Why this journey is different.
Our most complete Uganda journey. Rhino on foot, the Nile at full force, chimpanzees in Kibale, big game in Queen Elizabeth, two nights on the edge of Bwindi with a gorilla permit, and a closing stay on Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest and most beautiful lake in the country.
Moments you will remember.
- 1★ Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking permits included
- 2★ Rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa
- 3★ Nile and Kazinga launch cruises
- 4★ Two closing nights on Lake Bunyonyi
Your itinerary.
10 chapters, each with the exact landscape you will be standing in that day.
Sign in to your guest account to print your name and travel dates on the cover and every page header. One personalisation per account, so your document stays uniquely yours.
- 1. Entebbe
- 2. Queen Elizabeth
- 3. Bwindi
Day 1On safari, guided walking safari Entebbe arrival
Meet-and-greet and a lakeside night with a full itinerary walk-through.
Day 2Ol Pejeta, sundowners on the plains Ziwa → Murchison Falls
Rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa, then north into Murchison Falls for sundowners over the river.
Day 3On safari, guided walking safari Murchison Falls
Delta game drive at first light, afternoon launch cruise to the falls and the clifftop walk above them.
Day 4Ngorongoro Crater, game viewing with your private guide Murchison → Kibale
Scenic drive south through Fort Portal's tea country and the crater lake belt.
Day 5On safari, guided walking safari Kibale chimpanzees
Morning chimp permit in Kibale and an afternoon Bigodi swamp walk for red colobus and 200 bird species.
Day 6Ngorongoro Crater, golden hour game drive Kibale → Queen Elizabeth
Transfer south with a crater drive, then an afternoon Kasenyi game drive.
Day 7Hell's Gate, guided walking safari Kazinga & Kyambura
Morning drive, afternoon Kazinga Channel cruise and the Kyambura Gorge viewpoint at golden hour.
Day 8On safari, big cat country Ishasha → Bwindi
Tree-climbing lions, then into the forest for two nights on the edge of Bwindi.
Day 9Nairobi and the road, dawn game drive Gorilla trek → Lake Bunyonyi
Gorilla trekking at dawn, then a short transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for an island lodge, a canoe paddle and a long, quiet dinner.
Day 10Nairobi and the road, light aircraft transfer Bunyonyi → Entebbe
Flight from Kisoro or Kihihi back to Entebbe, or the full scenic road transfer for guests who want to see the whole country.
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee tracking permit
- Ziwa rhino tracking walk
- Private guided game drives and forest transfers in a 4x4 Land Cruiser
- All park, forest and conservancy entry fees
- Airport meet-and-greet and all ground transfers
- Full board accommodation, meals and drinking water throughout
- English-speaking licensed driver guide throughout
- 24/7 in-country concierge on WhatsApp
- International flights
- Visas and the East Africa Tourist Visa (we help you apply)
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for guides, trackers and lodge staff
- Optional helicopter transfers and spa treatments
Scenes from this journey.
Photographs from our own guests and guides on this exact route. Tap any image to view full-screen, swipe to browse.
Safari Packing Essentials
What to carry on the 10-Day Best of Uganda Grand Safari
The same preparation brief we send every confirmed guest, written from fifteen years of running these parks ourselves. Read it now and you already know exactly what your safari asks of you.
Packed for 10-Day Best of Uganda Grand Safari: Ol Pejeta, Ngorongoro Crater and Hell's Gate
Equator sun is unforgiving
We also keep a pair per vehicle
200mm or longer for big cats
Charging points onboard too
Hell's Gate, Crescent Island
Keeps the cabin uncluttered
What to wear on safari
Neutral, breathable fabrics photograph better and keep wildlife relaxed. Skip bright white, neon and anything camouflage, camouflage is restricted in Kenya and Tanzania.
- Long trousers2 to 3
One zip-off pair is ideal for long game drives
- Shorts2
Knee-length, for warm midday hours
- Long-sleeve shirts3
Your best defence against sun and insects
- T-shirts2
Quick-dry fabric, our laundry turnaround is same-day at most lodges
- Fleece or light jacket1
Mara and Amboseli mornings start cold in an open roof 4x4
- Windbreaker1
Waterproof if you travel April, May or November
- Hat, beanie or scarf1 each
Beanie for dawn, wide-brim hat for the equator sun
- Walking shoes1 pair
Closed and comfortable for Hell's Gate and Crescent Island walks
- Sandals1 pair
For camp, lodge decks and pool time
The small pouch that saves the whole trip
Pack it once, forget about it, and let your guide handle everything else on the road.
Stay well, so nothing interrupts the wildlife
Our vehicles carry a stocked first-aid kit and every guide is first-aid certified, but personal medication is yours to bring.
- Repellent with DEET or picaridin
- Long sleeves for evenings around the fire
- Calamine or hydrocortisone cream
- Anti-malarial tablets, started before you fly
- Prescription medication for the full trip, in original packaging
- Painkillers, allergy tablets, plasters, antiseptic
- Rehydration sachets, the equator sun is deceptive
- Motion sickness tablets for murram park roads
- Eye drops, sanitiser, tweezers
Paperwork we double-check before you board
Once your dates are confirmed we send a personal checklist and verify your visa and park-entry requirements ourselves.
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond travel
- Kenya or Tanzania e-visa, we send the exact link
- Vaccination certificate where required
- Travel insurance including medical evacuation
- Emergency contact list, ours included
- Photocopies plus a cloud backup
- USD notes printed after 2009, small bills for tips
- Split your cash across two secure places
- Leave heavy jewellery at home, travel quietly
- M-Pesa and card work in Nairobi, carry cash for the parks
- Save your insurer's 24/7 line in your phone and on paper. We keep a copy in the vehicle file too.
We plan around the youngest and the eldest guest
Tell us who is travelling and we adjust drive lengths, seating and meal timing before you arrive, not on the road.
- Daypack with snacks, wipes, sunscreen and games
- Offline films and music, lodge Wi-Fi is limited
- Child-safe insect repellent
- Enough nappies and formula, stock up in Nairobi
- Tell us allergies early, we brief the lodge kitchens
- Extra prescriptions and a spare pair of glasses
- Tell your guide about mobility needs, we reseat and shorten drives
- A portable cushion or cane travels well
- Hydrate often, we pause in shade through midday
We supply the rest: refrigerated drinking water on every drive, binoculars in each vehicle, charging points, a stocked first-aid kit, and a guide who has driven these parks for over a decade. You bring the list above, we bring everything else.
Read us where it counts.
Good to know.
How do I secure my booking?+
A 30% deposit confirms your dates and your gorilla permits. The balance is due on arrival, before your safari begins. Permits are limited and released in date order, so early booking matters more here than anywhere else in East Africa.
Are gorilla permits included?+
We reserve them for you and show the exact permit cost separately so you always see what you are paying for. Permits are non-refundable once issued by the wildlife authority.
How fit do I need to be for gorilla trekking?+
Reasonably fit. Treks run from one to six hours over steep, muddy forest terrain. Porters are available at every trailhead and we book one for you on request.
Can we combine countries on one trip?+
Yes. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda on one document, and we handle border crossings, charters and vehicle changes so you keep one point of contact.
Can the itinerary be tailored?+
Every trip is designed one to one. Extend nights, upgrade lodges, add Zanzibar or the Kenyan coast, or split into two vehicles for a larger family.
