Transfer to Kampala

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a professional 9-Day Gorilla Trek Uganda Wildlife Safari guide from All Budget Gorilla Safaris. After a quick briefing about your upcoming adventure, you will embark on a comfortable drive to Kampala, Uganda’s bustling capital city. This scenic transfer offers your first glimpse of Ugandan life—from roadside markets and vibrant urban scenes to rolling green landscapes.

Kampala sits on the northern shores of Lake Victoria and is known for its blend of modern infrastructure, colonial history, and diverse culture. Depending on your arrival time, you may have an opportunity to explore iconic landmarks such as the Uganda National Mosque, Kabaka’s Palace, or the bustling Owino Market. Your overnight accommodation in Kampala provides a restful ambiance to prepare you for the adventures ahead.

• Meal Plan: Dinner
• Accommodation: Airport Guest House or papyrus Guest House
• Travel Time: Approx. 45 minutes – 1 hour (Entebbe to Kampala)

Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Sanctuary

After an early breakfast, your 9-Day Gorilla Trek Uganda Wildlife Safari kicks off with a drive to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area. En route, you’ll stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an unforgettable rhino tracking experience. This is the only place in Uganda where you can see wild rhinos on foot—an exhilarating and safe adventure guided by expert rangers. The sanctuary is also home to antelopes, monkeys, and over 250 species of birds.

Following your rhino encounter, continue the drive northwards with a lunch stop en route. As you near Murchison Falls, the landscape transitions into savannah woodlands with sweeping views of the Albertine Rift Valley. Upon arrival, check into your lodge for relaxation, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wild. If time permits, enjoy a short evening game drive before dinner.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water
• Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge
• Travel Time: Approx. 6-7 hours (including Ziwa visit)

Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Nile River

Rise early for a rewarding game drive on the northern bank of the park, where your 9-Day Gorilla Trek Uganda Wildlife Safari guide will take you through the best wildlife spotting areas. Murchison Falls National Park boasts a wide variety of game, including elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, Uganda kobs, lions, and leopards. Bird enthusiasts will appreciate the park’s diversity of avifauna, such as the Abyssinian ground hornbill and the striking secretary bird.

After lunch at the lodge, set out for an afternoon boat cruise along the Nile River toward the base of Murchison Falls. This relaxing yet wildlife-packed boat trip offers incredible photo opportunities as you drift past hippos, basking crocodiles, elephants, and vibrant birdlife along the shores. As you approach the bottom of the falls, feel the power of the Nile as it squeezes through a narrow gorge, producing one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water
• Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge

Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

This morning, embark on a short hike to the top of the falls to witness the Nile River thunder through a 7-meter crevice and drop 40 meters below in a dramatic explosion of water and mist. The panoramic views from the top are breathtaking, offering a perfect vantage point for photos and contemplation.

After the visit, begin the scenic journey to Kibale Forest National Park, passing through remote countryside, tea plantations, and traditional homesteads. Stop en route for lunch and stretch breaks. Known as the “Primate Capital of the World,” Kibale is home to over 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys.

On arrival, check in at your lodge nestled in the lush surroundings of the forest. Relax and enjoy the tranquil ambiance in preparation for tomorrow’s chimpanzee tracking adventure.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water
• Accommodation: Turaco Treetop Lodge or Kibale Forest Camp
• Travel Time: Approx. 6-7 hours

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale & Bigodi Swamp Nature Walk

Today offers a magical experience in Kibale Forest as you go on a guided chimpanzee tracking expedition. After a briefing by the park rangers, you’ll venture into the dense forest in search of these highly intelligent and social primates. Observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat—swinging in the trees, grooming each other, or playing—is an unforgettable highlight.

In the afternoon, take a guided nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a haven for bird watchers and nature lovers. This community-run ecotourism project is home to over 200 bird species, including the Great Blue Turaco, and various primates like the grey-cheeked mangabey. The walk also introduces you to local flora, butterflies, and cultural experiences with local guides sharing stories about the community’s conservation efforts.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water
• Accommodation: Turaco Treetop Lodge or Kibale Forest Camp

 Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

After breakfast, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most scenic and biodiverse savannah reserve. The drive offers spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains, lush crater lakes, and tea estates. Arrive in the park in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward.

This boat cruise is renowned for offering the highest concentration of hippos in Africa. You’ll also spot large herds of elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, and a dazzling array of water birds, including pelicans, kingfishers, fish eagles, and saddle-billed storks. The boat ride provides excellent photographic opportunities and a relaxing end to your day.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water
• Accommodation: The Bush Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge
• Travel Time: Approx. 3-4 hours

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Begin your day with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, known for their high density of wildlife. Look out for lions on the prowl, herds of Uganda kobs, warthogs, elephants, buffaloes, and possibly a leopard hiding in the shadows. The park’s diverse habitats also make it ideal for birdwatching.

After the game drive, enjoy breakfast and then begin your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. This drive takes you through terraced hills, banana plantations, and local villages, offering an authentic glimpse of rural Uganda. Arrive in Bwindi in the evening and check in at your lodge.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water
• Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Leisure Lodge or Buhoma Gorilla Havens Lodge
• Travel Time: Approx. 5-6 hours

Gorilla Trekking Adventure & Batwa Cultural Experience

This is the most anticipated day of your 9-Day Gorilla Trek Uganda Wildlife Safari —gorilla trekking in the misty jungles of Bwindi. After a briefing at the park headquarters, you’ll be assigned a gorilla family and led into the forest by experienced trackers and rangers. The trek can last from 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas, but every step is worth it.

Upon locating the gorillas, you’ll spend a magical hour observing them up close as they feed, play, and interact in their natural habitat. This extraordinary encounter is one of the most profound wildlife experiences on Earth.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, take part in a guided Batwa trail experience. The Batwa pygmies are the original forest dwellers of Bwindi. During this cultural walk, you’ll learn about their traditional hunting, music, dance, and medicinal plant use—a unique insight into their ancient way of life.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water
• Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Leisure Lodge or Buhoma Gorilla Havens Lodge

Return Journey to Kampala

After an early breakfast, begin your journey back to Kampala or Entebbe, marking the end of your unforgettable 9-Day Gorilla Trek Uganda Wildlife Safari. Along the way, stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for a fun photo opportunity and a demonstration of the Coriolis effect. You may also explore craft markets for souvenirs and enjoy a relaxing lunch en route.

Arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening, where you will be dropped off at your preferred location or transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Drinking Water
• Travel Time: Approx. 8-9 hours

End of 9-Day Gorilla Trek Uganda Wildlife Safari