Day 1

Arrival at Entebbe Airport – Entebbe

Step off the plane and into the heart of Africa. As you make your way through Entebbe International Airport, your friendly Amatsiko Tours guide will be waiting to greet you with a warm smile and a wave. From the very first moment, you’ll feel the easy hospitality Uganda is known for.

Your guide will help you with your luggage and lead you to a comfortable, private vehicle for the drive to your first accommodation. Along the way, you’ll catch your first glimpses of Uganda—lush greenery, the glimmer of Lake Victoria, and the gentle rhythm of life unfolding outside your window. It’s the perfect introduction to a journey filled with connection, discovery, and wonder.

Accommodation

Hotel Seven Ssonsea

Day 2

Ziwa Rhino Tracking & Murchison Falls

After an early breakfast, your adventure begins with a drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see white rhinos in the wild. Led by experienced rangers, you’ll take a guided bush walk to track these gentle giants on foot—a rare and unforgettable wildlife encounter.

From here, the journey continues north to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and one of its most spectacular reserves. If time allows, we’ll head straight to the Top of the Falls, where the mighty Nile is squeezed through a narrow, 7-meter-wide gorge before plunging 60 meters into the river below. The sound is thunderous, the spray refreshing, and the view simply breathtaking.

As we explore the park, keep your eyes open for elephants, graceful giraffes, powerful lions, pods of hippos, sunbathing crocodiles, vast herds of buffalo, and, if luck is on our side, the elusive leopard

Accommodation

Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 3

Game Drive & Nile Boat Safari

Rise early for a morning game drive through the sweeping savannahs of Murchison Falls National Park. In the golden light, the park comes alive, elephants move silently through the grass, giraffes stretch their necks for the tallest leaves, and lions may be seen basking after the night’s hunt. Every turn offers another chance for a wildlife surprise.

In the afternoon, step aboard for a boat safari along the Victoria Nile. This leisurely cruise takes you upriver to the base of the mighty Murchison Falls. From the water, you’ll spot hippos wallowing, crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks, and a dazzling array of birdlife—perfect for photographers and bird enthusiasts alike.

At the end of the boat trip, you’ll have the chance to hike to the top of the falls, feeling the power of the Nile as it surges through a narrow gorge and crashes down below. The view from above is one you’ll carry with you long after the journey ends.

Accommodation

Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 4

Journey to Kibale Forest

After breakfast, we set off on a scenic drive south towards Kibale Forest National Park, often called the primate capital of the world. Along the way, the landscape shifts from open savannah to rolling hills and lush tea plantations, giving you a beautiful glimpse of rural Uganda.

In the afternoon, you’ll have the option to take a guided community walk—a chance to meet local residents, learn about traditional life, and enjoy the warmth of Ugandan hospitality.

Kibale itself is a spectacular tropical jungle, home to an incredible 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, baboons, black-and-white colobus, red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, and the rare L’Hoest monkey. The forest hums with life, promising an unforgettable introduction to Uganda’s rich biodiversity.

Accommodation

Kibale Forest Camp

Day 5

Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Wetlands

Today you step into the heart of Kibale Forest for an unforgettable encounter with our closest relatives—the chimpanzees. In the cool of the morning (or afternoon), your expert guide will lead you along forest trails, listening for calls and rustles in the canopy. Soon, you’ll come face-to-face with a chimpanzee family, watching them play, groom, and forage in their natural home. This standard tracking allows one full hour with the chimps, but for those seeking a deeper experience, you can upgrade to the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience—spending up to four hours observing them.

In the afternoon, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run conservation project rich in primates and birdlife. The boardwalk trails wind through lush swamp and forest, where you might spot colobus monkeys, hornbills, and the elusive great blue turaco.

You may also choose to visit nearby crater lakes, meet local families, or take an optional night walk through the forest to discover nocturnal wonders such as bush babies and owls.

Accommodation

Kibale Forest Camp

Day 6

Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, we leave the dense forests of Kibale behind and travel south towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, we cross the Equator—a perfect spot for a photo to mark your journey across hemispheres.

In the afternoon, set out on a game drive through the park’s open savannahs. Queen Elizabeth is one of the best places in Uganda to see lions, and you may also encounter large herds of elephants, buffalo, and pods of hippos wallowing in the water. Keep your eyes sharp for crocodiles along the riverbanks and, if luck is on our side, the elusive leopard.

The vast landscapes, framed by the Rwenzori Mountains in the distance, make every sighting unforgettable.

Accommodation

Baboon Safari Lodge

Day 7

Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Cruise

Begin the day with a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, when wildlife is most active. Watch the savannah come alive as elephants graze, antelope bound across the plains, and lions bask in the first light of day.

In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway linking Lake George and Lake Edward. This is one of Uganda’s greatest wildlife spectacles, home to the highest concentration of hippos in the world, along with Nile crocodiles and countless waterbirds. The boat offers a perfect vantage point for photography and peaceful observation.

After the cruise, we transfer to the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions—for your overnight stay.

Accommodation

Topi Lodge

Day 8

Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions & Journey to Bwindi

Start the day with an early morning game drive in the Ishasha sector, home to one of Africa’s rarest wildlife sights—tree-climbing lions. Here, four prides have mastered the art of lounging in fig and acacia trees, a behavior found in only a few places on Earth. Ishasha is also the only part of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you can spot elegant topis, a striking antelope species found nowhere else in the park.

After this unforgettable morning, we set off for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, traveling through vibrant villages and rolling hills, with breathtaking views of the distant mountains.

Bwindi is a living, breathing jewel—its misty jungle home to countless bird species, playful monkeys, and, most famously, the endangered mountain gorilla. This is one of only two places in the entire world where you can see them in the wild.

Accommodation

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

Day 9

Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for—gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. At first light, you’ll join your ranger guide for a briefing before setting off into the dense jungle in search of one of the world’s most endangered and extraordinary creatures: the mountain gorilla. The trek can be challenging, but every step is worth it.

When you finally meet a gorilla family, time seems to stand still. For one unforgettable hour, you’ll watch them feed, play, and interact—an intimate glimpse into the lives of our closest relatives in the wild. It’s an encounter that leaves most visitors deeply moved.

After this life-changing experience, we travel to Lake Bunyonyi, a serene crater lake surrounded by terraced hills. At 2,000 meters above sea level, its waters are cool, clear, and safe for swimming—no hippos, no crocodiles, no bilharzia. Known as one of the deepest and most beautiful lakes in Uganda, it’s the perfect place to relax and reflect on the day’s adventure.

Accommodation

Bunyonyi Safaris Resort

Day 10

Community Volunteering & Lake Mburo Safari

This morning, we visit Amatsiko Preparatory School, a community-supported initiative providing education and hope to orphans and vulnerable children. Here, you’ll be welcomed with open arms—sharing time in classrooms, helping with activities, reading stories, or mentoring students. It’s a chance to connect, inspire, and be inspired, leaving a meaningful mark on the community we proudly support.

After this heartwarming experience, we travel to Lake Mburo National Park for an afternoon game drive. This compact but wildlife-rich park is known for its herds of zebra, graceful impala, buffalo, and an abundance of birdlife. As the sun begins to set, we make our way to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay surrounded by the sounds of the African bush.

Accommodation

Eagles Nest

Day 11

Nature Walk & Return to Entebbe

After an early breakfast, set out on a guided nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park—a rare chance to explore the African bush on foot. With a ranger by your side, you’ll quietly follow winding trails in search of wildlife, from elegant zebras and impalas to towering elands, topis, buffaloes, and curious warthogs. Bird enthusiasts will delight in sightings of the African finfoot, papyrus gonolek, and Uganda’s national bird, the grey crowned crane.

Following this peaceful walk, we begin our journey back to Entebbe. Along the way, we pause for lunch and make a final stop at the Equator, where you can take photos marking your time in both hemispheres and browse for locally made souvenirs.

As the sun sets on your Ugandan adventure, you’ll carry home not just photographs, but memories of wild encounters, warm smiles, and a journey that made a difference.