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10 days · Uganda · Mid-range

10 Days Uganda Primates & Big Five Safari

Ten days covering Uganda's primates and its Big Five country: white rhino at Ziwa, Murchison Falls, chimpanzees in Kibale, Queen Elizabeth National Park, a gorilla trek in Bwindi and a final night at Lake Mburo.

  • 10 days
  • Uganda
  • Mid-range
  • Starts Entebbe or Kampala
  • Ends Entebbe or Kampala
Murchison Falls dropping through green cliffs in Uganda

Safari snapshot

At a glance

The essentials for comparing this journey before you enquire.

Duration
10 days
Country
Uganda
Destinations
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary · Murchison Falls · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth · Bwindi Impenetrable Forest · Lake Mburo
Safari style
Mid-range
Price
Price subject upon request
Starts
Entebbe or Kampala
Ends
Entebbe or Kampala

Best for

  • Primate lovers
  • Wildlife enthusiasts
  • Travellers with more time

The route

A round trip from Entebbe or Kampala

  1. Stop 1Entebbe or Kampala
  2. Stop 2Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
  3. Stop 3Murchison Falls
  4. Stop 4Kibale Forest
  5. Stop 5Queen Elizabeth
  6. Stop 6Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
  7. Stop 7Lake Mburo
  8. Stop 8Entebbe or Kampala

Safari highlights

What shapes the journey

  • Rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
  • Murchison Falls game drive and boat trip
  • Chimpanzees in Kibale and gorillas in Bwindi
  • Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo

Day by day

Ten days, day by day.

The plan is a guide: timings may change with road and park conditions and your group's interests. Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.

Murchison Falls seen from above the Nile

Day 1

Entebbe or Kampala → Murchison Falls

Rhino tracking at Ziwa

Drive north from Entebbe or Kampala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where a breeding programme is returning white rhino to Uganda after they disappeared from the wild. With a ranger, track the rhinos on foot for close, carefully managed views, an experience few safaris offer. Afterwards, continue north-west to Murchison Falls National Park, arriving at your lodge in the evening after a long but rewarding day.

Overnight
Murchison Falls · lodge
Main activities
Rhino tracking on foot

Day 2

Murchison Falls National Park

Game drive and the falls

Cross the Nile by ferry early for a game drive on the northern bank, where giraffe, elephant, buffalo, lion and Uganda kob may be seen. In the afternoon, take a boat trip upriver towards the base of the falls, passing hippos and crocodiles, with the option of a hike to the top, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge.

Overnight
Murchison Falls · lodge
Main activities
Morning game drive · Nile boat trip

Day 3

Murchison Falls → Kibale

South along the Albertine Rift

Leave Murchison Falls and drive south along the Albertine Rift, with views of Lake Albert along parts of the route. Pass through Hoima and farming country to Fort Portal and the crater lakes near Kibale Forest, as the landscape grows greener and more hilly. This is a long travel day, but it links Uganda's northern savannah with its primate forests. Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon.

Overnight
Kibale · lodge
Main activities
Long transfer
Wooden stairway through Kibale forest

Day 4

Kibale Forest

Chimpanzees and Bigodi

Join an early chimpanzee tracking walk in Kibale Forest National Park, which also protects red colobus, black-and-white colobus and many forest birds. Chimpanzees move quickly, so sightings vary, but you may hear their calls echo through the trees. In the afternoon, a guided walk through the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary offers more birds and monkeys, with local guides explaining village life.

Overnight
Kibale · lodge
Main activities
Chimpanzee tracking · Bigodi wetland walk

Day 5

Kibale → Queen Elizabeth

Crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel

Drive south past crater lakes and along the Rwenzori foothills to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the forest gives way to open savannah. In the afternoon, take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lakes George and Edward; hippos, buffalo and elephants often gather on its banks, and pelicans, kingfishers and fish eagles are commonly seen. Dinner and the night at your lodge.

Overnight
Queen Elizabeth · lodge
Main activities
Kazinga Channel boat trip

Day 6

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Kasenyi plains

A morning game drive on the Kasenyi plains searches for lion, elephant, buffalo and the large herds of Uganda kob that graze among euphorbia trees. After lunch, you may visit the crater lakes of the park's northern sector or take a guided nature walk. Return to your lodge in the evening to enjoy the views across the savannah, a relaxed day at the heart of the safari.

Overnight
Queen Elizabeth · lodge
Main activities
Morning game drive
Candelabra euphorbia on the Queen Elizabeth savannah

Day 7

Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi

Ishasha and the forest hills

Drive south through the Ishasha sector, known for its tree-climbing lions, with a game drive on the way through open plains where topi and kob graze. Then climb into the steep, terraced hills of Kigezi to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, arriving at your lodge on the forest edge in the late afternoon to rest before tomorrow's trek. The cooler forest air is a welcome change.

Overnight
Bwindi · lodge
Main activities
Ishasha game drive en route

Day 8

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Gorilla trekking day

After the ranger briefing, trek into the forest with guides and trackers to find a habituated mountain gorilla family. The walk can take from under an hour to most of the day through steep, dense vegetation, so a reasonable level of fitness helps. Once the family is found, spend up to an hour watching them feed, rest and interact before returning to the lodge.

Overnight
Bwindi · lodge
Main activities
Gorilla trek

Day 9

Bwindi → Lake Mburo

To the zebra country

Leave Bwindi and drive east through Kigezi's terraced hills to Lake Mburo National Park, a compact park of acacia woodland, lakes and rocky ridges. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive, where zebra, eland, impala and topi are commonly seen and buffalo graze near the water. An evening boat trip or a guided walk can also be arranged, a gentle close to the safari.

Overnight
Lake Mburo · lodge
Main activities
Afternoon game drive
Hillside track through Lake Mburo National Park

Day 10

Lake Mburo → Entebbe or Kampala

Across the equator

Take an early game drive or walk in Lake Mburo before breakfast, when the park's zebra and antelope are active in the cool morning air. Then set off for Entebbe or Kampala, stopping at the equator line for photographs and a break. You arrive in the afternoon for a drop-off at your hotel or the airport, bringing a ten-day journey through Uganda's primates and savannah parks to an end.

Main activities
Early game drive · Equator stop

Recommended accommodation

Where you stay.

Named properties are the ones used for this package. Nights listed by category are confirmed with your quotation, subject to availability.

Accommodation category

Overnight at the lodge

Mid-range · Murchison Falls · 2 nights

Accommodation category

Overnight at the lodge

Mid-range · Kibale · 2 nights

Accommodation category

Overnight at the lodge

Mid-range · Queen Elizabeth · 2 nights

Accommodation category

Overnight at the lodge

Mid-range · Bwindi · 2 nights

Accommodation category

Overnight at the lodge

Mid-range · Lake Mburo · 1 night

What’s included

Clear from the start.

  • Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
  • Park entrance fees for the scheduled activities
  • Drinking water in the vehicle

What’s not included

No hidden assumptions.

  • International flights and visa fees
  • Travel and personal insurance
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Tips and gratuities

Your written quotation confirms the exact inclusions for your dates.

Flexible pricing

A clear quote for your journey.

The final price depends on when and how you travel: season, group size, accommodation level and private or shared transport.

Pricing

Price subject upon request

We quote this journey individually because travel dates, group size and accommodation availability change it significantly.

What affects the final price?

  • Travel dates and season
  • Group size
  • Accommodation availability
  • Private or shared vehicle
Request Exact Quote Ask on WhatsApp (opens WhatsApp)

Made around you

Make this safari yours.

Where operationally possible, a local planner can help adapt the journey without losing the route’s natural rhythm.

  • Travel dates and pace
  • Adding or removing nights where the route allows
  • Accommodation choices, subject to availability
  • Combining with another destination
Customise This Safari

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External review source

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Read our reviews on Tripadvisor

Before you travel

Safari questions, answered clearly.

How much does the 10 Days Uganda Primates & Big Five Safari cost?

The 10 Days Uganda Primates & Big Five Safari is quoted individually (price subject upon request), because travel dates, group size and accommodation availability change the cost. Share your dates and a planner will send an exact quotation.

Where does this safari start and finish?

It starts and finishes in Entebbe or Kampala. Your planner can advise on arrival and departure arrangements.

Where will I stay?

Nights are listed as “overnight at the lodge”: the specific property is confirmed with your quotation, subject to availability.

Is the day-by-day plan fixed?

Not yet. The plan shown is a suggested outline for this route; the final day-by-day itinerary, activities and timings are confirmed with your quotation.

What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?

The Uganda Wildlife Authority sets a minimum age of 15 for gorilla trekking; your planner confirms the rules in force when you book. Younger travellers can take part in other activities while the group treks.

Is a gorilla sighting guaranteed?

No. Trekking groups set out to find habituated gorilla families, but wildlife is never guaranteed. Treks can take from under an hour to most of a day, depending on where the family has moved.

Is the gorilla permit included?

Gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, are limited in number and must be secured in advance. Whether a permit is included, and its current cost, is confirmed in your quotation.

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Destinations on this route

Start planning with a local expert

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