Route: Entebbe → Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary → Murchison Falls → Kibale → Queen Elizabeth NP → Bwindi → Lake Mburo → Entebbe Best for: Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, Big Five game drives, boat safaris Meal plan: Full Board on safari days; Bed & Breakfast in Entebbe. Packed lunches on trekking days.
Quick Overview
| Day | Destination | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entebbe | Dinner |
| 2 | Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary → Murchison Falls | B, L, D |
| 3 | Murchison Falls | B, L, D |
| 4 | Murchison Falls → Kibale Forest | B, L, D |
| 5 | Kibale → Queen Elizabeth NP | B, L, D |
| 6 | Queen Elizabeth NP | B, L, D |
| 7 | Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi | B, L, D |
| 8 | Bwindi – Gorilla Trekking | B, L, D |
| 9 | Bwindi → Lake Mburo | B, L, D |
| 10 | Lake Mburo → Entebbe | B, L |
Key: B = Breakfast · L = Lunch · D = Dinner
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Entebbe
Activities:
- Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport
- Transfer to hotel
- Optional: Entebbe Botanical Gardens or Mabamba Swamp for shoebill stork
- Evening briefing and dinner
Accommodation:
- Budget: K Hotels Entebbe
- Mid-range: Papyrus Guest House
- Luxury: The Boma Entebbe or Best Western Premier Garden Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 — Entebbe → Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary → Murchison Falls NP
Activities:
- Early departure to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- On-foot rhino tracking — the only place in Uganda to see wild white rhinos
- Lunch in Masindi
- Continue to Murchison Falls National Park
- Visit the top of the falls
Accommodation:
- Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge or Bwana Tembo Safari Camp
- Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 — Murchison Falls
Activities:
- Morning game drive in the northern sector
- Look for lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and antelopes
- Afternoon boat cruise on the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls
- Spot hippos, crocodiles, and water birds
- Optional night game drive for civets, porcupines, and hyenas
Accommodation: Same as Day 2 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 — Murchison Falls → Kibale Forest
Activities:
- Drive south through tea plantations and rolling countryside
- Arrive at Kibale Forest National Park — Africa’s primate capital
- Afternoon Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary swamp walk
- Pass through Fort Portal and the Toro Palace
Accommodation:
- Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
- Mid-range: Isunga Safari Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge or Primate Lodge Kibale
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 — Kibale → Queen Elizabeth NP
Activities:
- Early morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest
- Observe chimps feeding, grooming, and playing in the canopy
- After lunch, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Stop at Lake Katwe Salt Mines for a cultural visit
Accommodation:
- Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages or Simba Safari Camp
- Mid-range: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge or Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 — Queen Elizabeth National Park
Activities:
- Sunrise game drive on the Kasenyi Plains
- Look for lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and Uganda kob
- Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- Famous for hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife
- Evening game drive
Accommodation: Same as Day 5 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 — Queen Elizabeth NP (Ishasha) → Bwindi
Activities:
- Drive through the Ishasha Sector for tree-climbing lions
- Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Bwindi is home to half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas
- Optional afternoon Batwa community visit
Accommodation:
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp or Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge
- Mid-range: Gorilla Valley Lodge or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
- Luxury: Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, or Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 — Bwindi – Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Activities:
- Early breakfast and briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority guides
- Trek into the misty jungle
- Spend one unforgettable hour with a habituated gorilla family
- Return to lodge for relaxation
Accommodation: Same as Day 7 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner — packed lunch provided for trekking
Day 9 — Bwindi → Lake Mburo National Park
Activities:
- Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
- Afternoon boat ride on Lake Mburo
- Game drive for zebras, impalas, and buffalo
- Optional night game drive at extra cost
Accommodation:
- Budget: Eagle’s Nest
- Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock or Mburo Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 — Lake Mburo → Entebbe → Departure
Activities:
- Morning game drive or guided nature walk in Lake Mburo
- Drive back to Entebbe — approximately 4–5 hours
- Lunch en route
- Transfer to Entebbe International Airport for departure
Accommodation: None — day room can be arranged at extra cost Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Meal Plan Summary
| Meal Plan | Includes | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Bed & Breakfast (B&B) | Room + breakfast | First and last nights in Entebbe |
| Half Board (HB) | Room + breakfast + dinner | Optional at some lodges |
| Full Board (FB) | Room + breakfast + lunch + dinner | Standard for safari days |
Note: Full Board is standard for organized safari groups. Packed lunches are provided on gorilla and chimpanzee trekking days.
