12- Day Highlights of Uganda Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

You will arrive in Entebbe International Airport. Once outside the terminal, your guide will be waiting to welcome you and take you to your accommodation for the night. Depending on your arrival time you may already meet some other particicpants of your group and start getting accustomed while being tucked away in your cosy guesthouse in a quiet part of Entebbe.

Day 2: Rhinos & drive to Murchison Falls National Park

After an early breakfast you will depart Entebbe at 7:30 am and drive North toward Murchison Falls National Park. Your first stop is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can track rhinos on foot. Accompanied by a ranger, you will walk through the reserve to observe these impressive animals in their natural environment, learning about their behaviour and the conservation efforts that protect them.

After lunch, you will continue toward Murchison Falls National Park and settle in at your accommodation.

Day 3: Morning game drive & boat safari

This morning around 6:30 am your will out on a game drive across the northern plains of Murchison Falls National Park. Your guide will help you look for elephants, giraffes, lions and other wildlife that roam this vast landscape with the early hours offering the best light and activity.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a 3 1/2 hour boat safari on the Nile, traveling upstream towards the base of the falls. Along the way, you will pass hippos resting in the water, crocodiles recharging on the riverbanks and rich variety of birdlife.

Day 4: Murchison Falls & afternoon game drive

In the morning your will drive to visit the top of the falls where the Nole forces its way through a narrow rocky gorge before punging downstream. It is the most powerful waterfall in the world. You can take a hike at your own pace to different viewpoints, while taking in the dramatic scenery or find a beautiful spot to just enjoy the stunning spectacle nature has created...

In the later afternoon you will head out once more into the National Park for a second game drive. As the heat of the day begins to soften, wildlife often becomes more active again. This is an excellent time to search for lions starting their evening movements, elephants making their way toward the water or giraffes silhouetted against the golden light.

Day 5: Drive to Kibale & banana gin experience

After brakfast, you will leave Murchison Falls National Park and begin your journey south toward Kibale Forest. The drive takes you through changing landscapes, from open savannah to rolling hills and tea plantations, offering a glimps of rural Ugandan life along the way. Yout guide will plan suitable stops for stretching your legs and enjoying your packed lunch en-route.

Upon arrival near Kibale Forest National Park, you will head to the nearby community of Bigodi for a late-afternoon cultural experience. Here, you will take part in a traditional banana gin demonstration, where local hosts will guide you through the step-by-step process of fermenting and distilling bananas into this local spirit. You will learn about the cultural importance of banana cultivation, taste the final product if you wish and enjoy a relaxed conversation with the community members.

After the experience you will continue to your lodge to settle in and anjoy a restful evening surrounded by the forest atmosphere.

Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking, local lunch experience, Bigodi Swamp walk

This morning it is optional to go chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park (activity to be confirmed and paid at time of booking, physical fitness required, not recommended for small children). After an early briefing by the rangers, you will enter the forest with an experienced guide in search of one of Kibale's habituated chimpanzee communities. The trek can take between 1 and 4 hours depending on their location. Once found, you will spend an hour observing the chimps as they more through the trees, feed and interact. While sightings are very likely, the experience remains wild and impredictable.

Around midday, you will enjoy a local lunch experience, through a community-based initiative that supports conservation and local development. Together with your guide and the group you will share a freshly prepared Ugandan meal, offering a relaxed moment to connect and learn more about the region's culture and daily life.

In the afternoon, you may choose to join an optional Bigodi Swamp walk (can be booked and paid on ground at roughly 15 € per person). This guided walk through the wetlands near Bigodi offers chances to spot monkeys, birds and unique plant species while also supporting local conservation efforts. Alertnatively you may prefer to relax at your lodge and enjoy the forest surroundings.

Day 7: Drive to Queen Elizabeth NP & boat safari on the Kazinga Channel

After breakfast you will depart from the Kibale region and drive south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park.

In the afternoon you will head out for a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake Goerge. This is one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in the park. From the comfort of the boat, you may see large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles resting along the banks and elephants or buffalo coming down to drink. The channel is also a haven for birdlife, making it an excellent opportunity for photography and relaxed wildlife viewing.

Day 8: Morning game drive, drive to Bwindi & cultural immersion

Your day begins with a short early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. As the sun rises over the savannah, you may encounter elephants moving through the plains, buffalo grazing in large herds and - if you are fortunatey - lions returning from their hunt. Your guide will explore different tracks within the park, sharing insights about the ecosystem and helping you track animal movements.

After the game drive you will begin your journey south toward Buhoma, located on the northern edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

In the afternoon, you will visit Ride 4 a Woman, a local community initiative that empowers women through skills training and employment. Here, you will take part in a hands-on culinary workshop preparing traditional Ugandan dishes that will be served for your dinner. After the cooking session you will join a lively Bakiga dance workshop, learning basic steps and rhythms from local women. It is an energetic and welcoming way to connect with the culture of the region.

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Day 9: Gorilla Tracking

Today it is optional to track Uganda's Mountain Gorillas (activity to be confirmed and paid at time of booking, physical fitness required, not recommended for small children). Encountering the rare and endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an experience of a lifetime.

Half of the world's poulation of gorillas lives under the mist-covered canopies of Uganda's oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest. In the company of an experienced park ranger, you will be tracking the whereabouts of one of the nine habituated family groups who live in the park.

Your tracking experience will be an exciting, yet challenging, journey along the forested (often muddy and slippery) slopes, tangled vines, thick vegetation and bamboo forests before you reach the territory of these gentle giants. En-route, your ranger will point out telltale signs of previous gorilla activity like dung, nests and chewed bamboo schoots. Depending on the location of the gorillas on any given day the walk can take anything from 2 to 7 hours. Once the family of gorillas has been located, settle into your surroundings and enjoy the 1 hour you must quietly observe these fascinating primates whose habitats and mennerisms remind us so much of our own.

Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo & game drive

After breakfast you will depart from the forested hills of Bwindi and begin your journey toward Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes you through the scenic Kigezi highlands, with rolling hills, banana plantations, and long-horned Ankole cattle grazing along the roadside.

After lunch at your accommodation, you will head out for an afternoon game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. Unlike other parks in Uganda. Lake Mburo ist known for its large poulations of zebra, impala, eland and topi. The park's mix of open savannah, acacia woodland and small lakes creates a diverse habitat and it is one of the best places in Uganda to see zebra up close. As the afternoon light softens, you will explore the different tracks in search of wildlife before you continue to your lodge for the evening.

Day 11: Bush Walk & Equator

Your day begins with a guided morning bush walk inside Lake Mburo National Park. Accompanied by an armed ranger, you will explore the savannah on foot - a very different perspective compared to a vehicle safari. Walking quietly through the grassland allows you to notice tracks, smaller wildlife, and the details of the exosystem. You may encounter zebra, impala, giraffe and a variety of birdlife at a comfortable and respectful distance.

After an early lunch, you will begin the drive to Entebbe. Along the way, you will stop at the Uganda Equator Line for photos and a short break. This is a popular landmark where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere and browse local craft shops. From here you will proceed to Entebbe for your final night.

Day 12: Packrafting in Mabamba Swamp

This morning you will head out for a unique packrafting experience in the Mabamba wetlands, one of Uganda's most important bird habitats. After a transfer to the wetlands and safety briefing, you will set off in your individual inflatable raft, gently paddling through narrow channels surrounded by papyrus reeds. The wetlands are calm and quiet, creating a peaceful atmosphere where birdlife thrives. Along the way, you may spot a wide variety of species, and with some luck even the rare and prehistoric-looking shoebill stork.

After a few hours on the water, you will continue to a nearby forest lodge for a relaxed lunch. After lunch you can enjoy a short guided walk through the forest, whereafter you return to Entebbe.

In the evening you will gather for a farewell dinner together with your guide - a final moment to reflect on your journey and share highlights from the past days. After dinner you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure.

Please note that the earliest possible flight departure for this program is 10:00 pm. If your flight leaves the following day, you can book an additional overnight stay in Entebbe at a surcharge. If your flight leaves earlier, you may have to skip some elements of the day 12 program.