Day 1: The Trip to Uganda Begins

After two layovers and nearly 24 hours of travel, I arrive in Uganda in the late morning. I meet the guide from the local agency who will accompany me throughout this itinerary.

Since the drive to Murchison Falls is quite long (around 7 hours), I prefer to stay in Entebbe to rest. I stay at Viavia Entebbe Hotel. This accommodation is simple, but very peaceful and perfect for birdwatching. It has large gardens and two small ponds where many bird species come close. I spend a good part of the afternoon identifying and photographing them.

Although it’s the dry season, a strong storm hits in the afternoon — short but intense.

If you’re planning a trip to Uganda, this kind of unexpected tropical rain, even during the dry season, is something worth keeping in mind.

Day 2: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

I finally hit the road and begin the route through Uganda. After about 4 hours of driving, I arrive at the first stop of the day: the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This reserve, managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos. They live in semi-wild conditions. The goal of this program is to eventually reintroduce them into the national parks, where they became extinct at the end of the last century.

The experience of seeing rhinos in this reserve is unique because the approach is done on foot. It’s also a great way to financially support this important conservation project.

At midday, we continue the journey toward Murchison Falls National Park — about 3 more hours by car. Near the end of the drive, along the road that runs through the park, I already spot my first elephants, giraffes, and antelopes. I was so excited to reunite with the African savannah!

If you’re planning a trip to Uganda, visiting Ziwa is a meaningful stop that combines wildlife encounters with direct conservation support.

Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park

I start the day early with a safari in the northern section of Murchison Falls National Park. It’s a vast savannah landscape, filled with endless plains, and offers a wide variety of wildlife. As the sun begins to rise, I spot a group of hyenas scanning the area for carrion. The following hours are spectacular — we see Ugandan kobs, hartebeests, warthogs, elephants, giraffes… Going on safari is always incredibly exciting.

After lunch, I do one of the park’s top activities: a boat trip along the Nile River to the base of the Murchison Falls. The ride takes about three hours. While the view of the waterfall itself is a bit underwhelming, the river journey is fantastic. I see crocodiles, hippos, a wide variety of waterbirds, and even a group of elephants.

To end the day, my guide suggests going on one last safari at sunset. We’re hoping to spot a lion. After circling the park for quite some time and just as the curfew approaches, we find the ultimate prize: a beautiful lioness and her cub. It’s a magical scene — but unfortunately, I can only enjoy it for a few minutes. We have to follow park rules and exit before nightfall.

If you’re planning a trip to Uganda, a visit to Murchison Falls offers a perfect combination of land and river safaris, and unforgettable wildlife encounters.

Day 4: The Top of Murchison Falls and Transfer to Kibale Forest

Murchison Falls are known as the most powerful waterfalls in the world — with 300 m³/s of water thundering through. One of the best viewpoints is from the top of the river. In the past, it was possible to hike up from the boat trip on the Nile, but the trail has since been destroyed. Now, to reach the top, you need to drive about 15 kilometers.

I arrive at the top of the falls just as the sun begins to rise. There’s no one else around. And I’m mesmerized by the landscape. The water crashes down with incredible force, and the mist it generates creates a perfect rainbow.

With that unforgettable moment, I say goodbye to Murchison Falls National Park. A long drive awaits — around eight hours — to reach Kibale National Park. Once I arrive at my lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, I take a walk through the gardens. I’m lucky enough to come across a group of red colobus monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys.

If you’re planning a trip to Uganda, combining Murchison Falls and Kibale offers a stunning contrast between savannah landscapes and lush tropical forests — and unforgettable encounters with primates.

Day 5: The Chimpanzees of Kibale National Park

One of the most anticipated days of this trip to Uganda has arrived: the chance to see wild chimpanzees inside Kibale National Park.

To enjoy a more in-depth experience, I join the habituation experience. This activity involves tracking a group of chimpanzees that are in the process of becoming accustomed to humans. Once found, you get to spend four hours with them.

Still in the early morning darkness, around 7 a.m., I join the group and, following the national park guide, we begin walking. The first step is figuring out where the chimpanzees are. It doesn’t take long to locate them thanks to their loud calls. Then, off-trail through the forest, we go to find them.

The moment I see the first chimpanzee is magical. He’s lying on the ground, watching us. The next four hours are unforgettable. I see the chimpanzees eating, climbing trees, calling out, grooming each other…

It’s one of the most incredible experiences of the entire trip to Uganda.

At midday, once we return to the park entrance, I hop into the car and head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s about a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s most highly rated natural areas for safaris and spotting large amounts of wildlife. The park is crossed by the Kazinga Channel, where boat trips allow you to see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and buffalo. This channel is home to one of the highest hippo densities in all of Africa.

I start the day by entering the park early, hoping to spot a pride of lions while they’re still active. Although I manage to see a lioness and her two cubs, they’re far away and quickly disappear into the vegetation. For the rest of the morning, we drive along various tracks that crisscross the savannah. I see a few elephants and a large group of buffalo, but overall, I’m disappointed by the limited wildlife. Due to the heat and lack of water, most animals gather near the channel.

At midday, however, I’m amazed by the boat trip along the Kazinga Channel. I see dozens of hippos up close, as well as a large group of elephants bathing and drinking at the water’s edge.

There are still about three hours left before nightfall, and my guide suggests heading out for one more safari to try our luck. We explore several areas in the northern part of the park, but again, with little success. The highlight of the afternoon is a group of four elephants.

If you’re planning a trip to Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers varied landscapes and the unique opportunity to explore both by land and by water — even if wildlife sightings can sometimes be unpredictable.

Day 7: Transfer to the Virunga Mountains

When planning a trip to Uganda, it’s important to keep in mind that the distances between some of the national parks are long, and there may be days when you spend most of your time on the road.

I leave around 8 a.m. from Buffalo Safari Lodge, heading toward Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This is the smallest national park in the country and one of the places where you can see mountain gorillas. Although it’s not the most famous (Bwindi National Park is much more popular), for me it has two very special features. First, it’s part of the Virunga volcano massif — the region where mountain gorillas were first studied and conservation efforts began. Second, this national park is home to the gorilla family with the highest number of silverback males — three, to be exact.

Around 4 p.m., I arrive at a beautiful lodge by Lake Mutanda: Mutanda Lake Resort. From there, I enjoy an excellent view of the three mountains within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Muhavura Volcano, Mgahinga Volcano, and Mount Sabyinyo.

Day 8: The Mountain Gorillas of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Today is the day one of my dreams comes true. The main reason behind planning a trip to Uganda. If everything goes well, today I’ll get to spend an intense hour with a group of mountain gorillas.

At 7:30 a.m., I arrive at the entrance of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park — specifically, the Muhabura Gate — where I’ll begin tracking the Nyakagezi family of gorillas.

After an exciting performance of traditional dances by the local community, we begin walking. We haven’t been walking long when the team of trackers, who set out earlier in the morning, contact our guide: they’ve already located the mountain gorillas.

They’re quite close. After about an hour of walking, we find the first gorilla. It’s a powerful, emotional moment — hard to put into words. The hour I spend with them, photographing them and watching them from up close, is something I’ll never forget.

When the allowed time is over, we retrace our steps and return to the park entrance.

I spend the rest of the afternoon at the historic Travelers Rest Hotel.

Day 9: The Golden Monkeys of the Virunga Mountains

Along the Virunga volcano massif, there’s a unique endemic monkey species: the golden monkey (Cercopithecus kandti). In Uganda, this species can only be seen in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Just like with the gorillas, there’s a group of golden monkeys that has been habituated to humans and can be visited with the help of a guide and a team of trackers. Again, the visit is limited to one hour.

At 7:30 in the morning, I arrive at the park entrance — this time at a different gate: Ntebeko Gate. From there, we walk for about two hours before finding the group of golden monkeys. I watch them as they leap through the trees, chew on bamboo, and play with each other.

After an hour, it’s time to return to the starting point.

Once I meet up with my guide, we hop in the car and drive to Lake Bunyonyi. This lake is 25 kilometers long and 7 kilometers wide — an ideal natural setting to relax after an intense route through Uganda. I spend the afternoon walking around the small island where my lodge is located and photographing birds.

If you’re planning a trip to Uganda, spending time in Mgahinga to see both the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys is an extraordinary way to connect with Uganda’s unique biodiversity — and Lake Bunyonyi offers the perfect retreat afterward.

Day 10: The End of the Trip to Uganda

The end of my trip to Uganda is near. I have an eight-hour drive ahead of me to reach Entebbe, where the airport is located.

As the sun begins to rise, I board the boat that will take me from the lodge to the car. The drive is long, but the road is in excellent condition, allowing for smooth travel.

Several hours after crossing back over the equator, I arrive in Entebbe. To get there, we take the ferry across Lake Victoria.

Now all that’s left is to wait for my flight, which departs the next day. Uganda has completely fascinated me — and left me eager to return and explore this country more deeply.

If you’re planning a trip to Uganda, be prepared for incredible landscapes, powerful wildlife encounters, and the desire to come back before you’ve even left.