Here is a detailed itinerary based on your provided route. This plan maximizes wildlife viewing, minimizes driving times, and includes specific activities for each location.

Route Overview: This is a classic “Circuit” starting and ending in Entebbe. You are moving counter-clockwise: North (Murchison) $\to$ West (Kibale/Queen Elizabeth/Bwindi) $\to$ East (Lake Mburo/Jinja) $\to$ Entebbe.

Day 1: Arrival – Entebbe to Kampala

• Accommodation: Cassia Lodge (Kampala)

• Activity: Settle in. Enjoy the view of Lake Victoria and the city lights. Cassia is on a hill, giving you a great introduction to Uganda.

• Note: If you arrive very early on Day 1, visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe on your way to Kampala.

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

• Drive: Kampala to Murchison (approx. 4-5 hours via Masindi).

• Stop: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is mandatory. Since rhinos are extinct in the wild in Uganda, you trek to see the Southern White Rhinos here. It is located directly on the route.

• Afternoon: Arrive at Tilenga Lodge. Evening relaxation overlooking the Nile.

• Accommodation: Tilenga Lodge

Day 3: Murchison Falls Game Drive & Boat Cruise

• Morning: Early game drive in the Buligi Circuit (northern bank). Look for lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, and hartebeest.

• Afternoon: Boat cruise from Paraa to the bottom of the falls. This is the highlight. You will see hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo up close. The boat stops at the base of the falls where you feel the spray.

• Accommodation: Tilenga Lodge

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

• Drive: Murchison to Kibale (approx. 5-6 hours). A long but scenic drive through Fort Portal. You will pass through verdant tea plantations as you approach Kibale.

• Evening: Settle in at Turaco Treetops Lodge. This lodge is right in the forest; expect monkeys in the trees around your room.

• Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetlands

• Morning: Chimpanzee Trekking. This is the main event in Kibale. You will be assigned a group to track the habituated chimps in the forest. You may also see grey-cheeked mangabeys and red colobus monkeys.

• Afternoon: Optional: Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk. Excellent for bird watching (Great Blue Turaco) and seeing otters.

• Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Drive: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth (approx. 2 hours).

• Activity: Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise. Unlike Murchison which is on the Nile, this is a channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. It often offers better photographic opportunities for lions drinking and hundreds of buffalo.

• Evening: Arrive at Enshama Lodge. (Note: Enshama is on the Mweya Peninsula side, close to the channel).

• Accommodation: Enshama Lodge

Day 7: Tree Climbing Lions & Game Drive

• Morning: Game drive in the Kasenyi Plains sector. This is the best area to hunt for the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha (specifically in the southern sector). Alternatively, if Enshama is near the channel, you can do the Northern Circuit drive.

• Afternoon: Leisure time or a second game drive.

• Accommodation: Enshama Lodge

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Drive: QENP to Bwindi (approx. 3-4 hours). You will drive through the Ishasha sector (look for lions here if you missed them yesterday) and cross into the southern part of Bwindi.

• Note: The roads become hilly and winding as you approach the forest. Arrive early to rest before the big trek.

• Accommodation: Dorotia Eco Resort

Day 9: Gorilla Trekking

• Morning: Gorilla Trekking. This is the peak experience. You will be briefed at 7:00 AM. The trek can last from 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the family moved overnight. Once you find them, you spend exactly one hour with the gorillas.

• Afternoon: You will be exhausted. Rest at the lodge. If you have energy, visit the Batwa (pygmy) community experience near the park.

• Accommodation: Dorotia Eco Resort

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

• Drive: Bwindi to Lake Mburo (approx. 5-6 hours). You leave the mountainous forest and descend back to the savannah. You will cross the Equator (stop for photos and experiments).

• Afternoon: Lake Mburo Boat Ride or evening game drive. Lake Mburo is the only place in Uganda to see Zebras and Impalas.

• Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge. This is a unique lodge built on granite rocks. Great view of the lake.

Day 11: Transfer to Jinja

• Drive: Lake Mburo to Jinja (approx. 5-6 hours). You will pass through Kampala (lunch stop likely) and head east to the source of the Nile.

• Evening: Arrive at Nile Village. Relax and watch the river flow by.

• Accommodation: Nile Village

Day 12: White Water Rafting & Source of the Nile

• Morning: White Water Rafting. You have booked this specifically. You will tackle Grade 3 and 5 rapids on the Nile. (Full day option).

• Alternative: If you don’t want a full day, you can do a half-day raft and then visit the Source of the Nile (where Lake Victoria empties) and do a short boat ride to the exact point.

• Accommodation: Nile Village

Day 13: Transfer to Entebbe

• Drive: Jinja to Entebbe (approx. 2 hours).

• Buffer: This is a short drive. If you have a late afternoon/evening flight, you have time to do a morning activity (horseback riding at the Nile or visit the Mabamba Swamp to see the Shoebill Stork) before heading to the airport.

• End: Entebbe Airport.

Practical Tip: Since you are ending in Entebbe on Day 13, ensure your flight is not too early in the morning, as the drive from Jinja to Entebbe is only 2 hours, but traffic around Kampala can be unpredictable.