Uganda Tours
The Best of Uganda Small Group Tour
The Best of Uganda Small Group Tour is a 14 day Uganda safari.
Explore the Best of Uganda
Embark on a journey through Uganda’s breathtaking landscapes and explore the heart of East Africa. This 14-day small group tour offers you an opportunity to experience the country’s diverse ecosystems and encounter some of the world’s most iconic wildlife.
A highlight of the tour is the chance to encounter the majestic mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park. However, there is much more to Uganda than the gorillas – Kibale Forest National Park is a primate paradise, home to chimpanzees and twelve other monkey species, and you will have many game drives through the savannahs of Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.
Take a boat trip along the Nile River to witness the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the river plunges 60 metres into a narrow gorge, plus a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, renowned for its abundant wildlife. This small group tour also takes you to the Ishasha sector, where you may encounter rare tree-climbing lions, and the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see the endangered white rhinoceros.
There is time to relax at the serene Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda’s most beautiful lake, plus plenty of chances to interact with local communities and learn about their way of life.
Day By Day
Your Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrive in Uganda
On arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your accommodation for the evening.
Overnight in Via Via Guesthouse or similar · Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 2
Murchison Falls National Park
Head to Ziwa Sanctuary for a guided walk to see white rhinos, the only place in Uganda you can spot them, before continuing to Murchison Falls National Park – if time permits, visit the top of the falls, where the Nile is squeezed through a narrow gorge and plunges 60 metres.
Overnight in Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 3
Murchison Falls National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives across Murchison Falls National Park, keeping an eye out for elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and, if you’re lucky, leopards.
Overnight in Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 4
Murchison Falls National Park
An early morning game drive followed by an afternoon boat ride along the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls, a great opportunity to observe birds and animals at the water’s edge.
Overnight in Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 5
Kibale Forest
Travel to Kibale Forest National Park through the Albertine Escarpment, part of the western branch of the East African Rift Valley, passing traditional villages and the “Mountains of the Moon.” Kibale is known as the Primate Capital of the World, home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees and colobus monkeys.
Overnight in Bweza Kibale Lodge or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 6
Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimpanzee tracking in the morning or afternoon, combined with a walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary to spot birds and primates.
Overnight in Bweza Kibale Lodge or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 7
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Pass the crater lakes, stopping at one for a closer look, and cross the equator en route to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s top spots for lions, with an afternoon game drive looking for elephants, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and leopards.
Overnight in Kasenyi Safari Camp or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 8
Queen Elizabeth National Park
A morning game drive followed by an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, known for its large hippo population.
Overnight in Kasenyi Safari Camp or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 9
Ishasha
Travel through Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Ishasha area, famous for its tree-climbing lions and Topis, found nowhere else in the park, with an afternoon game drive.
Overnight in Ishasha Jungle Lodge or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 10
Bwindi Impenetrable
An early morning game drive in Ishasha before heading to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, passing fascinating villages and mountain views – one of only two places in the world to see mountain gorillas. The lodge depends on which gorilla group you’re assigned to track.
Overnight in A lodge in Bwindi (Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo or Rushaga area) or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 11
Gorilla Tracking
Bwindi has four gorilla tracking areas – you set off early with your ranger to search for them, followed by an unforgettable hour spent with one of our closest relatives. Anyone not tracking can arrange an optional activity such as a visit to the Batwa community, a village visit or a jungle walk in Bwindi (additional fees apply).
Overnight in A lodge in Bwindi or similar · Meals included: Full board
DAY 12
Lake Bunyonyi
Choose from a guided forest walk, birdwatching, or a cultural visit with the Batwa community, before travelling to Lake Bunyonyi – one of Uganda’s most beautiful lakes, surrounded by green hills and dotted with small islands, sitting at almost 2,000 metres above sea level and formed when volcanic activity blocked a river valley, safe for swimming with no hippos or crocodiles. If time allows, we will also visit Kabaya primary school, which we support.
Overnight in Heritage Lodge or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 13
Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, you will head to Lake Mburo National Park, with an optional boat trip on the lake in the afternoon. Later in the evening, you go on a night game drive where you have a good chance of spotting leopards. Lake Mburo is one of only two national parks in Uganda where you can see zebras, and it’s the only park with impalas. You can also enjoy walking safaris since no elephants or lions are here.
Overnight in Rwakobo Rock Lodge or similar · Meals included: Half board
DAY 14
Depart Uganda
Enjoy a final game walk, or an early morning cycle, before driving back to Entebbe, crossing the Equator once more along the way, then transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Please note that the earliest flight departure from Entebbe on this day is 20:00.
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Know Before You Go
Included & Excluded
What’s Included
Arrival and departure transfers
All accommodation as shown or of a similar quality
Meals according to description – breakfast, half board or full board as shown in the itinerary
Transportation in private customised safari vehicles (maximum six people per vehicle, maximum two vehicles)
Gorilla tracking permit
Chimpanzee tracking permit
All activities as described in the itinerary
Bottled drinking water – please bring a refillable bottle
What’s Not Included
International travel to the start and end point – contact us for information and flight options
Any airport taxes
Travel insurance
Any visa requirements (approx. $50 per person)
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks plus meals other than those mentioned on the program
Expenditure of a personal nature, laundry, telephone bills, drinks, souvenirs, tips etc.
Early check-in / late checkout fees if required
Gratuities for local tour guide, driver etc.
Tour Map
Book With Confidence
Dates & Prices
The price includes the gorilla tracking permit, subject to availability, so early booking is advised. We use 4×4 custom-made safari vehicles with roofs that open for a 360-degree view.
Prices shown are per person, based on double or twin room occupancy. Get in touch if you’d like to check availability or discuss a private departure on different dates.
Good to Know
Travel Information
Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice for Uganda.
Your passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry into Uganda, with at least one blank page for entry stamps. Apply for a visa at the Ugandan High Commission in London or online for an e-visa (an East African Tourist Visa is also available, valid 90 days for multiple entry into Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda) – only a Uganda visa is required for this particular tour.
Homosexual activity is illegal and not tolerated in Uganda’s conservative society, and public displays of affection between same-sex couples could lead to arrest. It is illegal to buy, sell or trade protected wildlife or their parts without a licence, under the CITES ivory ban. Smoking is prohibited in public places and within 50 metres of them, and e-cigarettes and shisha are banned. Drug trafficking penalties are severe. Do not photograph military, official or diplomatic sites, including Owen Falls Dam near Jinja, and always ask permission before photographing people. It is an offence for anyone, including children, to wear military-style clothing, camouflage or red berets.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Medical facilities in Uganda are limited, especially outside Kampala – serious accidents or illness may require air ambulance evacuation, so make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds. Malaria and schistosomiasis (bilharzia) are common, with regular cholera outbreaks – drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.
What to Bring
Light clothing will suffice for most of your trip, with long-sleeved shirts/tops and trousers ideal for mornings and evenings when insects are active, plus a light waterproof coat. Well-worn, low-cut hiking shoes are ideal for safari activities and gorilla tracking, which can take some time.
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack – you’re expected to carry your own baggage, so don’t overload yourself; a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a sunhat, sunscreen, a torch, insect repellent, a water bottle, a solar charger, binoculars and a camera.
While You’re There
The Ugandan Shilling is the local currency – ATMs are widely available and credit cards widely accepted in Kampala and other main towns. Uganda uses type G plugs (three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern), on a 240V/50Hz supply.
Uganda is on GMT+3, and wifi is common in hotels, lodges, restaurants and cafes across touristed areas.
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