10-Day Uganda Safari Experience

Welcome to Uganda! Your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience begins with a warm reception at Entebbe International Airport by a professional guide from Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd. After arrival formalities, you’ll be transferred to Best Western Garden Hotel in Entebbe for check-in and relaxation. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore the nearby Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Victoria Mall, or enjoy a sunset stroll along the shores of Lake Victoria.

Your stay at Best Western Garden Hotel provides a comfortable beginning to your safari. This centrally located hotel features modern amenities, including air-conditioned rooms, high-speed internet, and continental dining options. Take the time to rest and prepare for an exciting journey ahead. During dinner, your guide will brief you on the upcoming itinerary, provide travel tips, and answer any questions you might have.

This day marks the official start of your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience, setting the tone for a journey filled with wildlife, wonder, and warm Ugandan hospitality.

• Accommodation: Best Western Garden Hotel
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

The second day of your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience begins early with a scenic drive to Mabamba Swamp, a birding haven on the northern shore of Lake Victoria. Here, you’ll embark on a guided canoe excursion through papyrus channels in search of the elusive shoebill stork—one of the most sought-after birds in Africa. Mabamba is also home to over 300 bird species, making it a paradise for ornithologists and photographers alike.

After your shoebill adventure, enjoy lunch en route as you proceed to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This private wildlife reserve is the only place in Uganda where you can track wild rhinos on foot. On arrival, check in at Amuka Safari Lodge, a rustic and eco-friendly accommodation nestled in the woodlands of Nakasongola. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing around a campfire or enjoying a swim in the lodge’s pool. Dine under the stars as you prepare for an exciting day of rhino tracking tomorrow.

This stop introduces you to the first of the Big Five during your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience, bringing you closer to fulfilling a true African safari dream.

• Accommodation: Amuka Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience continues with an early morning rhino tracking session at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Accompanied by armed rangers, walk through the bush to get up-close with these magnificent giants in their natural environment. Capture photographs and learn about rhino conservation efforts.

Later, drive north to Murchison Falls National Park—the largest and oldest national park in Uganda. En route, stop for lunch before entering the park to visit the famous Top of the Falls. Here, the mighty Nile River explodes through a narrow 7-meter gorge and plunges 43 meters into the Devil’s Cauldron, creating the world’s most powerful waterfall.

Check in at Pakuba Safari Lodge in the heart of the park before embarking on a sunset game drive. Murchison’s savannah plains are home to lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, giraffes, and various antelope species. This exhilarating drive concludes your first full day inside the wild wonders of Uganda.

Enjoy a hearty dinner and overnight stay at Pakuba Safari Lodge as your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience builds momentum.

• Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Rise early for a morning game drive through Murchison’s northern circuit. Spot herds of Uganda kob, hartebeests, waterbucks, and, if lucky, the elusive leopard. Capture golden-hour wildlife photos and immerse yourself in the raw beauty of Uganda’s wilderness.

After breakfast, continue your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience with a scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park—home to the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy packed lunch en route and take in the changing landscapes from open savannahs to forested hills.

Arrive at Kibale Forest Camp in the late afternoon and settle into your eco-luxury tented accommodation. Surrounded by dense forest and vibrant birdlife, the camp offers a serene atmosphere to unwind before your chimpanzee tracking adventure tomorrow.

Dinner is served at the camp’s open-air restaurant, where you can enjoy organic meals prepared with local ingredients. Reflect on your journey so far and prepare for another unforgettable encounter with Uganda’s incredible biodiversity.

The 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience continues to thrill with every passing day, revealing a new layer of Uganda’s natural treasures.

• Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Your unforgettable 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience continues on Day 5 with an incredible opportunity to engage with one of our closest relatives—the chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park. After an early breakfast at Kibale Forest Camp, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing led by expert Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers. The forest is known as the primate capital of East Africa, and your chimpanzee tracking expedition offers the chance to observe not only the chimpanzees in their natural habitat but also other primates such as black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Once you locate a troop of chimpanzees, you will spend an hour in their presence—a deeply moving experience as you watch them feed, groom, and communicate in their forest world. Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.

In the afternoon, embark on the Bigodi Swamp Walk, a community-led ecotourism initiative known for its rich biodiversity and vibrant birdlife. The wetland sanctuary is home to the great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, and other endemic species. Along the trail, your guide will introduce you to the flora, fauna, and cultural significance of the area.

Return to the camp for dinner and overnight. The 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience blends thrilling wildlife encounters with meaningful community interactions, enriching every moment of your journey.

• Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Day 6 of your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience takes you from the lush rainforests of Kibale to the savanna grasslands of Queen Elizabeth National Park—Uganda’s most biodiverse conservation area. Depart after an early breakfast and travel southward. Upon arrival at the park, enjoy a game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, famous for large herds of Uganda kobs and their predators, especially lions and leopards. Other animals you may spot include elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, hyenas, and various antelope species.

After your thrilling game drive, proceed to Aardvark Safari Lodge for a delicious lunch and rest. In the afternoon, head to Mweya Peninsula for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. This two-hour cruise is one of the highlights of the 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience, offering excellent wildlife viewing from the comfort of the boat. You’ll observe hippos bobbing in the water, crocodiles sunning on the banks, elephants drinking along the shores, and an extraordinary array of birdlife—including kingfishers, fish eagles, pelicans, and saddle-billed storks.

Return to Aardvark Safari Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. The harmony between land and water wildlife makes Queen Elizabeth National Park a truly unique safari destination.

• Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

The seventh day of your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience allows for a deeper exploration of Queen Elizabeth National Park. After an early breakfast, venture out on a morning game drive to cover new areas of the Kasenyi Plains. With each outing, the park reveals new wonders. Spot the elusive leopards lounging in fig trees, catch lions on the hunt, or witness dramatic buffalo confrontations.

This second game drive offers opportunities to revisit locations where previous sightings occurred and improve your chances of observing rare species or unique animal behavior. Your expert guide will enrich your experience with insights into animal tracking, behaviors, and park ecology.

Return to Aardvark Safari Lodge for a relaxing lunch. In the afternoon, you may choose to embark on another nature walk, a short birding session, or simply enjoy downtime at the lodge. The evening concludes with a hearty dinner and storytelling around the fire. This day solidifies Queen Elizabeth National Park’s place as a cornerstone of your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience.

• Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Day 8 of your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience starts with one final game drive through the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its rare tree-climbing lions. Keep your eyes on the low fig trees where these majestic cats often perch.

After the drive, head toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Arrive at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, check in, and enjoy a late lunch with views of the surrounding misty rainforest.

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in a Batwa cultural experience. The Batwa pygmies, the forest’s original inhabitants, share their rich history through song, dance, storytelling, and demonstrations of traditional hunting and fire-making. This community experience brings depth to your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience, offering cultural insights and promoting responsible tourism.

Dinner and overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge prepare you for the pinnacle moment of your journey the following day—mountain gorilla trekking.

• Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

On Day 9 of the 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience, you’ll partake in one of the most profound wildlife encounters on the planet: mountain gorilla trekking. Begin with an early breakfast before heading to the Rushaga sector headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority guides. You’ll learn about gorilla behavior, conservation efforts, and the rules of engagement during the trek.

Accompanied by rangers and trackers, your trek can take between 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of your assigned gorilla family. The journey itself is rewarding—taking you through dense forest, winding trails, and rich ecosystems. Upon locating the gorillas, you’ll spend one magical hour observing these gentle giants up close. Witness how the silverback leads the group, how mothers tend to infants, and how juveniles play—moments that will remain etched in your heart.

After this exhilarating experience, return to Rushaga Gorilla Lodge for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation. You may enjoy a massage, a nature walk around the lodge, or simply reflect on the day’s experience from your veranda. A special dinner awaits you in the evening, celebrating the success of your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience.

• Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

The final day of your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience begins with a hearty breakfast and check-out from Rushaga Gorilla Lodge. Your guide will drive you back to Entebbe, a scenic journey through Uganda’s highlands, rural villages, banana plantations, and rolling hills.

You’ll stop en route for lunch and souvenir shopping at local craft markets. Arrive at Entebbe International Airport in the afternoon for your flight back home. As your 10-Day Uganda Safari Experience concludes, you leave with unforgettable memories, stunning photographs, and a deep appreciation for Uganda’s wildlife and culture.

• Accommodation: End of Safari
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Drinking Water