9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari: Gorillas, Game Drives, Batwa Pygmy, & more
Uganda, often dubbed the “Pearl of Africa,” is a treasure trove of biodiversity, dramatic landscapes, and vibrant cultures.
This 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari takes you through seven of Uganda’s most captivating destinations, showcasing the country’s rich tapestry of wildlife, from mountain gorillas to tree-climbing lions, and concluding with an adrenaline-pumping adventure in Jinja, the adventure capital of East Africa.
Covering Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo National Park, and Jinja, this itinerary blends thrilling wildlife encounters, serene landscapes, and cultural immersion.
Overview of the 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
This 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari is designed for wildlife enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and nature lovers, offering a comprehensive exploration of Uganda’s southwestern and eastern highlights.
Starting in Entebbe, the tour traverses the western wildlife circuit before culminating in Jinja, where the Nile River offers exhilarating activities.
The itinerary includes gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, game drives, boat cruises, cultural experiences, and white-water rafting, ensuring a diverse and immersive experience.
Expect to encounter the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), primates, and over 1,000 bird species, set against Uganda’s lush rainforests, savannahs, and shimmering lakes.
Destinations: Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo National Park, Jinja.
Duration: 9 days, 8 nights.
Start/End: Entebbe (start), Jinja (end).
Activities: Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, game drives, boat cruises, rhino tracking, cultural visits, white-water rafting, and nature walks.
Best Time: June-August or December-February (dry seasons) for optimal wildlife viewing and passable roads.
Brief Itinerary for this 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe, drive to Murchison Falls National Park (6-7 hrs). Overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge.
Day 2: Morning game drive, afternoon boat cruise, hike to Murchison Falls. Overnight at Paraa.
Day 3: Drive to Kibale National Park (7-8 hrs). Overnight at Kyaninga Lodge.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi Wetland walk. Overnight at Kyaninga.
Day 5: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (3-4 hrs), Kazinga Channel boat cruise. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 6: Morning game drive, drive to Bwindi via Ishasha (5-6 hrs). Overnight at Chameleon Hill Lodge.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking. Overnight at Chameleon Hill.
Day 8: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi, canoeing, then Lake Mburo (6-7 hrs). Evening game drive. Overnight at Mihingo Lodge.
Day 9: Rhino tracking at Ziwa, drive to Jinja (7-8 hrs), white-water rafting. Overnight at Wildwaters Lodge
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Detailed Itinerary of the 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Distance: ~300 km (6-7 hours’ drive from Entebbe)
Activities: Scenic drive, evening relaxation
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (mid-range), or Red Chili Rest Camp (budget)
Your adventure begins at Entebbe International Airport, where your guide meets you for a briefing. After loading your 4×4 safari vehicle, embark on a 6–7-hour drive to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area.
The journey offers glimpses of Uganda’s countryside, with rolling hills, banana plantations, and the iconic long-horned Ankole cattle. A lunch stop in Masindi provides a chance to stretch your legs.
Murchison Falls National Park, spanning 3,840 km², is bisected by the Victoria Nile, culminating in the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the river forces through a 7-meter gorge, plummeting 45 meters.
The park is home to four of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo) and over 450 bird species, including the rare shoebill stork.
Upon arrival, check into your lodge and relax, savoring the sounds of the African bush. Dinner is served, preparing you for an action-packed day ahead.
Day 2: Murchison Falls National Park – Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Activities: Morning game drive, afternoon boat cruise, hike to the top of the falls
Accommodation: As above
Rise early for a morning game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls, starting at 6:30 AM to catch predators like leopards and hyenas before they retreat. The open savannah, dotted with borassus palms, teems with wildlife—expect to see Rothschild’s giraffes, Uganda kobs, hartebeests, and herds of elephants and buffalo.
Birders will delight in spotting hornbills, bee-eaters, and kingfishers. The drive, lasting 3–4 hours, covers the Nyamsika Plateau and Nile banks, offering stunning vistas.
After returning to the lodge for lunch, embark on a 2–3-hour boat cruise along the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. This journey, described by SafariBookings.com, is a highlight of the park, with sightings of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and waterbirds like the goliath heron.
The boat pauses near the “Devil’s Cauldron”, where the falls roar, allowing for photos. Disembark for a 45-minute guided hike to the top of the falls, where your driver awaits.
The hike offers breathtaking views of the cascading water and rainbow mists. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Destination: Kibale National Park
Distance: ~350 km (7-8 hours’ drive from Murchison Falls)
Activities: Scenic drive, evening relaxation
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Lodge (mid-range), or Kibale Forest Camp (budget)
After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls for Kibale National Park, a 7–8-hour drive through verdant landscapes. The route passes Fort Portal, a charming town nestled amid tea plantations and crater lakes, where you’ll stop for lunch.
Kibale National Park, known as the “primate capital of the world,” hosts 13 primate species, including 1,500 chimpanzees, and over 375 bird species.
Arrive in the late afternoon and check into your lodge, set against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Spend the evening relaxing, perhaps strolling the lodge gardens or enjoying views of nearby crater lakes. Dinner is served, and you’ll rest in preparation for chimpanzee trekking.
Day 4: Kibale National Park – Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
Activities: Morning chimpanzee trekking, afternoon Bigodi Wetland walk
Accommodation: As above
Start the day with an early breakfast and head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a chimpanzee trekking briefing at 8:00 AM.
Kibale’s dense rainforest, as noted by Silverback Gorilla Tours, is ideal for tracking habituated chimpanzee families. Accompanied by a ranger, trek for 2–4 hours through the jungle, listening for chimpanzee calls.
Upon locating a troop, spend one hour observing their playful antics, feeding, and grooming. You may also spot red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and forest birds like the African pitta.
Return to the lodge for lunch, then head to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary in the afternoon for a 2–3-hour guided walk.
This community-run project, rich in biodiversity, is a birder’s paradise with 138 species, including the great blue turaco and papyrus gonolek.
Spot primates like grey-cheeked mangabeys and enjoy the serene swamp scenery. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Boat Cruise
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Distance: ~150 km (3-4 hours’ drive from Kibale)
Activities: Afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Enganzi Lodge (mid-range), or Bush Lodge (budget)
After breakfast, drive 3–4 hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most visited park, spanning 1,978 km². En route, marvel at the Rwenzori Mountains and scenic crater lakes. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge near the Mweya Peninsula.
In the afternoon, embark on a 2–3-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a 32-km waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George.
This boat cruise, praised by African Budget Safaris, offers close encounters with hippos, Nile crocodiles, and elephants drinking at the shores.
Spot waterbirds like pelicans, fish eagles, and cormorants, with over 600 bird species recorded in the park. Return to the lodge for dinner, enjoying views of the savannah under the stars.
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Distance: ~200 km (5-6 hours’ drive via Ishasha sector)
Activities: Morning game drive, scenic drive through Ishasha
Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (luxury), Buhoma Lodge (mid-range), or Rushaga Gorilla Camp (budget)
Begin with a dawn game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, a prime area for spotting lions, elephants, buffalo, and antelopes like Uganda kobs and waterbucks.
The 3–4-hour game drive, guided by an expert ranger, may reveal hyenas or leopards, especially in the early hours. Birders can look for species such as the martial eagle or black-rumped buttonquail.
After lunch at the lodge, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a 5–6-hour drive via the Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions.
Stop for a brief game drive in Ishasha, scanning fig trees for these unique lions, along with topis and buffalo. Arrive in Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the evening.
Check into your lodge nestled in the misty forest, and enjoy dinner while preparing for gorilla trekking.
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Gorilla Trekking
Activities: Gorilla trekking, evening relaxation
Accommodation: As above
Today is the highlight of your safari: gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to nearly half the world’s mountain gorillas. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing at 7:30 AM.
Assigned a gorilla family and ranger, trek through the dense forest for 2–6 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. The terrain can be challenging, but the reward is profound—spending one hour with a gorilla family, observing their behaviors, from feeding to playful interactions.
As we noted, Bwindi’s 19 habituated gorilla families ensure a high success rate.
Return to the lodge for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing, perhaps visiting a nearby Batwa community for a cultural experience, learning about their traditional hunting and storytelling. Dinner is served, with the forest’s nocturnal sounds as your backdrop.
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Park
Destinations: Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo National Park
Distance: ~100 km to Lake Bunyonyi (2-3 hours), ~200 km to Lake Mburo (4-5 hours)
Activities: Canoeing at Lake Bunyonyi, evening game drive in Lake Mburo
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge (luxury), Rwakobo Rock (mid-range), or Eagle’s Nest (budget)
After breakfast, drive 2–3 hours to Lake Bunyonyi, a stunning highland lake dotted with 29 islands. Known for its tranquility and bilharzia-free waters, it’s ideal for relaxation.
Spend the morning on a dugout canoe, exploring islands like Punishment Island and spotting birds like the African harrier-hawk. Enjoy lunch at a lakeside lodge, soaking in the serene views.
Continue to Lake Mburo National Park, a 4–5-hour drive, arriving in the late afternoon. This compact park, covering 370 km², is unique for its zebra populations and impalas, absent in other Ugandan parks.
Embark on an evening game drive, spotting zebras, elands, and topis, with a chance to see leopards, which are more visible at dusk. Check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Lake Mburo to Jinja – Rhino Tracking and White-Water Rafting
Destination: Jinja
Distance: ~250 km to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (4-5 hours), ~200 km to Jinja (3-4 hours)
Activities: Rhino tracking at Ziwa, white-water rafting in Jinja
Accommodation: Wildwaters Lodge (luxury), Jinja Safari Lodge (mid-range), or Kingfisher Safaris Resort (budget)
Depart Lake Mburo early, driving 4–5 hours to Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, the only place in Uganda to see rhinos. This sanctuary, en route to Jinja, protects reintroduced white rhinos.
Join a 1–2-hour guided rhino tracking walk, observing these majestic creatures up close, with a 100% success rate, as per SafariBookings.com. Learn about conservation efforts and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Continue 3–4 hours to Jinja, the adventure capital of Uganda, located at the source of the Nile. After checking into your lodge, head to the Nile for a half-day white-water rafting adventure, tackling grade 4 and 5 rapids, as described by Kagera Safaris. A safety briefing and expert guides ensure a thrilling yet safe experience.
Alternatively, opt for a boat cruise to the Nile’s source for a calmer activity. Return to the lodge for dinner, celebrating the end of your safari.
End of the 9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
Practical Information and Tips
- Inclusions: Packages typically cover transport in a 4×4 vehicle, English-speaking guide, park fees, All the required pak entry permits, meals, and accommodation.
- Exclusions: International flights, visas, personal expenses, and optional activities.
Permits and Regulations
- Gorilla Trekking: Permits are limited; book 6-12 months in advance through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or your tour operator. Minimum age is 15.
- Chimpanzee Trekking: Permits are more available but should be secured early. Minimum age is 12.
- Health: Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. Malaria prophylaxis and insect repellent are recommended.
Packing Tips
- Clothing: Lightweight, long-sleeved clothing for trekking, sturdy hiking boots, a rain jacket, and warm layers for Bwindi’s cool evenings.
- Gear: Binoculars, camera, reusable water bottle, and a daypack for treks.
- Essentials: Sunscreen, hat, and a first-aid kit.
Travel Tips
- Best Time: Dry seasons (June-August, December-February) offer better road conditions and wildlife viewing. Wet seasons (March-May, October-November) are quieter but muddy.
- Safety: Uganda is generally safe for tourists. Follow ranger instructions during treks and avoid night driving.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Dress modestly in villages, ask permission before photographing people, and respect local customs.
Why Choose This Safari?
This 9 Days Uganda wildlife safari is a masterclass in diversity, blending primate trekking with classic savannah safaris and adventure activities.
The seven destinations—Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo, and Jinja—showcase Uganda’s ecological and cultural richness.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale are bucket-list experiences, while game drives and boat cruises reveal the Big Five and abundant birdlife.
Lake Bunyonyi’s tranquility and Jinja’s adrenaline rush provide a perfect balance. As Philip Briggs notes in his Bradt Guide, Uganda’s compact southwest makes it ideal for a well-rounded safari in under two weeks.