8-day Uganda safari: Murchison Falls, chimpanzees & gorillas

Walk to the top of Murchison Falls after spotting hippos and crocodiles from the Nile below.

An 8-day private safari from Kampala through Uganda's three premier wildlife parks: Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest and Bwindi Impenetrable. You track white rhinos, game drive for the big five, trek mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, canoe on Lake Bunyonyi and visit a Batwa community. All permits, seven nights' accommodation, an English-speaking driver-guide and meals are included. You choose whether to add lodging before and after the trip.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park

• Have early breakfast
• Pick up from hotel at 7:00 am
• Drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Hike to track White Rhinos and wildlife
• Drive to Masindi for lunch
• Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park
• Check-in and relax at accommodation
• Have dinner and rest overnight

Day 2: Game drive and boat ride at falls

• Early tea/coffee at 6:00 am
• Set off for morning game drive at 6:30 am
• Return to accommodation for breakfast and lunch
• Afternoon launch cruise to base of falls
• Optional hike from base to top of falls
• Transfer back to lodge
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park

• Have breakfast and check out
• Drive to Kibale National Park with lunch stop
• Check into accommodation near park
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and nature walk

• Early breakfast at 6:30 am
• Transfer to park offices for briefing
• Trek to find chimpanzees
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Afternoon nature walk in Bigodi Swamp
• Dinner and overnight at accommodation

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Park

• Breakfast and check out
• Drive south to Bwindi via Ishasha area
• Lunch en route
• Check-in at accommodation
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 6: Gorilla tracking and Batwa walk

• Early breakfast at 6:30 am
• Pick packed lunch and transfer to park offices
• Briefing and gorilla group assignment
• Start trek to find mountain gorillas
• Spend up to one hour with gorillas
• Return to lodge for snack and refresh
• Visit local Batwa community
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and canoe ride

• Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
• Check-in and have lunch
• Relax in afternoon
• Go for canoe ride on lake
• Return to lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 8: Travel back to Entebbe

• Have breakfast and check out
• Travel back to Entebbe
• Stop at Equator point for photos
• Lunch en route
• Drop off at desired destination or airport

The experience

The route opens at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary north of Kampala, where you hike for close to two hours to track white rhinos alongside hippos, bushbucks and savanna birds. From there the drive continues to Murchison Falls National Park, where you spend two days: an early game drive catches lions, elephants, giraffes and buffalo across the savanna, then an afternoon boat cruise up the Nile brings you face-to-face with hippos, crocodiles and water birds before you reach the base of the falls. You can hike from the base to the top and meet your driver there, or return by boat.

Day four takes you south through the Albertine Rift Valley to Kibale Forest National Park. You trek into the forest at 8 am to find chimpanzees, then return for lunch and head out again in the afternoon for a guided nature walk through Bigodi Swamp, where primates and birds move through the wetland. The next leg crosses through Queen Elizabeth National Park's Ishasha sector, known for tree-climbing lions, on the way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There you spend two days: one full day trekking mountain gorillas in the forest (you get one hour with them once the rangers locate a group), and a second day visiting a local Batwa community to see how they live in the forest, then returning to your lodge. The final two days shift to Lake Bunyonyi, one of the world's deepest lakes, where you relax and take a canoe ride you can either guide yourself or have someone paddle for you. On the last morning you drive back to Entebbe with a stop at the Equator for photographs.

Seven nights' accommodation ranges from budget safari lodges to forest camps and lakeside resorts. Your English-speaking driver-guide stays with you throughout, handles all logistics and provides bottled water on board. The itinerary is fixed, so all three major parks and both tracking permits fit inside the eight days without rushing between them.

What’s included

• Airport pickup and drop-off from Kampala.
• seven nights' accommodation in safari lodges, forest camps and lakeside resorts.
• all meals during the tour.
• services of an English-speaking driver-guide for the full eight days.
• one gorilla tracking permit and one chimpanzee tracking permit.
• rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
• early morning game drive and afternoon Nile boat cruise in Murchison Falls.
• guided nature walk in Bigodi Swamp.
• visit to the top of Murchison Falls.
• canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi.
• Batwa community cultural experience.
• bottled drinking water on board.
• and a stop at the Equator for photographs on the return journey.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 to 70 years) · Under 15: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Simba African Expeditions

Is this one for you?This is a private tour with a fixed eight-day itinerary and fixed departure dates, so you travel with your own driver-guide rather than joining a group. The schedule packs three major parks and two tracking permits into one trip without backtracking, which suits travelers who want to see Uganda's wildlife in depth but have limited time and prefer not to arrange logistics themselves. If you want to add accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe before or after the safari, you can choose that option at checkout.

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Top questions

What animals will I actually see on the game drives in Murchison Falls?

Murchison Falls game drives target lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, Jackson's hartebeest, Uganda kob, warthogs and savanna birds. The Nile boat cruise adds hippos, crocodiles and water birds. Sightings depend on the season and where animals are grazing that day, so no wildlife encounter is guaranteed.

How hard is the mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi, and how long do I spend with them?

The gorilla trek starts at 8 am after an early breakfast and briefing from the park rangers, who assign you to a specific gorilla group. The hike into the forest can take several hours depending on where the group is that day. Once you find them, you are allowed exactly one hour to watch and photograph them before you must leave. The terrain is steep and muddy, so good hiking boots and fitness help.

Do I need a separate permit for chimpanzee tracking, or is it included?

One chimpanzee tracking permit for Kibale Forest is included in the tour price. You trek into the forest at 8 am after breakfast and briefing, and return by midday. One gorilla tracking permit for Bwindi is also included.

What is the Batwa community visit like, and how long does it take?

The Batwa are the indigenous forest people of the region. The visit happens on your second day in Bwindi, after the gorilla trek. You spend time at a local Batwa settlement to see their traditional ways of living and learn about their culture and history in the forest. The exact duration and activities depend on what the community offers that day.

Is Lake Bunyonyi really one of the deepest lakes in the world?

Lake Bunyonyi is the second-deepest lake in Africa at over 900 meters deep. It sits in southwestern Uganda and is known for being calm and safe for swimming and water activities, unlike other East African lakes. The canoe ride lets you explore it at a slow pace, either paddling yourself or having a guide paddle you.

What happens on the drive back to Entebbe on the last day?

You leave Lake Bunyonyi after breakfast and drive north toward Entebbe, stopping for lunch en route. The route includes a stop at the Equator for photographs before you reach Entebbe in time for an evening flight or drop-off at your chosen destination in the city.