8-Day Pangolin Safari Uganda
Uganda is home to the ground pangolin — one of the world’s most trafficked and rarely seen mammals. This unique 8-day safari combines a pangolin encounter at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary with rhino tracking, a Murchison Falls boat cruise, Queen Elizabeth game drives and gorilla trekking in Bwindi. No other itinerary in Uganda offers this combination.
Safari at a Glance
| Duration | 8 days / 7 nights |
|---|---|
| Parks & Reserves | Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary • Murchison Falls NP • Queen Elizabeth NP • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest |
| Highlights | Pangolin encounter, rhino tracking, Nile boat cruise, Murchison Falls, tree-climbing lions, gorilla trekking |
| Accommodation | Mid-range to luxury lodges and tented camps |
| Group size | 2 – 8 people |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Start / End | Entebbe International Airport |
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Entebbe to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Depart Entebbe after breakfast and drive north to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — Uganda’s only wild rhino sanctuary and the base for the Uganda Rhino Fund’s pangolin rescue and monitoring programme. Evening briefing on the pangolin project and your nocturnal search plans. Overnight: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary lodge.
Day 2 — Pangolin Encounter & Rhino Tracking
Rise before dawn for a guided pangolin search — rangers with radio-tracking equipment locate pangolins sheltering in burrows. Watch this secretive creature emerge at dusk or dawn. Morning rhino tracking on foot (Uganda’s white rhino herd). Drive north to Murchison Falls National Park in the afternoon. Overnight: Murchison Falls NP lodge.
Day 3 — Nile Boat Cruise & Murchison Falls
Full day in Murchison Falls National Park. Morning boat cruise on the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls — where the entire Nile squeezes through a 7-metre gorge. Hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and over 450 bird species line the riverbanks. Hike to the top of the falls in the afternoon. Overnight: Murchison Falls NP lodge.
Day 4 — Murchison North Bank Game Drive
Game drive on the north bank of the Nile — the best sector for lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants and large buffalo herds. Return via the Nile ferry to the south bank. Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the late afternoon. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth NP lodge.
Day 5 — Queen Elizabeth: Kazinga Channel & Game Drive
Morning game drive on the Kasenyi Plains — prime lion and elephant habitat. Midday boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, home to one of Africa’s largest hippo populations alongside fishing eagles, pelicans and bathing elephants. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth NP lodge.
Day 6 — Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions to Bwindi
Early morning drive to the Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth NP in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for lodge check-in and a gorilla trekking briefing. Overnight: Bwindi area lodge.
Day 7 — Gorilla Trekking, Bwindi
The centrepiece of the safari: trek into Bwindi’s dense montane forest with an experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger to find your allocated gorilla family. Spend one hour with the gorillas at close range — a life-changing encounter. Return to lodge for lunch and relaxation. Overnight: Bwindi area lodge.
Day 8 — Return to Entebbe
Depart Bwindi after breakfast for the drive back to Entebbe (7–8 hours), with a lunch stop in Mbarara. Drop-off at Entebbe hotel or the airport for your onward flight.
Included
- All accommodation (7 nights, mid-range to luxury)
- All meals — full board throughout
- Gorilla trekking permit (USD 800 per person)
- Pangolin tracking experience at Ziwa
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Airport transfers and all ground transport in a 4WD safari vehicle
- All national park and sanctuary entry fees
- Nile boat cruise and Kazinga Channel boat cruise fees
- English-speaking professional driver-guide
- Mineral water during transfers
Excluded
- International flights and Uganda entry visa
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages and personal items
Book This Unique Safari
Pangolin sightings are never guaranteed but our rangers have an outstanding success rate. Contact us now to check availability — gorilla permits are limited. See also our gorilla trekking guide and Murchison Falls National Park guide.