6 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
The 6 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari brings together three of Uganda’s best-loved parks in one well-paced itinerary: Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, both ranked among Uganda’s finest savanna destinations, and Kibale Forest National Park, renowned as Africa’s primate capital.
Across the savanna parks, you will encounter lion, leopard, buffalo, warthog, giraffe, zebra and Uganda kob during game drives and boat cruises. At Kibale, home to the largest population of chimpanzees in East Africa and 13 primate species in total, you will spend a full hour in the presence of a wild chimpanzee community.
Trip Snapshot
| Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Starts / Ends | Kampala or Entebbe |
| Main destinations | Murchison Falls NP, Kibale Forest NP, Queen Elizabeth NP |
| Key activities | Rhino tracking, game drives, Nile boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking, Kazinga Channel cruise |
| Physical level | Easy to moderate |
| Best for | Travelers wanting a strong mix of savanna wildlife and primates |
Safari Highlights
- Rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls, past the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Summary Itinerary
| Day | Overview |
| Day 1 | Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park |
| Day 2 | Full day in Murchison Falls National Park |
| Day 3 | Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park |
| Day 4 | Chimpanzee trekking, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| Day 5 | Full day in Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| Day 6 | Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kampala/Entebbe |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast at your hotel, or on arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will meet your driver-guide for a scenic drive northwest through the Luwero Triangle, with a stop to browse fresh fruit and learn about the area’s history.
You will visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking walk among the endangered southern white rhino, then continue to Murchison Falls National Park with a lunch stop in Masindi. On arrival, head to the top of Murchison Falls to watch the Nile squeeze through a gorge just seven meters wide before plunging 43 meters below. Check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge or Red Chilli Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Full Day in Murchison Falls National Park
Wake early for a cup of coffee before heading into the park for a morning game drive, keeping watch for elephant, lion, buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck, oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, hyena and the occasionally elusive leopard.
Return to the lodge for a full breakfast and some downtime before lunch. In the afternoon, head out for a boat safari upstream along the calm Victoria Nile toward the base of the falls, passing within a few meters of the ‘Devil’s Cauldron.’ Along the way you will see large concentrations of hippo and crocodile, plus elephant, buffalo, waterbuck and Uganda kob at the water’s edge, along with water birds including Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican, kingfisher, hornbill and cormorant. At the base of the falls, watch the Nile explode through a narrow cleft in the escarpment into a churning pool below, one of the most powerful sights on the entire river.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge or Red Chilli Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park
After an early breakfast, check out and begin the full-day drive to Kibale Forest National Park, passing through verdant countryside, traditional homesteads and farmland along the Albertine Rift escarpment. Enjoy scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains as you pass through Fort Portal, with a lunch stop en route. You will arrive at the park in the evening and check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Chimpundu Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking, Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, head to Kibale’s park headquarters, where you will join other trekkers for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking etiquette. In groups of up to eight, you will head into the forest in search of a chimpanzee community, a trek that typically takes one to four hours depending on the community’s movement, with sightings of olive baboons, black-and-white colobus monkeys and forest birds along the way.
Once you find the chimpanzees, you will spend a closely regulated hour observing behavior that feels strikingly familiar, watching them move through the canopy and interact with one another, and taking photos of the encounter. Afterward, return to the park headquarters, meet your guide, and head back to the lodge for lunch and a short rest.
In the afternoon, drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, enjoying scenery and an en-route game drive as you approach your lodge for check-in, dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Full Day in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Start with a cup of coffee before heading into the park for an early morning game drive across the Kasenyi plains, home to a large population of Uganda kob that in turn attracts predators including lion, leopard and, occasionally, wild dog. You may also spot elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, warthog and hippo.
Return to the lodge for a full breakfast and a short rest before lunch. In the afternoon, head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise past one of the highest concentrations of hippo anywhere in Africa, along with crocodiles in the water and elephant, buffalo and warthog along the banks. Water birds including herons and grey crowned cranes are commonly seen. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, enjoy an en-route game drive as you head back toward Kampala or Entebbe, with a lunch stop in Mbarara and a photo stop at the Equator. On arrival, you will be dropped at your hotel or the airport for your onward flight home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Safari Price Includes
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as specified in the itinerary
- Igongo Cultural Centre visit
- Boat cruises
- Park fees
- Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit
- Community visits
- Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary tracking fee
- Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- En-route lunches
- Game drives
- Return airport transfers
Safari Price Excludes
- Personal expenses such as visas, drinks, laundry, tips, phone calls, porter fees while trekking, personal travel insurance and tobacco
Frequently Asked Questions
Which parks does this safari cover?
This 6-day itinerary covers Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, combining classic savanna wildlife viewing with chimpanzee trekking.
Is a chimpanzee permit included in the price?
Yes, the Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit is included in the safari package price.
How much driving is involved in this itinerary?
There are two notable travel days, from Murchison Falls to Kibale, and from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park, both of which include scenic stops and, in some cases, an en-route game drive to break up the journey.
What is the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’?
The Devil’s Cauldron is the churning plunge pool at the base of Murchison Falls, visited by boat as part of the Day 2 Nile cruise.
Book Your 6 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
With rhino tracking, two of Uganda’s premier savanna parks and a full chimpanzee trekking experience, the 6 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari offers one of the most complete short introductions to the country’s wildlife available.
Reach out to check availability and start planning your 6 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari.