$3,653 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Entebbe to Murchison Falls & The Top of the Falls Hike
Entebbe to Murchison Falls & The Top of the Falls Hike
Your expedition begins with an early morning departure from Entebbe, heading north through vibrant trading centers and the sprawling green landscape of central Uganda. Enjoy a lunch stop before entering the gates of Murchison Falls National Park. Your first spectacular encounter is a guided hike to the dramatic Top of the Falls. Stand at the edge of the escarpment and feel the ground vibrate as the entire River Nile forces its massive volume through a narrow, 7-meter rock gorge. Watch the water plummet 43 meters below into a churning cauldron, creating a permanent, rainbow-tinted mist before you transfer to your lodge for dinner.
As Uganda’s largest and oldest protected area, Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the historic Victoria Nile. It forms the core of a massive conservation ecosystem where rolling palm-dotted savannahs meet plunging river canyons, creating a dramatic theater for Africa’s classic big game.
- Main Destination:
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Accommodation:
- Sambiya River Lodge
Wildlife in Murchison Falls NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Sunrise Savannah Safari & The Victoria Nile Boat Cruise
Sunrise Savannah Safari & The Victoria Nile Boat Cruise
Wake up for a sunrise game drive along the fertile northern tracks. In the crisp morning air, look across the golden grasslands to spot massive herds of Rothschild’s giraffes, elephants, Cape buffaloes, and elegant Jackson’s hartebeests. Keep your eyes sharp for resident lion prides and leopards resting in the branches of lone acacia trees. Have a midday rest and lunch.
In the afternoon, board a classic riverboat safari launching upstream toward the base of the falls. Glide past hundreds of massive hippo pods, sunbathing Nile crocodiles, and thirsty wildlife lining the riverbanks, coming to a halt just meters away from the foaming, thunderous falls.
Victoria Nile Delta: The waters below Murchison Falls host one of the highest concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in Africa. It is also an internationally recognized birding paradise, serving as a vital habitat for rare species like the prehistoric-looking Shoebill stork and Goliath heron.
- Main Destination:
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Accommodation:
- Sambiya River Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Western Journey to the Primate Capital & Bigodi Wetland
Western Journey to the Primate Capital & Bigodi Wetland
Bid farewell to the Nile and begin a beautiful, day drive traveling southwest along the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. The route offers spectacular views of distant blue mountain ranges and Lake Albert, winding past bustling local markets and endless, terraced tea estates.
Arrive at your accommodation at the edge of the Kibale Forest in time for lunch. In the afternoon, set out for a guided walk through the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This boardwalk trail winds through a vibrant jungle swamp, offering an exceptional opportunity to spot a variety of monkeys and the striking, colorful Great Blue Turaco bird
The Albertine Rift Region is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. The shifting elevations create a rich tapestry of microclimates, transitioning seamlessly from scorching savannah basins to lush, high-altitude rainforests that support rare endemic species.
- Main Destination:
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (Kibale NP)
- Accommodation:
- Kibale Forest Camp (Safari Tent)
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Chimpanzee Tracking & The Rift Valley Escarpment
Chimpanzee Tracking & The Rift Valley Escarpment
Wake up to the echoing calls of a waking rainforest. After a morning briefing from expert park rangers, plunge into the ancient canopy of Kibale Forest for your Chimpanzee trekking adventure. Move through the dense foliage as your guide tracks the vocalizations of a habituated community. Spend an unforgettable hour watching our closest wild relatives groom, play, vocalize, and swing effortlessly through the branches. Return to the accomodation for lunch before journeying south. Descend down the Rift Valley escarpment, cross the Equator, and arrive at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park just as the sun sets over the wild plains.
Kibale National Park: Famous as the "Primate Capital of the World," Kibale protects an exceptional expanse of low-to-mid altitude rainforest. It harbors the highest density and diversity of primates on the African continent—13 distinct species in total—making it a world-class center for wildlife photography and conservation.
- Main Destination:
- Kibale National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Wildlife in Kibale NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Kasenyi Sunrise Safari & The Iconic Kazinga Channel Cruise
Kasenyi Sunrise Safari & The Iconic Kazinga Channel Cruise
Dawn brings your best opportunity to see predators active on the savannah. Set out onto the Kasenyi Plains as the first golden rays of light break over the horizon. Watch massive herds of Uganda Kob graze watchfully, keeping a sharp eye out for stalking lion prides and elusive leopards. Large elephant herds and buffaloes frequently cross the safari tracks. Return to your lodge to rest during the heat of the day. In the afternoon, embark on a premier highlight: a boat cruise along the natural Kazinga Channel. This unique waterway links Lake Edward and Lake George, allowing you to float safely just meters away from giant hippos, crocodiles, and drinking elephants.
Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometer-long natural channel acts as a magnetic pull for wildlife across the entire park ecosystem. During the afternoon heat, it turns into an incredible open-air theater where hundreds of bird species, elephants, buffaloes, and plains game gather along the cool shores to drink and bathe.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Accommodation:
- Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Transfer to the Forest Edge & The Ancient Batwa Experience
Transfer to the Forest Edge & The Ancient Batwa Experience
Enjoy breakfast before embarking on a beautiful morning drive south out of the savannah plains, traveling through rural communities and climbing into the majestic, mist-veiled Kigezi Highlands. Arrive at your lodge on the boundary of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in time for lunch. Take the early afternoon to unwind, soak in the crisp mountain air, and watch the clouds float over the ancient canopy. Later, step back in time with an immersive cultural experience hosted by the indigenous Batwa people. The forest elders will demonstrate their traditional hunter-gatherer survival skills, ancient fire-making, and forest medicine, concluding with a powerful performance of traditional songs and dances.
Living on the edge of a global conservation stronghold creates a unique relationship between people and wildlife. Interacting with the Batwa: the historical keepers of the forest, offers travelers a deeply moving perspective on ancient human survival and the modern challenges of conservation.
- Main Destination:
- Batwa Experience (Highlight)
- Accommodation:
- Bweza Gorilla Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Once-in-a-Lifetime Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Once-in-a-Lifetime Mountain Gorilla Trekking
This is the pinnacle day of your African expedition. After an early breakfast, head to the park station for a vital safety and etiquette briefing. Accompanied by experienced track rangers and armed guards, you will step into the emerald depths of the ancient rainforest. The trek can take anywhere from one to six hours, navigating steep, vine-covered ridges, but all exhaustion disappears the moment your guide parts the branches to reveal a family of Mountain Gorillas. Spend a magical, silent hour just meters away from these gentle giants. Watch a massive silverback protectively watch his family while mothers cradle infants and playful juveniles tumble through the leaves. Return to the lodge for a celebratory meal.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an incredibly ancient biological island that survived the last ice age, making it roughly 25,000 years old. This dense, tangled jungle protects nearly half of the world's remaining population of endangered Mountain Gorillas.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Bweza Gorilla Lodge
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Across the Equator to Entebbe
Across the Equator to Entebbe
Enjoy your final morning breakfast surrounded by the misty forest canopy before beginning your return journey north toward Entebbe. Drive through the beautiful rolling terraced hills of the Kigezi region, passing pastoral fields of long-horned Ankole cattle. Stop along the way at the iconic Uganda Equator line for a hot lunch, fun water-flow experiments, and souvenir shopping. Continue your drive through the city outskirts, arriving back at Entebbe International Airport by late afternoon or early evening for your onward international journey home or check in at your hotel.
This classic cross-country drive showcases the remarkable geographic transition of Uganda. Traveling from the high-altitude volcanic gorilla mountains back down to the expansive shores of Lake Victoria provides a beautiful, reflective finale to your 8-day wild loop.
- Main Destination:
- Entebbe (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
