10 Days Uganda Highlights – Entebbe, Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi, Kibale, Entebbe

Day 2 – Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After breakfast, transfer back to Entebbe Airport for your scheduled flight to Kihihi Airstrip. Upon arrival, meet your driver-guide for a short but scenic road transfer into the mist-covered hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to Uganda’s endangered mountain gorillas.

Arrive at Mahogany Springs Lodge in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure, enjoying the tranquil forest surroundings, taking in the panoramic views, or preparing for the exciting gorilla trekking experience ahead.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge
Travel Time:

• Flight: Entebbe to Kihihi – Approx. 1 hour
• Road Transfer: Kihihi to Bwindi – Approx. 1–1.5 hours

Day 3 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Park Headquarters for a briefing and allocation to your gorilla family group and professional ranger guide. Groups are limited to a maximum of eight trekkers, ensuring a low-impact and intimate experience.

Set off into the dense, misty rainforest in search of your assigned mountain gorilla troop. Trekking can take anywhere from one to several hours depending on the gorillas’ movements, as they roam freely through the forest. The terrain can be steep and thick with vegetation, making the assistance of a local porter essential—not only for your comfort and safety, but also as an important contribution to community-based conservation. Income earned by porters directly supports local families, helping reinforce the value of protecting gorillas and their habitat.

Once you locate the gorillas, spend a magical one hour observing them as they feed, play, and interact—an unforgettable wildlife encounter found nowhere else on earth.

Enjoy your packed lunch in the forest before making your way back down the mountain to the headquarters. Return to the lodge to rest and reflect on this extraordinary experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Day 4 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Today is a day at leisure, offering the chance to unwind or explore more of the cultural and natural wonders surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. You may choose to visit a Batwa community, where you can learn about the traditions, music, and forest-based lifestyle of the Batwa people, the original inhabitants of Bwindi.

Alternatively, a range of optional activities is available, including guided forest walks, birdwatching excursions, visits to local tea or coffee cooperatives, or simply relaxing at the lodge and enjoying the serene mountain scenery.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Day 5 – Bwindi to Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, depart Bwindi and drive to Ishasha, the remote and wildlife-rich southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This region is famed for its rare tree-climbing lions, often seen resting on the branches of giant fig trees—one of Africa’s most unique wildlife behaviours.

Enjoy a picnic lunch en route as you travel through scenic savannah plains and riverine forests. On arrival, embark on an afternoon game drive across the open Ishasha landscape. In addition to the iconic lions, this area offers exceptional opportunities to spot large herds of buffalo, elephants, topi, and Uganda kob. The Ishasha River also attracts hippos and a variety of birdlife, making the region a rewarding destination for both wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.

As the sun sets over the plains, continue to Ishasha Wilderness Camp, an intimate tented camp set along the riverbank, for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (picnic), Dinner
Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Day 6 – Ishasha to Mweya, Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, leave Ishasha and travel north through Queen Elizabeth National Park, entering a region renowned for its rich wildlife and dramatic volcanic scenery. The northern sector of the park is home to an impressive variety of animals including elephants, buffalo, lions, hyenas, warthogs, bushbucks, waterbucks, and large concentrations of hippos along the waterways. The sweeping plains and crater lakes also support an exceptional diversity of birdlife, making this area a paradise for bird enthusiasts.

Arrive at Mweya Safari Lodge, perched on a peninsula overlooking the Kazinga Channel and framed by the majestic Rwenzori Mountains—the legendary “Mountains of the Moon.” Their cloud-draped peaks create a spectacular backdrop for your stay.

This afternoon is yours to relax or take advantage of one of the park’s highlights: a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel (optional). This leisurely cruise brings you up close to hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, and countless bird species gathered along the banks—offering incredible wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities.

Return to the lodge to enjoy the serene atmosphere, panoramic views, and vibrant wildlife activity surrounding the peninsula.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 7 – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Spend today exploring the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park on morning and afternoon game drives. This region offers excellent opportunities to spot elephants, buffalo, lions, hyenas, antelope species, and large concentrations of hippos along the waterways. The diverse habitats—ranging from open savannah to crater-dotted plains—make each game drive unique and rewarding.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a short break before heading out again as the temperatures cool and wildlife becomes more active. In the late afternoon, keep an eye out for predators beginning to hunt and for the vibrant birdlife that thrives throughout the region.

As the sun sets over the Kazinga Channel and Rwenzori backdrop, return to Mweya Safari Lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 8 – Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest

After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and begin your journey toward the lush landscapes of Kibale Forest, home to the highest concentration of chimpanzees in East Africa. Along the way, stop at the Equator for the classic photo opportunity—one of Uganda’s most iconic landmarks marking the spot where the northern and southern hemispheres meet.

Continue through rolling tea plantations and scenic highlands before arriving at Primate Lodge, located at the edge of Kibale National Park. Settle in and enjoy the peaceful forest surroundings as you prepare for the chimpanzee tracking adventures that await.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Primate Lodge

Day 9 – Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest

This morning, set off for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, one of the best places in Africa to encounter wild chimpanzees. After a briefing at the park headquarters, head into the thick tropical forest with your ranger guide, listening for the calls and rustling that signal a nearby troop.

Once located, spend time observing these energetic primates as they feed, groom, play, and move through the trees—an exhilarating and intimate wildlife encounter.

If time permits in the afternoon, you may visit the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run conservation area known for its rich birdlife, primates, and lush vegetation. The boardwalk trail offers the chance to spot species such as the great blue turaco, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and many others.

Return to Primate Lodge for dinner and a restful evening in the forest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Primate Lodge

Day 10 – Kibale Forest to Entebbe via Kampala

After breakfast, begin your drive back toward Entebbe, travelling through Uganda’s vibrant central region. En route, stop in Kampala, the bustling capital city, for a short city tour that offers a glimpse into Uganda’s cultural, historical, and modern highlights. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your journey.

Arrive in Entebbe later in the afternoon, marking the end of your safari adventure. You will be dropped at your preferred location—your hotel or the airport—for your onward travel plans.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Not included (end of tour)