Overview

This 12-day luxury safari combines Uganda’s two signature wildlife experiences: tracking the Big 5 across savanna national parks and trekking through dense forest to encounter mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Uganda is one of the few places on earth where both experiences are possible in a single trip. Four of the Big 5 — lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant — roam freely in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, while the fifth, the rhino, is being reintroduced at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary after being hunted to extinction in Uganda during the 1980s.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival & Transfer to Kampala
Arrival at the airport, guided transfer to Kampala, hotel check-in and rest.
Overnight: Speke Resort Munyonyo

Day 2 — Kampala to Murchison Falls NP (via Rhino Trekking)
Early departure toward Murchison Falls, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino-tracking walk — the first Big 5 sighting of the trip. Lunch en route before continuing to the lodge.
Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge

Day 3 — Game Drive, Boat Cruise & Hike to Murchison Falls
Morning game drive through the park’s circuits, with chances to see big cats, elephants, giraffes, and buffalo. Lunch and relaxation at the lodge, followed by an afternoon boat cruise to the base of the falls to view hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, and birdlife along the banks. The excursion ends with a guided hike to the top of the falls (a steep trail, so it may not suit those with health concerns).
Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge

Day 4 — Transfer to Kibale Forest NP
A long scenic drive with lunch in Fort Portal, passing the Rift Valley escarpment on Lake Albert, rural villages, and tea plantations. Check-in in the late afternoon to an area known for its primates and scenery.
Overnight: Papaya Lake Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge

Day 5 — Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest
A morning trek into Kibale Forest, home to over 1,500 chimpanzees, for close encounters with the park’s chimp communities. Nine primate species live in the forest, including red colobus and red-tailed monkeys. Return to the lodge for a relaxed afternoon.
Overnight: Papaya Lake Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge

Day 6 — Crater Lakes Region & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
A relaxed morning followed by a scenic drive south through the crater lakes region to Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the afternoon, a two-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel — the 36km waterway linking Lake George and Lake Edward — offers close views of hippos, crocodiles, and warthogs.
Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Day 7 — Transfer to Ishasha Sector & Afternoon Game Drive
Relaxed morning, then a journey through the park toward Ishasha, with possible sightings of elephants, monkeys, and birds along the way. After lunch, an afternoon game drive in Ishasha — famous for its tree-climbing lions — with chances to see topis, buffalo, and elephants.
Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Day 8 — Morning Game Drive in Ishasha & Transfer to Bwindi
A final morning game drive in search of the tree-climbing lions, followed by lunch and the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, transitioning from savanna to cultivated hills to montane forest. Evening check-in and relaxation.
Overnight: Mahogany Springs, Gorilla Forest Camp, or Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Day 9 — Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The trip’s centerpiece: a guided trek through the forest to spend one hour observing a habituated mountain gorilla family. Bwindi is also rich in birdlife, butterflies, forest elephants, and other forest species.
Overnight: Mahogany Springs, Gorilla Forest Camp, or Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Day 10 — Transfer to Lake Mburo & Afternoon Game Drive
Drive from the mountains through hilly terrain to Lake Mburo National Park, arriving in time for lunch. An afternoon game drive offers views of zebras, topis, warthogs, leopards, buffalo, and impala.
Overnight: Mihingo Lodge

Day 11 — Morning Safari Walk & Transfer to Entebbe
An early safari walk in Lake Mburo for zebras, waterbucks, and buffalo, followed by breakfast at the lodge and the drive to Entebbe. A stop at the Equator allows for the classic photo straddling both hemispheres. Overnight in Entebbe.
Overnight: Hotel Number 5

Day 12 — Departure
Transfer to the airport for departure flight.

Trip Summary Table

Wildlife Highlights by Day

• Big 5 progress: Rhino (Day 2), Lion/Leopard/Buffalo/Elephant (Days 3, 6–8)
• Great apes: Chimpanzees (Day 5), Mountain gorillas (Day 9)
• Signature experiences: Nile boat cruise & falls hike (Day 3), Kazinga Channel cruise (Day 6), tree-climbing lions (Day 7–8), Equator crossing (Day 11)

Possible Extensions

Travelers can customize the trip further with any of the following add-ons:

• Chimp habituation upgrade in Kibale Forest for extended time with a chimp community
• Extra gorilla trekking day for a second encounter with a different gorilla family
• Gorilla habituation upgrade — four hours with the gorillas instead of the standard one hour
• Island extension — a post-safari stay on a luxury island retreat

Practical Notes

• Accommodation options are shown where multiple lodges are available for a given leg; final selection would depend on preference and availability.
• The Day 3 hike to the top of Murchison Falls involves a steep trail and may not be suitable for guests with mobility or health concerns.
• Gorilla and chimp trekking both require a reasonable level of fitness, as forest terrain can be steep and uneven.