9 Day Uganda Budget Adventure Safari

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Uganda and Murchison Falls

After your arrival in Entebbe, your friendly driver will be waiting to greet you and brief you regarding your next days in Uganda. After that, we’ll drive north to Murchison Falls National Park, stopping at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a quick but amazing chance to walk with the rhinos. Around lunchtime, we’ll continue our drive and, by the afternoon, we’ll be at the park. We’ll check into our lodge close to the falls, and if we have a bit of extra time, we can take a short walk nearby or relax with a drink by the river while watching the sun set.

Overnight Options:

• Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge / Horn bill Safari Lodge
• Standard: Fort Murchison Lodge / Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Chobe Safari Lodge

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Nile Boat Cruise

Today, you shall wake up early and head out for a game drive along the northern edge of the park. Keep your eyes peeled for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, lions, warthogs, the pretty kob antelope, and a rainbow of birds. After lunch, we swap the safari jeep for a boat and cruise the Nile River. As we glide toward the falls, we’ll see hippos, crocodiles, and more birds along the banks. We can hop out for a short walk to the top of the falls, where the spray will refresh you.

Overnight:

• Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge / Horn bill Safari Lodge
• Standard: Fort Murchison Lodge / Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Chobe Safari Lodge

Day 3: Drive to Kibale via Ziwa Sanctuary

After breakfast we drive south again, stopping at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for those who want to track rhinos one last time. Then we’ll wind through the green hills of western Uganda until we reach Kibale National Park. The evening is yours: kick back in the shade or try some local dishes.

Overnight:

• Budget – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
• Standard – Chimps Nest Lodge
• Luxury – Ndali Lodge / Primate Safari Lodge

Day 4: Chimp Trekking and Bigodi Walk

Get ready to start the day early because today’s the day we go chimp trekking in Kibale Forest. Over 1,500 chimps live in this park, and we’ll hit the trails under the giant trees, listening for their hoots until we find a family. Once we do, we’ll chill with them for a full hour and just watch them swing and play. After a tasty lunch, we’ll swap the forest for Bigodi Swamp on a guided walk, spotting cool birds and hearing how folks protect this wetland.

Overnight:

• Budget – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
• Standard – Chimps Nest Lodge
• Luxury – Ndali Lodge / Primate Safari Lodge

Day 5: Through Queen Elizabeth to Ishasha and the Gorilla Zone

Today’s drive takes us through Queen Elizabeth National Park. We’ll stop for a mini game drive and then for a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, where hippos, buffalo, and elephants often show off along the shore. After the water, we’ll head to Ishasha, where we’ll search the fig trees for the legendary climbing lions. With those checked off, we’ll keep driving into the Bwindi area, where we’ll get our gear ready for the jaw-dropping gorilla trek tomorrow.

Overnight:

• Budget – Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Standard – Silverback Lodge
• Luxury – Mahogany Springs

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Optional Batwa Visit

Today is epic! We’ll wake up super early and join the park rangers for a quick briefing. Then we set out to track the mountain gorillas in Bwindi. You might walk for an hour or a bit longer until we find the group, but once we do, we get a whole hour to sit quietly and watch them chill out in the forest. After the trek you can choose to visit a Batwa village nearby and find out how they used to live in the forest.

Overnight:

• Budget – Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Standard – Silverback Lodge
• Luxury – Mahogany Springs

Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi Chill Day

After breakfast we drive to Lake Bunyonyi, an incredible little crater lake with super calm water and a bunch of pretty islands. You can spend the afternoon swimming, take a canoe ride, or wander over to a nearby village. This day is all about relaxing and letting your legs recover after all that trekking!

Overnight:

• Budget – Bunyonyi Backpackers
• Standard – Birdnest @ Bunyonyi
• Luxury – Arcadia Cottages

Day 8: Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo, Evening Game Drive

We’ll chill by the lake this morning, and you can grab a canoe or pop into a local village if you want. After lunch, we’ll hit the road to Lake Mburo National Park. It’s a smaller park, but it’s got some cool animals and nice walking trails. When we get there, we’ll jump into the safari vehicle for an evening drive. Keep your eyes peeled for zebras, impalas, hippos, and maybe even some buffaloes.

Overnight:

• Budget – Mantana Tented Camp
• Standard – Buffalo Safari Lodge
• Luxury – Mihingo Lodge

Day 9: Morning Game Walk and Return to Entebbe

We’ll start the day with a guided morning walk in Mburo. Walking gives you a better shot at seeing impalas and buffaloes, and the birdwatching is way cooler up close. After we eat breakfast, we’ll drive back to Entebbe or Kampala and should be there by the afternoon. We’ll drop you off at the airport or your hotel, so you can chill a bit before your flight.