14-Day Grand Uganda Explorer Safari

Arrive in Uganda and meet your Ngaro Wild Adventures safari director. Set out on an orientation tour of Kampala exploring the royal Buganda heritage, lively craft markets, and prominent national monuments before an evening safari briefing.

• Morning: Pick-up from Entebbe International Airport or hotel
• 10:00 AM–01:00 PM: Guided visits to the Uganda Museum and the historic Kabaka’s Palace (Mengo)
• 01:30 PM: Traditional Ugandan lunch experience in the city
• 03:30 PM: Exploration of Nakasero Market and craft villages for art and photography
• 07:00 PM: Welcome dinner and expedition orientation

Depart Kampala northwards to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track endangered southern white rhinos on foot with expert rangers. Continue to Murchison Falls National Park, stopping at the dramatic top of the falls where the Nile forces itself through a 7-meter gorge.

• 06:30 AM: Departure from Kampala heading north (approx. 3 hrs to Ziwa)
• 09:30–11:30 AM: Guided bush walk to track wild white rhinos at close range
• 12:30 PM: Lunch at Kabalega Diners
• 03:30–05:00 PM: Visit the thundering Top of Murchison Falls
• 06:00 PM: Check-in and evening relaxation at the safari lodge

Embark on an early morning game drive across the northern savannahs in search of lions, leopards, Rothschild’s giraffes, elephants, and Jackson’s hartebeests. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise up the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls.

• 06:30–10:30 AM: Sunrise wildlife game drive through the Buligi game track area
• 12:00 PM: Return to the lodge for lunch and midday rest
• 02:00–05:00 PM: Victoria Nile boat cruise to view pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and elephant herds
• Late Afternoon: Sunset wildlife viewing along the riverbanks

Journey south along the Albertine Rift Valley escarpment, passing scenic tea plantations and traditional homesteads on your way to Fort Portal and the primate-rich rainforest of Kibale National Park.

• 07:30 AM: Scenic drive through Hoima and the Albertine Rift (approx. 7–8 hrs)
• 01:00 PM: Lunch stopover in Kagadi / Fort Portal
• 04:00 PM: Arrival in the Kibale Forest crater belt and lodge check-in
• 05:30 PM: Evening nature walk around the lodge grounds

Enter Kibale Forest for an exhilarating chimpanzee adventure among 13 primate species, followed by an afternoon eco-walk through the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

• 07:30 AM: Ranger briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Center
• Option A – Classic Chimpanzee Tracking: 08:00 AM: Guided trek to spend 1 full hour observing a habituated chimpanzee troop.
• Option B – Chimpanzee Habituation Experience: Spend 4 full hours accompanying researchers through the forest canopy.
• 02:30–05:30 PM: Bigodi Wetland boardwalk tour to spot Great Blue Turacos and diverse monkey species

Explore the stunning volcanic explosion craters around Fort Portal before driving south across the Equator to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a sunset savannah wildlife safari.

• 08:30 AM: Guided walking tour around the Ndali-Kasenda crater rims
• 11:30 AM: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx. 2–3 hrs)
• 01:00 PM: Lodge check-in and lunch
• 04:00–06:30 PM: Late afternoon game drive across the Kasenyi plains tracking big cats and elephants

Set out at dawn to track lions and leopards on the open plains of Kasenyi, followed by a world-class afternoon boat safari along the Kazinga Channel connecting Lake George and Lake Edward.

• 06:00 AM: Early morning wildlife tracking drive across Kasenyi plains
• 12:00 PM: Lunch and rest at the lodge
• 02:00–04:00 PM: Boat safari on Kazinga Channel with exceptional views of bathing elephants and hippos
• 05:00 PM: Scenic drive along the Katwe explosion crater drive

Drive south through the Ishasha wilderness sector, famed for its tree-climbing lions resting in large fig branches, before climbing the Kigezi highlands to the edge of Bwindi Forest.

• 07:30 AM: Morning departure toward the southern Ishasha sector
• 09:30–12:30 PM: Game drive through Ishasha searching for tree-climbing lions and topis
• 01:00 PM: Picnic or lodge lunch
• 04:00 PM: Arrival in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and lodge check-in
• 07:00 PM: Dinner and detailed briefing on mountain gorilla trekking etiquette

The crown jewel of your safari: trek into the mist-covered afro-montane forest for an unforgettable encounter with wild mountain gorillas, followed by an evening Batwa cultural immersion.

• 07:00 AM: Transfer to UWA park headquarters for briefing and ranger assignment
• 08:00 AM: Guided rainforest trek into the ancient jungle
• Option A – Classic Gorilla Tracking: Spend 1 full hour observing and photographing a habituated gorilla family.
• Option B – Gorilla Habituation Experience: Spend 4 full hours alongside researchers and trackers.
• 03:30–05:30 PM: Authentic Batwa cultural experience learning traditional forest survival skills

Take a scenic mountain drive to Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s second-deepest lake dotted with 29 lush islands. Spend the afternoon exploring the islands by motorized boat or traditional dugout canoe.

• 09:00 AM: Leisurely departure from Bwindi through terraced hills (approx. 2–3 hrs)
• 12:00 PM: Arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, check-in, and lakeside lunch
• 02:30–05:30 PM: Island boat cruise visiting Punishment Island, Bushara Island, and local communities
• 06:00 PM: Sunset photography and relaxation by the lake

Drive east through Mbarara to Lake Mburo National Park, a scenic savannah basin famous for vast herds of zebras, elands, impalas, and giraffes. Head out on a late afternoon savannah game drive.

• 08:30 AM: Departure from Lake Bunyonyi (approx. 4–5 hrs)
• 01:00 PM: Lodge check-in and hot lunch inside or near the park
• 03:30–06:30 PM: Open-roof savannah game drive to view zebras, buffaloes, giraffes, and leopards
• 07:30 PM: Campfire dinner overlooking the acacia valley

Experience an intimate walking safari in the African bush alongside an armed ranger to approach wildlife on foot. Continue east past the Equator monument toward Jinja, the adventure capital at the Source of the River Nile.

• 06:45–08:45 AM: Guided savannah bush walking safari
• 09:30 AM: Depart toward Jinja with a photo stop at the Uganda Equator
• 01:00 PM: En-route lunch
• 05:00 PM: Arrival in Jinja and check-in at your Nile-view lodge

Visit the historic point where the River Nile flows out of Lake Victoria on a boat cruise, followed by your choice of thrilling white-water rafting on the rapids or relaxing river adventures.

• 08:30–10:30 AM: Motorized boat cruise to the official Source of the River Nile and Speke Monument
• Option A – Grade 5 White-Water Rafting: Full or half-day adrenaline-fueled rafting excursion through world-famous Nile rapids.
• Option B – Leisure Nile Adventure: Kayaking, quad biking along rural riverbank trails, horseback safari, or lodge relaxation.
• 07:00 PM: Farewell celebratory dinner overlooking the Nile

Conclude your grand expedition with a gentle canopy walk through Mabira Rainforest to spot primates and endemic birds before your airport transfer for your international departure flight.

• 08:30 AM: Leisurely breakfast and departure from Jinja
• 09:30–11:30 AM: Guided nature walk in Mabira Forest reserve
• 01:00 PM: Farewell lunch in Entebbe
• Afternoon/Evening: Souvenir shopping and drop-off at Entebbe International Airport (EBB)