Updated
Ten days is the ideal length for a first Uganda safari: enough to track chimpanzees in Kibale, see lions, elephants and hippos in Queen Elizabeth, trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi and relax at Lake Bunyonyi, without spending every day in the vehicle. This itinerary runs by road from Entebbe in a loop through the west, with an alternative version that adds Murchison Falls. Permits cost US$800 for gorillas, or US$600 in April, May and November, and US$250 for Kibale chimps, rising to US$300 from 1 January 2027.
Days 1–2: Entebbe to Kibale
Day 1: arrive at Entebbe and rest at a lakeside hotel; if time allows, walk in the botanical gardens or visit the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre. Day 2: drive west via Mubende and Fort Portal to Kibale, about 6–7 hours with stops, arriving in time for the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk, a community-run trail known for monkeys and birds such as the great blue turaco. See our Fort Portal guide.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking
Track chimpanzees from Kanyanchu in the morning, with an hour in the presence of a habituated community; sightings are very reliable. The minimum age is 12. In the afternoon, explore the Ndali–Kasenda crater lakes on foot or by vehicle. See our guide to chimpanzee tracking in Kibale.
Days 4–5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: drive about 2–3 hours south past the Rwenzori foothills into Queen Elizabeth, with an afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel among hippos, buffalo, elephants and waterbirds. Day 5: early game drive on the Kasenyi plains for Uganda kob, buffalo and, with luck, lions, then an optional chimp walk in Kyambura Gorge or a visit to the Katwe salt lake. See our guide to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Days 6–7: Ishasha and gorilla trekking
Day 6: drive through the Ishasha sector, where lions often rest in fig trees, and continue to Buhoma on the northern edge of Bwindi, about 4–5 hours including the game drive. Day 7: after the 8 am briefing, trek to a habituated gorilla family, which can take from one to six hours or more, and spend one hour with them. Hire a porter for the steep sections. In the afternoon, join the Buhoma community walk. See our guide to Bwindi’s sectors.
Days 8–10: Lake Bunyonyi and return
Day 8: drive about 3–4 hours to Lake Bunyonyi near Kabale and relax by the water. Day 9: take a canoe or boat trip among the islands, visit Akampene, the Punishment Island, and walk in the hills. Day 10: drive back to Entebbe, about 7–8 hours, for an evening flight, or fly from Kisoro or Kihihi to save the day. See our Lake Bunyonyi guide.
Alternative: with Murchison Falls
To include Murchison Falls, go north first: Day 1 Entebbe, Day 2 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Murchison, Day 3 game drive and Nile boat trip to the falls, Day 4 to Kibale via Hoima, Day 5 chimps, Day 6 Queen Elizabeth, Day 7 Ishasha to Bwindi, Day 8 gorillas, Day 9 to Entebbe by road or air with a night en route if driving, Day 10 depart. It is a busier trip with long drives, and drops Lake Bunyonyi.
Practical notes
Book gorilla permits first, as they set the dates for the rest of the route, ideally 3–6 months ahead for June to September and December to February. A 4×4 with a driver-guide is standard. Pack layers for cold forest mornings, waterproofs, gloves for the gorilla trek and binoculars, and bring a yellow fever certificate and malaria tablets.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for gorillas, chimps, Queen Elizabeth and a lake stop at a relaxed pace.
Yes, but the trip becomes busier and you lose the lake days.
First, 3–6 months ahead for peak months, and plan the rest of the route around the date.
Yes, fly from Kisoro or Kihihi to Entebbe.
