This 10-day Uganda safari with Mgahinga National Park is an adventurous journey that reveals Uganda’s hidden gems. The safari covers the country’s top wildlife destinations, combining primate trekking in the highlands and tropical forests with game viewing on the open savannah plains. It is a well-planned safari that gives travelers the best experience of Uganda’s wildlife, landscapes, and culture.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Mabamba Wetland Tour
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet your driver guide for a briefing about the trip. You will then head to Nakiwogo landing site for a 45-minute boat ride to Mabamba Wetland on Lake Victoria, one of Uganda’s best birding spots. Look out for the famous shoebill stork as it hunts for prey, along with other water birds like jacanas. After the experience, return to your hotel near the lake for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, drive to Murchison Falls National Park, stopping at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking experience. You will walk on foot with a ranger to see these endangered species in their natural habitat. After tracking, continue to Murchison Falls with a lunch stop on the way. Arrive in the evening, check in at your lodge, have dinner, and rest.
Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
After breakfast, go for a morning game drive in Uganda’s largest national park. You will complete your Big Five experience that began at Ziwa by spotting lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. Other animals include giraffes, antelopes, hyenas, and warthogs.
Later, drive to the top of Murchison Falls, the world’s strongest waterfall, before returning to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile, spotting hippos, crocodiles, and birds along the riverbanks. The cruise ends with a view of the mighty falls. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, travel to Kibale Forest National Park, driving through farmlands and scenic landscapes. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and relax for the rest of the day. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Visit
Start your day with breakfast, then head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing before chimpanzee trekking. Enter the forest with your ranger guide to track and observe these playful primates for one hour. Return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for its birdlife and community-based conservation efforts. You will see monkeys, birds, and butterflies while learning about the local people who manage the wetland. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Boat Cruise
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, go for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is famous for its large population of hippos and Nile crocodiles, as well as many bird species. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Spot lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and Uganda kobs. After the drive, begin your journey south to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Kisoro District. Arrive in the evening, check in at your lodge, have dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience
After breakfast, go to the park offices for a pre-trekking briefing. Learn about the rules of gorilla trekking before starting your adventure through the forest. Once you find the gorillas, spend one hour watching and photographing them. Return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the Batwa community to learn about their traditional lifestyle, forest survival skills, and cultural dances. Interact with the Batwa people before returning to your lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking and Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, go for golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park. These beautiful monkeys are playful and active, and you will spend one hour observing them in their natural habitat. Return to your lodge for lunch and check out.
Drive to Lake Mburo National Park, arriving in the evening. Check in, have dinner, and relax for the night.
Day 10: Walking Safari and Departure
After breakfast, join a ranger guide for a walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park. This experience allows you to explore the park on foot, spotting zebras, impalas, buffaloes, giraffes, and elands. The park has no lions, which makes walking safe, although rangers carry guns for security.
After the walk, exit the park and drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, marking the end of your 10 days Uganda safari with Mgahinga National Park.
