10-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Wildlife Safari

Published by Andrew on October 27, 2026

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your driver-guide will warmly welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. After checking in, take some time to relax and recover from your journey. Alternatively, if your arrival time allows, explore Entebbe town and enjoy your first glimpse of Uganda.

Main destination: Entebbe
Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, set off for Murchison Falls National Park, travelling north through Uganda’s scenic countryside. Along the way, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where a guided tracking experience gives you the opportunity to observe southern white rhinos on foot. Afterward, continue to the park and check in at your lodge, where you can relax and prepare for the following day’s wildlife adventures.

Main destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Game Drive and Nile Boat Safari

Begin your day with an early morning game drive across Murchison Falls National Park’s vast savannah plains. With your driver-guide, search for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions and various antelope species as they become active in the cooler morning hours.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the River Nile toward the base of the spectacular Murchison Falls. Along the riverbanks, look for hippos, crocodiles and colourful water birds while observing wildlife gathering near the water. If time and access permit, visit the top of the falls for breathtaking views of the Nile forcing its way through a narrow gorge.

Main destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls and travel southwest toward Kibale National Park, one of Uganda’s most renowned destinations for chimpanzee tracking. During the journey, pass through rural villages, farmland and picturesque countryside, offering glimpses of everyday life in Uganda.

Although the drive takes several hours, the changing scenery makes the journey rewarding. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and spend the rest of the day relaxing in preparation for your upcoming primate encounters.

Main destination: Kibale National Park
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Walk

After an early breakfast, head to Kibale Forest for a briefing by the park rangers. Then, enter the forest with an experienced ranger-guide to search for wild chimpanzees. As you follow their calls and movements through the trees, observe their social interactions and behaviour in their natural habitat.

Later in the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk. This community-managed conservation area offers opportunities to spot monkeys, colourful birds and other wetland wildlife. In addition, your guide will introduce you to the area’s plant life and the community’s conservation efforts, giving you a deeper appreciation of Uganda’s natural heritage.

Main destination: Kibale National Park
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, travelling through the beautiful crater-lake region near Fort Portal. Along the way, enjoy views of rolling hills, lush vegetation and scenic volcanic landscapes.

Upon reaching the park, check in at your lodge and take some time to relax. Depending on your arrival time and energy levels, you may also arrange an optional evening game drive to begin exploring the park’s diverse wildlife.

Main destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise

Start the morning with a game drive across Queen Elizabeth National Park’s savannah plains. With your driver-guide, search for elephants, lions, buffaloes, Uganda kob and other wildlife as you explore the park’s diverse habitats.

In the afternoon, head to the Kazinga Channel for a memorable boat cruise connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. As you travel along the waterway, watch for hippos, crocodiles and elephants gathering along the shores. Furthermore, the channel attracts numerous bird species, making it an excellent destination for birdwatching and wildlife photography.

After the cruise, return to your lodge and unwind after a rewarding day of wildlife viewing.

Main destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to endangered mountain gorillas. Along the way, enjoy the changing scenery as open savannah gradually gives way to rolling hills, cultivated farmland and densely forested landscapes.

Depending on your route and road conditions, you may also encounter scenic viewpoints and traditional rural communities. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and relax while your guide explains what to expect during the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure. Remember to prepare your trekking essentials and follow the lodge’s guidance on the early start.

Main destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. Once the briefing ends, enter Bwindi’s dense forest with your ranger-guide and begin searching for a habituated mountain gorilla family.

The trek can take several hours, depending on the gorillas’ location and the terrain. However, the experience is well worth the effort. When you find the family, spend one strictly regulated hour observing the gorillas as they feed, groom, play and interact in their natural habitat. Remember to follow your ranger’s instructions throughout the encounter.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and some well-earned rest. If time and arrangements permit, you may also enjoy an optional Batwa cultural experience to learn about the traditions and heritage of one of the region’s Indigenous communities.

Main destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Return to Entebbe and Departure

After breakfast, begin your return journey to Entebbe, travelling through Uganda’s scenic countryside. Along the way, enjoy views of rural communities, rolling hills and farmland while reflecting on the memorable wildlife encounters of your safari.

Depending on your flight schedule and road conditions, stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photographs and a short visit. Finally, continue to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight. For international flights departing the same day, allow sufficient travel time and confirm that the road transfer fits your airline’s check-in requirements.

Main destination: Entebbe
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast and lunch