The 10 days Uganda gorilla safari explores the country’s major wildlife experiences with gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park as the major highlight. Other encounters to explore on this tour in addition to gorilla tracking include game viewing and boat cruises in Murchison falls national park and Queen Elizabeth national park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale national park, rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and optional cultural tours.
Safari highlights
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Game drive in Murchison falls national park
- Boat cruise on the Nile
- Top of the Falls experience in Murchison falls national park
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale national park
- Nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
- Game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park
- Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Gorilla tracking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Optional cultural tour around Bwindi
Trip summary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport & transfer to your hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park & Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 3: Game drive & boat cruise in Murchison falls national park
Day 4: Top of the Falls experience & transfer to Kibale national park
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 7: Game drive & boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park & optional cultural tour
Day 10: Return to Entebbe for departure
Detailed itinerary – 10 Days Uganda gorilla safari
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your hotel
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and meet your driver guide who will transfer you to your booked hotel at Entebbe or Kampala. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax or go for a city tour and visit around Kampala or Entebbe. Among the places you may visit include city markets, cultural and religious sites and beaches on Lake Victoria
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, head northwest of Kampala to Murchison falls national park with a brief en-route stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking experience on foot. This is a crucial visit as it is the only place where you can see rhinos in the wild in Uganda, especially to those who want to see all the “big five” game in the country. Continue to Murchison falls national park and check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Game drive in the park and boat cruise on the Nile
Have an early breakfast and embark on the morning game drive in the northern bank of the park. Look for out for big cats like lions and leopards as well as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and a variety of antelope species. In the afternoon after lunch and relaxation, enjoy a thrilling boat cruise on the Nile River to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. Look out for amazing wildlife along the river such as hippos, Nile crocodiles and diverse birdlife. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 4: Top of the Falls experience and transfer to Kibale national park
After breakfast, hike to the top of the Falls to witness how the Nile River plunges into a 7-meter narrow gorge creating the spectacle of the powerful Murchison Falls. Embark on a scenic drive to Kibale national park, the “Primate Capital of the World,” with beautiful views of plantations, rolling hills and local villages en-route. Check into your lodge within or outside the park for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
After an early breakfast, head to the headquarters of the park for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking. Enter the forest to meet chimpanzees and witness how these intelligent and our close relatives interact in their natural habitat during a full hour experience. In the afternoon after your lunch and relaxation, embark on a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This a community-based conservation initiative known for its rich birdlife and primate species. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and afternoon game drive
Enjoy your early breakfast and embark on a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth national park, Uganda’s most biodiverse park. Witness thrilling views along the way with scenic views of plantations, local communities and towns, and the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. Upon entering the park, you may go through the famous Ishasha Sector, known for its unique tree-climbing lions. Enjoy an afternoon or late evening game drive as you head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Game drive in the park and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Take your early breakfast and go for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth national park. Look out for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and an array of antelope species. In the afternoon after lunch and relaxation, enjoy a relaxed and rewarding boat cruise on Kazinga Channel which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. The Channel is a hotspot for hippos, crocs, elephants, buffaloes, and a variety of waterbirds. Listen to thrilling stories of the channel and its wildlife from an experienced guide while on the cruise. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Have a relaxed breakfast and embark on another scenic drive to Bwindi impenetrable national through the beautiful Kigezi Highlands, commonly known as the “Switzerland of Africa.” Check into your lodge near your gorilla tracking sector for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
This is the highlight and pinnacle of your safari! After an early breakfast, head to the headquarters of Bwindi impenetrable national park for a briefing on gorilla trekking. You will also be grouped with other trekkers and get assigned a gorilla group to track (maximum of 8 trekkers per gorilla group). Head into the jungle searching for your gorilla group led by a group of experienced rangers and guides.
This trek may take between 1-6 hours before reaching gorillas depending on their location and movement in the forest. Once you meet the gorillas, spend the magical permitted hour in their presence as you observe in awe how they feed on bamboo shoots, play and rest in their natural habitat while recording them with your camera.
At the end of this breathtaking and humbling experience, return to the park headquarters and collect your gorilla trekking certificate from the park officials. Return to your lodge for refreshments and relaxation. In the late afternoon depending on you feel, you may choose to go for a cultural tour around the park where you will meet the amazing Batwa pygmy people. Be entertained by their thrilling songs and dance as you learn about their amazing traditions and culture as well. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 10: Return to Entebbe/Kampala for departure
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast since this is your final day on this tour before embarking on a scenic return drive to Entebbe/Kampala for your departure flight. Depending on your departure time, you may have a brief stopover at the Equator for photography and souvenir shopping as well as your en-route lunch.
Important considerations for the 10 Days Uganda gorilla safari
Before embarking on this 10 Days Uganda gorilla safari ensure to book your gorilla permit at least 6 months in advance through a credible tour operator. Uganda gorilla permit is sold at $800 per person to foreign nonresidents while the chimpanzee permit at $250 per person. The packing list for gorilla trekking include a pair of khaki trousers, long-sleeved sweater of jumper, pair of gloves, hiking boots, and a camera.
Transport, accommodation and guiding services are arranged by your tour operator at the quoted safari cost. The gorilla tracking encounter requires a relative level of fitness to enable you navigate through the dense montane rainforest without much difficulty. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years.