7 Days Best of Uganda Safari

Drive north to Uganda's largest and oldest national park. Cross the Nile at Paraa and check into your safari lodge. Afternoon boat cruise on the Victoria Nile toward the base of Murchison Falls — where the entire River Nile explodes through a 7-meter gap in the rock creating an awesome display of nature's power. Along the river, spot massive Nile crocodiles, hippo pods, elephants drinking at the water's edge, buffalo, waterbuck, and an extraordinary diversity of birds including the rare shoebill stork.

Early morning game drive on the northern bank of the Nile. Murchison's open savannah is home to large herds of Uganda kob, Jackson's hartebeest, Rothschild's giraffe (reintroduced and thriving), elephants, buffalo, lions, and leopards. After lunch, hike to the top of Murchison Falls for a breathtaking view looking down into the thundering chasm where 300 cubic meters of water per second forces through the narrow gap. The spray creates a permanent rainbow and the roar is deafening.

Drive south through the lush countryside and the scenic Albertine Rift to Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of the world with 13 primate species. The drive passes through Fort Portal surrounded by tea plantations and volcanic crater lakes with emerald-green waters. Afternoon optional crater lake walk or Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary guided walk for primates and exceptional birdlife including the great blue turaco.

Morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest — trek through the ancient tropical rainforest with experienced trackers listening for the distinctive pant-hoot calls and crashing branches. Spend one magical hour with a habituated chimp community watching them groom, feed, play, and communicate. After lunch, drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Evening game drive on the Kasenyi Plains spotting Uganda kob, elephants, buffalo, and lions.

Morning Kazinga Channel boat safari — a 2-hour cruise on this natural channel connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. Hippos line the banks in their hundreds, enormous Nile crocodiles bask nearby, and elephants, buffalo, and waterbuck come to drink. The birdlife is staggering with pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers, and African fish eagles. After lunch, drive to the Ishasha sector — famous worldwide for its tree-climbing lions draped along fig tree branches, a behavior seen regularly only here and in Tanzania's Lake Manyara. Continue to Bwindi.

The pinnacle — gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Report to park headquarters at 8:00 AM for registration. Trek into the misty ancient forest with experienced trackers. The trek can take 1-6 hours through steep, muddy jungle terrain. When you find the gorilla family, spend one unforgettable hour face-to-face with these gentle giants — watching silverbacks beating their chests, mothers cradling tiny babies, and juveniles wrestling playfully. The eye contact with a wild mountain gorilla is one of the most profoundly emotional wildlife experiences on Earth. Celebration dinner.

After breakfast, optional morning community walk visiting the local Batwa pygmy community for cultural performances and stories of their ancient forest life. Depart Bwindi and drive back to Entebbe or take an optional domestic flight from the nearby airstrip (1 hour, additional cost). Transfer to airport or hotel. Safari ends with unforgettable memories of the Pearl of Africa.