10-Day Uganda Safari with Gorillas: Bwindi & Murchison Falls

Track mountain gorillas through dense forest, then watch lions hunt from tree branches in the savannah.

A 10-day Uganda safari from Kampala that combines gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale and game drives across Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo. You track mountain gorillas on foot through forest for 2–4 hours, spend an hour with them, then move through three national parks watching lions, elephants, buffalo and over 600 bird species. A professional guide drives and leads throughout, and all meals and accommodation are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and briefing in Kampala

• Meet guide at airport
• Drive to hotel in Kampala
• Briefing about safari

Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls via Rhino Sanctuary

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• On-foot rhino tracking
• Drive to Masindi for lunch
• Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
• Visit top of Murchison Falls
• Check in lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise at Murchison Falls

• Early morning game drive
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Afternoon boat cruise on Victoria Nile

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

• Early morning game drive
• Drive through towns and villages
• Check in at Kibale lodge
• Evening nature walk in Bigodi Swamp

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth

• Breakfast at lodge
• Briefing at Kibale Forest HQ
• Chimpanzee forest walk
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Check in lodge
• Evening nature walk at crater lakes

Day 6: Game drive and boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth

• Breakfast at lodge
• Morning game drive
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Evening boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
• Evening game drive

Day 7: Drive to Bwindi via Ishasha sector

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive through Ishasha sector
• Drive through Kigezi highlands
• Arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Check in lodge

Day 8: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

• Breakfast at lodge
• Briefing at park headquarters
• Gorilla trekking in forest
• Spend one hour with gorillas
• Return to park HQ and receive certificate
• Return to lodge for shower and lunch
• Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
• Evening canoeing at Lake Bunyonyi

Day 9: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Check out lodge
• Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
• Stop for lunch in Mbarara
• Arrive at Lake Mburo National Park
• Check in lodge

Day 10: Walking safari and return to Kampala

• Early morning nature walk
• Horseback riding safari
• Check out lodge
• Drive to Kampala
• Stop at Equator Kayabwe for photos and crafts
• Continue to Kampala or Entebbe Airport

The experience

The safari opens with a night in Kampala, then moves north to Murchison Falls National Park. On the way, you stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an on-foot rhino tracking session before reaching the falls themselves. Once in the park, a morning game drive catches the early risers (elephants, giraffes, buffalo, waterbuck and the rare leopard), while an afternoon boat cruise upstream the Victoria Nile brings you close to hippos, crocodiles and over 50 bird species including the shoe-billed stork.

The route then swings west through Kibale Forest, where you trek for chimpanzees on foot and encounter other primates like colobus monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. Queen Elizabeth National Park follows, with morning game drives across the Ishasha plains, famous for tree-climbing lions, and an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The centerpiece is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: after an early breakfast and a park briefing, you trek in a group of about eight people through thick forest for 2–4 hours until you meet the mountain gorillas, then spend one hour observing them before returning for a certificate and a hot meal. From there, a canoe trip on Lake Bunyonyi offers a quieter evening before the final leg to Lake Mburo, where a guided nature walk and horseback riding safari let you move through the park on foot and on horseback. The safari ends with a four-hour drive back to Kampala, stopping at the Equator for photos and craft shopping.

All transportation, accommodation and meals are handled by your guide and driver. You'll stay in midrange lodges at each stop and travel by safari vehicle except during the tracking and walking sections. The gorilla trek itself is physically demanding (the forest is thick and the terrain steep), but the operator notes the safari suits all fitness levels, and the reward is an hour face-to-face with the mountain gorillas.

What’s included

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
• chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest.
• all accommodation at midrange lodges.
• all meals as specified day by day.
• a professional driver and guide throughout.
• all transportation by safari vehicle.
• game drives, boat cruises and nature walks at each park.
• a certificate for completing the gorilla trek.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up toStart time

AgesUp to age 6

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Alive Africa Adventures

Is this one for you?The 10 days move at a steady pace with early starts and long drives between parks, so it suits travelers who want to cover multiple ecosystems and see both forest primates and savannah game without rushing. If you prefer to stay in one location, a shorter gorilla-only trip to Bwindi would be a better fit.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the mountain gorilla trekking experience actually like in Bwindi?

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park starts before dawn with a briefing at park headquarters, then you trek in a group of about eight people through dense forest on foot for 2–4 hours, guided by a ranger who points out the gorillas' trail signs and teaches you about the forest. Once you locate a family, you spend one hour watching and photographing them before returning to the lodge. The trek is physically demanding because the terrain is steep and the forest is thick, but the hour with the gorillas is the centerpiece of the entire 10 days.

How much time do you actually spend driving versus trekking and game viewing?

Most days include a combination: early morning game drives (2–3 hours), midday rest at the lodge, and afternoon activities like boat cruises or nature walks. The longest single drive is the 5-hour road to Lake Mburo and the 4-hour return to Kampala. Trekking days (gorilla trekking in Bwindi and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale) involve 2–4 hours of forest walking. The rest of the time is spent on game drives, boat cruises, and evening nature walks.

What wildlife will you actually see on the game drives?

Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth are savannah parks where early morning and late afternoon drives reliably show elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, waterbuck, hyenas and various antelope species. The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth is known for tree-climbing lions. Lake Mburo is Uganda's smallest savannah park but holds zebras, impala, eland, leopards and hippos. All three parks host over 50 bird species each, including the rare shoe-billed stork and Goliath heron. A leopard sighting is possible but not guaranteed.

Are the boat cruises included, and what do you see on them?

Yes, boat cruises are included. The afternoon cruise on the Victoria Nile at Murchison Falls takes you upstream to see hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds. The Kazinga Channel cruise at Queen Elizabeth is 1–2 hours and passes schools of hippos on the banks, crocodiles, Cape buffalo and hundreds of bird species. Lake Bunyonyi offers an evening canoe trip after the gorilla trek.

Do you need to be very fit to do this safari?

The operator states the safari is suitable for all fitness levels. However, gorilla trekking in Bwindi involves 2–4 hours of walking through steep, dense forest terrain, which is the most physically demanding part of the 10 days. Game drives and boat cruises require no special fitness. If you have concerns about the forest trek, discuss them when booking.