Western Uganda
Mountain gorillas and beyond
Experience Uganda’s incredible wildlife, starting with a safari at Murchison Falls on the shores of Lake Albert. From here begin your journey south, stopping off at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Continue south in search of chimps in Kibale Forest and then venture east to see hippos and elephants in the Kazinga Channel. From here head back to the western border and Queen Elizabeth National Park where you can spot the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Finish your wildlife-packed adventure by heading to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or the smaller Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Key information
| Destinations | Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kibale Forest National Park, Kazinga Channel |
|---|---|
| Activity | Active, Nature & Wildlife, Responsible Travel |
| Physical Level | Easy |
 Season |
January - December |
Suggested itinerary
Safari in Murchison Falls National Park
Day 1 in Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s most popular and largest nature reserve, Murchison Falls National Park’s beautiful location and impressive animal populations (the park is home to over 15,000 elephants) makes it a wonderful stop for any traveller hoping to glimpse Uganda’s rich wildlife. Straddling the Victoria Nile, the park contains numerous rapids and waterfalls, including the powerful Murchison Falls. Visitors can get up-close to the falls, before enjoying a world-class safari on the shores of Lake Albert.
Get up-close to a white rhino in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 2 in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
A collaborative effort between the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rhino Fund Uganda, this private, non-profit animal sanctuary offers a secure home and breeding programme for the only wild rhinos left in Uganda. Committed to restoring Uganda’s rhinoceros population — including breeding and re-introducing the rhinos to national parks — the sanctuary is open to the public, who can visit and learn about the 22 southern white rhinos currently residing there.
Go chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest
Day 3–4 in Kibale Forest National Park
Grab yourself a guide and set off into the evergreen jungle of the Kibale National Park in Western Uganda in search of chimps. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding them, as this beautiful forest is famous for its thriving primate population.
Watch hippos and elephants in the Kazinga Channel
Day 5–6 in Kazinga Channel
Visit the Kazinga Channel in western Uganda and see one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos and elephants in their natural habitat. The channel is a wide, 20-mile long freshwater channel connecting Lake George and Lake Edward.
See the tree lions of Ishasha
Day 7–8 in Queen Elizabeth National Park
For an incredible wildlife experience with second-to-none photo opportunities, head to Ishasha in Western Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can see the area’s rare population of tree-climbing lions snoozing happily up above the ground in fig and acacia trees. One of the most popular parks in Uganda, the area possesses incredible biodiversity, with 96 species of mammals, including good numbers of elephants, leopards and hippos.
Safari in Murchison Falls National Park
Day 9–10 in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
While Bwindi Impenetrable Forest steals the limelight, the smaller Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda has arguably better views and is directly connected to the extended Virunga conservation area. Travellers visiting the park can hike the extinct Virunga Volcanoes, track golden monkeys, join a gorilla trek or keep their eyes peeled for the buffalo, elephants and rare bird species which call these rainforests home.
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