Is it possible to see the Big Five on this 10-day trip?

Yes. By including the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on Day 1, this itinerary allows you to see rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo, completing the Big Five across the northern and western circuits.

How varied are the temperatures during the trip?

Expect significant variation. Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth are hot and humid. However, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi are high-altitude regions where temperatures can drop significantly at night. Packing layers is essential.

What is the fitness requirement for the treks?

Chimpanzee tracking is moderately active. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is physically demanding and involves hiking on steep, uneven terrain for 2 to 6 hours. We recommend basic cardiovascular prep before the trip.

10 Day Uganda Safari | Gorillas, Chimps and Big Five

This definitive 10-day Uganda safari bridges the country’s most iconic landscapes, from the surging power of Murchison Falls to the vertical rainforests of Bwindi. It is a study in biodiversity, offering a rare look at the Big Five alongside the world’s most significant primate populations.

Starts From
Entebbe OR Kampala
Best Season
June to September
December to February
Maximum Altitude
2,607 meters (8,553 feet)
Group Size
Gorilla Trekking: Max 8 guests · 1 hr
Chimp Trekking: Max 6 guests · 1 hr
Fitness Level
Moderate

Overview

Itinerary

Includes / Excludes

FAQs

Map

Overview

Itinerary

Includes / Excludes

FAQs

Map

Uganda’s geography is a dramatic intersection of tectonic activity and ancient biology.

This 10-day safari traces that intersection, beginning at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary—a vital stronghold for white rhino conservation—before pushing north to Murchison Falls. Here, the entire Nile River is forced through a seven-meter gorge, creating a landscape of immense hydraulic power and savanna abundance.

The journey then pivots south along the Albertine Rift, moving from the open plains into the humid, vocal heart of the Kibale Forest, the “Primate Capital of the World.”

As the expedition continues, the savanna returns in Queen Elizabeth National Park, characterized by the specialized behavior of tree-climbing lions and the high-density aquatic life of the Kazinga Channel.

The narrative reaches its peak in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where the encounter with mountain gorillas offers a profound window into our own evolutionary history.

The final days provide a necessary transition through the mist-covered islands of Lake Bunyonyi and the acacia woodlands of Lake Mburo, completing a full circuit of Uganda’s western frontier.

Highlights

Rhino tracking at Ziwa Sanctuary en route to Murchison Falls
Game drives and Nile boat safari in Murchison Falls National Park
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest and forest-edge landscapes
Game drives and Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Tree-climbing lion search in Ishasha sector
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Lakeside downtime at Lake Bunyonyi with optional canoeing
Walking safari and optional horseback viewing in Lake Mburo National Park

Day 1 :

Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park

The expedition departs from the central plateau, heading north through the Luwero Triangle toward the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is a critical stop for understanding Uganda’s conservation history, offering a chance to track rhinos on foot.

After a midday break in Masindi, we enter Murchison Falls National Park. We stand at the "Top of the Falls," where the Victoria Nile compresses into a violent, mist-shrouded gorge, before settling into our lodge as the savanna sun sets.

Silver: Heritage Safari Lodge
Gold: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Platinum: Paraa Safari Lodge / Chobe Safari Lodge

Day 2 :

Game Drive and Nile Boat Safari

The morning game drive crosses open savanna where visibility shapes expectation. You may see elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and antelope species with relative ease. Predators are less predictable. Leopards and lions are possible, not guaranteed.

In the afternoon, the Nile becomes the focus. The boat cruise to the base of the falls shifts perspective. Crocodiles hold position along the banks, hippos cluster in the water, and birdlife moves constantly between them. The falls themselves build gradually until they dominate the horizon.

Return to the lodge in the evening.

Day 3 :

Transfer to Kibale Forest

This is a long transfer day. The route cuts southwest through changing terrain, from open savanna into greener, more humid regions. Tea plantations and crater lakes begin to appear as you approach Kibale.

Arrival is late afternoon. The forest does not present itself dramatically. It sits just beyond the edges of cultivated land, blending into it before becoming dense.

Silver: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Gold: Kibale Forest Camp
Platinum: Primate Lodge

Day 4 :

Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth

Tracking chimpanzees in Kibale is a kinetic experience. Guided by their distant pant-hoots, we move through the ancient hardwoods to spend an hour observing their frantic, fascinating social dynamics.

Following the trek, the expedition descends back to the rift floor, entering Queen Elizabeth National Park. The transition from dense forest to open savanna is immediate and striking.

Silver: The Bush Lodge
Gold: Marafiki Safari Lodge
Platinum: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 5 :

Game Drive and Kazinga Channel

The day begins in the Kasenyi plains, a primary breeding ground for Uganda Kob and a high-traffic area for lions and hyenas. In the afternoon, we board a vessel on the Kazinga Channel.

This 40-kilometer natural canal connects Lakes Edward and George and hosts one of the highest concentrations of hippos on the continent. It is a rare opportunity to see elephants and buffalo drinking just meters from the boat.

Return to the lodge by evening.

Day 6 :

Ishasha and Transfer to Bwindi

We head into the southern Ishasha sector, a region defined by its massive sycamore-fig trees. The lions here have developed a specialized habit of climbing, likely to avoid the heat and insects of the ground.

Finding a predator of this size draped over a high branch is a jarring, unforgettable sight. From Ishasha, the landscape begins a steep climb into the Bwindi ridges.

Silver: Broadbill Forest Camp
Gold: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Platinum: Chameleon Hill Lodge

Day 7 :

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

This is the safari’s gravitational center. Following a briefing at park headquarters, you step into a forest that has remained unchanged for 25,000 years.

The trek is physical—a negotiation with steep slopes and tangled lianas. When you finally find the family, the forest seems to go silent.

For one hour, you are a silent witness to the subtle, sentient behavior of the mountain gorilla—a moment of quiet, interspecies recognition.

Return to the lodge for rest.

Day 8 :

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

We descend from the forest to Lake Bunyonyi. Formed by a volcanic dam and dotted with 29 islands, Bunyonyi is a place of folklore and intense quiet.

The afternoon is dedicated to island exploration by boat, hearing the stories of Punishment Island and the Bakiga people, providing a necessary human context to the wild landscapes you’ve traversed.

Silver: Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Gold: BirdNest Resort Bunyonyi
Platinum: Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi

Day 9 :

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

The journey continues to Lake Mburo, Uganda’s smallest savanna park but its most intimate. Unlike the larger parks, Mburo is characterized by its sculpted acacia trees and the presence of Eland, Impala, and Burchell’s Zebra.

An evening boat cruise or an optional horseback safari offers a different, more personal way to experience the African bush.

Silver: Eagles Nest Camp
Gold: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
Platinum: Mihingo Lodge

Day 10 :

Nature Walk and Return to Kampala

We conclude the expedition with a guided walking safari. Stepping out of the vehicle and onto the savanna allows for a different perspective on the tracks and small details of the ecosystem.

After a final lunch and a pause at the Equator for a geographical marker of our journey’s end, we arrive in Kampala or Entebbe by late evening.