15 Day Uganda Wilderness Safari
15 Day Uganda Wilderness Safari
Safari Overview:
A 15-day journey across Uganda’s most iconic destinations—combining gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, and classic wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park. Experience scenic lakes, rainforest adventures, boat cruises, and rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary—all in one unforgettable safari.
Safari Highlights:
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Big Five game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park & Murchison Falls National Park
- Nile boat safari to the base of Murchison Falls
- Walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park
- Scenic retreat at Lake Bunyonyi
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Explore the Sempaya Hot Springs in Semuliki National Park
- Equator crossing experience
- Stunning landscapes of the Rwenzori Mountains
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Kampala- Lake Mburo
After your breakfast your guide will be waiting to take you for a delightful adventurous drive at 8.00am. Stop at the Equator leaving you enough time to participate in some of the activities as you capture photographic moments at the equator.
As we enter the park, we shall be welcomed by the Uganda Kobs, Uganda’s national animal. Also in sight are the majestic zebras just to mention as we head to the lodge. After our lunch, we shall go for a boat ride in search for the shy sitatunga found in the wetlands of Mburo we shall also see Hippos and crocodiles in the waters. The Shoebill Stork and other bird species will also be seen on this boat ride.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
- Medium range – Rwakobo Rock
- Budget range- Rwakobo Rock-Nsc
- Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Lake Mburo
- Medium range – Rwakobo Rock
- Budget range- Rwakobo Rock-Nsc
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Lake Mburo – Bwindi impenetrable forest (6hrs)
Have breakfast and we drive to Mbarara town, for an early lunch break and continue to the beautifully terraced hills of the Kigezi Highlands and finally to the territory of the Gorillas. Have an early dinner and pre briefing from your guide about your Gorilla Trek.
Accomodations:
- Medium range: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge/ Ichumbi Gorilla lodge
- Budget range: Rushaga Gorilla camp
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Arise early to the great forest sounds of the African Jungle for you breakfast. With our packed lunch, we go for the pre- trek update from the rangers who will tell you what to expect in the Jungle. Your trek could last anything from 2 hrs onwards depending on where the Gorillas nested for the night.
After your highly experiential Gorilla trek, we believe in giving back to the community. We shall participate in a village walk with all proceeds of this walk going directly to the locals.
During your dinner, you mayl openly talk about your experiences in the jungle with other travelers. In all, Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a memory to last your life time.
Dinner and overnight:
- Medium range: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge/ ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
- Budget range: Rushaga Gorilla camp
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Bwindi- Lake Bunyonyi (2hrs)
Have breakfast at leisure, drive to Lake Bunyonyi, the most beautiful lake in Uganda.
- Dinner and Overnight at Bunyonyi Eco Resort
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
African Big Five Safaris is a specialist East African Safari Company registered in Uganda and a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators with our offices in the heart of Kampala City.
We have more than ten years’ experience in the tourism industry. Both our office and field staff have a broad knowledge of the history, people, culture, geography, birds and plants of East Africa.
Our exciting safaris include; encountering the big five, the Great Migration, birding, camping, student tours, mountain climbing, gorilla trekking, and volunteer safaris.
We offer a range of adventure tours to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Day 6: Lake Bunyonyi
Wake up to the melodies of the small numerous birds that visit the lake. Have your breakfast and we are off for a boat ride visiting the numerous islands with interesting folklore about each island.
Have the afternoon unwinding and do not miss the golden sunset.
- Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Eco Resort
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today breakfast, we driv from Rolling hills of the Kigezi highlands down to the flat savannah plains in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Awesome scenery as we travel. Have your afternoon meal and have a game drive enroute to the lodge.
Dinner and overnight:
- Medium range: Bush Lodge
- Budget range: Bush lodge Tents
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner.
Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early to a warm up tea and head out in the wilds in a 3-4hrs search for the Jungle predators. With the proficiency of your guide you will see the Lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, antelopes and an array of beautiful birds.
Have your midday meal with superior views of the Mweya peninsula, and then ready yourself for a luxurious boat trip on the Kazinga channel.
This natural channel connecting Lake Edward and Lake George comes with an astounding population of hippos considered the highest in the world with buffalo, elephants just to mention beating off the afternoon heat at the channel Banks with a striking variety and number of bird species that will make your day complete.
Dinner and overnight:
- Medium range: Bush Lodge
- Budget range: Bush lodge Tents
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner.
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth - Kibale Forest National Park
Have your breakfast, after drive out of Queen Elizabeth National with spectacular views of the rift valley and the “mountains of the moon” the Rwenzori Mountain.
After our lunch break in fort portal town, we drive on to Nyakasura, to the legendary “Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru” literally to mean the breasts of Mwiru’s mother. The known stalagmites and stalactites here come with great history and culture that defines the graceful Tooro Kingdom.
Dinner and overnight.
- Medium range: Kibale Forest Camp Lodge -Safari Tent
- Budget range: Kibale Forest Camp Tents
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Chimpanzee Tracking – Kibale Forest
A nice breakfast makes an energetic start for your search for the forest habitants. Spend half the day in this well adorned forest with great sights of primates, the Colobus monkeys, Baboons, flowing through the melodies of the lovely forest birds as we search for our closest family relation the endangered chimpanzees.
Your senses are all called for here as we see, feel, hear and smell the forest. Not missing out on the little forest dwellers the beetles doing their thing and the beautifully patterned butterflies.
In the afternoon, go to Bigodi swamp for a community walk that makes a great day for birders and helps alleviate the locals in the conservation of their environment.
Dinner and overnight
- Medium range: Kibale forest camp- Safari Tent
- Budget range: Kibale Forest Camp- Tent
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Kibale - Semuliki Valley National Park – Fort Portal
Drive early to Semuliki National park a park with wonderful scenery of the Rwenzori Mountains. Enter the park and we are treated to Scenic views of the meandering Semuliki River, fuming hot springs the dramatic Sempaya Hot springs the largest in Uganda and the extension of the Ituri tropical rain forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo with an awesome population of forest birds endemic to Central Africa.
Amazing wildlife in this lowland forest akin to those found in Central Africa rather than in East Africa. What a way it is to experience Central Africa in Uganda.
Drive back to Fort Portal town for our Dinner and Overnight.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
- Medium range: Fort Motel
- Budget range: Rwenzori view guest house
Day 12: Kibale Forest – Hoima
Today we have an early start out of Fort Portal tourism city heading to Hoima, passing through large tea and banana plantations. See the lovely homesteads with beautifully crafted thatched huts. We shall pass optically catching views of the Albertine rift area as we drive.
Dinner and overnight:
- Kontiki Hotel
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Hoima – Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, we tour the beautiful wilderness of Hoima with great sight of the Lake Albert as we in hale purified air in the wilds of western Uganda. We head to Murchison falls National Park where we have lunch. Have the afternoon to yourselves.
Dinner and overnight:
- Medium range: Fort Murchison- Rooms
- Budget range: Fort Murchison- tents
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Murchison Falls
We are out in the jungle early in search for the big elusive cats in an open safari vehicle. With the skilful eyes of your guide, you are likely to spot the lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, oribi, hartebeest to mention but a few.
Following your lunch at the lodge, we shall go for a cruise on the Nile waters to view the gigantic Nile crocodiles the hugest in the world, Schools of Hippos beating off the afternoon heat, Buffaloes, Elephants will be seen at the river banks and a stunning array of charming birds dotting our skies as we sail to the base of the Murchison falls.
For greater action, we stop at the base of the falls and take a guided walk, great scenery here as yet another gorgeous falls Uhuru will be seen. At the top, you are at the most outstanding and glorious falls with the most powerful water surge in the world.
Back at the lodge for dinner and overnight.
- Medium range: Murchison River Lodge
- Budget range: Fort Murchison- tents
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 15: Murchison – Rhino Walk – Kampala
After your sumptuous breakfast, we drive out of Murchison falls to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where the Rhino are breed after their extinction in Uganda. This walk in search for the Rhinos will take us 1-2 hours depending on the location of the Rhinos.
Drive to Kampala to your accommodation or straight to the airport for your late evening flight.
Kindly note that this trip may also be done in reverse.
Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:
Tour Includes:
- Ground transportation
- Guided rhino tracking experience
- Park and conservation fees
- Services of a professional guide
- Lunch at Amuka Safari Lodge
Tour Excludes:
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
IDEAL FOR
- Wildlife and conservation enthusiasts
- Educational and eco-tourism travelers
- Families and small groups
- Day trips from Kampala
- Travelers seeking ethical wildlife encounters