose to enjoy a special treat—grilled bull meat served with Eshabwe, a traditional sauce made without fire. After this rich cultural experience, return to your lodge for an afternoon of relaxation, followed by dinner and an overnight stay. This day offers a deep, hands-on look into the Ankole way of life.

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Upgrade: Mihingo Lodge)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Start your morning with a guided walking safari in Lake Mburo — one of the only parks in Uganda where walking among wildlife is allowed. With a ranger, you’ll get close to animals like impalas, zebras, and giraffes in their natural habitat. After breakfast, begin the long but scenic drive to Jinja. Along the way, stop at the Equator for a fun photo and grab a coffee or shop for souvenirs. Arrive in Jinja in the afternoon — a lively riverside town known for its outdoor adventures and beautiful Nile scenery. Stay at Wildwaters Lodge, perched on a private island between roaring rapids — one of the most stunning lodges in Uganda.

Accommodation: Wildwaters Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today is all yours to relax or go wild! From your riverside lodge, you can choose from all kinds of adventures: white-water rafting, tubing, kayaking, quad biking, or mountain biking. If you prefer to take it easy, enjoy a horseback ride along the Nile, take a scenic walk through the village, or simply relax on your deck with a view of the river.

Wildwaters Lodge is a destination in itself — with dramatic views and the soothing sound of rushing water all around.

Accommodation: Wildwaters Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, your driver-guide will take you to Kampala, known as the “City of Many Hills.” Your cultural journey begins at the Uganda Museum, where you’ll discover the country's rich history and traditions. Stroll through vibrant markets like Nakasero, full of local color and energy. Visit the Buganda Kingdom, including the King's Palace, the Royal Mile, and Kabaka Lake. Learn about the deep heritage of the Baganda people from pre-colonial to modern times. Enjoy a traditional meal from Uganda’s central region before heading to the Kasubi Tombs, the sacred burial site of Buganda’s kings. After the tour, you make your way back to Entebbe for your departure flight.