9 Day Uganda Big Five & Gorilla Safari

OVERVIEW

This is the strongest ‘big game + gorillas’ itinerary Uganda can offer in nine days: rhinos on foot at Ziwa, lions and elephants in Murchison and Queen Elizabeth, then the defining mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi. The key upgrade here is the ending. Instead of a brutal one‑day drive from Bwindi straight to Entebbe, you exit through Lake Mburo — a final safari chapter that makes the return feel like part of the journey, not an endurance test.

Your Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe and meet your guide. Tonight is a soft landing — dinner near Lake Victoria and a good sleep before the northbound drive. A calm first night keeps the safari feeling premium from the start.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Hotel No.5

Mid-range: 2Friends Beach Hotel

Budget: ViaVia Guest House

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Transfer to Murchison Falls

Drive north with a stop at Ziwa for rhino tracking on foot. It’s a rare chance to follow a big five species with rangers in open bush.

Continue into Murchison Falls National Park, cross the Nile, and settle into your lodge near the river.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Chobe Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Budget: Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – Game Drive & Murchison Falls Boat Safari

Morning game drives across the northern plains deliver giraffe, elephant and buffalo in big numbers, with lions often found around the kob herds.

In the afternoon, take the boat to the base of the falls where the Nile squeezes into a narrow rock gorge and erupts in spray and sound.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Chobe Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Budget: Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

You travel south along the Albertine Rift, passing rural towns and the crater‑lake landscapes around Fort Portal.

Arrive in Queen Elizabeth in the late afternoon and settle in with views over the savannah as the day cools and wildlife starts moving.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge

Budget: Simba Safari Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

Early morning game drives on the Kasenyi plains are your best shot at predators before heat settles in — lion is the headline, leopard is the bonus.

Later, the Kazinga Channel boat safari delivers close‑range wildlife: hippos packed into the water, crocodiles on the banks, and elephants wading in to drink.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge

Budget: Simba Safari Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 – Ishasha Sector & Transfer to Bwindi

You head south through Ishasha scanning fig trees for the famous tree‑climbing lions that make this sector iconic.

Continue into Bwindi’s highlands and settle into your lodge on the forest edge, where tomorrow’s trek starts early.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Mid-range: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 – Gorilla Trekking & Optional Cultural Add‑On

The morning begins with a ranger briefing, then you trek into Bwindi with trackers following fresh signs through dense rainforest trails.

Your hour with the gorillas is the centerpiece — close, quiet, and emotionally heavy in the best way. If timing allows, you can add a short, community‑led cultural visit in the afternoon (optional).

Accommodation:

Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Mid-range: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 – Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Leave the rainforest behind and drive into Ankole’s open cattle country — a natural transition back toward savannah landscapes.
Arrive in Lake Mburo with time for an afternoon walking safari or horseback ride among zebra and antelope, a rare kind of safari intimacy.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock

Budget: Eagle’s Nest

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 – Morning Safari & Return to Entebbe

A final early outing in Mburo often produces the last crisp wildlife scenes — giraffe silhouettes, zebra herds, and golden light across acacia woodland.

Continue to Entebbe with an Equator stop for photos and lunch, then onward to the airport for your international departure.