10-Day Gorilla & Chimp Safari Bwindi Murchison Falls Queen Elizabeth

Mountain gorillas hold still for one hour once you find them in the forest.

A 10-day guided safari through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, combining gorilla tracking, chimpanzee trekking, rhino walks and daily game drives. The itinerary moves through three parks over the course of the trip, with nights spent at lodges and days split between early morning drives, forest hikes and boat trips on the Kazinga Channel and River Nile.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

• Arrive in Entebbe
• Meet Big Apes Africa Safaris representative
• Transfer to hotel
• Optional briefing

Day 2: Game Drives at Murchison Falls

• Early morning drive to Murchison Falls National Park
• Walking safari to track white rhinos
• Lunch along the way
• Drive to top of Murchison Falls
• Walk to bottom of falls
• Guided game drive to lodge

Day 3: Game Drives and River Nile Exploration

• Early morning game drive
• Search for elephants, hartebeests, antelopes, birds
• Lunch
• Explore River Nile to bottom of falls
• Optional evening game drive or relax

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

• Drive south to Kibale jungle
• Lunch en route
• Check in at lodge
• Optional guided community walk

Day 5: Bigodi Swamp Walk and Queen Elizabeth Park

• Bigodi Swamp walk for birding and monkeys
• Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Lunch en route
• Afternoon boat trip on Kazinga Channel
• Optional evening game drive or relax

Day 6: Chimp Trekking and Ishasha Game Drive

• Early breakfast
• Drive to Kyambura Gorge for chimp trekking
• Briefing and group division
• Chimp trekking with park ranger
• Transfer to Ishasha
• Check in and evening game drive
• Enjoy sunset with drinks

Day 7: Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi

• Early morning game drive
• Look for elephants, lions, leopards, birds
• Break at lodge
• Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 8: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi

• Early breakfast
• Drive to briefing point in Bwindi forest
• Briefing and group division
• Gorilla tracking with park ranger
• One hour with gorillas
• Return to lodge

Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

• Breakfast at leisure
• Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
• Swim in lake or lodge pool
• Canoe ride and explore communities

Day 10: Return to Entebbe

• Breakfast
• Begin return journey
• Lunch stop at Equator
• Optional shopping for African crafts
• Proceed to Entebbe International Airport

The experience

Gorilla tracking in Bwindi begins before dawn. After a briefing at the forest edge, groups of eight enter with a park ranger to locate the mountain gorillas. Once found, you get one hour in their presence before the walk back down. The trek itself is demanding. The forest is steep and wet, rain gear is essential, and the hike can run several hours depending on where the gorillas have moved. A porter can be hired for $15 USD to carry your bag and steady you on slippery ground. Chimpanzee trekking happens earlier in the itinerary at Kyambura Gorge, a separate three-hour activity where smaller groups search the forest with a ranger.

The other wildlife activities spread across the remaining days. At Murchison Falls, you'll walk to track white rhinos, then drive to the top of the falls (the most powerful waterfall in the world), and walk down to the base for views. Morning and evening game drives here target elephants, hartebeests, antelopes, lions and leopards. The River Nile boat trip goes upstream to the falls' base, the location where the 1951 film The African Queen was shot. Queen Elizabeth National Park includes an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel for wildlife viewing and a search for tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. A walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary near Kibale offers forest birds and monkeys on a 4.5-kilometer circuit.

The 10 days include arrival in Entebbe with hotel transfer and a night to rest, then eight days moving through the parks with lodge stays, and a final day returning to Entebbe with a lunch stop at the Equator. Private transportation moves the group between parks. A guide leads all activities. Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda's deepest lake, breaks the itinerary on day nine with a swim or canoe ride before the return drive.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the 10 days.
• accommodation at lodges.
• gorilla trekking permit and chimp trekking permit.
• all national park entry fees.
• safari guide.
• boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and River Nile boat trip.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Big Apes Africa Safaris

Is this one for you?The tour picks you up from Entebbe airport on arrival and handles all transport between parks, so you don't need a car or need to arrange your own way between the three locations. Minimum age is 15, and the itinerary involves early mornings, forest hikes and game drives that call for moderate physical fitness. The gorilla trek in particular is steep and wet terrain over several hours.

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Top questions

What is gorilla tracking actually like in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Gorilla tracking in Bwindi is a forest hike that can last several hours depending on where the gorillas have moved that day. Groups of eight are led by a park ranger through steep, wet terrain. Rain gear is essential. Once the gorillas are located, you spend one hour watching them before hiking back down to the lodge. A porter can carry your bag for $15 USD.

How much time do you spend watching the gorillas once you find them?

After locating the gorillas, you have one hour in their company before the group heads back down the forest trail to the lodge.

Does the tour include the chimpanzee trekking permit and gorilla tracking permit?

Yes, both the chimp trekking permit at Kyambura Gorge and the gorilla tracking permit for Bwindi are included in the tour price, along with all park entry fees and the safari guide.

What happens on the boat trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park?

The afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel lets you see abundant wildlife including birds and mammals from the water. A separate River Nile boat trip in Murchison Falls goes upstream to the base of the falls, where you can walk to the bottom and see the surrounding landscape.

Is there time to rest between activities, or is the schedule packed every day?

Most days include early morning game drives followed by lunch and either an afternoon activity or free time at the lodge. Day nine at Lake Bunyonyi is more relaxed, with a swim or canoe ride and optional community walks. Some evenings offer a choice between an extra game drive or time to rest at the lodge.

What is the Ishasha sector known for?

Ishasha is famous for tree-climbing lions, a behavior unique to this area. After checking in, you'll go on a game drive to search for them, often ending as the sun sets over the wilderness.