Ultimate 16 days Uganda wildlife Safari with a local

Overview:

A remarkable 16 – day Uganda safari journey with a local wildlife photographer, combining gorilla trekking, golden monkeys, scenic lakes, chimpanzees, classic wildlife safaris, a giraffe walking safari, rhino tracking, Murchison Falls, and the iconic Shoebill stork experience. A unique wildlife safari designed specifically for 2 people.

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16 Days

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Uganda

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From 7,800 $

Detailed itinerary

Day 1. Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide for a short briefing about your upcoming adventure. As your international flight arrives 19:40, you will be transferred to your hotel for your dinner and an overnight.

Drive Time: Approximately 20-30 minutes from the airport
Accommodation: 2000 Hotel Downtown Kigali

Day 2. Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, depart Kigali and begin a scenic journey toward southwestern Uganda. The drive offers spectacular views of Rwanda’s rolling hills before crossing the Katuna border into Uganda. Continue through the beautiful Kigezi Highlands, often referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa,” arriving at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the afternoon. Bwindi is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge and preparing for the next day’s gorilla trekking experience.

Drive Time: Approximately 2-3 hours including border crossing
Accommodation: Bweza Gorilla Lodge

Day 3. Gorilla Habituation Experience

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will then begin your unforgettable trek through Bwindi’s dense rainforest in search of a semi-habituated mountain gorilla family. The trek to reach the gorillas can vary from 2 to 6 hours depending on their movements.

Once found, spend 4 magical hours observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat while learning about their behaviour and social structure. Unlike the normal gorilla trekking of one hour, this time is more precious with 4 hours of watching them. This experience provides excellent opportunities for photography, observing different gorilla dynamics, and deeper appreciation of Bwindi’s ecosystem.

Return to the lodge for relaxation and reflection on this extraordinary primate encounter.

Packed lunch from lodge for this trek is provided.

Accommodation: Bweza Gorilla Lodge

Day 4. Relax, Batwa Cultural Experience

This day is dedicated to recover from the previous trek and a cultural experience from the Batwa. These are the indigenous people who once lived in harmony with gorillas and now live in the outskirts of the now called parks. Enjoy their traditional performances and learn how they used to live while in the forests. After the experience, return to the lodge for lunch and enjoy a peaceful evening overlooking the forested hills. Opt to do an evening walk near the park listening to the healing sound from little creatures of the forests.

Accommodation: Bweza Gorilla Lodge

Day 5. Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

This morning, enjoy a short scenic drive toward Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, located in the Virunga mountain range. Along the journey, admire the dramatic volcanic scenery and terraced hillsides of southwestern Uganda.

In the afternoon, you will participate in an optional local coffee-making experience with nearby communities, learning traditional methods from bean harvesting to roasting. Optional, hike to Sagitwe caldera in the nearby community.

Drive Time: Approximately 2-3 hours
Accommodation: Mulehe Safari Lodge

Day 6. Golden Monkey Tracking

Following breakfast, head to the park headquarters for briefing before beginning your golden monkey tracking adventure. These rare and playful primates inhabit the bamboo forests on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes and are known for their energetic behaviour and striking golden-orange fur.

After the activity, return to the lodge for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure enjoying the surrounding volcanic landscapes.

Accommodation: Mulehe Safari Lodge

Day 7. Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Depart Mgahinga and drive through the scenic highlands to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa’s most beautiful and deepest lakes. Surrounded by terraced hills and dotted with numerous islands, Lake Bunyonyi provides a peaceful retreat after several days of trekking.

Spend the afternoon relaxing at the lakeside or enjoy optional canoeing and cultural walks through nearby communities.

Drive Time: Approximately 2&half hours
Accommodation: Birdnest Resort

Day 8. Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, continue north toward Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah national park but rich in wildlife and scenic acacia landscapes. You will have an enroute lunch in Mbarara expecting to arrive at the hotel near the park in the afternoon.

Enjoy beautiful sunset views across the rolling savannah by the swimming pool at the lodge.

Drive Time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge

Day 9. Giraffe Walking Safari & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Begin the day with a guided walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park after breakfast,. Walking among giraffes, zebras, and antelopes offers a unique and intimate wildlife experience rarely found elsewhere in East Africa.

Continue your journey northward to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in the evening for relaxation at the lodge.

Drive Time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge

Day 10. Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

Rise early for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, one of the best wildlife-viewing areas in Uganda. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, and Uganda kobs while enjoying the vast savannah scenery.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, famous for its large concentrations of hippos and impressive birdlife. Crocodiles, elephants, and buffaloes are frequently seen along the shores.

Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge

Day 11. Transfer to Kibale National Park

Today’s drive takes you through western Uganda’s crater lake region toward Kibale National Park, renowned for its rich biodiversity and primates having the highest concentration of chimpanzees in the country. Along the way, enjoy scenic views of tea plantations, rural villages, and forested hills.

Arrive in the afternoon and relax at the lodge near the forest.

Drive Time: Approximately 2-3hours
Accommodation: Bweza Kibale Lodge

Day 12. Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Community Experience

After breakfast, head into Kibale Forest for chimpanzee trekking. Kibale is considered one of the best places in Africa to observe wild chimpanzees, alongside several other primate species and forest birds.

In the afternoon, enjoy a community experience around Bigodi Village or an optional wetland walk that offers excellent birding opportunities and insights into local culture.

Accommodation: Bweza Kibale Lodge

Day 13. Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Today after an early breakfast involves a longer but scenic drive north toward Murchison Falls National Park. The route passes through changing landscapes, local trading centres, and rural countryside before arriving at Uganda’s largest national park.

Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge overlooking the Nile region.

Drive Time: Approximately 7-8 hours
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 14. Game Drive & Nile Boat Safari

Start the day with an early morning game drive across the northern savannah plains. Search for elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, hartebeests, oribis, and other wildlife species that inhabit the park.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the Nile River toward the base of the powerful Murchison Falls. The riverbanks are home to hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and abundant birdlife.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 15. Transfer to Entebbe via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls and drive south toward Entebbe. En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an exciting, guided rhino tracking experience on foot. This sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where rhinos can be seen in the wild.

Continue to Entebbe arriving in the evening for relaxation by Lake Victoria.

Drive Time: Approximately 6-7 hours including rhino tracking
Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

Day 16. Shoebill Tracking in Mabamba Swamp & Departure

Early in the morning after breakfast, transfer to Mabamba Swamp for a canoe excursion in search of the rare Shoebill stork. This wetland is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda and supports numerous aquatic bird species.

After the excursion, return to Entebbe and transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your evening departure flight. Enroute lunch near airport.

Drive Time: Approximately 45 minutes each way.

Inclusions.