9 Day Uganda Wildlife, Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
Track Ziwa's rhinos, explore Murchison Falls, trek Kibale chimpanzees and Bwindi gorillas, then enjoy Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo's wildlife.
Plan This Safari9 Days / 8 Nights / 5 National Parks / Private Safari
North to the Nile, west to the forests and south to Bwindi.
Begin with Ziwa and Murchison Falls, follow the western circuit and finish with Lake Mburo before returning to Kampala or Entebbe.
Murchison Falls
2 nights, Ziwa rhinos, game viewing and the Nile boat safari.
Kibale
1 night near the forest and a morning chimpanzee trek.
Queen Elizabeth
2 nights, Kasenyi game viewing, Kazinga and the Ishasha route.
Bwindi
2 nights near the permit sector and mountain gorilla trekking.
Lake Mburo
1 night, a boat safari and final morning wildlife viewing.
Rhinos on foot, wildlife on the water and great apes in the forest.
The roar of Murchison Falls, chimpanzee calls in Kibale and the quiet pause before a gorilla encounter mark very different moments of this journey. Between them, game drives and boat safaris bring Uganda's plains and waterways into view.
Start with guided rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before continuing to Murchison Falls National Park . The safari then turns southwest towards Kibale and Queen Elizabeth, with separate days for the main wildlife experiences.
Your chimpanzee trek takes place in Kibale. Later, Ishasha provides a wildlife stop on the route to Bwindi, where 2 nights leave the afternoon after gorilla trekking free for rest. Lake Mburo adds a different mix of plains wildlife before the return.
Travellers who want a broad introduction to Uganda will find forest walks, water-based viewing and classic game drives within one route. Be comfortable with early starts and several long road transfers. The wider Uganda safari collection offers shorter and longer alternatives.
Safari Highlights
Track southern white rhinos on foot with a Ziwa guide.
Visit the top of Murchison Falls and cruise upstream towards its base.
Explore Murchison's northern savannah on a morning game drive.
Track chimpanzees beneath Kibale's rainforest canopy.
Combine Kasenyi game viewing with a Kazinga Channel cruise.
Search Ishasha's trees and grassland for lions.
Trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi with park rangers.
Stay 2 nights near Bwindi without a post-trek transfer.
Finish with Lake Mburo's boat safari and plains wildlife.
Uganda wildlife and primates, day by day.
2 nights at Murchison Falls, 1 near Kibale, 2 in Queen Elizabeth, 2 near Bwindi and 1 near Lake Mburo.
Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls via Ziwa
Leave early with your BLS Safaris driver guide and travel north to Ziwa. Join the site guide for a rhino tracking walk, following instructions on where to stand and how to move around the animals.
After lunch, continue towards Murchison Falls and Sambiya River Lodge. Allow most of the day for travel, tracking and park access. Starting in Entebbe adds time to the northern journey.
Visit the top of the falls if daylight and arrival time allow. Watch the Nile force its way through the rocky gorge, then continue to your lodge. If the day runs late, the viewpoint visit is moved within the Murchison stay.
Murchison Falls Game Drive and Nile Boat Safari
Set out early towards the northern game-viewing areas, allowing time for the drive from Sambiya and the river crossing by bridge. Search the plains and woodland for giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and predators.
Pause with your guide to watch the animals found along the tracks. Lions and leopards are possible, but sightings are never guaranteed. Lunch is arranged around the game drive and boat departure.
In the afternoon, board the Victoria Nile boat safari. Travel upstream towards the falls, looking for hippos, crocodiles and wildlife along the banks. Return to Sambiya after the cruise.
Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park
Have breakfast and leave for the long southwestern transfer. If the top-of-falls visit is still outstanding, your guide will coordinate an early stop before the onward journey.
Travel through farming areas and trading centres towards Fort Portal. Stop for lunch and comfort breaks as the landscape changes from northern savannah to greener hills.
Reach Isunga Lodge near Kibale National Park later in the day. Settle in, have dinner and prepare for tomorrow's chimpanzee tracking.
Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth
After an early breakfast, travel to Kanyanchu for registration and the ranger briefing. Enter the forest with your guide, listening for chimpanzee calls and watching the canopy.
The search follows the community's movements and may involve several hours on foot. Once found, spend up to 1 hour watching the chimpanzees feed, groom and move through the forest.
Have lunch after the trek and continue south to Queen Elizabeth National Park . Check into Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge for 2 nights.
An additional short drive may be possible with an early arrival, but the main game-viewing programme is tomorrow.
Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise
Begin early on the Kasenyi Plains. Look for Uganda kobs, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks and warthogs, while your guide checks likely areas for lions and other predators.
Take time with sightings before lunch and a break. Later, travel to the confirmed landing point for your Kazinga Channel boat safari .
Watch hippos in the water, crocodiles along the banks and birds around the shore. Buffaloes and elephants may approach the water as your crew follows the channel. Return to the lodge afterwards.
Ishasha Wildlife Drive and Transfer to Bwindi
Check out after breakfast and travel south through Ishasha. Search suitable fig trees and nearby plains for lions, looking on the ground as well as in the branches.
Watch for topis, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and other wildlife within the time available. Continue towards Bwindi after the game-viewing stop, with lunch arranged along the route.
For the listed Rushaga version, arrive at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge and settle in for 2 nights. Your guide confirms the morning reporting point and packed lunch before dinner.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Have breakfast early, collect your packed lunch and travel to the headquarters named on your permit. Register and attend the ranger briefing before entering the forest.
Follow the ranger team over forest paths, slopes and potentially muddy ground. Allow roughly 2 to 7 hours for the outing, with longer treks possible depending on the gorillas' location and terrain.
When the family is found, spend up to oone permitted hour observing them. Maintain the required distance, avoid flash and follow your ranger's instructions.
Return to the same lodge after the trek. The afternoon is left free for rest, with no onward road transfer.
Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park
Leave early after breakfast for the journey to Lake Mburo National Park . Descend from the forested highlands and continue through southwestern Uganda's towns and cattle country.
Stop for lunch and continue towards the park. With an early enough arrival, take your Lake Mburo boat safari before checking into Rwakobo Rock.
Look for hippos, crocodiles and shoreline birds from the boat. If the road journey runs late, settle into the lodge and take the cruise early tomorrow, subject to the confirmed booking.
Lake Mburo Wildlife Viewing and Return to Entebbe or Kampala
Start early for your final wildlife drive. Search the grassland and woodland for zebras, impalas, elands, giraffes, buffaloes and warthogs.
If the boat safari moved from yesterday, take the confirmed early departure and adjust the game drive accordingly. Breakfast is arranged around the morning activities.
Check out and begin the return to Kampala or Entebbe. Stop for lunch and, when timing allows, photographs at the Equator in Kayabwe.
Continue to your agreed hotel or an airport drop-off that has been planned around the full day's schedule. Your safari ends on arrival.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle and fuel for the scheduled route.
- Professional English-speaking driver guide.
- Kampala or Entebbe pickup and drop-off as agreed.
- 2 nights at Sambiya River Lodge.
- 1 night at Isunga Lodge.
- 2 nights at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge.
- 2 nights at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge for a Rushaga permit.
- 1 night at Rwakobo Rock.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary and quotation.
- Guided rhino tracking at Ziwa.
- Visit to the top of Murchison Falls.
- Scheduled game drives in the safari parks.
- Victoria Nile boat safari towards Murchison Falls.
- 1 standard Kibale chimpanzee tracking permit per participating traveller.
- Kazinga Channel boat safari.
- Ishasha wildlife search within the transfer schedule.
- 1 standard Bwindi gorilla trekking permit per participating traveller.
- Lake Mburo boat safari.
- Park entry and site guide fees for scheduled activities.
- Bottled drinking water during the safari.
- Applicable taxes included in the confirmed quotation.
What's Not Included
- International and domestic flights.
- Uganda visa fees.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Gorilla trekking porter hire.
- Alcoholic and premium drinks.
- Tips for guides, rangers, boat crews and lodge staff.
- Laundry, shopping and other personal expenses.
- Optional cultural and community visits.
- Extra night drives, walks and other unscheduled activities.
- Primate habituation experiences.
- Accommodation before or after the safari.
- Services outside the confirmed quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about the permits, wildlife, lodge locations and pace of the journey.
1. Are both primate permits and Ziwa rhino tracking included?
2. Can we see all of the Big Five?
3. How many boat safaris are included?
4. Which Bwindi sector matches the lodge?
5. How demanding is the itinerary?
6. How much time do we spend with the great apes?
7. What should we pack, and can children join?
8. Can I fly internationally on Day 9?
Follow the Nile. Explore the plains. Meet the great apes.
Share your travel dates, group size and preferred accommodation. BLS Safaris will coordinate your permits, lodge stays, boat safaris and private road journey.