All-Inclusive 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Your unforgettable 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari begins with a warm welcome by your dedicated safari guide from Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd either at your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala or at Entebbe International Airport (EBB) if arriving this day. After a quick briefing and loading your bags into our custom 4×4 safari vehicle, we begin the scenic drive north towards Murchison Falls National Park. This drive introduces you to Uganda’s charming rural landscape dotted with green fields, cattle farms, banana plantations, and traditional thatched huts.

Our first major stop is at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild. A ranger-led white rhino tracking experience allows you to walk safely within close range of these endangered giants as they graze peacefully in the bush. This conservation success story plays a vital role in restoring Uganda’s Big Five heritage.

After Rhino Tracking

After lunch at a local restaurant or the sanctuary’s café, we continue our 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari journey through the town of Masindi, entering the park via the southern gate. Depending on your arrival time, we might enjoy a short game drive en route to your lodge situated near the Nile River. Settle into your lodge, enjoy a hearty dinner, and soak in the sounds of the African wilderness.

Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge / Pakuba Safari Lodge / Twiga Safari Lodge
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Adventure in Murchison Falls National Park

Wake up to the calls of the wild and head out early for a sunrise game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. This time of day offers the best chances of spotting predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas as they complete their nocturnal hunts. Keep your eyes peeled for elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffalo, Ugandan kobs, and countless antelope species across the open savannah.

Return to your lodge for a full breakfast, some relaxation, and lunch before heading for one of Uganda’s most iconic wildlife experiences—a boat cruise on the Nile River. This leisurely 3-hour safari takes you upstream to the base of Murchison Falls, the world’s most powerful waterfall. En route, observe pods of hippos, crocodiles basking in the sun, and a dazzling array of birdlife including the African fish eagle, saddle-billed stork, and kingfishers. At the base of the falls, you’ll witness the Nile dramatically plunging through a narrow 7-meter gorge, creating thunderous spray and rainbow mist.

Return to your lodge for dinner under the stars and share stories by the campfire.

Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge / Pakuba Safari Lodge / Twiga Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities: Sunrise Game Drive, Nile Boat Cruise

Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After an early breakfast, we depart Murchison Falls and journey southwest to the Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of East Africa. This route winds through the lush green countryside, remote villages, rolling tea plantations, and beautiful vistas of crater lakes. The drive, while long (approximately 6 hours), is incredibly scenic and offers a rich glimpse into rural Ugandan life.

Lunch will be served en route, after which we arrive in Fort Portal, a vibrant town nestled in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. We continue onward to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run conservation area known for its exceptional biodiversity and birdlife. Here, a local guide will lead a peaceful guided primate walk, introducing you to species such as the red colobus monkey, black-and-white colobus, and the L’Hoest monkey. The sanctuary is also a birdwatcher’s paradise with sightings of the Great Blue Turaco, papyrus gonolek, and many more.

In the evening, check into your forest lodge surrounded by nature’s soundtrack.

Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Turaco Treetops / Ndali Lodge (Luxury Upgrade)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Bigodi Wetland Primate Walk

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park

Today of 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari you’ll experience one of the most thrilling primate encounters on the planet—Chimpanzee Tracking in the lush rainforests of Kibale National Park. After a hearty breakfast, we head to the park headquarters for a safety briefing led by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. The tracking starts with an easy hike into the dense forest, home to over 1,500 chimpanzees as well as 11 other primate species.

Tracking can take 1-4 hours, depending on the troop’s location, and once found, you will spend an unforgettable hour watching the chimps as they swing through trees, groom each other, feed, or call out in loud pant-hooting choruses. Along the way, your 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari guide will point out birds, butterflies, and medicinal plants that make Kibale a botanical gem.

Important to Note

Return to your lodge for lunch and some downtime, or explore the crater lakes nearby with your guide.

Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Turaco Treetops / Ndali Lodge (Luxury Upgrade)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: Chimpanzee Tracking Experience

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, we set off on a picturesque drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse and scenic protected areas. The 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari journey offers panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, lush farmlands, and volcanic crater lakes dotting the landscape. As we approach the park, we’ll enter the northern section and begin our first game drive, searching for elephants, buffalo, antelopes, and perhaps a lazy lion resting under a fig tree.

Our experienced 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari guide will choose the most rewarding routes for wildlife viewing depending on the time of day. Along the way, we may encounter troops of olive baboons or vervet monkeys. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch or a late afternoon game drive.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge / Elephant Plains Lodge / Enganzi Game Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities: Scenic Drive, Optional Game Drive on Arrival

Adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today begins with a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, famous for large concentrations of Ugandan kobs, which often attract predators like lions and leopards. Keep your camera ready as the early hours often yield spectacular sightings of wildlife in action.

After breakfast and a bit of relaxation, we embark on an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that links Lake Edward and Lake George. This section of the park is teeming with hippos, Nile crocodiles, and hundreds of birds including pink-backed pelicans, African skimmers, and yellow-billed storks. You’ll also see buffalo and elephants coming down to drink, offering breathtaking photo opportunities.

The day ends with dinner and storytelling at your lodge.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge / Elephant Plains Lodge / Enganzi Game Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities: Morning Game Drive, Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Game Drive in Ishasha Sector

The 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari adventure continues as you depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and journey toward the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This stretch of your Uganda safari experience is not only scenic but also incredibly rewarding for wildlife viewing. Your route takes you through the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, a unique area famed for its population of tree-climbing lions. These rare lions can often be seen lounging on the large fig and acacia trees, and our experienced guides will help you spot them as you drive through the area. Additionally, the Ishasha plains are rich with Uganda kob, buffaloes, elephants, and topis, offering great photography moments.

Journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After your exciting game drive in Ishasha, continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. The drive through southwestern Uganda’s rolling hills, terraced farms, and lush forests offers captivating views of rural African life. Upon arrival at your lodge, you can relax and soak in the serene forest surroundings or opt for a guided community walk to interact with the local Batwa or Bakiga communities. These cultural interactions are a great prelude to the gorilla experience the next day, offering deep insights into the region’s people, traditions, and conservation efforts. Overnight in a safari lodge or camp near the gorilla trekking trailhead, preparing you for the life-changing encounter the next morning.

Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi

This day marks the climax of your 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari adventure with Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd – an extraordinary opportunity to meet the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. After an early breakfast, you’ll proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You’ll be assigned a gorilla family to track based on your fitness level and interest. Trekking can take anywhere from 2 to 7 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family, but the reward is well worth it.

The journey through Bwindi’s thick foliage is a thrilling jungle hike through bamboo and dense vines, guided by experienced trackers. Once you locate the gorilla family, you’re allowed to spend a magical hour with them—observing their behaviors, watching the silverback guard his group, mothers caring for infants, and juveniles playing. It is a deeply emotional and humbling experience.

Sustainable Tourism

Gorilla trekking is strictly regulated, ensuring sustainable tourism and gorilla conservation. Your 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari guide will help you understand gorilla behaviors and photography etiquette. After the trek, you’ll return to the lodge for a hot meal and well-deserved rest. You may choose to spend the afternoon at leisure or join an optional cultural tour to meet the Batwa pygmies—forest dwellers who once shared the habitat with gorillas. Their songs, dances, and storytelling offer enriching perspectives on traditional forest life and coexistence with wildlife.

Overnight at your Bwindi lodge, sharing stories of the day’s incredible encounters.

Return to Entebbe

As your 9-day Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari draws to a close, enjoy a hearty breakfast at your lodge before embarking on your return journey. The scenic drive back to Entebbe or Kampala takes approximately 8–10 hours, depending on the exact route, but the landscapes along the way are stunning. From mountainous terrain to banana plantations and vibrant villages, the return offers more chances to witness Uganda’s rural charm.

You will have a lunch stop en route and opportunities for last-minute souvenir shopping at local craft markets. If your flight departs late in the evening, Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd can arrange a comfortable dayroom for you to rest and freshen up before the airport transfer. Alternatively, if you prefer to exit Uganda via Rwanda, we can arrange a cross-border transfer to Kigali International Airport, which is about a 4–5-hour drive from Bwindi.

Your professional 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari guide will ensure your comfort and safety until your drop-off. This marks the end of your unforgettable safari experience across Uganda’s top wildlife destinations. We hope you leave with cherished memories and a deeper appreciation of Africa’s rich biodiversity and cultures.

Optional Luxury Upgrades for Your Uganda Safari Experience

Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd offers a wide array of luxury upgrade options for travelers seeking a premium safari experience. Upgrade your accommodation to high-end lodges like Nile Safari Lodge in Murchison Falls, Kyaninga Lodge in Kibale, Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Queen Elizabeth, and Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in Bwindi. These lodges feature spacious en-suite rooms, private decks, swimming pools, fine dining, and spa services—perfect for unwinding after adventurous days.

For transportation, upgrade to a 4×4 luxury Land Cruiser with reclining leather seats, a refrigerator, and Wi-Fi for maximum comfort during road transfers. Fly-in options with scheduled or private chartered flights are available between major parks, saving travel time and enhancing convenience. You can also include exclusive bush breakfasts, sunset sundowners, and private guided experiences to make your 9-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari truly personalized and unforgettable.

Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd is happy to customize your itinerary to match your luxury preferences.