10 Day Safari in Western Uganda
Tour Overview
This 10-day safari shows you the best of western Uganda. It combines classic wildlife safaris with rare primate experiences in one smooth journey. You explore top parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park, where you can see lions, elephants, buffaloes, and even leopards. Then you travel into the forests of Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to meet chimpanzees and the rare mountain gorilla. This trip gives you a full Uganda safari experience in a short time. You see savannah, forest, lakes, and mountains, all in one journey.
Tour Highlights
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale rainforest
- Exciting game drives in Queen Elizabeth Park
- Cruise the wildlife-packed Kazinga Channel
- Track tree climbing lions
- Walk among wild zebras in Lake Mburo
Your Itinerary In Details
Day 1 | Arrival in Entebbe, overnight stay
Your 10 Days Uganda safari adventure starts the moment you land at Entebbe Airport, right by the shores of Africa’s biggest lake – Lake Victoria. A friendly guide will be waiting to greet you and take you on a short, comfortable drive of 15 to 30 minutes to your first lodge. Tonight, relax with a cool drink under the sparkling African stars and enjoy a peaceful night’s rest.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Via Via Hotel
Middle Class: The Boma Hotel
Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa
Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast
Day 2 | Transfer to Kibale Forest
At around 8:00 am, you meet your guide for a short briefing about the day ahead. Then you begin a scenic drive of about 326 kilometers (around 5 hours) to Kibale National Park. The journey is beautiful and full of changing views. You pass friendly villages, green tea plantations, crater lakes, and stretches of rainforest. On a clear day, you may also see the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains, often called the “Mountains of the Moon,” rising with snow on top.
Around midday, you stop in Fort Portal for lunch. This is a calm and colorful town with a relaxed feel, perfect for a short break before continuing your journey. After lunch, you continue to Kibale Forest. As you arrive, the landscape becomes greener and wilder. Kibale is known as the “primate capital of Africa,” and it quickly shows you why. The forest is home to 13 species of primates. You may see red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red colobus, mangabeys, and the small, shy bush babies. The forest is alive with movement and sound at every turn. Around the park, you will also see tea plantations and papyrus wetlands. Nearby, the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a great place for birdwatching, with many rare and colorful species. By the end of the day, you are fully surrounded by nature, ready for your forest adventure.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Main House
Middle Class: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Cottage
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3 | Chimp trekking and Bigodi Wetland walk
Led by expert trackers, you will set off into the dense rainforest of Kibale National Park in search of chimpanzees. This hike can be relatively hard at times, with muddy paths and thick vegetation, but the reward is well worth it – the chance to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. Watch as they play, feed and communicate with each other in the trees high above. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community-run initiative rich in birdlife, monkeys and different butterfly species. If you are lucky, you might spot the great blue turaco, the bird this wetland is best known for. Later, return to your accommodation for a free evening.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Main House
Middle Class: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Cottage
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4 | Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, game drive
After a relaxed breakfast, you drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey is about 120 kilometers and takes roughly 2 hours. Along the way, you pass quiet villages, green tea plantations, and beautiful crater lakes. You also stop at the Equator monument for a fun photo moment before continuing into the open savannah.
After lunch at your lodge, you head out for your first game drive. This is your first real chance to explore the park and spot wildlife. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s largest and most diverse parks. It covers almost 2,000 square kilometers in the Rift Valley. The park stretches from the Rwenzori Mountains in the north to Lake Edward in the west. In the middle, the Kazinga Channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and is famous for boat safaris.
The park also has volcanic crater lakes and the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, a deep green valley with rainforest and chimpanzees. Wildlife is everywhere. You may see elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, and more than 600 bird species. In the evening, you return to your lodge for dinner and enjoy the peaceful sound of the African night sky.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Bush Lodge – Self Contained Tent
Midrange: Bush Lodge – Banda
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and diner
Day 5 | Boat trip on Kazinga Channel and game drive
Today is a full day of wildlife exploration in Queen Elizabeth National Park. After an early breakfast, you head out for a morning game drive. As the sun rises, the savannah is covered in soft mist. The park slowly wakes up—you hear birds calling, elephants moving through the grass, and sometimes even a lion in the distance. It is a calm and powerful start to the day.
After the game drive, you return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, you go on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. This natural waterway connects Lake Edward and Lake George and is one of the best wildlife viewing spots in Africa. It is famous for its large number of hippos. From the boat, you will see huge groups of hippos, crocodiles resting on the riverbanks, buffalo cooling in the water, and many bright bird species. With a bit of luck, you may also see elephants drinking or playing at the water’s edge.
Private Boat Cruise (Optional): For a more personal experience, you can choose a private boat. A smaller boat allows you to go at your own pace, get closer to the wildlife, and enjoy the cruise only with your group.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Bush Lodge – Self Contained Tent
Midrange: Bush Lodge – Banda
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and diner
Day 6 | Transfer to Ishasha, search for tree-climbing lions
In the morning, you will take a another game drive through the northern part of this park (Kasenyi). You can also (optionally) choose to book the “Lion predator tracking”.
After this safari, you will drive for approximately 2.5 hours to the southern part of the park, Ishasha. Here, you will enjoy a well-deserved lunch at your lodge. After lunch, you will go on safari again, searching for the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Its remote location on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo results in a low number of visitors, which benefits the wilderness character. The savannas are interspersed with numerous wild fig trees used by tree-climbing lions. The Ntungwe River flows through Ishasha, where hippos live and the vegetation is lush and dense.
During the safari, you will search for tree-climbing lions, which seek out the upper branches of old fig trees here. Ishasha is also home to buffaloes, large groups of Ugandan kobs, and lier antelopes, among others. You can look for hippos in the Ntungwe River. You will take the safari in the afternoon, when it is still warm and the lions are still inhabiting the trees. As the sun sets, you will return to your accommodation for a refreshing drink. In the evening, you will enjoy a campfire with the sounds of the African wilderness in the background.
Accommodation Options
Simple: Enjojo Lodge
Middle class: Enjojo Lodge
Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7 | Transfer to Lake Mutanda/ Bwindi
In the morning, you leave the savannas and travel to the volcanoes of southern Uganda. The drive is truly beautiful and typifies Uganda’s diversity. You drive past rainforests and coffee plantations, and over mountains and hills, until you reach the volcanoes on picturesque Lake Mutanda. What a view!
The luxury version of this trip also includes an overnight stay in the luxury cottage at the stunningly beautiful Mutanda Lake Resort. The room is spacious and luxuriously furnished, but this is not a luxury lodge. We chose this option anyway due to the beautiful location, good service, and delicious food. If you prefer more luxury, we can adjust this at any time.
Lake Mutanda
The fairytale-like Lake Mutanda lies in the far southwest of Uganda, at the foot of the Virunga volcanic range. This imposing volcanic chain connects the countries of Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda. Various rainforests, home to the endangered mountain gorilla, are located in the vicinity of Lake Mutanda. The lake is therefore an ideal base for one of Uganda’s most extraordinary excursions: gorilla trekking. The mountain gorilla can be found in the nearby Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, among others. However, a wide variety of animals and plants can also be found in the immediate vicinity of the lake. For instance, it is possible to spot kingfishers and the grey crowned crane there. In addition to plants and birds, otters, chameleons, frogs, and lizards also live on the shores of the lake. In short: a large collection of unique animal species.
Bwindi & Lake Mutanda Excursions – (optional)
In this green and diverse environment, there is truly something for everyone. Various fun excursions can be enjoyed on and around Lake Mutanda, such as sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, or kayaking on the lake. A sundowner tour (with a drink) on a motorboat is also highly recommended. In Mgahinga National Park, you can climb the Virunga volcanoes or go on a Golden Monkey trek, and in the Bwindi rainforest, in addition to the gorilla trek, you can also take various beautiful hikes. Furthermore, you can visit the Batwa Pygmies or take a village tour nearby. Do you have specific interests? Let our travel specialist know your wishes. You can discuss with the travel specialist what you book in advance and what you would like to arrange on-site.
Accommodation options:
Simple: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Middle class: Mutanda Lake Resort – Standard Cottage
Luxury: Mutanda Lake Resort – Luxury cottage
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8 | Gorilla trekking!
In the morning, you travel to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park for perhaps the absolute highlight of your trip: the gorilla trekking. In the afternoon, you reflect on this special encounter. The mountain rainforest of Bwindi, together with the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda, is the most important area for gorilla trekking. This relatively small nature reserve is home to nearly half of all mountain gorillas living in the wild. In addition to the mountain gorillas, a total of 120 species of mammals and 350 species of birds live there.
During the gorilla trekking, you will walk and crouch through the dense forest of Bwindi. Accompanied by the most experienced rangers of the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA), you will search for traces of a family of mountain gorillas. Droppings, nests, gnawed bamboo stalks, and broken twigs reveal that we are getting closer. When the moment arrives that you come face to face with a silverback protecting his family, observing you seemingly without hesitation, you know that this will be an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Gorilla habituation day Bwindi Forest (optional)
Greenway Nature Tours offers you the opportunity to undertake the unique gorilla habituation day instead of the gorilla trekking. During this special excursion, you will join a group of researchers to experience how a gorilla family becomes habituated. Participants are allowed to stay with the gorilla family for no less than four hours, and the excursion is undertaken in a group of only four people. A truly unique insight into the habituation of the gorillas.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Middle class: Mutanda Lake Resort – Standard Cottage
Luxury: Mutanda Lake Resort – Luxury cottage
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9 | Transfer to Lake Mburo, night game drive
It is with very intense memories that you leave Lake Mutanda behind. Not only is the experience with Dian Fossy’s protégés (‘Gorillas in the Mist’) etched in your memory for a lifetime, but also the beauty, the power, and the unique allure of Central African nature. Via the road connecting Rwanda with Kampala and Kenya, you drive to the lovely Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo is the smallest savannah park in Uganda and the only nature reserve where the impala and the eland live. Located centrally in the park is Lake Mburo, home to hippos, crocodiles, and many bird species. Just before dinner, you will go on an exciting night safari where you search for galagos and hyenas, and also stand a good chance of spotting a leopard!
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Eagles Nest Mburo
Middle Class: Rwakobo Rock
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Day 10 | Game walk or mountain biking, transfer to airport
In the morning, you can choose between a mountain bike safari or a walking safari through the park. Since there are no lions or elephants living in this park, this can be done safely. Both activities are a great way to explore this park and its wildlife in an intimate setting.
You can also (optionally) choose to go on a horseback safari through the park. This can only be booked if you are staying at Mihingo Lodge.
After your morning activity and a (late) breakfast, you drive back to Entebbe across the equator. You will be dropped off at the airport in the early evening for your return flight home.
This is the end of your trip through Uganda. We hope you had a fantastic time!
Walking Safari Lake Mburo – Morning
Accompanied by a ranger, you will walk through the park in search of zebras, buffaloes, eland antelopes, and giraffes. This is also an excellent way for bird lovers to take beautiful photos, as there are no fewer than 310 species of birds found in Lake Mburo National Park!
Mountain Bike Safari Lake Mburo – Morning (optional)
You will take a wonderful mountain bike tour through the lush green nature of Lake Mburo National Park and the surrounding area. Along the way, you will encounter zebras, impalas, and lier antelopes, while also enjoying the panoramic views. Due to the elevation changes in Lake Mburo National Park, the mountain bike safari is a challenging ride, making it a wonderful start to your day!
Horseback riding safari Lake Mburo – Morning (optional)
During the horseback safari in Lake Mburo National Park, you will explore the region on horseback. It is an exciting adventure for both experienced and beginner riders. Please note: You must not weigh more than 90 kilograms and we cannot book this in advance, so availability must be checked on site. You can only book this activity if you are staying at Mihingo Lodge.
Accommodation: Not Included (End of tour)
Included Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Prices for this private trip
This tour is costed basing on different levels accommodation (simple, middle class and luxury) and seasons. We would be happy to discuss in person whether the accommodations meet your needs. We can also combine different accommodation levels in one package. The price is per person and is in USD. The low season price applies for the months of April, May, and November.
High Season Prices
Simple Package
- 1 Pax: USD 4754
- 2 Pax: USD 3304 per person
- 3 Pax: USD 3024 per person
- 4 Pax: USD 2731 per person
- 5 Pax: USD 2677 Per Person
- 6 Pax: USD 2540 Per Person
Middle Class package
- 1 Pax: USD 5563
- 2 Pax: USD 3826 per person
- 3 Pax: USD 3458 per person
- 4 Pax: USD 3116 per person
- 5 Pax: USD 3037 Per Person
- 6 Pax: USD 2879 Per Person
Luxury Package
- 1 Pax: USD 9334
- 2 Pax: USD 6169 per person
- 3 Pax: USD 6093 per person
- 4 Pax: USD 5321 per person
- 5 Pax: USD 5298 Per Person
- 6 Pax: USD 5038 Per Person
Low Season Prices
Simple Package
- 1 Pax: USD 4520
- 2 Pax: USD 3084 per person
- 3 Pax: USD 2811 per person
- 4 Pax: USD 2520 per person
- 5 Pax: USD 2469 Per Person
- 6 Pax: USD 2332 Per Person
Middle Class package
- 1 Pax: USD 5288
- 2 Pax: USD 3579 per person
- 3 Pax: USD 3220 per person
- 4 Pax: USD 2882 per person
- 5 Pax: USD 3806 Per Person
- 6 Pax: USD 2650 Per Person
Luxury Package
- 1 Pax: USD 7585
- 2 Pax: USD 4887 per person
- 3 Pax: USD 4656 per person
- 4 Pax: USD 4039 per person
- 5 Pax: USD 3998 Per Person
- 6 Pax: USD 3757 Per Person
Inclusions
- Airport meet and greet on arrival
- All transfers as per the itinerary
- 9 nights accommodation
- Meals as indicated
- Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Game walk in Lake Mburo NP
- Night game drive in Lake Mburo NP
- Bigodi Nature Wal
- Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- One gorilla trekking permit per person
- One chimpanzee trekking permit per person
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Park entry fees for included activities
- All activities unless labeled as optional
exclusions
- International flights to and from Uganda.
- Uganda visa fees
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Optional activities not listed as included
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, and souvenirs
- Tips and gratuities for driver-guides, lodge staff, and park rangers
- Extra accommodation before or after the safari
- Any services not mentioned under safari inclusions
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