10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari – Uganda Itinerary
Overview
Experience the best of Uganda’s wildlife and primate encounters on this 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari. This carefully designed Uganda safari combines mountain gorilla trekking in the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with exciting Big Game experiences in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.
The journey takes you through Uganda’s spectacular landscapes, from the rolling hills of southwestern Uganda to tropical forests, savannah plains and the powerful Nile River. Along the way, you have opportunities to encounter mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles and a wide variety of bird species.
The safari starts from Kampala or Entebbe and ends in Entebbe, making it suitable for international travelers looking for a comprehensive Uganda gorilla and Big Game safari.
Day 1: Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Private Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda
Your 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. Meet your professional driver-guide and begin the scenic journey southwest toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The drive passes through Uganda’s beautiful countryside, with rolling hills, farmland, local communities and changing landscapes. Depending on your departure point and road conditions, lunch will be taken along the way.
Continue toward the Bwindi region and arrive at your lodge in the evening. Relax after the long journey and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure.
Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge or suitable alternative in the selected gorilla trekking sector.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today is the highlight of your 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari. After an early breakfast, proceed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority briefing point for your gorilla trekking orientation.
Your experienced guides and trackers will explain the trekking rules, safety procedures and responsible gorilla viewing guidelines before you enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The trek takes you deep into one of Africa’s most remarkable rainforests in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. The terrain can be steep, muddy and challenging, but the experience of observing these endangered primates in their natural environment makes the adventure unforgettable.
Once you locate the gorilla family, you will spend the permitted viewing time observing their natural behavior while maintaining the required distance and following the instructions of your guides.
After the trek, return to the starting point and transfer back to your lodge. Depending on your energy and timing, an optional community or cultural experience may be arranged.
Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge or suitable alternative
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, leave Bwindi and travel toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey provides beautiful views of southwestern Uganda’s countryside and, where conditions permit, the dramatic landscapes around the Virunga region.
Arrive in the Queen Elizabeth area and check into your lodge. After lunch and some relaxation, you may enjoy an afternoon game drive if your arrival time allows.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for its diverse wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, antelopes and numerous bird species. Lions may also be encountered, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Tembo Safari Lodge or suitable alternative
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Wake up early for a morning game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park. Early morning is often a productive period for wildlife viewing as animals can be active before the heat of the day.
Explore the savannah plains in search of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks and other wildlife. With favorable conditions, you may also encounter lions and other predators.
Return to the lodge for breakfast or lunch depending on the day’s schedule.
Later, enjoy a memorable boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of Uganda’s most famous wildlife-viewing experiences. The channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and attracts large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and waterbirds.
Return to the lodge after the cruise and relax.
Accommodation: Tembo Safari Lodge or suitable alternative
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel toward Kibale Forest National Park.
The journey takes you through scenic countryside and areas surrounding the Rwenzori Mountains. Kibale is internationally recognized for its population of chimpanzees and diverse forest primates.
Arrive at your lodge, check in and relax. If time permits, you can take an optional nature walk or community experience around the area.
Prepare for tomorrow’s chimpanzee trekking experience.
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp or suitable alternative
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest & Transfer Toward Murchison Falls
Track Chimpanzees
After an early breakfast, proceed to the Kibale Forest briefing point for your chimpanzee trekking experience.
Enter the forest with trained guides and search for habituated chimpanzee communities. Kibale’s forest environment also supports several other primates and a remarkable diversity of birds and plant species.
After the experience, return for lunch before beginning the long journey north toward Murchison Falls National Park.
The transfer is an important part of the safari as Uganda’s landscape gradually changes from tropical forest and rolling hills to northern savannah.
Depending on the final location and travel conditions, arrive at your accommodation later in the day or evening.
Accommodation: Murchison Falls lodge or suitable alternative
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Murchison Falls National Park – Big Game Safari
Today begins your major Big Game safari experience in Murchison Falls National Park.
After an early breakfast, enter the park for a morning game drive across the northern sector. The park is Uganda’s largest protected area and is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
During the game drive, you may encounter elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, Uganda kobs, hartebeests, waterbucks, warthogs and other antelope species. Lions may also be seen in suitable areas, while sightings of other predators are possible.
The game drive continues through the savannah plains while your guide shares information about Uganda’s wildlife, ecosystems and conservation efforts.
Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, enjoy another game-viewing opportunity or relax at the lodge depending on the safari schedule.
Accommodation: Murchison Falls lodge or suitable alternative
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Murchison Falls Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise
Wake up early for another game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. This provides another opportunity to explore the park and search for wildlife that may not have been encountered the previous day.
After the game drive, return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation.
Later, enjoy a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile toward the base of Murchison Falls. The riverbanks are particularly rewarding for wildlife viewing, with large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes often found near the water.
The cruise also provides excellent opportunities for birdwatching and photography.
The powerful Murchison Falls is one of the defining attractions of the park, where the Nile is forced through a narrow gorge before continuing downstream.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Murchison Falls lodge or suitable alternative
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Murchison Falls to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls National Park and travel south toward Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Ziwa is home to Uganda’s rhino conservation program and offers visitors an opportunity to learn about rhino conservation and observe these impressive animals in a protected environment.
After arrival and lunch, enjoy a guided rhino tracking experience where available and according to sanctuary operating conditions.
The experience provides an excellent conservation-focused addition to your 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari.
Later, relax at your accommodation and enjoy your final evening in the Ugandan countryside.
Accommodation: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary lodge or suitable alternative
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Kampala or Entebbe
Enjoy breakfast before beginning your final journey toward Kampala or Entebbe.
Depending on your departure flight schedule, you may stop for lunch along the way or visit selected attractions around Kampala or Entebbe.
Your driver-guide will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport or your preferred hotel, marking the end of your 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari.
Thank you for choosing Abunda Discoveries Uganda for your Uganda safari adventure.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation Summary
Night 1: Bwindi – Four Gorillas Lodge or suitable alternative
Night 2: Bwindi – Four Gorillas Lodge or suitable alternative
Night 3: Queen Elizabeth – Tembo Safari Lodge or suitable alternative
Night 4: Queen Elizabeth – Tembo Safari Lodge or suitable alternative
Night 5: Kibale – Kibale Forest Camp or suitable alternative
Night 6: Murchison Falls – Suitable safari lodge
Night 7: Murchison Falls – Suitable safari lodge
Night 8: Murchison Falls – Suitable safari lodge
Night 9: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Suitable accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking. Abunda Discoveries Uganda can recommend suitable alternatives according to location, safari sector, accommodation standard and travel budget.
What’s Included
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Park entry fees included in the itinerary
- Game drives as described
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Murchison Falls Nile boat cruise
- Rhino tracking experience where applicable
- Accommodation as stated or suitable alternatives
- Meals as specified
- Bottled drinking water during safari
- Airport or hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation throughout the safari
What’s Excluded
- International flights
- Uganda visa
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic and other premium beverages
- Laundry services
- Tips for guides, trackers, lodge staff and other service providers
- Optional activities not included in the itinerary
- Any other services not specifically mentioned under inclusions
What to Pack for the 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari
Pack lightweight and comfortable safari clothing, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, a waterproof jacket, comfortable hiking boots, garden gloves, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent and a small backpack for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking.
A good camera, spare batteries, memory cards and binoculars are also recommended for wildlife viewing and photography.
For gorilla trekking, waterproof clothing and sturdy hiking footwear are particularly useful because Bwindi’s forest trails can be wet and muddy.
Best Time for a Uganda Gorillas & Big Game Safari
Uganda can be visited throughout the year, but the drier periods are generally popular for gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris because roads and trekking trails may be easier to navigate.
The wetter seasons can also provide excellent experiences, with greener landscapes, fewer visitors in some areas and good opportunities for photography. Gorilla trekking takes place throughout the year, although forest conditions can change with rainfall.
Because wildlife is wild and unpredictable, animal sightings are never guaranteed.
Important Gorilla Trekking Information
Gorilla trekking is physically demanding and requires walking through a natural forest environment. Trekking duration can vary considerably depending on the location of the gorilla family, terrain and weather conditions.
Gorilla permits are limited and should be secured well in advance, particularly for peak travel periods.
The exact gorilla trekking sector should be confirmed when the permit is booked because accommodation and routing may need to correspond with the selected sector.
Why Choose Abunda Discoveries Uganda?
Abunda Discoveries Uganda provides customized Uganda safari experiences designed around travelers’ interests, schedules and budgets.
This 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari combines some of Uganda’s most iconic experiences in one journey, including mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, savannah game drives, boat cruises and rhino conservation.
Our safari team can also customize the itinerary by changing accommodation levels, adding cultural experiences, adjusting the number of game drives or extending the safari to include additional destinations.
Book Your 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari
Ready for an unforgettable Uganda adventure?
Book your 10 Days Gorillas & Big Game Safari with Abunda Discoveries Uganda and experience the country’s extraordinary combination of mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, Big Game, spectacular landscapes and powerful rivers.
Contact Abunda Discoveries Uganda to check gorilla permit availability, accommodation options and the best travel dates for your safari.