Epic 9-Day Uganda Safari: Gorillas, Wildlife & Ultimate Birding Adventure
Embark on an unforgettable 9-day Uganda safari, a masterfully crafted journey through the country’s most iconic landscapes. This isn’t just a wildlife tour; it’s a deep dive into Africa’s beating heart, where misty gorilla jungles meet endless savannahs, and every sunrise brings a symphony of birdsong. From the primordial forests of Bwindi to the predator-rich plains of Queen Elizabeth, this all-inclusive adventure seamlessly blends thrilling primate encounters, classic big game drives, serene river cruises, and a world-class birding spectacle. Perfect for adventurers and nature lovers alike, discover the very best of the “Pearl of Africa” in comfort and style.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi: Stand face-to-face with a family of majestic mountain gorillas in their misty forest home—a profoundly moving, once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale: Hike through the primate capital of the world to observe our closest relatives swinging and chattering in the lush canopy.
Classic Big Game Safaris: Traverse the sprawling savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of legendary tree-climbing lions, massive elephant herds, buffalo, and leopard.
Scenic Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise: Glide past some of the world’s highest concentrations of hippos, immense Nile crocodiles, and a colorful tapestry of birds along the water’s edge.
Unrivaled Birding Safaris: Uganda is a birder’s utopia. With over 1,000 species, tick off your bucket list from the prehistoric Shoebill Stork to the brilliant Great Blue Turaco, African Green Broadbill, and a kaleidoscope of sunbirds, kingfishers, and bee-eaters. Dedicated birding moments are woven into every day.
The Mighty Nile River: Stand in awe at the source of the world’s longest river, where it bursts from Lake Victoria, and explore the thunderous power of Murchison Falls.
Authentic Cultural Immersion: Connect with local communities, sharing stories and discovering ancient traditions that bring the landscape to life.
This comprehensive adventure is packed with diverse experiences:
Once-in-a-lifetime Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Thrilling Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park.
Daily Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks.
A mesmerizing Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
A powerful Boat Safari to the base of Murchison Falls.
Expert-led Birdwatching Safaris & Nature Walks, targeting endemics and rarities like the elusive Shoebill.
Authentic Cultural Visits and community encounters.
Permits secured: One gorilla trekking permit and one chimpanzee tracking permit per person.
All ground transportation in a comfortable, pop-up roof 4×4 safari vehicle.
Services of a professional, English-speaking expert driver/guide with deep birding knowledge.
Accommodation in carefully selected mid-range or luxury lodges and tented camps.
Full-board meals as per the itinerary.
All park entry fees and activity costs mentioned.
Bottled drinking water throughout your safari.
International flights to/from Uganda.
Entry visa fees and comprehensive travel insurance.
Personal expenses (premium drinks, laundry, souvenirs, and tips).
Optional activities not listed in the core itinerary.
Uncuts the WOW Factor: We don’t just take you to Uganda; we reveal its soul. This itinerary is meticulously paced for maximum wildlife and birding immersion without feeling rushed.
A Birder’s Dream Woven In: Unlike typical safaris, this journey is designed with birding as a star attraction, not an afterthought. Your guide will help you spot everything from Albertine Rift endemics to majestic raptors.
Seamless & Stress-Free Luxury: From the moment you land, every detail is handled. Relax in handpicked sanctuaries of comfort—from eco-luxury forest lodges to classic tented camps—perfect for unwinding after thrilling days.
Expert Storytellers as Guides: Our passionate, knowledgeable driver-guides are the key to an unforgettable safari. They possess an uncanny ability to locate elusive wildlife and enrich your journey with fascinating natural history and cultural insights.
Journey with Purpose: Your safari directly supports vital conservation efforts and uplifts local communities. Travel with the knowledge that your footprint is a positive one.
Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Contact us today to customize your epic 9-day Uganda safari and secure your gorilla permits!
Welcome to Uganda! Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your private driver-guide and birding expert will greet you with a warm smile and a branded safari welcome pack. Transfer to your elegant city accommodation to check in and refresh.
Depending on your arrival time, embark on a guided exploration of Kampala’s vibrant cultural and historical landmarks. Visit the Uganda Museum for a rich introduction to the country’s heritage, followed by the serene Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo. For your first taste of Uganda’s incredible birdlife, keep an eye out for Marabou Storks and graceful Black Kites soaring above the city. Cap off the day browsing exquisite local crafts, the perfect souvenir opportunity.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Kampala Serena Hotel or Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Moderate: Protea Hotel by Marriott Kampala or Grand Imperial Hotel
Basic: Emerald Hotel Kampala or Yellow Haven Lodge
Meals: Dependent on arrival time.
After a hearty breakfast, journey north towards the thundering Murchison Falls National Park. Your first major stop is the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Here, you’ll embark on a guided on-foot tracking experience, coming face-to-face with majestic Southern White Rhinos. This sanctuary is also a birding hotspot; your guide will help you spot the elusive Shoebill Stork in the swamps, along with a variety of cisticolas and the dazzling Northern Carmine Bee-eater.
Following lunch at a classic diner, continue to the national park. Upon arrival, choose an optional, invigorating hike to the top of Murchison Falls—a phenomenal spectacle where the Nile River squeezes through a 7-meter gorge before plunging 43 meters down. Listen for the piercing call of Rock Pratincoles nesting on the cliffs. Settle into your lodge, surrounded by the wild symphony of the African night.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Chobe Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Twiga Safari Lodge
Basic: Sambiya River Lodge or Murchison River Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Dawn breaks with an epic game drive across the rolling savannahs of the Buligi Peninsula. With a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger on board, track the “Big Five” and more—lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and vast herds of elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffalo, and Jackson’s hartebeest. For avid birders, the open plains offer incredible raptor viewing, from the stately Secretary Bird to the colorful Abyssinian Ground Hornbill.
After lunch and a well-earned siesta, assemble at Paraa jetty for a spectacular boat cruise up the Nile to the base of the falls. This is a prime birding theatre: witness prehistoric-looking Shoebills in the reed beds, vast colonies of Great White Pelicans, and dazzling Pied and Giant Kingfishers diving for their prey. Giant Nile crocodiles and hundreds of grunting hippos line the banks, offering unforgettable photographic moments.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Chobe Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Twiga Safari Lodge
Basic: Sambiya River Lodge or Murchison River Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Today is a scenic odyssey to Kibale Forest National Park. The 7-8 hour drive transforms into a highlight reel of stunning landscapes. Pass through verdant tea and banana plantations, with breathtaking, clear-day views of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains—the legendary “Mountains of the Moon.” Stop for a delicious farm-to-table lunch in Fort Portal town. This afternoon, we highly recommend an optional Crater Lake tour, where the calm waters and forest edges are a haven for gem-like sunbirds and weavers. Arrive at your lodge, nestled on the edge of the primate capital, for a tranquil evening.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Ndali Lodge or Kyaninga Safari Lodge
Moderate: Chimps Nest or Kibale Forest Camp
Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse or Chimpanzee Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
The primal calls of rainforest birds rouse you this morning. After breakfast, transfer to the Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. Then, plunge into the lush forest, guided by expert trackers. The moment you lock eyes with a wild chimpanzee troop is pure magic—spend an hour observing their complex social antics.
In the afternoon, the birding spotlight intensifies with a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This community-run gem is a paradise for wetland birds. Patiently scanning the dense vegetation with your guide often reveals the brilliant Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, White-spotted Flufftail, and a host of primate species like the red colobus monkey.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Ndali Lodge or Kyaninga Safari Lodge
Moderate: Chimps Nest or Kibale Forest Camp
Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse or Chimpanzee Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, a scenic 3-4 hour drive. The safari begins immediately upon entry, with a welcome committee of Ugandan kob, elephants, and buffalo dotting the golden plains. After lunch at your lodge, which overlooks the vast Albertine Rift Valley, you have time to relax or choose an optional cultural visit to a local community. Share in traditional dances and stories, capping the evening with a mouthwatering local dinner under a canopy of stars.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge
Moderate: Buffalo Safari Lodge or Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp
Basic: Bush Lodge Tents or Kazinga Channel View Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
An early morning game drive is timed perfectly to catch crepuscular predators—lions, spotted hyenas, and the elusive leopard—before they retreat from the rising sun. The Kasenyi track offers phenomenal viewing of giant forest hogs and banded mongooses, while the avian world comes alive with flappet larks displaying their aerial artistry.
In the afternoon, embark on the highlight cruise along the Kazinga Channel. This waterway hosts Africa’s highest concentration of hippos and is a Ramsar Convention bird site of global importance. Marvel at the sheer biomass of life: from skimming African fish eagles and regal pink-backed pelicans to a vibrant blizzard of pied kingfishers, yellow-billed storks, and fish eagles.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge
Moderate: Buffalo Safari Lodge or Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp
Basic: Bush Lodge Tents or Kazinga Channel View Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After an early breakfast, journey south to the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This spectacular drive includes a game drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for its unique tree-climbing lions, often found draped lazily on the boughs of fig trees. Enjoy a scenic lunch at Savannah Resort in Kanungu, with sweeping views of the terraced hills. In the afternoon, arrive at the edge of Bwindi, the ultimate gorilla trekking destination. The forest’s misty canopy hums with the calls of rare Albertine Rift endemic birds.
Accommodation Options:
Upmarket: Mahogany Springs Camp or Silverback Lodge
Moderate: Kigezi Forest Cottages or Engagi Lodge
Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp or Bwindi View Bandas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
The pinnacle of your epic adventure. After an early breakfast, walk to the park headquarters for a final briefing before entering the Impenetrable Forest. Guided by expert trackers, hike through tangled undergrowth and towering ferns until you find your assigned gorilla family. The silent, charged hour you spend in their presence, watching silverbacks groom and infants play, is a moment that redefines your connection to the natural world.
Return to your lodge for a celebratory lunch before transferring back to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight, carrying with you the soul of Uganda.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Licensed & Accredited: Fully registered with the Uganda Tourism Board, guaranteeing a safe, high-quality safari.
Purpose-Driven Travel: We are deeply eco-conscious. Our handpicked lodges and immersive activities actively support vital conservation work and local community upliftment.
Total Transparency: Our all-inclusive pricing has no hidden costs. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are fully secured within your package.
Enquire & Confirm Availability: Contact our expert team to check permit and lodge availability for your preferred dates.
Secure Your Spot: A deposit is required to confirm your booking and immediately reserve your highly sought-after gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits.
Prepare Your Documents: Ensure you have a valid passport (6+ months validity), secure your e-tourist visa, and arrange comprehensive travel insurance.
Pack Smart: Essentials include sturdy hiking boots, a lightweight rain jacket, comfortable safari clothes, insect repellent, sunscreen, and high-quality binoculars for exceptional birding. As a gift, you will receive our free branded rain jacket.
Final Payment: The remaining balance is due before your arrival, for a seamless experience from the moment you land.
Tribes Gorilla Trekking Tours is your trusted safari and travel company located on Das Berliner Platz, Ground Floor Room M- 04, Bulaga, Mityana Road, Wakiso District. We specialize in gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park, as well as wildlife tours, cultural experiences, and adventure holidays across East Africa.
