Uganda is Africa at its most vivid – lush, wild and deeply moving. Encounter mountain gorillas in misty rainforests, hear chimpanzees calling through the canopy and watch lions and elephants roam golden savannahs. Boat safaris on the Nile, hidden crater lakes and genuine encounters with local communities make this journey an experience that goes far beyond a classic safari.
Uganda is also known as the “Pearl of Africa” – a phrase attributed to Winston Churchill that still rings true today. No other African country combines such diversity within so small an area: montane rainforests, savannahs, river systems and wetlands – and the wildlife that calls them home.
We know this diversity from firsthand experience – our network of experienced local guides ensures you experience the real Uganda, not the tourist version of it.
Highlights at a Glance
Our Programme
Uganda – The Pearl of Africa (12 days)
“Where gorillas roam the mist and lions rest in trees”
The programme is displayed without fixed prices. Every journey is tailored individually to your wishes and travel dates. Get in touch – we will create a personalised quote for you.
Arrival Entebbe → Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary → Murchison Falls
Arrival at Entebbe International Airport – met by your guide. Drive north to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where rhinos roam free in the wild. Rhino tracking on foot – a rare and moving encounter. Continue to the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the Nile surges with tremendous force through a gorge just 7 metres wide.
Murchison Falls – Morning Game Drive & Nile Boat Safari
Early morning game drive in golden light: elephants, lions, giraffes and buffalo. Afternoon boat cruise upstream to the Murchison Falls – past hippos, crocodiles and hundreds of water birds. The force of the water bursting through the narrow gorge is a natural spectacle like no other. Optional: night game drive in search of leopards and other nocturnal animals.
Murchison Falls → Mubaku Community – Kibale Forest
Visit to the Mubaku community on Lake Albert – local music, traditional dance, genuine encounters. Drive on to Kibale Forest National Park, the world’s most species-rich primate forest. Arrival and settling in at the lodge.
Kibale Forest – Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi
Morning: chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest – observe these fascinating great apes climbing, playing and feeding. With luck, the group may come to ground level too. Afternoon: Bigodi Wetland – a guided community walk through a bird paradise with over 200 species, red colobus monkeys and deep insights into the daily life of the local community.
Kibale → Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes → Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive to the Ndali-Kasenda crater lake region – a mosaic of volcanic lakes, lush hills and wide panoramas. The viewpoint is known as the “Roof of the World” of Uganda. Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Africa’s most species-rich national parks.
Queen Elizabeth – Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Morning game drive in the Kasenyi area: over 5,000 hippos, 2,500 elephants and 10,000 buffalo live in the park. Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel – a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The banks teem with extraordinary concentrations of wildlife.
Queen Elizabeth – Ishasha Sector (tree-climbing lions) → Bwindi
Drive to the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park – famous for its tree-climbing lions, a behaviour observed worldwide only here and at Lake Manyara in Tanzania. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of the most mystical and species-rich ecosystems on earth.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Mountain Gorilla Trekking
The centrepiece of the journey. Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas – one of the most critically endangered species on earth. Trekking can take between one and seven hours. Then: one hour in close proximity – the silverback, playful youngsters, attentive mothers. A moment that stays with you for life. Permits are limited to 8 people per group per day.
Bwindi → Lake Mburo National Park
Farewell to the rainforest. Drive to Lake Mburo National Park – the most compact yet wildlife-rich park in western Uganda, with the highest leopard density in the country. Arrival and afternoon game drive. A special feature: Lake Mburo is one of the few parks in Uganda where zebras live.
Lake Mburo – Walking Safari & Night Safari
Morning walking safari without a vehicle – Uganda kob, zebra, giraffe and impala at close range, led by an experienced armed ranger. A completely different way to experience the wilderness. Evening night game drive in search of leopards, spotted hyenas and other nocturnal animals.
Lake Mburo – Morning Safari → Entebbe
Last morning safari at Lake Mburo. Drive back to Entebbe with a stop at the Equator in Kayabwe – for a photograph and the classic water experiment. Optional: dinner on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Departure
Transfer to Entebbe International Airport. Uganda leaves its mark – from the gorillas to the warmth of its people.
Important Notes
- Gorilla trekking permits (approx. USD 700 per person) are limited and must be booked early – marktravelz handles the booking for you.
- Chimpanzee trekking permits (approx. USD 250 per person) also include a full booking service.
- Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed – however, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking has a very high success rate.
- The duration of gorilla trekking varies depending on the location of the group (1–7 hours). Good physical fitness is recommended.
- Should an accommodation be fully booked, we will reserve an equivalent alternative.
- We recommend taking out travel cancellation and interruption insurance for all journeys.
Uganda has captured your imagination?
Let’s plan your perfect Uganda journey together. Mark knows the country from personal experience – and our local network of experienced guides makes all the difference. Write to us – we will get back to you personally.
Enquire about this journey