14-Day Uganda Classic Safari

Overview

Experience Uganda's most iconic wildlife and landscapes on this carefully crafted 14-day safari. This journey combines exceptional birding, the mighty Nile, the Big Five, chimpanzee trekking, mountain gorilla trekking, breathtaking crater lakes and authentic cultural encounters.From searching for the prehistoric Shoebill in the wetlands of Mabamba to relaxing on the tranquil shores of Lake Bunyonyi, every day offers a unique experience, while carefully selected midrange lodges provide comfort, excellent service and memorable hospitality throughout your journey.

Day by Day

1. 1
   

   Day 1

   Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

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   Your Uganda story begins the moment you step off the plane, greeted not by a stranger, but by a familiar Gilead Summit smile.

   Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your professional Gilead Summit Holidays safari guide. After a short and relaxed briefing covering your journey ahead, you will be transferred to your hotel to unwind after your international flight.

   Depending on your arrival time, take in gentle views of Lake Victoria or enjoy a stroll through the hotel gardens as Uganda's warm evening air welcomes you to the Pearl of Africa.

   Overnight

   Papyrus Guest House

   Meals included

   Dinner

2. 2
   

   Day 2

   Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Excursion – Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

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   After an early breakfast, drive to Nakiwogo Landing Site and board a traditional motorized canoe into the Mabamba Wetland, an internationally recognized Ramsar Site and Uganda's premier destination for spotting the elusive Shoebill Stork.

   Your experienced local guide will glide you through narrow papyrus channels in search of this extraordinary bird, alongside sightings that may include the African Jacana, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Swamp Flycatcher, African Fish Eagle, Purple Heron and Pied Kingfisher.

   Afterward, begin your journey north toward Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to Uganda's only wild rhino population.

   Overnight

   Ziwa chalets

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3. 3
   

   Day 3

   Rhino Tracking – Murchison Falls National Park

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   Rise early for a guided walking safari tracking Uganda's only wild rhinos. Walking alongside expert rangers offers an unforgettable opportunity to safely observe these magnificent, critically endangered animals in their natural habitat.

   Afterward, continue to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, stop at the Top of the Falls, where the mighty Nile forces itself through a narrow seven-metre gorge before thundering forty-three metres down into the Devil's Cauldron, one of the most powerful natural spectacles in Africa.

   Overnight

   Pakuba Safari Lodge

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4. 4
   

   Day 4

   Game Drive & Nile Boat Safari

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   Begin with an early morning game drive across the northern savannah, keeping an eye out for lions, Rothschild's giraffes, African elephants, Uganda kob, hartebeest, buffaloes, oribi, hyenas and Jackson's hartebeest.

   After lunch, enjoy the famous boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls, where Nile crocodiles, hippopotamuses, African fish eagles, elephants, buffaloes and countless waterbirds gather along the riverbanks. Return to the lodge for dinner as the sun sets over the Nile

   Overnight

   Pakuba Safari Lodge

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5. 5
   

   Day 5

   Murchison Falls – Kibale Forest National Park

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   Following breakfast, depart for Kibale Forest National Park. The drive winds through scenic countryside, tea plantations, traditional villages and the breathtaking Albertine Rift Valley.

   Arrive in Fort Portal during the afternoon, surrounded by lush tea estates and glistening crater lakes, and settle into your forest-edge lodge ahead of tomorrow's primate adventure.

   Overnight

   Turaco Treetops

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6. 6
   

   Day 6

   Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

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   After an early briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, venture into Kibale Forest in search of habituated chimpanzees. Watching these highly intelligent primates interact, communicate and feed within their natural habitat is an unforgettable wildlife encounter.

   After lunch, visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, where you may encounter red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, the striking Great Blue Turaco and hundreds of resident bird species.

   Overnight

   Turaco Treetops

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7. 7
   

   Day 7

   Kibale – Queen Elizabeth National Park

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   Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park while enjoying spectacular views of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains along the way.

   Reach the Peak of Every Experience | Page 5 of 9

   Upon arrival, enjoy an afternoon game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, home to lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs and waterbucks.

   Overnight

   Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

8. 8
   

   Day 8

   Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

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   Begin with another morning game drive across the plains of Queen Elizabeth, ideal for wildlife photography in the soft early light.

   In the afternoon, cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa's richest wildlife habitats, with remarkable sightings of hippos, buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, African skimmers, pelicans, kingfishers and fish eagles gathering along its shores.

   Overnight

   Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

9. 9
   

   Day 9

   Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

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   Travel through the Ishasha Sector, famous for its rare tree-climbing lions. If fortunate, you'll spot these unique predators resting high in the branches of giant fig trees.

   Continue into the ancient, mist-covered mountains of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to nearly half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas.

   Overnight

   Rushaga Gorilla camp

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

10. 10
    

    Day 10

    Gorilla Trekking Experience

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    Today marks the highlight of your Ugandan adventure. Following a morning briefing, begin your trek into the Bwindi Forest in search of one of the park's habituated mountain gorilla families. The trek may take between two and six hours, depending on the gorillas' location that day.

    Once located, spend one magical hour observing these gentle giants feed, groom, play and interact, an experience widely regarded as one of the greatest wildlife encounters on earth. Afterward, return to your lodge to celebrate this remarkable achievement.

    Overnight

    Rushaga Gorilla camp

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

11. 11
    

    Day 11

    Bwindi – Lake Bunyonyi

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    After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi, often referred to as the 'Switzerland of Africa' for its terraced hills and tranquil waters.

    Spend the afternoon at leisure, taking in panoramic views across the lake's twenty-nine islands. Optional activities include canoeing, a boat excursion, community visits or a peaceful nature walk.

    Overnight

    BirdNest Resort Bunyonyi

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

12. 12
    

    Day 12

    Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park

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    Depart Lake Bunyonyi and travel to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda's compact but wildlife-rich savannah gem.

    Enjoy an afternoon game drive where sightings may include zebras, elands, impalas, buffaloes, topis, warthogs and waterbucks.

    Overnight

    BirdNest Resort Bunyonyi

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

13. 13
    

    Day 13

    Walking Safari – Return to Entebbe

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    Start the morning with a guided walking safari accompanied by an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger. Walking through the African wilderness offers a completely different perspective, with close encounters with zebras, giraffes, impalas, and numerous bird species while learning about animal tracks, plants, and ecosystems.

    After breakfast, depart for Entebbe. En route, stop at the Uganda Equator for photographs, souvenir shopping and lunch, before continuing to Entebbe for your final overnight stay.

    Overnight

    Papyrus Guest House

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

14. 14
    

    Day 14

    Departure

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    Enjoy a relaxed breakfast depending on your flight schedule. If time permits, optional visits can be arranged to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the local craft markets.

    At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight, carrying with you the memories of gorillas, chimpanzees, the Nile and Uganda's warm hospitality

    Overnight

    NO Accommodation

    Meals included

    Breakfast

What’s Included

Route Map

1. 1Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Papyrus Guest House
2. 2Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Excursion – Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Ziwa chalets
3. 3Rhino Tracking – Murchison Falls National Park, Pakuba Safari Lodge
4. 4Game Drive & Nile Boat Safari, Pakuba Safari Lodge
5. 5Murchison Falls – Kibale Forest National Park, Turaco Treetops
6. 6Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, Turaco Treetops
7. 7Kibale – Queen Elizabeth National Park, Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
8. 8Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise, Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
9. 9Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rushaga Gorilla camp
10. 10Gorilla Trekking Experience, Rushaga Gorilla camp
11. 11Bwindi – Lake Bunyonyi, BirdNest Resort Bunyonyi
12. 12Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park, BirdNest Resort Bunyonyi
13. 13Walking Safari – Return to Entebbe, Papyrus Guest House
14. 14Departure, NO Accommodation

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Offered By

Gilead Summit Holidays

Local operator based in Uganda

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