Compare 10-Day Wildlife Big 5, Murchison Falls, and Gorilla Trekking Safari by Home To Africa vs 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Adventure by Valiant Safaris

Day 1: Arrive Entebbe, pick up and overnight at the booked accommodation.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: (Lake Victoria View Guest House-Budget Level)  Drive Time: 10-15 minutes.

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a Home to Africa assigned English-speaking professional driver-guide will receive and welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation (Entebbe). Optional (at extra cost): In case you have had an early landing in Uganda and interested, you can proceed to visit the Entebbe Botanical Garden. The Garden is one of the places around Entebbe where you can spot many species of birds and a few primates such as: the black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys. It is also a place of tranquility and peace, a feast for the eyes with notable absence of people and you simply immerse in nature with the sounds of birds breaking the stillness of the moment.

Day 2: Pick up (7am) from the hotel and transfer to Murchison Falls NP.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Fort Murchison-Room(Mid-range)

Drive Time: 6-7 hours exclude time in Zziwa.

After breakfast, the assigned driver-guide will pick you and hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda's largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. There will be a stop for lunch en route. Continue to the park and check in to your accommodation to relax for the Evening. Optional: If interested and time allows, you can proceed for a late afternoon-evening game drive.

Day 3: Morning game drive, afternoon boat trip to the base of the falls and top of the falls' hiking.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Fort Murchison-Room(Mid-range) 

Drive Time

Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda's largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. OPTIONAL: If interested, you may opt for the hot air balloon safari (instead) at an extra cost (on ground). After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.

Day 4: Exit Murchison Falls National Park and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse(Budget Level) 

Drive Time: Approx. 7 hours.

After breakfast at your accommodation, depart right away for Kibale Forest National Park - popular for its primates like the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L'Hoest's monkey, Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae). The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic - passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and relax. Optional (at extra cost): If interested and time allows, you may go for; Bigodi swamp walk, crater lakes excursion, or visit The Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves for some cultural/historical insights.

Day 5: Chimp tracking Kibale Forest and (afternoon) transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Irungu Safari Lodge(Budget Level)

Drive Time: 2-3 hrs.

Have breakfast and head to the rangers' post where you will receive some briefing on the dos and don'ts during chimp trekking. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the chimps in the Kibale Forest. An experienced ranger guide will take you chimp tracking (Kibale Forest) and you will be left amazed by the presence of primates here. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour in their presence. You will return to the lodge for lunch and thereafter you will head out for Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will arrive in the late afternoon and check into the booked accommodation. Optional (no cost): If interested and time allows, you may go for a brief afternoon-evening game drive.

Day 6: Queen's Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodation: Irungu Safari Lodge(Budget Level)

Drive Time

Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. You will have dinner and overnight at your accommodation. Optional (extra cost): If interested, you may go for twin lakes hike after the boat trip.

Day 7: Exit Queen and transfer to Bwindi with en route game viewing in Ishasha area.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp(Budget Level) 

Drive Time: 5-6 hours.

Have breakfast then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park - famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Hoping you get the chance to spot them, the sight will be spectacular! Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda (harboring an estimated 400 mountain gorillas - roughly half of the world's population) including several habituated groups, which you will trek. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Day 8: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort(Mid-range Level)

Drive Time: Approx. 2-3 hours.

Have breakfast and move to the rangers' post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don'ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green- terraced hills that reach a height of (2,200 – 2,478m) but it's the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical — you could admire them all day.

Day 9: Relaxation while enjoying the stunning beauty of Lake Bunyonyi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort(Mid-range Level)

Drive Time

After days of long drives and of course the strenuous gorilla trekking (previous day) in Bwindi, this day is at your disposal for relaxation. All meals will be served at the accommodation. Optional (at extra cost): Should you wish to go out for an activity, you may consider the following; Historical Islands' tour, visit to the Batwa/pygmies' community, Nyombe swamp excursion, Mountain Bike cycling, Zip lining, canoeing or kayaking on the lake. The activity can be arranged onsite with the help of your driver-guide. Enjoy your stay.

Day 10: Depart Bunyonyi and return to Entebbe Airport to catch flight back home.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Recommended on request

Drive Time: 7-8 hours.

Have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation with spectacular view of the Bunyonyi little islands just right in front of you and thereafter embark on your return journey to Entebbe Airport. Expect en route lunch and a stop at the Uganda Equator line mark in Kayabwe for some memorable photos and maybe buying some art pieces of interest. Proceed with the journey arriving late afternoon/evening for drop off at the airport to catch your flight back home (recommended for 19:00 onwards).

Day 1:  Local Flight, Entebbe to Kihihi – Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

In time at Entebbe airport by 07:30, your flight to Kihihi airstrip in Kisoro will set off. Look out the window, for Uganda is one of the most beutiful country in the world seen from above. You’ll definately catch sight of the beautiful Rwenzori mountain ranges, tea plantations, numerous lakes and rivers and the magnificent Virunga Volcano moutains just before you land in Kisoro.

In Kisoro, you’ll be picked and driven through Kisoro town up-to your lodge just outside the Bwindi Impenetrable NP. Check-in, have lunch and relax or take a walk around the African villages around the park, your choice.

uganda gorilla trekking safari Jungle adventure

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Safari Adventure in Bwindi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner + Drinking Water

Today is your Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari D-day. Wake early morning and have you breakfast, get your packed lunch and get to the trailhead before 7:30 AM.

Gorilla trekking starts at 08:00 after a briefing at the park headquarters, you will hike through the dense steep forest searching for the gorillas depending on where they were seen making nests the previous evening.

The gorilla trekking can last 2-7 hours depending on how soon you find the gorillas, this is influenced by the location they stayed overnight. Trekking can be a tasking adventure, but coming to a facial closeup with these close relatives to human is a reward worthy to earn.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in southwestern Uganda edge at the edge of the great east African Rift Valley. It is a home to over 400 species of mountain gorillas about half of the world’s population. Many of these are habituated in families that are daily visited by tourists. The forest is also a home to over 350 species of birds and 400 flora species.

Aerial Bwindi View Gorilla tour Uganda

Day 3: Fly Kihihi to Entebbe

Meals: Breakfast

The last day of your safari starts with a drive to Kihihi Airstrip, where you will board a return light weight flight to Entebbe, on the flight from Kihihi to Entebbe you will be able to see several stunning scenery from above. Upon arriving Entebbe international airport check in for your onward flight back home.

We believe you have enjoyed your holiday in the most hospitable country, the Pearl of Africa!