7-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari

Murchison Falls • Queen Elizabeth • Bwindi Gorilla Trekking • Lake Bunyonyi

Safari Overview

This 7-day safari by Miana Tours & Travel takes you through Uganda’s most iconic national parks and primate destinations, offering a rich and immersive African safari experience.
From the thunderous Murchison Falls and its wildlife-rich savannahs, to the diverse ecosystems of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the ancient rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, this journey is carefully designed to balance adventure, wildlife encounters, and scenic relaxation. Throughout the safari, you will enjoy classic game drives, guided primate trekking experiences, boat safaris along major waterways, and scenic road transfers that showcase Uganda’s countryside, rural communities, and changing landscapes. The safari concludes at the tranquil Lake Bunyonyi, providing a peaceful setting after the excitement of gorilla trekking.
You will be collected from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged at an extra cost.

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Pick Up & Transfer to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your driver-guide will pick you up from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala and begin the journey north toward Murchison Falls National Park, passing through scenic countryside and rural communities.
En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for your first Big Five experience. You will enjoy a guided, on-foot rhino tracking activity lasting approximately one hour, offering a rare opportunity to observe these endangered animals in their natural habitat.
After the rhino experience, proceed for lunch at Kabalega Dinners before continuing to the park. Murchison Falls National Park is a wildlife haven and a birder’s paradise, boasting over 450 bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork (rare), dwarf kingfisher, white-thighed hornbill, and goliath heron.
Later in the afternoon, visit the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the Nile River is forced through a narrow gorge before plunging into the Devil’s Cauldron, creating the most powerful waterfall in the world. Continue to your lodge for check-in, dinner, and overnight rest.
Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range, inside the park)
Meals: All meals included
Drinks: Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Day 2: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Nile Launch Cruise

After an early breakfast, head out for a morning game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park, an area known for its high concentration of wildlife and excellent photographic opportunities.
Expect sightings of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, hartebeest, lions, leopards, and a wide variety of bird species that inhabit the savannah and riverine habitats.
Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation before proceeding for a 3-hour boat cruise along the Nile River to the base of Murchison Falls. This cruise is often considered the highlight of the park, offering close-up views of large hippo pods, Nile crocodiles, and numerous aquatic birds lining the riverbanks.
Upon reaching the base of the falls, you may optionally proceed for a guided hike to the top of the falls. The hike is strenuous but highly rewarding, offering breathtaking views of the Nile and surrounding landscapes. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meals: All meals included
Drinks: Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls National Park and drive approximately 350 kilometers south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey offers an authentic look at rural Ugandan life as you pass through small towns, villages, farmlands, and changing landscapes.
As you approach the park, enjoy scenic views of diverse ecosystems, including open savannah plains, crater lakes formed by ancient volcanic activity, and distant mountain backdrops.
Upon arrival, check in to your lodge and later enjoy an evening game drive within the park, offering the opportunity to spot elephants, buffaloes, lions, hippos, and leopards as wildlife becomes more active toward sunset.
Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge (Mid-range, near Kyambura Gorge)
Meals: All meals included
Drinks: Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest & Afternoon Boat Cruise

Early in the morning, depart for Kalinzu Forest Reserve for a guided chimpanzee trekking experience. Accompanied by experienced guides, trek through the dense forest while observing chimpanzees as they move through the canopy, interact with one another, and display their unique behaviors.
The trek also offers opportunities to spot other primates, forest birds, and a wide variety of plant species that thrive within this tropical ecosystem.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward, famous for its high concentration of hippos, as well as elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, and diverse birdlife.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination: Kalinzu Forest Reserve (Chimpanzees)
Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge
Meals: All meals included
Drinks: Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Day 5: Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions & Transfer to Bwindi

After breakfast, set off toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, passing through the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, an area renowned for its rare tree-climbing lions often seen resting in fig trees.
Although sightings are never guaranteed, the chance of seeing these unique lions is approximately 70%, depending on wildlife movement and weather conditions.
Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of Africa’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, home to an estimated 1,000 mountain gorillas—roughly half of the world’s remaining population.
On arrival, check in at your lodge and relax for the evening in preparation for the following day’s gorilla trekking experience.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation: Bweza Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)
Meals: All meals included
Drinks: Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking Experience & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before entering the dense and rugged terrain of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for your gorilla trekking experience.
The duration and difficulty of the trek vary depending on the location of the gorilla family. Once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one unforgettable hour observing their social interactions, feeding habits, and gentle behavior in the wild.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and then check out for your transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, a scenic lake surrounded by terraced hills and dotted with 29 islands. The lake is also considered the third deepest in Africa.
Arrive at your lakeside lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation: BirdNest @ Lake Bunyonyi (Mid-range)
Meals: All meals included
Drinks: Drinking water (other drinks not included)

Day 7: Return to Entebbe & Departure

After an early breakfast, begin your return journey to Entebbe. Enjoy en-route stopovers for lunch and a visit to the Uganda Equator Line, where you can take photos and shop for souvenirs. Continue to Entebbe International Airport for drop-off, marking the end of your unforgettable safari experience in Uganda.
Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: None (End of tour)