Seven days is enough to see the best of southern and western Uganda if you are willing to spend some hours on the road, and it can be shortened with domestic flights. This itinerary starts and ends in Entebbe, with a mix of wildlife, adventure and culture. If you have more time, add Murchison Falls in the north or Kibale for chimpanzees, and if you have less, cut the Nile day or fly to Bwindi.
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
Land, settle in and rest. If you arrive in the morning, take a walk in the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or a stroll along the lakeshore, then have a fish dinner. Stay at the Protea or the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel. If you have energy, add a short Equator stop or a sunset boat trip on the lake.
Day 2: Entebbe to Lake Mburo
Drive south-west, stopping at the Equator line at Kayabwe for photos and craft shopping. Continue to Lake Mburo National Park for an afternoon game drive or a boat cruise, with zebras, impala and hippos as the highlights. Overnight at a lodge inside or beside the park. The drive takes about four to five hours.
Day 3: Lake Mburo to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Start with a morning walking safari or game drive at Lake Mburo, then drive on to Queen Elizabeth, crossing the Equator again in the west. In the late afternoon, take a game drive on the Kasenyi plains or settle in at Mweya Safari Lodge for a sunset overlooking the Kazinga Channel.
Day 4: Kazinga Channel and Ishasha
Take a morning boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel for hippos, elephants and birds, then drive south through the Ishasha sector, where lions sometimes rest in fig trees. Continue towards Bwindi in the afternoon, arriving at your lodge by evening. This is a long day, so rest well and pack for trekking.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking
Meet your guides at the trailhead early for the briefing. Trek into the forest to find your gorilla family and spend one hour with them. Return to the lodge for a late lunch, a hot shower and a quiet evening. Treks vary from short to very long, so keep the rest of the day free.
Day 6: Bwindi to Entebbe or Kampala
A full day of driving takes you back towards the capital, usually eight to ten hours with stops, so leave early. Break the journey with lunch in Mbarara or at the Equator. If you prefer to avoid the road, a charter flight from a nearby airstrip returns you to Entebbe in a fraction of the time, a worthwhile splurge for tired legs.
Day 7: Jinja or departure
If your flight is in the evening, use the morning for the Entebbe walking tour or a shoebill trip in Mabamba swamp. If you have an extra day, replace this with a day trip to Jinja, with the Source of the Nile, white-water rafting or tubing, and stay the night at Jinja Nile Resort. Transfers to Entebbe airport should allow plenty of time for traffic.
Pace and budget
This route is busy, with long drives on days two, four and six, so treat it as a tour of highlights rather than a relaxed holiday. Costs are dominated by the gorilla permit, the vehicle and the lodges, and the cheapest saving is to travel in a small group and share the vehicle. Keep a little cash for tips, porters and craft stalls, and leave the evenings free for early nights, because the mornings begin before dawn.
Variations
For a shorter trip, fly to Bwindi and back, skipping the road days. For a longer trip, add Murchison Falls in the north with the boat cruise and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, or spend extra nights at Kibale for chimpanzees. Travellers who prefer a slower pace can drop Lake Mburo and spend two nights at Queen Elizabeth. Whichever version you choose, build in buffer time for traffic and permits.
Booking order
Secure the gorilla permit first, then flights or transfers, then lodges, then the other activities. Many operators sell the whole route as a package that includes a vehicle and driver-guide, park fees, lodging and meals. Compare what is included, and make sure that the permit date matches the day you arrive at Bwindi.
