7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari – Murchison Falls, Kibale and Bwindi

7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari begins with pickup from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel. Meet your professional safari guide, receive a short briefing and start the journey north toward Murchison Falls National Park.

Travel through Uganda's countryside, passing towns, villages, farms and roadside markets.

Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino-tracking experience. Accompanied by sanctuary guides, walk through the protected area in search of southern white rhinos and learn about their behavior and conservation.

This experience is an important introduction to Uganda's wildlife conservation efforts and provides an opportunity to observe rhinos in a protected environment.

After the activity, have lunch and continue toward Murchison Falls National Park.

Visit the Top of Murchison Falls

If arrival time and park access permit, visit the Top of Murchison Falls. Here, the Victoria Nile pushes through a narrow rocky gorge before plunging downstream, creating a dramatic display of rushing water and spray.

Enjoy the viewpoints, take photographs and learn about the geological features of the falls.

Because this is a long travel day with a rhino-tracking stop, the Top of the Falls visit must be planned carefully. If there is insufficient time, it can be moved to Day 2, with the game-drive schedule adjusted accordingly.

Continue to your lodge and relax after the journey.

Overnight: Murchison Falls National Park area
Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Wake up early for breakfast before heading out for a morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park.

Morning Game Drive

Explore the northern savannah plains with your guide, looking for wildlife in the open grasslands and woodland.

Possible sightings include:

• African elephants
• Rothschild's giraffes
• African buffaloes
• Uganda kob
• Jackson's hartebeest
• Warthogs
• Other antelopes
• Lions
• Leopards, with luck
• A variety of birds

Your guide will help identify animals, explain their behavior and find opportunities for wildlife photography.

Return to your lodge for lunch or refreshments.

Midday Boat Cruise on the Victoria Nile

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile toward the base of Murchison Falls.

Look out for hippos in the water, Nile crocodiles along the riverbanks, elephants coming to drink and numerous water birds. The river provides a different perspective on the park's wildlife and scenery.

The boat cruise is one of the established activities in Murchison Falls National Park.

Evening Game Drive

After the boat cruise, enjoy an evening game drive if time, daylight and park regulations permit. Explore suitable tracks in search of wildlife becoming active later in the day.

This additional drive offers another opportunity to see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and potentially predators.

Return to your lodge for dinner and rest.

Overnight: Murchison Falls National Park area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin the journey toward Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda.

This is a substantial transfer through rural landscapes, towns and farming communities. Enjoy the changing scenery and arrange lunch along the way.

Arrive in the Kibale area later in the day.

Community Experience Near Kibale

Depending on your arrival time, visit a nearby community or take a guided community walk. Learn about local livelihoods, traditional farming, food production and the relationship between surrounding communities and the forest.

If time allows, you may visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for its community-led tourism and birdlife. A full guided wetland walk may need to be scheduled in advance or adjusted to suit your arrival time.

After the experience, check into your lodge and prepare for chimpanzee trekking the next morning.

Overnight: Kibale Forest National Park area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy an early breakfast before proceeding to the designated briefing point for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Meet your ranger-guide and learn about forest safety, responsible wildlife viewing and the behavior of chimpanzees.

Enter the forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community. The duration of the trek depends on where the chimpanzees are located and how far they have moved.

Along the forest trails, you may also encounter other primates, forest birds and butterflies. Your guide will explain the forest ecosystem and the importance of chimpanzee conservation.

After the trek, return to your lodge area for lunch before departing for Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive through the scenic countryside toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The landscape changes from forest and cultivated hills to open savannah and wetlands.

Arrive in the park area and proceed for an evening game drive, subject to your arrival time and park access.

Search for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, waterbucks, warthogs and other wildlife. Lions may be seen, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Return to your lodge for dinner.

Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Wake up early for breakfast before heading out for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Morning Game Drive

Explore the savannah plains, including the Kasenyi area when suitable for your lodge location and itinerary.

Look for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, waterbucks, warthogs and other antelopes. With luck, you may also encounter lions or leopards.

Your guide will help you spot wildlife and explain the different habitats within the park.

Mid-Morning Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Continue to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is known for its hippos, crocodiles and abundant water birds.

During the cruise, you may see:

• Hippos resting in the water
• Nile crocodiles along the banks
• Elephants visiting the water
• Buffaloes near the shoreline
• Waterbucks and other mammals
• African fish eagles, kingfishers and storks

The boat cruise provides excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography from the water.

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After the cruise, have lunch and begin the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Depending on your gorilla permit, your lodge will be arranged near the appropriate trekking sector: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo.

The transfer can take several hours, so the morning activities and departure time must be coordinated carefully.

Arrive at your lodge, have dinner and prepare for the following day's gorilla trek.

Overnight: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today is the highlight of your 7 Days Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari in Uganda.

Enjoy an early breakfast before transferring to the briefing point for your gorilla trekking sector.

Gorilla Trekking Briefing

Meet the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guides, present your permit and attend the mandatory briefing. You will receive guidance on forest safety, gorilla conservation and responsible viewing.

Trekking Through Bwindi Forest

Enter the rainforest with your ranger and trackers to search for your assigned habituated mountain gorilla family.

The trek may involve steep slopes, uneven trails and muddy conditions. Its duration varies according to the location and movement of the gorillas.

Along the way, enjoy the forest environment, which may include birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Encounter with Mountain Gorillas

When your group locates the gorilla family, follow your ranger's instructions and observe the gorillas according to the applicable viewing rules.

Watch as they feed, groom, rest and interact with one another. Seeing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is an extraordinary wildlife experience and a major highlight of visiting Uganda.

After the trek, return to the park headquarters and then to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

If time and energy permit, you may arrange an optional local community or cultural experience.

Overnight: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Important: Gorilla permits are limited and should be booked in advance. Your accommodation and transport arrangements should match the specific gorilla trekking sector printed on your permit.

After breakfast, check out and begin the return journey to Entebbe.

Travel through the rolling hills, rural communities and agricultural landscapes of southwestern and central Uganda. A lunch stop can be arranged along the way.

Depending on your route, time and road conditions, you may make a brief stop at the Equator for photographs and refreshments.

Continue toward Entebbe, where your guide will drop you at your hotel or Entebbe International Airport.

This is a long driving day, so we recommend booking an international flight for late evening only after confirming the schedule with your safari operator. An overnight stay in Entebbe may be more comfortable if your flight departs early.

Your 7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari ends in Entebbe.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch