12-Day All-inclusive Gorilla & Wildlife Safari

Your All-Inclusive Gorilla & Wildlife Safari adventure begins with a scenic road trip north, traversing vast plains toward the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This haven protects Uganda's near-extinct white rhinos, offering a rare chance to track these magnificent creatures on foot. Get up close and spend an unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat.

After your thrilling rhino encounter and a delicious lunch, continue your journey into the heart of Murchison Falls National Park. Ascend to the top of the mighty falls, where the Nile River forces its way through a narrow gorge and plunges 43 meters into the river below. Mist hangs in the air, rainbows shimmer, and incredible wildlife thrives along the calm waters below – a breathtaking spectacle sure to leave you in awe.

Finally, check into your lodge on the banks of the Nile. Savor a hot meal and a refreshing shower and settle into the tranquility of your surroundings.

Stay at Murchison River Lodge or one of these safari lodges.
Meal plan: Full Board

Day two of your All-inclusive Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari starts with a thrilling sunrise game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. Climb aboard your comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle, perfectly designed for wildlife viewing. With the first rays of dawn, witness the savannah come alive - lions on the prowl, herds of Ugandan kob, and playful monkeys fill the landscape. Don't forget your camera to capture the park's diverse inhabitants, including buffalo, elephants, and majestic Rothschild's giraffes.

After a hearty lunch back at camp, embark on a captivating afternoon boat launch upstream towards the mighty Murchison Falls. Cruise along the Nile, spotting elephants, hippos, and crocodiles lining the shore. Witness incredible wildlife interactions drawn to the river's life-giving waters. Prepare to be awestruck as you approach the base of the falls, their power and splendor on full display.

Head back to your camp's embrace to end a perfect day of adventure, leaving you with unforgettable memories of the wonders of Murchison Falls National Park.

Day three starts with a thrill! You'll rise with the sun, the air buzzing with adventure. By 7:00 am, your expert safari driver will whisk you away on a game drive. Murchison comes alive in the morning – picture elephants greeting the dawn, sleek antelopes leaping, maybe even a flash of golden fur as a lion stretches.

As you leave Murchison, get ready for another world entirely. Rolling hills burst with color, crater lakes shimmer... this is primate country, and it shows. Soon, the rainforest will wrap you in its green embrace as you reach Primate Lodge. After a delicious lunch, it's your choice: relax, or get a taste of the jungle on the Bigodi trail. Birdsong will surround you – over 190 species call this place home. Monkeys will chatter in the trees, and who knows? Maybe you'll even spot wild chimpanzees.

Day three ends with a shiver of excitement. Tomorrow, you'll get be chimpanzee trekking in the rainforest! Your lodge is just steps from the visitor center, so you'll be ready for your 7:30 am briefing and the unforgettable trek that follows.

Staying at Primate Lodge Kibale or these other primate lodges in Kibale
Meal Plan: Full Board

Fuel up with a jungle breakfast at 6:00 am – this is no ordinary morning! Head to the Kanyanchu visitor center for your 7:30 am briefing. (Or, if you're up for the ultimate adventure, rise at 5:00 am to join researchers tracking chimps as they wake and start their day on a Chimpanzee Habituation Experience)

Today, you're not just visiting a rainforest – you're stepping into a storybook. Kibale thrums with life, and the air feels electric. It's Africa's primate capital, and with over 1,500 chimpanzees, you're practically guaranteed incredible sightings.

Get ready for action! Unlike gorillas, chimps are constantly on the move. You'll hear them hooting, see them feasting, grooming each other... they're a whirlwind of energy. Their resemblance to humans will leave you speechless. Keep your eyes peeled for other rainforest residents: red colobus monkeys, playful black-and-whites, even the elusive L'Hoest's monkey. Bird lovers, binoculars ready – this is your paradise.

Don't worry, our armed rangers and experienced guides will keep you safe throughout this amazing chimpanzee trek. Afterward, the serenity of your lodge awaits – birdsong fills the air, and the evening invites quiet reflection. Share stories of your adventure with fellow travelers, then relax... tomorrow, your All-inclusive Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari takes you to stunning new landscapes.

Stay at same lodge as yesterday

Today, set your own pace. Sleep in if you wish – but an early start means beating the heat as you head towards the jewel of East Africa, Queen Elizabeth National Park. Leaving Kibale's rainforest behind, your journey takes a magical twist: the Ndali-Kasenda Craters.

Picture this: the Rwenzori Mountains loom, casting long shadows over this land. It's one of the world's densest collections of volcanic craters, with over 50 pristine lakes scattered like gems. Your drive becomes a treasure hunt, each bend revealing a new surprise. If time allows, your driver might even arrange a walk in the Rwenzori foothills – a truly special experience.

Now, the landscape shifts as you enter Queen Elizabeth National Park's vast savannah. Just north of Mweya, a field of explosion craters spreads out – a sight like no other. Lake Nyamunuka, a favorite spot for elephants and buffalo. Lake Kitagata, fed by bubbling hot springs. Kyemengo Crater, with its view of the Baboon Cliffs... Everywhere you turn, there's a panorama waiting: the mighty Rwenzoris, shimmering lakes, the hippo-filled Kazinga Channel, even the towering Rift Valley cliffs.

Queen Elizabeth, Uganda's most famous safari park, sprawls out before you. Over the next two nights, you'll explore this incredible place. Its mix of habitats – from forest to open plains – tells the story of how our ancestors evolved, and it's teeming with life. Get those cameras ready – big game, small creatures, they'll all be here.

Staying at: Kasenyi Safari Camp or these other safari lodges in Queen
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day six of your All-inclusive Gorilla & Wildlife Safari promises a thrilling close-up with the savannah's wilderness. Rise with the sun and head out on the Kasenyi Game Tracks as dawn paints the sky. This is prime lion country!

The vast Kasenyi Plains teem with Uganda Kobs, a favorite meal for these powerful hunters. Imagine the thrill of watching a lion stalk its prey in the golden morning light. Giant elephants amble by, buffaloes stare with quiet power, graceful waterbucks leap, and warthogs scamper with comical energy. If luck's on your side, you might even spot a giant forest hog, a cunning hyena, or the elusive, beautiful leopard. After your thrilling morning game drive, head back to the lodge for a delicious lunch and well-deserved rest.

But the adventure's not over! Next up: the Kazinga Channel boat launch. Step aboard and get ready for a whole new perspective on the park's wildlife. Hippos grunt and splash just feet away. Elephants wade in the shallows, buffaloes line the shore... and the birdlife is dazzling. Pelicans, storks, kingfishers, even the majestic fish eagle – this is a birdwatcher's dream. The Kazinga Channel cruise is one of those experiences you'll never forget, a true highlight of your African adventure.

As the sun sets, head back to camp with a head full of memories. A refreshing shower, a delicious meal, and lively stories shared under the stars – it's the perfect end to an incredible day.

Your journey today takes you through landscapes straight out of a painting. Grab a packed lunch and let's hit the road! Dry craters roll past, dotted with lush savanna and acacia trees... then, the Rift Valley escarpment rises before you, breathtaking. Soon you'll reach the Ishasha Sector, where you'll encounter the extraordinary tree-climbing lions.

Picture this: late afternoon, the sun casts long shadows. There, draped over acacia branches, are the lions themselves, relaxed and regal. It's a sight found almost nowhere else on Earth. But Ishasha is full of treasures – hippos laze in the river, buffalo and antelope graze the plains... every direction reveals new life.

As the day fades, your cozy camp welcomes you. A refreshing shower, a hot meal, the soft comfort of your bed... this is how a day of adventure should end. Rest well, because tomorrow, new wonders await!.

Staying at: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board

Today, another chapter of your incredible Gorilla & Wildlife Safari begins! Say goodbye to your camp and head out – a two to three-hour drive through the beautiful Ishasha Sector takes you to Buhoma, gateway to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Here, a local walking guide with deep knowledge of the forest will meet you. Together, you'll enter the mist-shrouded jungle, heading towards the southern sector – a true UNESCO World Heritage treasure.

For the next four or five hours, your guide will be your storyteller, revealing the rainforest's hidden secrets. Maybe you'll see chimpanzees swinging through the African canopy, or a majestic forest elephant... shy duikers, powerful buffalo, a whole troop of primates. Over 300 kinds of butterflies flit through the air, and the plants themselves seem like something from another world. Overhead, birds put on a dazzling show – green broadbills, turacos, warblers, and more.

Bwindi is famous for its gorillas, almost half the world's entire population lives here. If you're lucky enough to see them on your walk, it'll be a moment you never forget. Remember, they're wild creatures – stay calm, listen to your guide, and know the armed rangers are there to keep you safe.

Cross rivers, clamber over damp rocks, feel the ancient energy of this place... it's humbling, and it takes you back to the beginnings of humankind. Finally, your driver will be waiting, ready to whisk you through breathtaking scenery to your luxurious forest cottage. Tonight, rest and dream of tomorrow – when you'll come face to face with mountain gorillas in their own wild home.

You'll stay at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge or these other Bwindi Gorilla Lodges
Meal Plan: Full Board

The biggest decision of your trip is here: will you choose the standard gorilla trek, or the incredible Gorilla Habituation Experience? The latter gives you four full hours with these majestic creatures, but due to limited permits, it needs serious advance planning.

Whatever you choose, get ready for an early start! Fuel up with a good breakfast – fruit and cereal will give you the energy you need. Your lodge can pack a lunch for the trek. By 7:30 am, your driver will take you to the Nkuringo visitor center for your briefing. They'll put you in a group with other trekkers, match you with the perfect gorilla family, and hand you a walking stick. The warden might suggest hiring a porter – it's only $20, it helps the local economy, and they'll carry your pack or lend a hand on tricky slopes.

Now it's time! Guided by expert trackers and armed rangers, you'll vanish into the jungle. The trek could take 30 minutes, or it could take hours. But when you finally see those gorillas... well, the hard work will be a distant memory.

Imagine locking eyes with a mountain gorilla, watching a family play and groom each other... this is a moment that will change your life. Whether it's in Nkuringo or Rushaga, the thrill of meeting these creatures will leave you breathless with wonder.

Back at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, the view of the Virunga Mountains will take your breath away all over again. Enjoy local music by the campfire, maybe a relaxing massage... tonight, sleep will come easy, filled with dreams of your time with the gorillas.

Day eleven of your adventure takes you on a journey back in time. The Buniga Forest Batwa Cultural Trail invites you to walk alongside the Batwa people, the original inhabitants of this rainforest. They'll be your guides as you explore their ancestral home, learning secrets of the forest passed down through countless generations. Discover how they hunted, how they built shelters, the plants they used for food and medicine. Join in their songs and dances, vibrant with centuries of tradition. This isn't just a tour, it's a chance to connect with a resilient people and their incredible history. By taking part, you help them preserve their culture and build a sustainable future. You'll leave Buniga with a deeper understanding of this place, and memories you'll carry forever.

It's your last day, time to say goodbye to Bwindi's misty forests... but the journey isn't truly over. As you head back towards Entebbe, let the scenery wash over you. Those rolling hills, the tea plantations, the vibrant villages – it's like watching Uganda Safari in rewind.

Share your best memories with your fellow travelers. Did anyone else see that playful baby chimp? Or that moment when the mother gorilla cradled her newborn? As Entebbe comes into view, you'll feel something besides tiredness – a sense of wonder, of gratitude. You've seen the heart of Uganda, the warmth of its people, the true magic of its wildlife. This adventure may be ending, but the memories will stay with you... and somewhere out there, a new adventure awaits.