Uganda Private Tour:
Rafting, Wildlife & Gorilla Tracking
About This Adventure
Go on your own all-inclusive tour through Uganda! Our tailor-made Uganda package takes you deep into the breathtaking wildlife of this extraordinary country.
Follow the tracks of chimpanzees, experience the awe-inspiring gorilla trekking in the dense Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and discover the spectacular highlights of the White Nile, including thrilling white-water rafting. Spot incredible wildlife on a safari in Murchison Falls National Park, marvel at the rare tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and enjoy unforgettable nature experiences in Lake Mburo National Park. An adventure filled with remarkable encounters awaits you!
Uganda, known as the “Pearl of Africa,” offers countless opportunities to experience wildlife up close. In sanctuaries and national parks such as Murchison Falls, Kibale, and Queen Elizabeth, you have the chance to witness the iconic Big Five.
The absolute highlight of this journey is the unforgettable gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Encountering these gentle yet powerful creatures in their natural habitat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will stay with you forever.
Additional highlights:
White Water Rafting in Jinja
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale
Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park
Boat tour on the river Nile
Tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Lake Mburo Nationalpark
You will stay in beautiful mid-range hotels and lodges surrounded by nature. Three meals a day ensure your well-being throughout the trip.
With a private transfer, you can travel across Uganda either solo, as a couple, or as a private group, accompanied by your own local guide.
Don’t miss out on this adventure – immerse yourself in the breathtaking nature of Central Africa!
Tour Overview
UgandaPrivate Tour: Rafting, Wildlife & Gorilla Tracking
Days: 12 (11 nights)
Dates: possible any time (rainy season Apr-May)
Best travel time: Dec-Feb & Jun-Aug
Price per person:
1 person, private tour: 8,700 €
2 people, private tour: 5.750 €
From 3 people request individual bundle price
No. of participants: from 1 person
Visa: For most EU nationals an e-visa is required, which must be applied for and paid online (~USD 50)
Fitness-Level: Tracking
Accomodation
Hotels & Lodges (double room)
Airport: Entebbe
Note: This journey is not suitable for individuals with limited mobility.
The itinerary shown below is subject to change depending on weather conditions. You are viewing a sample itinerary.
What's included?
- Airport transfers
- Transfers to all activities
- Mid-range accomodation: hotels & lodges (double room)
- 11x breakfast, 10x lunch, 11x dinner
- Drinking water
- Gorilla Tracking permit
- Chimpanzee Tracking permit
- White water rafting in Jinja
- All game drives and park entrance fees
- Boat trips on White Nile & Kazinga Channel
- Bogodi and Batwa Cultural Experience
- Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
- Local, English-speaking guide
What's excluded?
- Flights to/from Uganda
- Visa fees
- Travel health insurance
- Tips
- All additional activities
- All other meals and (alcoholic) drinks
What's included?
- Airport transfers
- Transfers to all activities
- Mid-range accomodation: hotels & lodges (double room)
- 11x breakfast, 10x lunch, 11x dinner
- Drinking water
- Gorilla Tracking permit
- Chimpanzee Tracking permit
- White water rafting in Jinja
- All game drives and park entrance fees
- Boat trips on White Nile & Kazinga Channel
- Bogodi and Batwa Cultural Experience
- Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
- Local, English-speaking guide
Your Travel Destination
Uganda, the “Pearl of Africa,” is a fantastic Central African travel destination with stunning wildlife, the White Nile, and diverse landscapes. From dense rainforests and vast savannas to mountain ranges, the country offers unique experiences for nature enthusiasts.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the last refuges for the critically endangered mountain gorillas. A trekking tour to encounter these gentle giants is an unforgettable experience. The dense forests of Kibale are home to one of Africa’s highest chimpanzee populations.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ziwa Rhino Ranch, and Murchison Falls National Park are home to lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos, as well as many other animals such as hippos and crocodiles.
A special highlight is the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha – a rare phenomenon where lions rest in the branches of trees.
Your Accomodation
Beautiful, upscale mid-range hotels and lodges await you, where we will spend one to two nights each.
Every accommodation has its own unique charm – ranging from cozy cottages and inviting pools to stunning rooftop terraces – all designed in an authentic African style and harmoniously integrated into nature.
In some lodges, we even have the opportunity to observe wildlife. For example, in Murchison Falls National Park, our lodge is located right on the Nile, offering breathtaking views of the water.
Each accommodation provides breakfast, and we will usually also have our dinner there. The rooms are spacious, and you can choose between a double bed or twin beds.
Your Tailor-Made Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe & Mabamba Swamp
You will arrive at Entebbe Airport, where we will pick you up and take you to the guesthouse.
Ideally, you should book a flight that arrives in Entebbe early in the morning. This way, you will have time to relax and enjoy lunch.
With an early arrival, we also have the opportunity to head to Mabamba Swamp for “Shoebill Tracking” before moving on to dinner.
Mabamba Swamp is a marshy bay on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, providing refuge to more than 300 bird species, most notably a rare population of the enigmatic shoebill. The only way to explore this wetland is on a guided boat tour, organized for you by a well-structured local community project at the edge of the swamp.
Overnight stay at: Airport Guest House Nature Lodge
Day 2: Upper Nile River & Rafting
Today, after breakfast, we head to the banks of the Nile, the world’s longest river, a short distance from where it flows out of Lake Victoria to start its 6,000km journey towards the Mediterranean. Even this close to its source, the Nile is an impressive waterway, flanked by tropical African vegetation and studded with rapids and waterfalls, despite being partially tamed by a trio of hydroelectric dams. Rafting the jungle-lined stretch of the Nile downstream of its source at Jinja is one of Uganda’s unique travel highlights. Led by experienced and knowledgeable guides, today’s exciting expedition starts with a full safety briefing and ends with a barbecue lunch and cold beer on the riverbank.
Afterward, it’s time to relax before we set off for another boat trip on the Nile in the late afternoon.
Overnight stay at: Jinja Nile Resort
Day 3: Ziwa Rhino Ranch
After breakfast, we will take a private transfer by minibus to go rhino tracking. We will see these magnificent animals either on foot or from the vehicle.
After lunch, we will continue our journey to Murchison Falls National Park, where we will visit the highest viewpoint of the waterfalls. Here, the White Nile plunges dramatically into the depths. With a bit of luck, we will witness a stunning sunset, and you will have the chance to enjoy refreshing drinks at a beautiful location before heading to dinner.
Overnight stay at: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park
In the early morning, after breakfast, you will embark on a guided safari through the park. Additionally, you will enjoy a boat tour on the Nile.
The wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park is truly unique. You can witness it in all its glory during an early morning game drive, where you may spot elephants, buffalo, lions, giraffes, and various species of antelope.
After lunch and some time to relax, you will head out again in the early evening for another guided safari before dinner.
After dinner, you will continue with the program and go on a night safari to observe the nocturnal animals.
Our base in Murchison Falls is Pakuba Safari Lodge, which stands out for its isolated setting on the east bank of the Nile, 20km downstream from where it flows out of Lake Albert. No other lodge has a more convenient location for enjoying the wildlife action along the park’s legendary Delta Circuit.
Day 5: Game Drive & Fort Portal
After breakfast, we will head to Fort Portal for lunch, a town near Kibale National Park. During our drive through Murchison Falls National Park, we will once again have the opportunity to spot wildlife.
We will arrive in Kibale National Park in the evening and check into the lodge before heading to dinner.
Kibale Forest offers an accessible and enlightening insight into life in a tropical rainforest. Large mammals are not easily spotted here, but the swarms of butterflies and colorful forest birds more than make up for it. Besides, it is most famous for its primates and it is commonly known as the primates’ capital with about 13 species of primates. The commonest being the Chimpanzees.
Overnight stay at: Turaco Treetops Lodge
Day 6: Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park
In the early morning, we will go chimpanzee tracking. On the search for the primates, we will walk through the forest (3-4 hours). With a bit of luck, we might also spot other monkey species: Red Colobus, Black-and-white Colobus, or the Uganda Mangabey as the most common species.
The day doesn’t end there, though. Afterward, you’ll have the option to visit the Bigodi Community, where you can learn about the local culture and conservation efforts in the area.
In the evening, you will have the opportunity to see various bird species on a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetlands.
Overnight stay at: Turaco Treetops Lodge
In the early morning, we will go chimpanzee tracking. On the search for the primates, we will walk through the forest (3-4 hours). With a bit of luck, we might also spot other monkey species: Red Colobus, Black-and-white Colobus, or the Uganda Mangabey as the most common species.
The day doesn’t end there, though. Afterward, you’ll have the option to visit the Bigodi Community, where you can learn about the local culture and conservation efforts in the area.
In the evening, you will have the opportunity to see various bird species on a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetlands.
Overnight stay at: Turaco Treetops Lodge
Day 7: Crater Lakes & Queen Elizabeth National Park
As always, breakfast will be served.
On the way to Queen Elizabeth National Park, we pass by the picturesque Ndali Kasenda Crater Lakes before arriving at our destination later in the day. Here, an evening game drive awaits you, offering the chance to spot even more wildlife before concluding the day with dinner.
Overnight stay: Aardvark Safari Lodge
Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park & Kyambura Gorge
After breakfast, you will embark on a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After lunch, enjoy a boat excursion on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. This three-hour boat tour promises sightings of hippos, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, antelopes, and, of course, a variety of bird species.
In the afternoon, we will have time to relax before heading out for an evening game drive.
Before the sun sets, we will take you to a stunning spot to enjoy a drink: the Kyambura Gorge.
Overnight stay: Aardvark Safari Lodge
Day 9: Tree lions of Ishasha & Cultural Tour
In the morning, after breakfast, we head to the Ishasha sector in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. Ishasha is the part of Queen Elizabeth National Park where, with a bit of luck, lions can be spotted resting in trees.
Afterwards, a private transfer will take us to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of Uganda’s most important national parks and home to over 500 mountain gorillas. The park is located in the mountainous regions of southwestern Uganda, near the border with Rwanda. We will spend the night at Buhoma Gorilla Camp.
In the evening, we will immerse ourselves in a cultural experience with the Batwa Cultural Experience – an unforgettable journey into the traditions and history of one of Africa’s oldest indigenous groups. The Batwa, once forest dwellers of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, lived in harmony with the land for centuries. Today, their rich traditions offer a fascinating insight into a unique way of life that has been passed down through generations. What to expect: Traditional dances & music, forest walks, storytelling, and folklore.
Overnight stay: Buhoma Gorilla Camp
Day 10: Gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most unique and thrilling wildlife experiences in the world.
Located in southwestern Uganda, Bwindi National Park is one of the few places on Earth where visitors can observe the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
The trekking tour begins early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters. In small groups, led by experienced guides and trackers, you will embark on a hike through the dense, mist-covered rainforest.
The duration of the trek varies depending on the location of the gorilla families – it can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day. The terrain is often steep and challenging, requiring a moderate level of physical fitness, but the encounter with the gorillas is worth every effort.
Once the gorilla group is found, visitors are allowed to spend a magical hour observing them as they eat, play, rest, and interact with each other. This close encounter with these gentle giants, who share 98% of their DNA with humans, is a deeply moving experience that fosters a profound connection with nature.
Bwindi is home to over 20 habituated gorilla families, spread across four sectors of the park: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Each sector offers a unique experience with varying levels of trekking difficulty. The park also hosts a diverse range of wildlife and plant species, making the journey through the forest a fascinating adventure in itself – regardless of the gorilla encounter.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is not just an adventure but also a crucial contribution to conservation. The permit fees paid by visitors directly support the protection of the gorillas and their habitat, as well as local communities through job opportunities and revenue-sharing programs.
Of course, you will also be provided with lunch, and in the afternoon, we will continue to Lake Bunyonyi, where we will relax and enjoy dinner.
Accommodation: Sharp Island Lodge
Day 11: Canoeing & Lake Mburo Nationalpark
After breakfast, we will go canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi.
Afterwards, we will continue to Lake Mburo National Park and have lunch at our next accommodation, Kigarama Wilderness Lodge, before heading out for an evening game drive.
Protecting a tract of acacia woodland quite unlike any other habitat in Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park forms a convenient, popular and thoroughly worthwhile addition to any safari. A visit here isn’t so much about the Big Five (though you’re certain to see buffalos, and leopards are a genuine possibility) as it is admiring the hilly setting, exploring the atmospheric wetlands and enjoying the high concentrations of herbivores such as zebra, giraffe, hippo, warthog, impala and bushbuck.
For tonight another night drive will bring us excitement to spot the park’s nocturnal animals.
Overnight stay: Kigarama Wilderness Lodge
Day 12: Departure
It’s time to bid farewell to this amazing country. We’ll shuttle you to the airport.
As your unforgettable journey through Uganda draws to a close, your final day offers a chance to reflect on the breathtaking landscapes and remarkable wildlife encounters.
Whether you’re waking up to the peaceful sounds of nature or overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Mburo, the last day will be a perfect blend of relaxation and reflection.






