Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, rewards the curious traveller with an extraordinary breadth of wildlife and landscape that few destinations on earth can rival. Over eight immersive days you will journey through some of the country's most celebrated national parks, coming face to face with mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, cruising the waters below Murchison Falls, and tracking the Big Five across open savannah. Every night you will retire to a hand-picked luxury lodge where the bush is right at your doorstep, all meals are taken care of, and the only decision that remains is how early to rise for the next adventure. This is a fully private safari, tailored exclusively for your group and operated from Entebbe with convenient air transfers to keep travel time to a minimum. Africompass is proud to bring this extraordinary itinerary to life for you.
On Day 1 you will be met at Entebbe International Airport and begin your drive north, with a thrilling en-route stop at Ziwa Rhino Ranch, Uganda's only wild rhino sanctuary where you will track the country's resident southern white rhinos on foot. After this memorable first wildlife encounter you will continue to the lodge near Murchison Falls National Park, arriving in time for a welcome dinner and an early night ahead of full game-drive days.
On Day 2 you will spend a full day exploring Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest protected area. An early morning game drive across the northern bank will bring encounters with elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, Uganda kob and Rothschild's giraffes, while an afternoon boat trip along the Nile will deliver you to the base of the thundering Murchison Falls and extraordinary hippo and crocodile sightings.
On Day 3 you will take an internal flight south to the Kibale Forest region, where an afternoon or morning chimpanzee trekking experience awaits in one of Africa's most important primate habitats. Accompanied by an expert ranger, you will venture into the dense tropical forest and spend time with a habituated chimpanzee community, observing their fascinating social behaviour at close range.
On Day 4 you will make the scenic transfer from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda's most biodiverse ecosystems and home to lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, hippos and over 600 bird species. After settling into your unfenced bush lodge, you will head out for an afternoon game drive along the Kasenyi plains, renowned for its large lion prides.
On Day 5 you will devote a full day to Queen Elizabeth National Park, starting with an early morning game drive before boarding a boat for a cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway connecting Lakes George and Edward. The channel banks teem with hundreds of hippos, enormous Nile crocodiles, elephants drinking at the water's edge, and a dazzling variety of waterbirds.
On Day 6 you will travel south into the dramatic highlands of southwestern Uganda, arriving at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the last refuges of the endangered mountain gorilla. The journey itself is scenic, passing through terraced hillsides, tea plantations and small highland villages, and you will have the afternoon to settle in and prepare for the gorilla trek the following morning.
Day 7 will be the defining highlight of your entire Uganda safari: a guided mountain gorilla trek into the ancient forest of Bwindi. After an early briefing with your Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger, you will set off through the impenetrable undergrowth until your tracker locates a habituated gorilla family, and you will spend a precious hour observing silverbacks, mothers and playful infants in their natural habitat. The afternoon will be free for rest, reflection and final photographs at the lodge.
On Day 8 you will enjoy a final breakfast at Mahogany Springs Lodge before your flight or road transfer back to Entebbe International Airport, with a lunch box or sit-down lunch included on the journey. The afternoon will offer a comfortable window for your international connecting flight, closing eight extraordinary days in the Pearl of Africa.
Tell us your dates and dream, and a local specialist will craft your trip.
It depends on what you want to see. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, visit between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. For calving season and dense predator activity, January to March is excellent, particularly around the southern Serengeti. Kenya's two dry seasons (June to October and January to February) generally offer the clearest skies and easiest game viewing across Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, since animals gather around limited water sources. The 'green season' (November and April to May) brings lush scenery, migratory birdlife, and lower rates, though some rural roads can be muddy. Tell us your travel dates and priorities, and we will recommend the destinations that fit best.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly; Tanzania and Zanzibar require their own separate visa, available online or on arrival depending on your nationality. Entry requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current rules for your passport a few weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever risk country, and we recommend it in general along with being up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B). Most safari areas are malaria zones, so antimalarial medication is strongly advised. Always check final requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic, and ask us for the latest entry rules when you book.
Every itinerary we build is private and tailor-made by default: your own vehicle, driver-guide, and schedule, with no strangers added to your trip. That means you can linger an extra morning at a favourite lodge, adjust the route on the go, or add a visit to the Emmanuel New Hope Rescue Centre we support. If you would rather share costs or travel as a solo guest, we can also arrange a scheduled group departure and match you with other travellers on similar dates. Either way, your safari is planned by our Nairobi-based specialists around your budget, dates, and interests, not a fixed package.
Safari costs vary widely depending on where you stay and how you travel. Budget camping safaris in parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru can start from around USD 150 to 250 per person per day, mid-range lodge safaris typically run USD 250 to 450 per day, and luxury tented camps in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti can exceed USD 750 per day. Your quote always includes a private vehicle, driver-guide, park fees, and accommodation as specified in your itinerary. Since every trip we build is tailor-made, tell us your budget and travel dates and we'll show you exactly what it buys, with no hidden extras.
Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives, since bright colours and dark blue can attract tsetse flies in some regions. Bring layers for early morning drives, which can be cold even near the equator, plus a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a portable charger make a real difference to the experience. Comfortable closed shoes are more useful than sandals, and most lodges offer laundry service, so you rarely need more than a week's worth of clothing even on a longer trip. We send a full packing checklist tailored to your specific itinerary and season once you book.
Yes. Alongside our guided safaris, we offer both self-drive car hire and chauffeur-driven vehicles for clients who want more flexibility around Nairobi, the coast, or shorter road trips. Self-drive suits experienced drivers comfortable with Kenyan road conditions, while a chauffeur-driven car is the better choice for game-viewing routes, night driving, or if you'd simply rather relax and let a local expert handle the roads. All our vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s suited to both tarmac and rougher safari tracks. Let us know your route and dates and we'll recommend the right option.
Millions of visitors travel safely to Kenya and Tanzania every year, and the main tourist circuits, national parks, and coastal resorts are well-established and closely monitored. As with any international travel, sensible precautions apply: use a reputable operator (we're KATO-verified), avoid displaying valuables in cities, and follow your guide's advice in wildlife areas, where the real risk is animals, not crime. We stay in regular contact with our clients throughout their trip, and our drivers know the routes and current conditions well. If you have specific safety questions about your itinerary, we're happy to talk them through before you book.
Absolutely, it's one of our most popular combinations. A typical itinerary pairs 4 to 7 days on safari in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or Serengeti with 3 to 5 days unwinding on the beach in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, taking advantage of short connecting flights between the two. We handle all the logistics, including domestic flight bookings and airport transfers, so you go straight from game drives to the Indian Ocean without the stress of planning it yourself. Tell us how many days you have and we'll suggest a balance between wildlife and beach time that fits your trip.
