10 Day Uganda Safari with Gorillas, Chimps and Big Five
Track Ziwa rhinos, cruise the Nile, explore Kibale and Bigodi, search Queen Elizabeth for wildlife and trek Bwindi gorillas before a Lake Mburo walking safari.
Plan This Safari10 Days / 9 Nights / 2 Primate Permits / Private Safari
Uganda by safari vehicle, river boat and forest trail.
Begin with an Entebbe arrival night, then follow the northern and western circuit before returning from Lake Mburo.
Entebbe
Arrival transfer, safari briefing and 1 hotel night.
Ziwa and Murchison
Rhino tracking, 2 lodge nights, game viewing and the Nile.
Kibale and Bigodi
2 nights, chimpanzee trekking and a community-guided wetland walk.
Queen Elizabeth
1 night, the Kazinga cruise and game viewing towards Ishasha.
Bwindi
2 nights near your permit sector and mountain gorilla trekking.
Lake Mburo
1 night, wildlife viewing and a ranger-guided morning walk.
The big wildlife moments, with time to explore beyond them.
A full day around Kibale leaves room for both chimpanzees and Bigodi. A second Bwindi night means you return to your lodge after trekking. These stays shape a 10 day Uganda safari that combines the headline wildlife experiences with time on foot beyond the primate trails.
Begin at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before continuing to Murchison Falls. Game drives explore the savannah, while the Nile boat safari and top-of-falls visit reveal different views of the river.
In Kibale National Park , rangers lead your chimpanzee trek before a local guide introduces Bigodi's wetland and forest-edge habitats. Queen Elizabeth adds the Kazinga Channel, plains wildlife and an Ishasha search.
Continue to Bwindi for gorilla trekking, then finish in Lake Mburo with a guided walk. The route suits travellers wanting both great apes and varied wildlife viewing, with early starts and several long road transfers.
An arrival night is included. Your quotation confirms the first hotel, lodge rooms and both permit dates. For other routes and durations, explore our Uganda safari packages .
Safari Highlights
Arrive in Entebbe and rest before the road safari begins.
Track southern white rhinos with a guide at Ziwa.
Explore Murchison Falls by game drive, boat and viewpoint.
Track chimpanzees in Kibale's rainforest.
Walk through Bigodi with a local community guide.
Cruise the Kazinga Channel and search Queen Elizabeth for wildlife.
Look for Ishasha's lions before continuing to Bwindi.
Trek gorillas and spend a second night at the same lodge.
Finish with a ranger-guided walking safari in Lake Mburo.
Big Five, forests and lakes, day by day.
1 Entebbe night, 2 at Murchison Falls, 2 near Kibale, 1 in Queen Elizabeth, 2 near Bwindi and 1 near Lake Mburo.
Arrival in Entebbe
Meet your BLS Safaris representative at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the hotel confirmed in your quotation. Settle in and rest after travel.
Your guide will review the route, tomorrow's departure and preparations for the forest activities. Any extra sightseeing depends on your arrival time and is arranged separately.
Ziwa Rhino Tracking and Transfer to Murchison Falls
Leave early after breakfast and travel north to Ziwa. Join the site guide for rhino tracking on foot, following instructions on movement and viewing distance.
Have lunch and continue to Murchison Falls National Park . This is a full travel day once the tracking activity, stops and park access are included.
Check into Pakuba Safari Lodge for 2 nights and enjoy a quiet evening.
Murchison Game Drive, Nile Boat Safari and Falls Viewpoints
Begin early on the northern savannah. Look for giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and hartebeests, while your guide checks suitable areas for lions and leopards.
After lunch, take the boat safari upstream towards Murchison Falls. Watch hippos, crocodiles and wildlife along the banks as the river narrows towards the gorge.
Your guide coordinates the road visit to the top-of-falls viewpoints around the cruise. Return to Pakuba after the day's activities.
Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest
After breakfast, begin the southwestern journey towards Fort Portal and Kibale. Complete any outstanding top-of-falls stop early, then continue along the route.
Allow most of the day for driving, with lunch and comfort stops. The landscape becomes greener around Fort Portal's hills and tea-growing countryside.
Reach Primate Lodge Kibale and check in for 2 nights. Have dinner and prepare your daypack for tomorrow.
Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
Have breakfast early and report for the ranger briefing. Follow your guide into Kibale in search of chimpanzees, listening for calls and watching the branches.
Once located, spend up to 1 permitted hour observing the community. The search and return walk take additional time and vary with the chimpanzees' movements.
After lunch and a short rest, visit Bigodi for a community-guided wetland walk. Look for monkeys, birds and other wildlife around the wetland and forest edge.
Learn about the local conservation work before returning to Primate Lodge for dinner.
Kibale to Queen Elizabeth and the Kazinga Channel
Check out after breakfast and travel south to Queen Elizabeth National Park . Continue to Aardvark Safari Lodge, with lunch and check-in arranged around the cruise.
Head to the confirmed landing point for your Kazinga Channel boat safari . Watch hippos in the water, buffaloes along the banks and waterbirds near the shore.
Elephants may approach the water as the crew follows the channel. Return to your lodge afterwards. Any extra evening game viewing depends on the remaining daylight.
Queen Elizabeth Game Drive, Ishasha and Transfer to Bwindi
Start early with a focused game drive on the Kasenyi Plains. Search for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and predators before beginning the journey south.
Continue through Ishasha, checking suitable fig trees and surrounding grassland for lions. The search fits within the onward travel schedule.
Leave the savannah and continue towards Buhoma. Check into Haven Lodge Buhoma Community for 2 nights and prepare for your gorilla trek.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Have breakfast, collect your packed lunch and travel to the Buhoma reporting point. Register with the park team and attend the briefing.
Enter the forest with the rangers and trackers. Expect uneven paths, mud and potentially steep slopes. The outing can take several hours or much of the day.
When the family is found, enjoy up to 1 permitted hour observing the gorillas. Keep the required distance, avoid flash and follow the ranger's directions.
Walk back and return to your lodge. No onward transfer is planned, leaving time to rest after the trek.
Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park
Leave after breakfast for the journey to Lake Mburo. Allow around 5 to 7 hours or more, depending on the route, road conditions and stops.
Have lunch along the way, then check into Hyena Hill Lodge. If arrival time allows, head out for an afternoon game-viewing drive.
Look for zebras, impalas, elands, giraffes and other wildlife across the grassland and woodland before returning for dinner.
Lake Mburo Walking Safari and Return to Entebbe
Meet an authorised ranger for your morning walking safari. Follow the selected route, looking for tracks, feeding signs, birds and wildlife.
Keep close to the ranger and follow instructions throughout. The walk offers time to notice details that are easy to miss from a vehicle.
Return for breakfast, check out and leave for Entebbe. Allow around 4 to 5 hours in normal traffic, with additional time for lunch, stops and congestion.
Include an Equator photo stop when timing allows, then continue to your agreed hotel or a pre-arranged airport drop-off.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- Entebbe airport pickup and final drop-off as agreed.
- 9 nights of accommodation in the confirmed properties.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary and quotation.
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle and fuel.
- Professional English-speaking driver guide.
- Guided Ziwa rhino tracking.
- Park entry fees for the scheduled activities.
- Scheduled Murchison Falls game viewing.
- Victoria Nile boat safari towards Murchison Falls.
- Road visit to the top-of-falls viewpoints.
- 1 standard Kibale chimpanzee permit per participating traveller.
- Bigodi Wetland guided walk and entry.
- Kazinga Channel boat safari.
- Scheduled Queen Elizabeth game viewing.
- Ishasha wildlife search within the transfer schedule.
- 1 standard Bwindi gorilla permit per participating traveller.
- Park ranger services for the forest treks.
- Lake Mburo ranger-guided walking safari.
- Bottled drinking water during transfers and safari activities.
- Applicable taxes included in the confirmed quotation.
What's Not Included
- International and domestic flights.
- Uganda visa fees.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Porter services during trekking.
- Alcoholic and premium drinks.
- Tips for guides, rangers, porters and lodge staff.
- Laundry, souvenirs and other personal expenses.
- Optional night game drives.
- Extra boat trips and community visits.
- Primate habituation experiences.
- Accommodation outside the 9 scheduled nights.
- Services outside the confirmed quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about the permits, park stays, walking activities and departure arrangements.
1. How does this differ from the 9 day Uganda safari?
2. Are both trekking permits included?
3. Can we see all of the Big Five?
4. Which Bwindi sector matches the lodge?
5. How much time do we spend with the chimpanzees and gorillas?
6. Are Bigodi and the Lake Mburo walk included?
7. What should I pack, and can children join the treks?
8. Can I fly out of Entebbe on Day 10?
Meet the great apes. Follow the wildlife. Explore on foot.
Share your dates, group size and preferred accommodation. BLS Safaris will coordinate the permits, lodge stays and private road journey.