Welcome to Uganda- The Pearl of Africa, Reimagined, a land where nature tells her stories in whispers of mist and the rhythm of the wild. This 13-day signature safari invites you to explore a country of astonishing contrasts from the dense, emerald rainforests that shelter endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, to the golden savannas where tree-climbing lions rest in ancient fig trees.
Your journey unfolds across five extraordinary national parks, each offering its own unique spectacle of wildlife and landscape. Glide along the River Nile, where hippos and crocodiles share the waters; traverse volcanic highlands alive with color and song; and trek deep into the forested slopes of Bwindi and Kibale, where the air hums with life and every encounter feels profoundly personal.
With two days of gorilla trekking as the heart of your adventure, this immersive itinerary blends close wildlife encounters, scenic beauty, and authentic cultural experiences capturing the very essence of Uganda’s wild spirit. Prepare to witness Africa in its purest form intimate, untamed, and unforgettable.
Detailed itinerary
As your plane descends over the shimmering expanse of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake welcomes you with a warm golden glow. The air feels gentle yet alive a quiet introduction to the beauty and rhythm that define Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be greeted by your Nyumbu Beyond Journeys representative, who will ensure a seamless transfer to your lakeside hotel. Nestled along the tranquil shores, your accommodation offers the perfect setting to unwind after your journey.
Spend the afternoon at leisure perhaps enjoying a refreshing drink on the terrace as fishermen drift across the water, or taking a quiet stroll through tropical gardens filled with the calls of exotic birds. As the sun sets over the lake, its mirror-like surface turns to gold and crimson, signaling the beginning of your African adventure. Tonight, rest deeply to the soothing sounds of the lake. Tomorrow, your safari begins and Uganda’s wild heart awaits.
The journey south from Entebbe unfolds through rolling hills and colorful rural landscapes, where village life and open countryside offer your first glimpse of Uganda’s natural charm. By midday, you arrive at Lake Mburo National Park, a hidden gem that serves as the perfect introduction to Uganda’s safari experience. Here, zebra herds sweep gracefully across the golden plains, their stripes flashing in the sunlight as impala, eland, and topi share the open savanna. Along the lakeshore, waterbuck graze in the shallows while the occasional hippo surfaces with a snort of contentment. You may even spot a hyena loping through the grass or a leopard draped in the branches of an acacia tree silent, elusive, and regal.
After checking into your lodge, take a moment to soak in the spectacular views of Lake Mburo from the infinity pool or terrace. As the afternoon unfolds, set out on a relaxed game drive and a short guided walking safari, where the sounds of the wild replace the hum of the city and every step brings you closer to the rhythm of Africa. This gentle yet captivating day eases you into the spirit of adventure a perfect prelude to the extraordinary wildlife encounters still to come.
walking safari in Lake Mburo
Day 3: Horseback and Boat Safari Adventures in lake Mburo National Park
The dawn mist drifts gently across Lake Mburo, tinted gold by the rising sun. As the park awakens, you embark on a tranquil boat safari, gliding silently along the lakeshore where wildlife gathers for the morning ritual. Topi and reedbuck move elegantly through the grasslands, while oribi dart playfully at the water’s edge. Hippos grunt in the shallows, a family of buffalo approaches the lake in tight formation, and the air is alive with the songs of more than 350 bird species, from fish eagles to malachite kingfishers.
After returning to the lodge for a leisurely lunch, the adventure continues with a rare and exclusive horseback safari. Riding across the open plains allows for quiet, intimate encounters zebra herds graze unbothered, impala and eland lift their heads curiously, and the gentle rhythm of the horse brings you closer to the pulse of the wilderness. There are no engines, no barriers only the sounds of hoofbeats, wind, and the untamed beauty of the savanna.
As the day fades, retreat to the serenity of the Lodge, perched high above the park. From your vantage point, watch as wildlife gathers at the floodlit waterhole, a captivating spectacle under the stars the perfect ending to a day of elegance, adventure, and quiet connection with nature
Drive south, winding towards the mountains as the landscape is dominated by trails of rustic red earth. There’s something wonderfully iconic about Uganda’s colors as if the country has been painted by the imagination of a first-time visitor to Africa. It’s a four-hour journey to Bwindi, and you quickly rise in altitude, the roads twisting and turning across vertiginous terraces of maize and cassava. Fairytale wisps of mist flutter across the hills, casting their spell across the forest and promising much for tomorrow’s gorilla trekking adventure. You’ll reach your gorilla lodge by mid-afternoon, where the panorama over the misty forest can keep anyone entertained for hours. This is the most luxurious of all the accommodation options around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Not all gorilla troops are the same. And that’s the beauty of tracking mountain gorillas. While they have been habituated to human presence, these are wild apes in their remote natural habitat. Nothing can be predicated, other than that you will see the gorillas. Park rules allow you to come within seven meters of the gorillas, except nobody told the giant apes and inquisitive youngsters often approach you. Babies take tree climbing lessons beneath mothers’ proud stare, while large silverbacks send shudders through the earth as they walk along on knuckles. Sometimes the gorillas are in a playful mood, chomping at fruit and teasing their younger cousins with tongue-in-cheek antics. At other times you find a stern scene, the troop settling scores and arguments amidst an atmosphere of tension.
Only around 1,000 mountain gorillas remain in the wild, and the troop are one of the most remarkable. Of the 19 individuals, there are four silverbacks, powerful males that will one day try and lead their own family. Such a profusion of testosterone often means elaborate shows of power and heart-racing encounters. Five infants provide the cutest memories, including a very rare set of gorilla twins. They’re easily recognizable, crisscrossing above your head as they explore the higher branches of the canopy; watch the brief moment of fear in their eyes as a branch snaps and they tumble down to the forest floor. You’ll spend an hour with the family before returning by foot through the forest, where the lodge offers a serene place to relax and recount the experience.
Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – The Gorilla Habituation Experience (Rushaga Trailhead)
Dawn breaks over the ancient canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a realm of mist, birdsong, and mystery. After an early breakfast, you set out from the Rushaga trailhead, ready to take part in one of Africa’s most profound wildlife encounters the Gorilla Habituation Experience.
With only a handful of visitors permitted each day, this rare opportunity allows you to spend extended time observing a gorilla troop that is still becoming accustomed to human presence. The trek begins along narrow forest trails carved by elephants, winding through dense vegetation and steep, muddy slopes. Progress is unhurried every step immerses you deeper into a living, breathing ecosystem where ancient trees filter soft light through a cathedral of green.
When your ranger signals that the troop is near, anticipation rises. Then, suddenly, the forest parts and there they are mountain gorillas, powerful yet gentle, their deep eyes meeting yours with quiet curiosity. A silverback watches over his family; mothers cradle their young; juveniles tumble in play. You spend up to four unforgettable hours in their presence, observing their behavior and learning from the trackers and researchers who protect them. The encounter is humbling a reminder of our shared connection with the natural world. After the trek, return to your lodge perched on the forested hills, where sweeping views of Bwindi’s canopy mirror the sense of wonder that lingers long after the day ends.
Day 7: Transfer to Ishasha the Realm of Tree-Climbing Lions
Leaving the misty slopes of Bwindi, your journey continues north into the sprawling savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse and wildlife-rich landscapes. The drive itself is a scenic transition from emerald forests to open grasslands framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains.
By afternoon, you arrive in the Ishasha Sector, famed for one of Africa’s rarest wildlife spectacles tree-climbing lions. Here, entire prides rest high in the branches of ancient fig trees, their golden coats draped lazily across the limbs as they survey the plains below. It’s a remarkable sight lions that have adapted to life above ground, finding comfort and safety in the canopy.
As you explore the sector on a game drive, the drama of the African savanna unfolds around you. Ugandan kobs graze cautiously below, ever alert to the shadows above. Elephants move in stately procession through the grasslands, while buffalo, topi, and a kaleidoscope of birds** add life and color to the scene. As evening descends, you settle into your wilderness camp in the heart of the park. The sounds of the bush take over distant lion calls, rustling leaves, and the gentle hum of the night. It’s a timeless African moment raw, beautiful, and deeply grounding
This morning brings another game drive, the dawn an ideal time to catch the lions on the trail of the Ugandan kobs. Bumping across the savanna you follow the prints, tracing the hunters as they seek out a breakfast meal. It’s dusty and exhilarating, another remote world that evokes the impressions of wild Africa. In the afternoon, it’s calm and charming, a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel bringing countless encounters with wild hippos and bathing elephants. Buffalos and crocodiles also occupy the riverbanks as you slowly drift past. Safari continues into the night when you’re back at the lodge, with the sounds of the wild providing a lingering lullaby.
Day 9:Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, Journey Through the Mountains of the Moon
Your journey continues north, tracing a scenic route along the foothills of the legendary Rwenzori Mountains, the fabled “Mountains of the Moon.” Rising dramatically to over 15,000 feet, their jagged peaks form a natural divide between East and Central Africa. The lower slopes are wrapped in lush rainforest, often veiled in mist, while the higher ridges glisten with glaciers and rocky outcrops that pierce the clouds a landscape as mystical as it is magnificent.
As the road winds through fertile valleys and small farming villages, the scenery shifts once more, leading you into the deep emerald embrace of Kibale Forest National Park. Known as the Primate Capital of the World, Kibale is home to the highest density of primates in Africa, including the iconic chimpanzees that will feature in tomorrow’s adventure.
Arriving in the afternoon, you can explore the nearby Crater Lake region, a spectacular volcanic landscape filled with serene waters, forested slopes, and vibrant birdlife. Colorful turacos, kingfishers, and sunbirds are frequent companions here, their calls echoing across the still surface of the lake. As evening falls, retreat to the tranquility of Ndali Lodge, perched on the rim of an ancient volcanic crater. From your private balcony, you might glimpse vervet and colobus monkeys swinging playfully through the trees, while distant baboon calls reverberate through the dusk. It’s a moment of peace and beauty the calm before another day of exploration in Uganda’s wild heart.
Day 10: Exclusive Chimpanzee Tracking In Kibale Forest National Park
The first light of dawn filters softly through the canopy of Kibale Forest, illuminating a world alive with sound the chatter of red colobus monkeys, the trill of tropical birds, and the distant whoops of chimpanzees echoing through the trees. After a hearty breakfast, you set out with your ranger guide into this ancient rainforest, ready for one of Uganda’s most exhilarating wildlife encounters.
The trail winds deep into the forest, where towering mahogany and fig trees form a green cathedral overhead. Along the way, you may glimpse forest elephants, duikers, or the elusive civet, each adding a touch of mystery to the dense undergrowth. Then, a sudden crescendo of calls signals that the troop is near the forest comes alive with energy.
In a sun-dappled clearing, you find yourself surrounded by a large community of wild chimpanzees, some 50 strong. They pause to study you with bright, intelligent eyes; their curiosity mirrors your own. A few swing effortlessly through the branches, while others groom, play, or simply sit in quiet contemplation. Each gesture the grip of a hand, the spark of recognition, the flash of expression reveals just how closely connected we are.
For an hour, you become part of their world, sharing in their social rhythms and raw vitality. This is no ordinary encounter it’s an intimate glimpse into the lives of our closest living relatives, in one of Africa’s richest and most authentic primate habitats. As you return to the lodge, the forest hums with life all around you, and the memory of those expressive faces lingers — a reminder of the deep bond that links all living things.
Tip: Instead of the normal chimpanzee trekking, the habituation can also be booked for a surcharge. Here you have much more time in a smaller group. Take a hike through the Bigodi Swamps in the morning. Many different plant species, bird species and many more make the hike unique.
Day 11: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Murchison Falls National Park – Rhinos and the Power of the Nile
This morning, you depart early from Kibale Forest and journey north towards Uganda’s northern wilderness, stopping en route at the renowned Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Here, you’ll have the rare opportunity to track white rhinos on foot through the open grasslands, guided by expert rangers who share fascinating insights about the conservation efforts that have brought these magnificent animals back from the brink of extinction. The thrill of observing these gentle giants up close is an unforgettable prelude to the adventures that await further north.
After your rhino encounter, continue the drive to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest and oldest protected area in Uganda. The landscape gradually shifts from rolling highlands to expansive savannas and lush riverine woodlands nourished by the mighty River Nile.
At Murchison Falls, Africa’s most storied river reveals both grace and power. Flowing calmly through the park, the Nile is forced through a narrow gorge just seven meters wide, plunging nearly 150 feet in a spectacular explosion of mist and sound. Upon arrival, take a relaxed afternoon visit to the top of the falls, where baboons perch on rocks, hippos grunt in the waters below, and shimmering rainbows form in the spray.
Later, settle into your safari lodge overlooking the river, where the tranquil setting provides the perfect counterpoint to the day’s natural spectacle. As the sun sets over the Nile, enjoy the soothing rhythm of the water and the calls of distant wildlife — a serene prelude to tomorrow’s river safari and further exploration of Uganda’s northern wilderness.
Day 12: Guided game drive & Nile Delta Boat Cruise – Wildlife Along the Mighty Nile
The final day of your Ugandan safari begins on the River Nile, where the river teems with life and adventure. From the deck of a luxury boat, you glide past a living tapestry of wildlife: hippos dominate the waters with boisterous grunts, their massive bodies surfacing and disappearing in rhythmic bursts. Along the riverbanks, elephants splash playfully in the shallows, while giraffes bend gracefully to sip at the water’s edge. Meanwhile, Ugandan kobs drink cautiously, ever alert to the possibility of lurking predators.
The cruise offers a tranquil vantage point to observe these animals in their natural habitat, allowing the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the wilderness to unfold unhurriedly before you. Every bend in the river brings a new tableau of Africa’s iconic fauna, from birds of dazzling color to crocodiles basking on sandy banks. Returning to your lodge, the wild remains ever-present. Dinner may be delightfully interrupted by a marching elephant across the grounds or the playful antics of vervet monkeys and baboons, a fitting reminder that even in luxury, the untamed heart of Uganda surrounds you. This serene river safari is the perfect finale to a journey filled with adventure, discovery, and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Day 13: Fly into Entebbe & Farewell to Uganda
After an unforgettable journey through Uganda’s most iconic landscapes, you take a morning micro-flight from Murchison Falls back to Entebbe, soaring over the Nile and the sprawling savannas below a final perspective on the wild beauty you’ve explored.
Upon arrival, a Nyumbu Beyond Journeys representative will meet you at the airport and assist with your transfer to your international departure flight. As you reflect on the past 12 days, memories of gorillas in misty forests, chimpanzees at play, tree-climbing lions, and the mighty Nile will stay with you, a lasting testament to the magic and diversity of Uganda. Though your safari concludes today, the experiences, encounters, and stories you carry home are timeless a reminder that the heart of Africa is never far from the soul.
