10-Day Uganda Gorilla and Sipi Falls Safari: Uganda stretches wide and wild, from the volcanic slopes of Mount Elgon in the east to the ancient rainforests of the southwest. Anthill Safaris has crafted this 10-day cross-country journey to take you through every striking layer of the country. You will chase waterfalls, paddle the Nile, track lions through open savanna, and finally stand face to face with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is not just a safari. This is Uganda in full.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Kampala
Your Anthill Safaris guide meets you at Entebbe International Airport the moment you land. After a warm welcome and a quick trip briefing, you drive into Kampala. Tonight, you settle in, rest your legs, and sample your first plate of traditional Ugandan food. Tomorrow, the real adventure begins.
Day 2: Drive East to Sipi Falls and a Coffee Farm Experience
You head east through Jinja and Mbale, climbing steadily toward the cool foothills of Mount Elgon. The air changes as you rise, and by the time you reach Sipi, you feel the difference. In the afternoon, a local farmer walks you through the entire Arabica coffee journey, from picking the cherry-red berries to roasting and tasting the final cup. It is simple, personal, and completely memorable.
Day 3: Triple Waterfall Hike and Optional Abseiling
Today belongs to the falls. Your guide leads you on a full hike to all three cascades that make up Sipi Falls, each one more dramatic than the last. The trails wind through farmland and forest, offering open views across the Karamoja plains below. For those who want more, Anthill Safaris arranges an abseil down the face of the main 100-meter waterfall. You clip in, lean back, and descend slowly into the mist. It is as thrilling as it sounds.
Day 4: Travel to Jinja, the Source of the Nile
You drive back down from the highlands and head toward Jinja. This town sits right where the Nile begins its long journey north toward Egypt, and the energy here is electric. In the afternoon, you walk the riverbank, watch kayakers navigate the current, or join a relaxed sunset boat cruise. Jinja moves at its own pace, and tonight you move with it.
Day 5: White Water Rafting on the River Nile
This is the day that gets the heart going. Anthill Safaris connects you with experienced rafting guides who take you through the Nile’s legendary Grade 5 rapids. You paddle hard, get soaked, and laugh through every drop. Families or those who prefer a calmer experience can choose a gentler float along quieter sections of the river. Either way, the Nile delivers.
Day 6: Cross-Country Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You leave eastern Uganda behind and begin the long, scenic drive west. The landscape shifts steadily as you go, moving from highland farmland to open savanna and eventually to the crater lake country of western Uganda. It is a big travel day, but the views through the window make every kilometer worthwhile. By evening, you arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park and check in.
Day 7: Game Drive on the Kasenyi Plains and Kazinga Channel Cruise
Morning starts early with a game drive across the Kasenyi plains. Elephants cross in family groups. Buffaloes graze in the open. If you are lucky, lions stretch out in the golden grass nearby. In the afternoon, you board a boat along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that connects Lakes Edward and George. Hippos surface just meters from the boat. Crocodiles line the banks without moving a muscle. It is wildlife watching at its most effortless.
Day 8: Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions and Arrival at Bwindi
You rise early again and head south through the Ishasha sector of the park. This remote corner of Queen Elizabeth is famous for one thing: lions that climb trees. While most lions in Africa never leave the ground, the Ishasha lions regularly rest in the branches of giant fig trees. You scan the canopy carefully and, more often than not, spot them draped lazily overhead. After this unexpected highlight, you continue driving south and upward into the misty hills surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The mood shifts as the jungle closes in around you.
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
This is the moment the entire journey has been building toward. After an early briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, your small group enters the forest. The vegetation is thick and ancient. You follow your ranger through tangles of roots and undergrowth, climbing steadily, listening carefully. Then it happens. Your ranger signals quietly, and you push through the last wall of leaves. There they are, a full family of wild mountain gorillas, going about their morning with total calm. A silverback reclines nearby. A mother nurses her infant. Young gorillas chase each other through the branches above you. You have exactly one hour with them, and every second of it stays with you long after you leave.
Day 10: Return to Entebbe for Departure
The final drive takes you back through Mbarara and along the main highway toward Entebbe. Along the way, you stop at the Equator line for photographs and a quick explanation of how the famous water-spinning demonstration actually works. Then you continue to the airport, bags full and phone camera full, arriving in time for your evening flight home.
Logistics and Permits
10-Day Uganda Gorilla and Sipi Falls Safari: Gorilla trekking permits must be booked well in advance through the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Permits currently cost $800 USD for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for visitors from elsewhere in Africa, and UGX 300,000 for East African residents. The best times to trek are during the dry seasons, which run from June to August and December to February. Anthill Safaris handles all permit arrangements, transportation, and accommodation booking, so you travel without the stress of organizing it yourself.
