12 Days Budget Bwindi Gorilla Trekking

You leave for Jinja after an early breakfast. Jinja stands at the source of the River Nile and is known as the adventure capital of East Africa. The whole day is spent white-water rafting, one of the most exciting things to do in Uganda, and it suits beginners and experienced rafters alike.

Activities: Full-day white water rafting on the River Nile
Overnight: Haven Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast you travel to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to Uganda’s only wild rhinos. In the evening a guide takes you rhino tracking on foot, a rare chance to stand close to these magnificent animals where they live.

Activities: Rhino tracking
Overnight: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Guesthouse / Amuka Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast you drive to Murchison Falls National Park. On the way you stop at the top of the falls for a guided walk and watch the Nile force itself through a narrow gorge and drop 43 meters.

You then enter the park for an evening game drive, with a chance of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and antelopes.

Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The whole day is given to long game drives over the savannah. Lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and a great many birds are all likely.

Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives
Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A morning game drive opens the day, in search of whichever of the Big Five you have yet to see. In the afternoon a tour of a local community shows you traditional ways of living, the culture and the conservation work under way.

Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast you set off with a packed lunch and drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, through attractive scenery and rural villages. You arrive in the evening for dinner and a rest.

Overnight: The Bush Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

There is an early game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and you return for lunch. Afterwards you move on to the Ishasha sector, famous for the rare tree-climbing lions so often found lying in its fig trees.

Overnight: Ishasha Pride Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast there is a short game drive on the way out of Ishasha. You then continue to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a scenic drive over rolling hills and through local villages.

Overnight: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast is early. You then go to the park headquarters for the Gorilla Habituation Experience, in which you spend up to four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family in the company of researchers and rangers.

The afternoon is spent with the Batwa, who tell you about their heritage in the forest, their traditions and how they live.

Overnight: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast you drive to Lake Mburo National Park. It is the smallest savannah park in Uganda, yet full of wildlife, including zebras, elands, impalas and buffaloes. There is an evening game drive when you arrive.

Overnight: Rwakobo Rock
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The day starts early with a walking safari. An armed ranger goes with you, and on foot you get close to the wildlife. Then you leave for Entebbe, with a stop at the equator line for lunch, souvenirs and photographs.

You carry on to Entebbe International Airport to catch your flight out.

Meals: Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch