7-Day Uganda Safari Experience

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be warmly received by our professional driver-guide from Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd, who will brief you on your upcoming safari adventure. Immediately after, you’ll embark on a scenic road transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest protected area.

Your first stop en route will be at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can observe white rhinos in the wild. Accompanied by an expert 7-Day Uganda Safari Experience guide, you’ll embark on a walking safari to track the rhinos, observing these endangered giants up close as they roam freely within the sanctuary’s savannah and woodland landscape.

Following this exhilarating experience, continue to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, you’ll hike to the top of the thunderous Murchison Falls, where the world’s longest river, the Nile, dramatically forces its way through a narrow 7-meter gorge before plunging 45 meters into the depths below. This viewpoint offers magnificent photo opportunities and a sense of awe at nature’s raw power.

Later in the evening, enjoy your first game drive through the park’s northern circuit where chances are high to spot lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs, and various antelope species in their natural habitat. Dinner and overnight stay at Pakuba Safari Lodge, offering excellent views of the Nile River and abundant wildlife at your doorstep.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

After a delightful breakfast at Pakuba Safari Lodge, embark on a final early morning game drive through Murchison Falls’ savannahs. This is one of the best times to spot predators on the hunt, herds of elephants grazing, and hippos retreating from their night feeding.

After your morning safari, you’ll begin your journey southwest to Kibale Forest National Park, often referred to as the primates’ capital of the world. The drive takes you through scenic countryside, with rolling hills, traditional homesteads, and lush tea plantations. Along the way, your 7-Day Uganda Safari Experience guide will share cultural insights and point out geographical landmarks.

Upon arrival in Kibale, check in at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, your serene home nestled within the forest edge. In the afternoon, venture into the nearby Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary for a guided nature walk. This rich wetland ecosystem is known for its biodiversity, especially bird species such as the Great Blue Turaco, and offers chances to spot monkeys, bush pigs, and butterflies. The walk also supports community-based tourism, with funds aiding local conservation efforts.

Relax in the evening with a hearty meal as you prepare for an exciting chimpanzee tracking experience the next day.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Rise early for breakfast before heading to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for your chimpanzee tracking expedition. After a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, you’ll venture into the lush Kibale Forest in search of habituated chimpanzee families. The experience of observing these intelligent primates in their natural habitat is unforgettable. You’ll witness them feeding, grooming, swinging through the canopy, and communicating in their social groups.

Chimpanzee tracking may last 2–4 hours depending on the location of the primates. Once located, you are allowed a full hour to observe and photograph them, always maintaining a respectful distance. Kibale is also home to 13 other primate species, including red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, L’Hoest’s monkey, and more.

After the tracking, return to the lodge for lunch and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular safari destination, renowned for its diverse wildlife and picturesque landscapes. You’ll arrive in time for a sunset boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. This scenic cruise offers exceptional sightings of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a variety of waterbirds.

Complete the day with a brief evening game drive as you head to your lodge.

Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, embark on a morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, the best area in Queen Elizabeth National Park for spotting predators such as lions and leopards, as well as buffaloes, Uganda kobs, elephants, hyenas, and warthogs.

Following your game drive, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. As you exit Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha Sector, keep your eyes peeled for a rare and remarkable sight—tree-climbing lions. This unique lion population is often found lounging in the fig and acacia trees, a behavior seen in only a few places in Africa. Your 7-Day Uganda Safari Experience guide will help spot them and explain the theories behind their arboreal habits, such as avoiding tsetse flies or keeping cool in the midday heat.

The scenic journey continues through Uganda’s rolling highlands, with terraced hills and charming rural settlements dotting the landscape. You’ll arrive in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its rich biodiversity and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to track mountain gorillas.

Check in at the Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, where you’ll be welcomed with warm hospitality, panoramic forest views, and eco-friendly luxury amenities. After a long day of travel and game viewing, unwind with a hot shower, delicious dinner, and serene sounds of the forest.

Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

This is the highlight of your 7-Day Uganda Safari Experience —the day you come face to face with the gentle giants of the forest. After an early breakfast, you’ll proceed to the Bwindi National Park briefing point, where expert rangers will assign you to one of the habituated gorilla families and brief you on gorilla trekking guidelines.

The trek through the dense rainforest can be strenuous, taking anywhere from 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorillas. But the moment you lay eyes on a silverback and his family—watching them feed, play, and interact—is a moment that will stay with you forever. You’ll be allowed a precious one hour in their presence to observe, learn, and photograph, all while maintaining a respectful distance to ensure minimal disturbance.

After the trek, return to your lodge for a well-deserved lunch and some relaxation.

In the afternoon, dive into a cultural journey with the Batwa pygmies, the indigenous forest dwellers who once called Bwindi home. The Batwa Cultural Experience offers authentic insight into their ancient lifestyle. You’ll learn about their hunting techniques, traditional songs, dances, fire-making, and forest survival skills. This experience not only supports Batwa communities but also enriches your understanding of the forest’s cultural and ecological significance.

Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After an early breakfast, bid farewell to the mystical Bwindi Forest as you begin your scenic journey back to Kampala or Entebbe. The drive offers another chance to enjoy Uganda’s diverse landscape—lush hills, banana plantations, tea estates, and vibrant roadside markets selling fresh produce, crafts, and souvenirs.

Along the way, your 7-Day Uganda Safari Experience guide will schedule stopovers for stretching, photo opportunities at the Equator line, and a hearty lunch at a selected midway restaurant.

Upon arrival in Entebbe, you will check in at the comfortable Best Western Garden Hotel Entebbe, conveniently located for your departure flight the next day. You may spend your evening at leisure—relax at the hotel, or take a short walk to Victoria Mall or Lake Victoria’s shoreline to unwind.

Accommodation: Best Western Garden Hotel Entebbe
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Today marks the end of your incredible 7-day Uganda Big Five, Chimpanzee, and Gorilla Safari experience. After breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, our driver will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight back home.

You depart with unforgettable memories of thrilling game drives, close encounters with chimpanzees and gorillas, cultural experiences, and the warmth and hospitality of the Ugandan people. This 7-Day Uganda Safari Experience leaves not only footprints in the wild but also lasting impressions on your heart.

Meal Plan: Breakfast Only

End of 7-Day Uganda Safari Experience