15-Day Complete Uganda Safari 

Safari Overview

This 15-day journey is the most comprehensive Uganda safari experience available. You will track rhinos on foot at Ziwa, witness the Nile explode through a 7-meter gorge at Murchison Falls, trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, search for tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, spend an unforgettable hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi, walk among zebras at Lake Mburo, and finish with adrenaline activities at the Source of the Nile in Jinja. The safari concludes with the prehistoric shoebill stork at Mabamba Wetland.

Duration: 15 days / 14 nights
Destinations: Kampala, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Mburo, Jinja, and Entebbe
Travel Style: Private comfort / midrange safari

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, transfer to Kampala, safari briefing
• Day 2: Kampala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, rhino tracking, transfer to Murchison Falls
• Day 3: Murchison Falls morning game drive and Nile boat cruise
• Day 4: Visit Top of the Falls, transfer to Kibale National Park
• Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
• Day 6: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park, evening game drive
• Day 7: Queen Elizabeth morning game drive and Kazinga Channel boat cruise
• Day 8: Ishasha tree-climbing lions, transfer to Bwindi
• Day 9: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi
• Day 10: Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park, evening game drive
• Day 11: Walking safari in Lake Mburo, transfer to Jinja
• Day 12: Jinja adventure and Source of the Nile experience
• Day 13: Transfer to Kampala, city tour
• Day 14: Mabamba Wetland shoebill experience
• Day 15: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport, departure

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport then Transfer to Kampala

Welcome to Uganda. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional driver-guide. After assistance with your luggage, you will begin the drive to Kampala, Uganda’s vibrant capital city. Along the way, you will receive your first introduction to everyday life in Uganda, passing local communities, roadside markets, and the shores of Lake Victoria. Upon arrival at your hotel, check in and take some time to relax after your flight. Later, your guide will brief you about the safari, including the route, planned activities, expected driving times, and wildlife experiences. The remainder of the evening will be spent at leisure as you prepare for the exciting journey ahead.

Meals: Dinner included (subject to arrival time).

Accommodation

• Budget: Forest Cottages
• Midrange: Fairway Hotel
• Luxury: Protea Hotel by Marriott

Day 2: Kampala then Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary then Murchison Falls National Park

Driving Distance: Approximately 305–330 km, 5–6 hours

After an early breakfast, leave Kampala and travel north through Uganda’s changing countryside. The journey takes you past small towns, villages, farmland, and roadside markets, offering an authentic introduction to rural life. Departing Kampala by 6:00–6:30 AM keeps you ahead of the truck convoys that slow traffic significantly by mid-morning .

Your main stop will be Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you will join an experienced ranger for a guided rhino-tracking experience on foot. The sanctuary plays an important role in Uganda’s rhino conservation program and is currently the best place in the country to observe southern white rhinos in a natural environment.

During the walk, your ranger will explain the behaviour, feeding habits, and conservation history of the rhinos. You may also encounter antelopes, monkeys, and several bird species within the sanctuary.

After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon or evening. Check in and enjoy time to relax before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Ikorom Safari Lodge
• Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Entikko Safari Lodge

Day 3: Murchison Falls Morning Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise

Begin your day with an early breakfast before setting out on a game drive across the northern savannah plains of Murchison Falls National Park. The cool morning hours offer excellent conditions for wildlife viewing, particularly predators and other animals returning from their nighttime activities.

Look out for lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, hartebeests, oribis, warthogs, and with some luck, leopards. Your guide will help you identify the different animals and explain their behaviour and the relationships that sustain the savannah ecosystem.

After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile toward the base of Murchison Falls. The riverbanks attract hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and numerous waterbirds.

As the boat approaches the falls, you will see the mighty River Nile forcing itself through a narrow seven-metre gorge before plunging approximately 43 metres into the river below. After the cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Ikorom Safari Lodge
• Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Entikko Safari Lodge

Day 4: Visit the Top of Murchison Falls then Transfer to Kibale National Park

Driving Distance: Approximately 300 km, 6–7 hours

After breakfast, check out and visit the top of Murchison Falls. From this dramatic viewpoint, you will witness the enormous force of the River Nile as it squeezes through the narrow rocky gorge. The thunderous sound, rising spray, and powerful current create one of Uganda’s most impressive natural spectacles.

You will then begin the journey south towards Kibale National Park. Although this is one of the longer transfer days, the changing countryside makes it an interesting journey. You will pass villages, farmland, tea plantations, and the beautiful landscapes surrounding Fort Portal.

As you approach Kibale, the scenery changes to dense tropical forest, crater lakes, and cultivated hills. Arrive at your lodge in the evening and enjoy dinner while listening to the sounds of the surrounding forest.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Kibale Forest Lodge
• Midrange: Kibale Canopy Lodge
• Luxury: Tabebuia Spa and Safari Lodge

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for registration and a briefing about chimpanzee trekking. Kibale National Park is widely regarded as Uganda’s primate capital and supports 13 primate species, including a large population of over 1,500 chimpanzees . Guided chimpanzee tracking walks are conducted daily at 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 2:00 PM, starting from the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre .

Accompanied by an experienced ranger, enter the forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community. During the trek, you may also encounter red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Once the chimpanzees are located, spend your permitted time observing them feeding, grooming, resting, communicating, and moving through the forest. Their vocalisations and complex social interactions make this one of Uganda’s most fascinating wildlife experiences. Each tracking group is limited to six participants .

After lunch, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature and community walk. The wetland is known for its birdlife, monkeys, butterflies, and community conservation initiatives. Your visit also contributes directly to local conservation and livelihood projects.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Kibale Forest Lodge
• Midrange: Kibale Canopy Lodge
• Luxury: Tabebuia Spa and Safari Lodge

Day 6: Kibale National Park then Queen Elizabeth National Park

Driving Distance: Approximately 160 km, 3–4 hours

After breakfast, leave Kibale and travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey takes you through the beautiful crater-lake region, with views of tea plantations, rolling hills, and the distant Rwenzori Mountains.

Upon arrival at Queen Elizabeth National Park, check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch. Later, take an evening game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, one of the park’s best wildlife-viewing areas.

Look out for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks, and several bird species. The large concentration of Uganda kobs also attracts predators, offering a chance to see lions, leopards, and hyenas. Return to the lodge after sunset for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Songbird Safari Lodge
• Midrange: Acacia Wilderness Lodge Mweya
• Luxury: Buffalo Safari Lodge

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Wake up early for breakfast before returning to the Kasenyi Plains for another game drive. The morning is one of the best times to search for lions and leopards before they retreat from the heat of the day.

You may also encounter elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, and troops of baboons. Queen Elizabeth National Park is renowned for its birdlife, holding 606 confirmed bird species, and your guide will help you identify some of the park’s many resident and migratory species.

After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. The channel supports one of the region’s largest concentrations of hippos and attracts elephants, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, and numerous waterbirds.

The boat provides excellent opportunities for close wildlife observation and photography. After the cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Songbird Safari Lodge
• Midrange: Acacia Wilderness Lodge Mweya
• Luxury: Buffalo Safari Lodge

Day 8: Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions then Transfer to Bwindi

Driving Distance: Approximately 150 km, 4–5 hours including game drive

After breakfast, check out and travel through the Ishasha Sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are occasionally seen resting in the branches of large fig trees.

Your guide will explore the area while searching for the lions and other wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, topis, and Uganda kobs. Although wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, the Ishasha plains provide a beautiful and less crowded safari experience.

After lunch, continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The landscape gradually changes from open savannah to terraced hills and dense tropical forest. Arrive at your lodge, check in, and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trek.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge
• Luxury: Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Today brings one of the most anticipated experiences of your Uganda safari. After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for registration and a detailed briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers.

You will then enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with your ranger and trackers in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. The duration and difficulty of the trek depend on the gorillas’ location and movements, and the forest terrain can be steep, muddy, and densely vegetated.

Once you locate the gorillas, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural environment. Watch the silverback protect his family while mothers care for their infants and young gorillas play among the vegetation.

After your encounter, return to the park headquarters to receive your gorilla-trekking certificate. Transfer back to the lodge and spend the remainder of the day relaxing and reflecting on this extraordinary experience.

Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge
• Luxury: Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Day 10: Bwindi then Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Driving Distance: Approximately 300 km, 6–7 hours

After breakfast, leave Bwindi and begin the scenic journey to Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes you through the terraced hills of southwestern Uganda before continuing into the cattle-farming region around Mbarara.

Along the way, you may see the impressive long-horned Ankole cattle, an important symbol of the region’s pastoral culture. Stop for lunch before continuing to Lake Mburo National Park.

Arrive in the afternoon and take an evening game drive through the park’s acacia woodland and open savannah. Lake Mburo is particularly known for zebras, impalas, and elands. You may also encounter giraffes, buffaloes, topis, warthogs, and several bird species.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Eagles Nest Lodge
• Midrange: Mpogo Lodge
• Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge

Day 11: Walking Safari in Lake Mburo then Transfer to Jinja

Driving Distance: Approximately 300 km, 6–7 hours

Begin your day with a guided walking safari through Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo is the only savannah park in Uganda where guided walking safaris are conducted on a regular basis, made possible by the absence of lions and elephants. Accompanied by an experienced armed ranger, explore the park on foot while searching for zebras, giraffes, impalas, elands, and other wildlife.

The walking safari offers a more intimate perspective of the park. Your ranger will help you identify animal tracks, droppings, plants, birds, and some of the smaller creatures that are easily missed during a vehicle safari.

After the walk, return to the lodge, check out, and begin the journey to Jinja. Along the way, stop at the Uganda Equator for photographs, souvenir shopping, and an optional equator demonstration. Continue through Kampala and onwards to Jinja, arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Jinja Backpackers
• Midrange: Nile Village & Spa Resort
• Luxury: Lamela Wildwaters

Day 12: Jinja Adventure and Source of the Nile Experience

Today is dedicated to exploring Jinja, widely known as the adventure capital of East Africa. You may choose an activity according to your interests and preferred level of adventure.

For an exciting experience, join a professionally guided white-water rafting trip on the River Nile. Safety equipment, instructions, and experienced rafting guides will be provided before you enter the water. White-water rafting typically costs around $150 .

If you prefer a gentler experience, take a boat cruise to the Source of the Nile, where the waters of Lake Victoria begin their long journey towards the Mediterranean Sea. During the excursion, your guide will explain the site’s history and geographical significance.

Other optional activities include kayaking, tubing, quad biking, horseback riding, or bungee jumping. Quad biking is approximately $80, horse riding around $150, and ziplining around $50 . After your chosen experience, return to your accommodation and spend the remainder of the day relaxing beside the Nile.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Jinja Backpackers
• Midrange: Nile Village & Spa Resort
• Luxury: Lamela Wildwaters

Day 13: Transfer from Jinja to Kampala then Kampala City Tour

After breakfast, check out and travel back to Kampala. Upon arrival, begin a guided tour of Uganda’s capital, visiting selected cultural, historical, and religious attractions.

Depending on your interests and available time, the tour may include Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, the Uganda Museum, Gaddafi National Mosque, Kabaka’s Palace, the Independence Monument, or one of Kampala’s colourful local markets.

You will also have an opportunity to visit a craft market for locally produced artwork, clothing, baskets, jewellery, and souvenirs. After the tour, transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Forest Cottages
• Midrange: Fairway Hotel
• Luxury: Protea Hotel by Marriott

Day 14: Mabamba Wetland Shoebill Experience

After an early breakfast, depart Kampala and travel to Mabamba Wetland, one of Uganda’s most reliable locations for observing the rare and prehistoric-looking shoebill stork. Mabamba Swamp is a designated Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and supports over 200 bird species .

Upon arrival, meet your experienced local bird guide and board a traditional motorised canoe. The journey begins at Nakiwogo Landing Site in Entebbe, where you sail approximately 45 minutes across Lake Victoria to the swamp . Navigate through the wetland’s narrow papyrus channels while searching for the shoebill, which is often seen standing quietly among the reeds while hunting lungfish.

The wetland also supports many other bird species, including African jacanas, malachite kingfishers, pied kingfishers, purple herons, African fish eagles, and various egrets. Your guide will help you identify the different birds and explain the ecological importance of the wetland. The standard activity lasts about 3 hours .

After the excursion, enjoy lunch and return to Kampala. Spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing at your hotel before enjoying a farewell dinner and your final overnight in Uganda.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Accommodation

• Budget: Forest Cottages
• Midrange: Fairway Hotel
• Luxury: Protea Hotel by Marriott

Day 15: Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe International Airport and Departure

Enjoy your final breakfast in Uganda and spend the remaining time at leisure, depending on your flight schedule. After checking out, your driver-guide will collect you from the hotel and transfer you from Kampala to Entebbe International Airport.

You will arrive at the airport in sufficient time for check-in and your onward flight, marking the end of your 15-day Uganda safari.

Meals: Breakfast included.

Safari Price Guide

Cost in USD per Person, based on accommodation category and group size: