Compare 14-Day Vacation to Uganda - Murchison Falls, Gorilla & Ssese Island by Home To Africa vs 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Adventure by Valiant Safaris

Day 1: Arrive Entebbe Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked hotel.

Meals: Dinner 

Accommodation: (Cassia Lodge-Moderate)

Drive Time: Approx. 45 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 (Kampala). Optional: In case, you have had an early landing in Uganda, you may opt for an afternoon (evening) ride around the city. This excursion may include; a drive along the Buganda Royal Mile, a visit to the Gaddafi Mosque, the Bahai temple and time permitting, the Uganda National Museum.

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

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Pakuba Safari Lodge -Moderate)

Drive Time: Approx. 6-7 hours

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 and top of the falls’ hiking.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Pakuba Safari Lodge -Moderate)

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: (Isunga Lodge-Moderate) 

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) explore the Kibale crater lakes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Isunga Lodge-Moderate) 

Drive Time:

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 the presence of primates here will surely amaze you. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour in their presence. Later (after lunch), proceed to explore the crater lakes, crowned with a hike to the “top of the world”. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and the stunning views. Take a hike to Lake Nkuruba where you will encounter different species of primates and birds. Meet and interact with the local people as you walk through their villages and enjoy the panoramic views of the Kibale area.

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, relax and proceed for the afternoon (evening) game drive.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Parkview Safari Lodge-Moderate)

Drive Time: Approx. 2-3 hours.

Have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation and drive off to Queen Elizabeth NP. You will reach Queen early enough to relax, have lunch and in the afternoon proceed out for game viewing. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions and buffaloes to mention but a few. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive (instead). The drive is sightseeing with very spectacular view of the breathtaking scenery in and around Queen. There is also some wildlife to see along the drive although commonest are sights of Cape Buffaloes plus Elephants. Return to the accommodation for relaxation, dinner and the overnight stay.

Day 7: Queen’s Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Parkview Safari Lodge-Moderate)

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 8: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Bakiga Lodge-Moderate) 

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 9: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest, return and transfer to the booked accommodation in Kisoro.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Travellers Rest-Moderate)

Drive Time: Approx. 2 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 embark on a transfer to Kisoro.

Day 10: Hiking Mount Sabinyo to the summit and return for rest at the accommodation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Travellers Rest-Moderate)

Drive Time:

Have breakfast then set off to hike Mount Sabinyo. At 3669m, Mt Sabinyo is one of the numerous rolling volcanoes that make up the magnificent Virunga mountain range that spans along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While the other volcanoes either lie in one of the countries or are shared between two countries, Mt. Sabinyo lies at the meeting point of all the three borders. It is more like the axis of the Virunga range and offers the best views across the Virunga, you could call it a 360-degree experience! It takes approximately eight hours to cover the 14km round trip, following a steep ridge up to the peak. You will get the rare opportunity to stand in three countries (Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo) at the same time. Return from the hiking and take your rest at the accommodation after a strenuous day.

Day 11: Exit Kisoro early. Drive to Bukakata and connect to Ssese Island.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Brovad Sands Lodge-Moderate) | 

Drive Time: Approx. 6 hours.

Enjoy your breakfast and thereafter, embark on a drive (about 6hrs) to Bukakata Landing Site, Masaka. From there, you will catch a ferry headed for Ssese Islands, Kalangala District. From the ferry, you will be driven to the booked accommodation and begin enjoying the beauty of Ssese Island. You may move out and stroll along the sandy beach of Lake Victoria and then return for dinner.

Day 12: Full day at your disposal – chilling and enjoying the Ssese Island’s beauty.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Brovad Sands Lodge-Moderate/Mid-range) 

Drive Time:

This day is at your disposal. You may choose to just relax at the comfort of your accommodation or go out for some activities. If intending to move out, you may consider any of the following activities (offered by the lodge); fishing, swimming, boat ride, forest walk, quad biking among others depending on interest. Enjoy Ssese Island and Brovad Sands Lodge.

Day 13: Another full day at your disposal – chilling and enjoying the Ssese Island.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: (Brovad Sands Lodge-Moderate/Mid-range)

Drive Time:

This is yet another day at your disposal. You may choose to just relax at the comfort of your accommodation or go out for some activities. If intending to move out, you may consider any of the following activities (offered by the lodge); fishing, swimming, boat ride, forest walk, quad biking among others depending on interest. Enjoy Ssese Island and Brovad Sands Lodge.

Day 14: Catch a ferry (8am) to Nakiwogo – Entebbe, and connect to the Airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Recommended on request | 

Drive Time

Be up early, have breakfast and move out to catch a ferry destined for Nakiwogo – Entebbe. The ferry arrives at Nakiwogo between 11:30am and 12 noon. From there you will connect to the Entebbe Int’l Airport to catch flight out (16:00 onwards). Optional (extra cost): Just in case you have a late flight and you would like to do some activity before going to the airport, then you may consider any of the following; tour to Entebbe Botanical Gardens (if interested in birds and primates), excursion to Mabamba swamp in search of shoebill stork, the Lake Victoria sunset boat cruise.

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!