Uganda Luxury Safari Complete

An early start north with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — home to Uganda's only wild population of northern white rhinos. You'll track them on foot with armed rangers, getting genuinely close to these prehistoric giants in open grassland.

Continue to Murchison Falls National Park in time to visit the top of the falls — the Nile squeezing through a seven-metre gap before its thunderous forty-metre plunge. A sunset game drive completes the day.

A full day in Murchison — Uganda's largest national park. Rise before dawn for an exclusive sunrise game drive on the north bank. Lions, Rothschild's giraffe, elephant and buffalo move freely across the open savanna as the sky turns gold.

After breakfast, board your private launch for the Nile boat safari — two hours of pure Africa, gliding upstream to the thundering base of Murchison Falls with hundreds of hippos, Nile crocodiles and waterbirds lining both banks.

A scenic six-hour drive south through Uganda's green heartland to Kibale Forest National Park — the world's most biodiverse primate habitat with 13 species living in a single forest ecosystem.

Arrive in the afternoon for a two-to-three hour guided nature walk through the forest edges. Red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys and extraordinary birdlife surround you on all sides.

The forests of Kibale hold over 1,400 habituated chimpanzees — the world's highest density. Your tracker knows this community intimately. You'll spend two to three hours tracking and observing them at close range.

Watch them groom, feed, call to one another and swing through the canopy. Our closest living relatives, entirely on their own terms. Chimpanzee permits are fully included in your tour price.

A two-hour drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park — Uganda's most visited and diverse wildlife habitat. The journey passes through the Fort Portal crater lake region with its jewel-toned volcanic lakes.

Arrive in the afternoon and head straight out on a sunset game drive through the Kasenyi plains — Uganda kob, lion, elephant and buffalo as the sun drops behind the Rwenzori Mountains.

Out by 6:30am for the sunrise game drive across the Kasenyi plains — this is lion country. Prides rest on the open grassland as Uganda kob stream past in their thousands. Elephant, buffalo and spotted hyena are regulars.

After lunch, the 2pm Kazinga Channel boat safari — one of Africa's finest wildlife boat experiences. Hundreds of hippos line both banks, enormous Nile crocodiles bask on the mud and a staggering variety of waterbirds fill the air.

Morning game drive through the Kasenyi plains, then drive south into the remote Ishasha sector — home to Uganda's famous tree-climbing lions, found resting in ancient fig trees throughout the afternoon. Your guide knows exactly where to look.

Continue to Bwindi — arriving at the forest edge camp in time for dinner. Tomorrow is the day everything has been building toward.

The defining moment of this safari — and perhaps your life. After a UWA ranger briefing, you enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on foot with your trackers. The trek can last one to six hours. When you find the gorillas you have a full hour with the family.

A silverback at close range. Mothers carrying infants. Juveniles wrestling in the undergrowth. One of only two places on earth where this is possible. Your gorilla permit is fully included. The afternoon brings a Batwa cultural experience — Uganda's original forest people, sharing their extraordinary history.

Drive northeast from Bwindi through the spectacular southwestern highlands to Lake Mburo National Park — Uganda's smallest national park and home to the only population of zebra in the country, along with eland, impala, topi and waterbuck.

Arrive in the afternoon for a sunset game drive. Lake Mburo's acacia savanna is completely different in character from everything you've seen so far — open, golden and dotted with zebra herds.

A final morning game drive in Lake Mburo — boat safari on the lake is also possible if time allows — before making the drive northeast toward Kampala. Stop at the Equator monument for photos and the famous water demonstration.

Check in at the Airport Guest House in Entebbe for a comfortable final base with easy access for tomorrow's city tour and Day 13's early start at Mabamba Swamp.

A guided morning tour of Kampala — Uganda's vibrant, hilly capital spread across seven hills. Visit the Kasubi Royal Tombs (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Bahai Temple with its panoramic city views, the chaotic and fascinating Owino Market and the striking Gaddafi National Mosque.

Optional afternoon visit to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria — a short boat ride from Entebbe where orphaned chimps are cared for in a semi-wild setting.

An early morning canoe excursion into the extraordinary Mabamba Swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria. The shoebill stork — one of the world's most sought-after birds — is found here in one of its most reliable habitats on earth.

Standing over a metre tall, prehistoric in appearance and utterly unique, the shoebill stands motionless in the papyrus reeds waiting to strike. Finding one at close range from a canoe is an extraordinary experience that most birders put at the very top of their Africa list.

Drive east to Jinja — Uganda's adventure capital on the shores of Lake Victoria where the Nile begins its 6,800km journey to the Mediterranean. Visit the Source of the Nile — one of the most historically significant spots in Africa, marked with a small island in the lake.

Optional boat trip out to the source marker, followed by a walk through the Mabira Central Forest Reserve — a beautiful tropical rainforest visible from the Kampala–Jinja highway. Transfer to Entebbe airport for your departure flight. Fourteen extraordinary days. Tour complete.