12-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Expedition

Day 1:  Welcome to Uganda

Arrive in Entebbe and meet your Rafiki representative for transfer to your accommodation. Depending on arrival time, relax or enjoy a gentle introduction to Entebbe and Lake Victoria.

Overnight: 2 Friends Beach Hotel, Boma Hotel, or similar.

Day 2: Entebbe → Kibale Forest

After breakfast and a safari briefing, travel west toward Kibale Forest National Park through fertile countryside, tea plantations and crater landscapes. Settle into the forest environment and prepare for the days ahead.

Overnight: Rubalika Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Turaco Treetops, Kibale Guest Cottages, or similar.

Day 3: Bigodi Wetland & Kibale Forest

Explore the community-managed Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary with a local guide. Walk through wetland and forest habitat while looking for red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys, olive baboons and abundant birdlife.

Overnight: Rubalika Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Turaco Treetops, Kibale Guest Cottages, or similar.

Day 4: Kibale → Queen Elizabeth National Park

An optional chimpanzee trekking experience can be arranged in advance, subject to permit availability. Afterwards, travel south along the Rwenzori Mountains and descend toward the Great Rift Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Overnight: Engazi Game Lodge or similar.

Day 5:  Queen Elizabeth National Park

Enjoy an early game drive in search of elephants, lions, buffalo, leopard, hyena, Uganda kob, topi, warthog and other wildlife. In the afternoon, cruise the Kazinga Channel to view hippos, crocodiles, elephants and abundant birdlife along the shoreline.

Overnight: Engazi Game Lodge or similar.

Day 6: Ishasha → Bwindi

Travel through the Ishasha sector in search of Uganda’s famous tree-climbing lions. Continue through mountain country, villages and cultivated slopes to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar.

Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

After an early breakfast and ranger briefing, trek into Bwindi in search of a mountain gorilla family. The trail can be steep, slippery and uneven, so a reasonable level of fitness is important. Spend a carefully regulated period observing the gorillas in their natural forest habitat.

Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar.

Day 8: Bwindi Free Day / Optional Second Gorilla Trek

Relax at the lodge, enjoy the forest surroundings or explore shorter walks around Rushaga. A second gorilla trek may be arranged in advance, subject to permit availability.

Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar.

Day 9: Bwindi → Kabale → Lake Mburo

Travel east through the scenic highlands around Kabale before continuing to Lake Mburo National Park. Look for zebra, giraffe, impala, buffalo, warthog, eland, hippo and a wide variety of birds, including the elusive African finfoot.

Overnight: Rwakobo Rock or similar.

Day 10: Lake Mburo National Park

Explore Lake Mburo on an early morning game drive. Optional guided walking and boat safaris offer different ways to experience the park’s acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hills and wildlife. Possible sightings include hippos, crocodiles, fish eagles, herons, cormorants, pelicans and, with exceptional luck, a shoebill.

Overnight: Rwakobo Rock or similar.

Day 11: Lake Mburo → Mabamba → Entebbe

Return toward Entebbe and visit Mabamba Bay Wetland, one of Uganda’s best-known places to search for the shoebill. Travel by small local boat through the papyrus channels before continuing to Entebbe. Depending on departure arrangements, a final meal may be provided before airport transfer.

Day 12: Departure

Transfer to Entebbe International Airport according to your flight schedule.