8-Day Gorilla Trekking and Nile Rafting Safari, Jinja

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you are met by an English-speaking driver-guide and transferred to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay. Travellers who arrive early and have time to spare can visit the Entebbe Botanical Garden, a peaceful spot known for birdlife and primates including black-and-white colobus and vervet monkeys.

Distance: Airport transfer to your accommodation

Activity: Arrival, optional Entebbe Botanical Garden visit

Accommodation: Hotel in Entebbe

Meals: Dinner

After breakfast, drive to Kibale National Park, known for its chimpanzees alongside black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey and the Uganda mangabey. On arrival, settle into your lodge with the option of an additional Bigodi Swamp walk for travellers who want an early look at the area’s birdlife, including the great blue turaco.

Distance: Road transfer from Entebbe to Kibale, approx. 5-6 hours

Activity: Travel day, optional Bigodi Swamp walk on arrival

Accommodation: Lodge near Kibale Forest

Meals: All meals included, drinking water provided

After a briefing at the rangers’ post, set off chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, with a full hour guaranteed in the company of the chimpanzees once they are located. After lunch and a rest, explore the crater lakes with a hike up to a viewpoint known locally as the "top of the world," taking in the small lakes and rolling hills, and stopping to meet local communities along the way.

Distance: Morning chimpanzee trek, afternoon crater lakes excursion

Activity: Chimpanzee trekking and crater lakes hike

Accommodation: Lodge near Kibale Forest (second night)

Meals: All meals included, drinking water provided

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving with time to relax before an afternoon 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes George and Edward. Expect hippo, elephant and crocodile along the banks, plus a wide range of waterbirds, followed by a brief late-afternoon game drive.

Distance: Road transfer, then afternoon boat trip and game drive

Activity: Kazinga Channel boat trip and game drive

Accommodation: Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Meals: All meals included, drinking water provided

Set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector, known for its resident tree-climbing lions, with a fair chance of spotting them resting in the branches of fig trees. On arrival in Bwindi, settle in and rest ahead of the following day’s gorilla trekking.

Distance: Drive via Ishasha to Bwindi, approx. 4-5 hours total

Activity: Tree-climbing lion search en route

Accommodation: Lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Meals: All meals included, drinking water provided

After an early breakfast and a briefing from a ranger guide, enter the forest for the gorilla trekking experience. The time and terrain involved vary with the gorillas’ movements, but once a group is located you are guaranteed a full hour in their presence. Afterwards, check out and drive to Mbarara for the night.

Distance: Full-day gorilla trek, then transfer to Mbarara

Activity: Gorilla trekking

Accommodation: Hotel in Mbarara

Meals: All meals included, drinking water provided

After breakfast, drive toward Kampala and on to Jinja, near the Source of the Nile, where you settle in for the night ahead of tomorrow’s rafting.

Distance: Road transfer from Mbarara to Jinja, approx. 6-7 hours

Activity: Travel day

Accommodation: Hotel in Jinja

Meals: All meals included, drinking water provided

After breakfast, head out for a half-day of white-water rafting on the Nile, no previous experience required. Afterwards, transfer back to Entebbe in time for an evening flight out, bringing the safari to a close.

Distance: Half-day rafting, then transfer to Entebbe

Activity: White-water rafting and departure

Accommodation: N/A, end of safari

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Extend your trip

• Want the primate trekking without the rafting? See our 7-Day Empire of Apes Safari or 6-Day Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Safari.