7 Days Uganda Safari – Murchison, Big 5, Chimps & Gorillas

Embark on a 7-day Uganda safari adventure and explore the country’s most iconic wildlife destinations. From the roaring Murchison Falls and thrilling Big 5 game drives to tracking playful chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and the unforgettable gorilla trekking in Bwindi, this journey offers an unparalleled mix of adventure, wildlife, and natural beauty. Cruise the Nile, witness breathtaking landscapes, and create memories that will last a lifetime on this classic Ugandan safari.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer Murchison Falls National Park Enroute Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your safari begins with an early morning breakfast and pick-up from Kampala or Entebbe by your professional driver-guide from Salt Holidays. You will travel northwest through the Luweero Triangle, passing rural villages, farmlands and vibrant colourful roadside markets that offer a glimpse into everyday life in Uganda.

A stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking experience on foot (walk with the rhinos). Walking through the bush with a ranger brings you close to these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.

Lunch will be served at Ziwa restaurant, after lunch, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, you will visit the Top of the falls one of the highlights of the park where the Nile River forces its way through a narrow gorge before plunging down with incredible power, creating one of the most dramatic natural spectacles in Africa. Proceed to arrive at your lodge.

Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge  

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

After an early morning warm-up tea/coffee you will transferred for a game drive on the northern bank in search of animals like lions, leopard, hyena, giraffes, elephants, buffalo, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda kobs, oribi, among other mammal and bird species. You will then return to the lodge in time for lunch and relax preparing for yet an exciting activity in the afternoon. After lunch, you’ll transfer for a 3-hour boat ride on the Nile River to the bottom of the falls. Here, you will have the opportunity to look out for animals such as the Nile crocodiles, hippo and several other mammals. Buffaloes, waterbucks, and elephants are often seen on the river bank grazing and drinking water depending on the day’s weather. You’ll return to your lodge for a relaxed evening/swimming or better still proceed for an extra optional evening game drive. Dinner, and an overnight stay

Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, you’ll depart Murchison National Park for Kibale forest National Park, enjoying a scenic drive through Uganda’s rolling hills and rural countryside. You’ll stop for photo shoots at picturesque spots, including lush tea plantations and panoramic viewpoints along the way. You’ll enjoy lunch en route before continuing through Fort Portal’s charming landscapes. You’ll arrive at your lodge in Kibale for a relaxed part of the day or better still take an optional 2-3hours visit of the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run project. This walk is slower and more relaxed, with chances to look out for primates such as black-and-white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, Uganda mangabey among other primate and bird species like the turacos, hornbills and a rare swamp-dwelling Sitatunga antelope.This also offers you an opportunity to interact with local communities here.

Dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge  

Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast at 7:00 am, we will drive to the chimpanzee tracking visitors centre for a briefing by park rangers. Kibale is a prime destination for chimpanzee tracking, often referred to as the “Primate Capital of the World.” During the trek, you will have the opportunity to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The experience is both thrilling and educational, as guides provide insights into the behaviour and ecology of these fascinating primates. Trekking typically lasts 3-4 hours, including the time spent with the chimpanzees once you locate them. Lunch will be at the lodge and after check out to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. If time allows, you may proceed for an evening game drive along Kasenyi plains before checking in your lodge.

Chimpanzee Tracking Vs Chimpanzee Habituation Experience:

Unlike normal chimpanzee tracking that allows a maximum of 6 people per chimpanzee community to view a habituated chimpanzee community for up to 1 classic hour, Chimpanzee habituation is a scientific research process that allows visitors to take part in a research process that makes a wild chimpanzee community get used to the presence of tourists. In habituation, you spend up to 4 memorable hours with a chimpanzee community being habituated studying their day to day activities and individual chimp behaviour. However, it costs a little more for a chimpanzee habituation permit as you will see in our inclusions and exclusions, please let us know at the time of booking should you prefer to do chimpanzee habituation as opposed to normal tracking.

Dinner and Overnight at Acacia Wilderness Mweya

Day 5:  Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After an early morning warm-up tea/coffee you will transferred for a game drive on the Kasenyi plains in search of animals like lions, leopard, hyena, elephants, buffalo, Uganda kobs, and waterbuck, among other mammal and over 600 bird species recorded here. You will then proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park via Ishasha famous for the tree climbing lions, take a mini-game drive here in search of the tree climbing lions and other mammal species that nature will provide. If you’re lucky, you may come across these rare tree climbing lions. Enoy your lunch and later proceed to arrive in Bwindi.

Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Buhoma Haven Lodge

Day 6: Gorilla tracking Experience              

After an early morning full breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the park’s visitor information office with your lunch pack for a briefing by a ranger guide on your day’s activity-the dos and don’ts during your gorilla trekking experience. After the briefing, you will be led by an experienced lead ranger-guide hiking into the forest. This may take a few hours to a full day depending on the location of the gorillas as well as your physical fitness/speed. Once you locate a gorilla family, your lead guide will give additional safety briefing offering you maximum safety and a lifetime experience with the gorillas. It is such a humbling experience standing just a few meters from the gentle giants in their natural habitat. After your life time encounter with the gorillas, you’ll return to the lodge for a deserved relaxation or optionally participate in Batwa community experience to learn more about these indigenous forest people also known as the Batwa pygmies who accepted to relocate from the forest to allow gorilla conservation.

Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Buhoma Haven Lodge

Gorilla Tracking Vs Gorilla Habituation Experience:

Unlike normal gorilla tracking that allows a maximum of 8 people per group to view a habituated gorilla family for up to 1 classic hour, Gorilla habituation is a scientific research process that allows a maximum of 4 visitors to take part in a research process that makes wild gorillas get used to the presence of tourists. In Gorilla habituation, you spend up to 4 memorable hours with a gorilla family being habituated studying their day to day activities and individual gorilla behaviour. However, gorilla habituation permit costs a little more as you will see in our inclusions and exclusions, please let us know at the time of booking should you opt to do gorilla habituation as opposed to normal gorilla tracking.

Day 7: Transfer Back to Entebbe or Kigali

After breakfast, begin your journey departing the impenetrable home of the mountain gorillas.

If returning to Entebbe, expect a relatively longer drive broken down into coffee and scenic stopovers including a stop at the Equator for souvenirs and lunch.
If exiting via Kigali, the drive is shorter and smoother, crossing into Rwanda with views of terraced hills. However, we recommend you apply for an East African Tourist Visa from the first country of entry that allows you seamless entrance to Rwanda.

Your guide will drop you off at the airport or hotel, marking the end of your safari.

End of the safari

Safari Cost per person $3,996

Note: This safari cost is based on a minimum of 2pax sharing a double /twin room

Please Note: This itinerary can be customised to suit your interest(s), time and budget