10 Day Gorilla Chimps and Big 5 Safari

Wildlife comes fast in Uganda. This 10-day private safari links gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, rhino walking, game drives, boat trips, and a stop at Lake Bunyonyi for $3,500 per person. I like the sheer variety and the chance to see Uganda beyond one famous park.

I also like that permits, lodging, meals, park fees, private transport, and a guide are included. The main caution is the pace: long road transfers and several early starts make this a demanding trip, especially when paired with steep, muddy forest walks.

Key points to know before booking

• Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are included, a major part of the tour’s value.
• Rhino tracking is done on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary or within the Murchison area as described in the itinerary.
• Murchison Falls combines game drives, Nile scenery, and a waterfall walk in one busy park visit.
• The Kazinga Channel boat trip gives you a relaxed view of birds and mammals after several road and walking activities.
• Bwindi gorilla trekking can be steep and slippery, and a porter costs $15 if you want help with your bag.
• The itinerary is private, so only your own group takes part, with pickup and return to the meeting point.

Why this Uganda itinerary packs in so much

This is not a slow safari built around long afternoons at one lodge. It is a moving trip through several of Uganda’s best-known wildlife areas, beginning near Entebbe and ending there after a route through Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Ishasha, Bwindi, and Lake Bunyonyi.

I like the way the journey mixes famous animals with smaller, more personal experiences. You are not only sitting in a vehicle hoping for lions. You walk to see rhinos, search for chimpanzees in a forest gorge, ride along the Nile, watch for tree-climbing lions, and spend time around a lake where canoeing and community visits are possible.

The tradeoff is clear. You cover a lot of ground in 10 days, but road time takes up much of the trip. The schedule works best for you if seeing many parts of Uganda matters more than having long periods to rest.

The tour costs $3,500 per person. That is a serious price, but the package includes two costly permits, accommodation, private transportation, park entry fees, a guide, boat fees, and all listed breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Airfare, visas, tips, souvenirs, laundry, and personal purchases remain your responsibility.

Entebbe arrival and the early start

Your first night is in Entebbe, where a company representative meets you and takes you to your hotel. This overnight stop is practical rather than touristic. It gives you a place to sleep after your flight and a chance to receive the briefing either that evening or early the next morning.

The stated start time is 5:30 am, so plan for an early morning from the beginning. Ask for a clear schedule at the briefing, especially if your flight arrives late or you need to adjust to a long day in the vehicle.

Because pickup is offered and the trip returns to the meeting point, you do not need to arrange separate transfers between each park. That simplicity has real value in Uganda, where the route involves several remote areas.

Murchison Falls: rhinos, lions, and the Nile

The trip quickly heads west to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. The first day in the park is full. You begin with a walking safari to track white rhinos, stop for lunch during the journey, visit the top of Murchison Falls, walk toward the base if conditions allow, and finish with a guided game drive on the way to your lodge.

The rhino walk is a fine change from a standard vehicle safari. Walking gives you a closer sense of the ground, the vegetation, and the work involved in finding large animals without simply driving up to them. You should still expect a structured activity with guides and park rules, not an unaccompanied stroll.

Murchison Falls itself is the visual centerpiece. The Nile is forced through a narrow gap before plunging downward, creating a powerful rush of water. The route includes viewpoints at the top and a walk toward the bottom, so sturdy shoes matter. The waterfall visit also breaks up the first long driving day.

On the next morning, you leave early for a game drive. The listed animals include elephants, hartebeests, antelopes, lions, leopards, and many birds. Sightings are never guaranteed, but an early start gives you more time in the park and a better chance to catch animals before the day grows hot.

After lunch, a boat trip follows the Nile toward the base of the falls. This is one of the best-balanced parts of the schedule because you can watch wildlife from the water without the bumps and dust of a vehicle. The river setting also changes the rhythm of the safari, with birds and mammals viewed from a fixed route.

An optional evening game drive is available, or you can rest at the lodge. I would treat that choice seriously. The itinerary is already active, and a quiet evening may help you enjoy the primate walks later.

Kibale and Bigodi Wetlands: a change of pace

Day four is mostly a transfer south toward Kibale National Park. Lunch comes along the way, followed by time at the lodge or an optional guided community walk.

This is a useful transition day, though not a sightseeing-heavy one. After two packed days in Murchison Falls, you may welcome a slower afternoon. If you choose the community walk, confirm how long it lasts so you do not arrive at the next morning’s activities tired.

The following morning is devoted to Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary. The 4.5-kilometer swamp walk is known for birds and monkeys, and it offers a different type of wildlife experience from the open savanna. You walk through forest and wetland habitat, looking upward and into the vegetation rather than scanning broad grassland.

The circuit is long enough to feel like a proper outing but shorter and less demanding than gorilla trekking. Bring water, closed shoes, and patience. Monkey sightings are possible, but animals move on their own schedule, and birdwatching rewards people who are willing to pause.

Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kazinga Channel

After Bigodi, you continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park with lunch en route. The plan allows for a possible evening game drive, but the main attraction is the afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.

The channel is a strong choice in the middle of this tour. By this point, you have spent many hours on roads and in safari vehicles. A boat lets you sit back while looking for mammals, birds, and other wildlife along the banks and water.

The schedule gives you another choice after the boat ride: a further game drive or time at the lodge. That flexibility is helpful, but do not assume every optional activity will fit comfortably. Ask your guide about driving distances, light, and your energy level.

A private tour gives you more say here than a fixed group departure would. If you are keen on wildlife, you can ask about the extra drive. If you are worn out, you can protect your strength for chimpanzee and gorilla tracking.

Kyambura Gorge and Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions

Day six begins at Kyambura Gorge with chimpanzee tracking. After a briefing, you join a small group led by a park ranger. The activity usually takes about three hours, including around one hour in the company of the chimpanzees if you find them.

That wording matters. Finding chimpanzees is not guaranteed, and the walk can take effort before the main sighting happens. Carry enough drinking water, as the day continues after the trek.

You then transfer to Ishasha, an area known for tree-climbing lions. After checking in, you may take a game drive and finish the day with drinks as the sun goes down in the wilderness.

Ishasha is a good example of the tour’s appeal: the day combines primate tracking, a new park area, a safari drive, and a quiet evening outdoors. It is also another long day, so do not expect a leisurely hotel transfer.

Bwindi gorilla trekking: the trip’s biggest test

The next morning starts with a game drive in Ishasha. The schedule lists elephants, lions, leopards, and birds among the possible sightings, with better chances of seeing lions once the sun has warmed the area. You can stay out longer or return to the lodge for a break before trying again, depending on the guide’s advice.

Afterward, you transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The stated driving time is short, but the day still includes an early start, a game drive, and a park transfer. Keep your day bag organized so you are not searching for water or rain gear after arrival.

Gorilla trekking takes place the next day. You first report to the briefing point, then join a group of up to eight people led into the forest by a park ranger. Once the gorillas are located, you have one hour in their company before returning.

The one-hour limit makes the encounter focused. You will want to watch the animals, listen to the ranger, and take photographs without spending the whole hour looking at your phone. Follow all instructions about distance and behavior.

This is the most physically demanding activity on the route. Bwindi is a tropical rainforest, and the forest floor can be steep and slippery. Bring plenty of water, a lunch box, sturdy footwear, and rain gear. Weather can change quickly in forest country.

A porter costs $15 and can carry your bag and help on steep or slick sections. You do not have to hire one, but I consider it a worthwhile option if you are unsure about your balance, carrying camera equipment, or simply want to support local work around the park.

The physical fitness requirement is listed as moderate, but you should read that honestly. Moderate fitness does not mean an easy walk. Trek duration and terrain can vary because the gorillas move, so you need to be comfortable with uncertainty and uneven ground.

Lake Bunyonyi: a needed pause after the forest

After the gorilla trek, the route moves to Lake Bunyonyi. The next morning is described as breakfast at leisure, followed by time to swim in the lake or use the lodge pool.

This is a smart recovery stop. After the heat, mud, and effort of Bwindi, a quiet lake morning gives you space to rest rather than adding another demanding walk.

You can also take a canoe to enjoy the surroundings or visit nearby communities. The plan does not force one choice, which makes this one of the more relaxed parts of the package. Ask what is available on the day and what extra costs, if any, may apply before setting out.

The long return through the Equator

Your final day returns to Entebbe, with lunch at the Equator and time for African craft shopping before the airport. The drive is listed at about nine hours, so do not schedule a tight international connection without confirming the timing with the operator.

The Equator stop is a useful final marker on the road home. It gives you a break, a meal, and the chance to buy souvenirs without using valuable time earlier in the safari.

The return day also shows why this tour suits people who want a full Uganda circuit rather than a single-park stay. You finish where you began, but the route has covered very different habitats and activities.

Guides, comfort, and the human side

Personal service is one of the strongest parts of the feedback connected with Big Apes Africa Safaris. Tim is praised for warmth, professionalism, and kindness, while Gerald is described as careful, friendly, and accommodating. Those qualities matter on a trip with long drives, changing plans, and physically hard activities.

Your guide is not just a driver. You will rely on that person for timing, park decisions, wildlife spotting, transfer coordination, and practical help. Since the tour is private, explain your priorities early. Tell the guide if you want more game-drive time, extra rest, stronger photo opportunities, or a slower walking pace.

Accommodation is included, but specific lodges are not named in the information provided. Ask for the property list before paying if room style, location, or lodge standards matter to you.

Who should book this safari?

You should consider this trip if you want gorillas and chimpanzees but also want a broad taste of Uganda’s parks. It suits active couples, small groups, and wildlife-focused people who are comfortable with early mornings and substantial road travel.

It may not suit you if you want a relaxed holiday with few hotel changes. The package includes many moving parts, and the physical demands of Kyambura Gorge and Bwindi should not be treated lightly.

The $3,500 price makes the most sense when you value convenience and included permits. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits alone are important expenses, and the package also covers private transportation, park access, lodging, meals, boat fees, and a guide. Check the final inclusions carefully, especially lodge names, optional activities, and any costs not listed.

Should you book the 10-day Uganda safari?

I would book this tour if gorilla trekking is your main goal and you want the rest of the journey filled with wildlife rather than empty travel days. The best parts are the combination of rhino tracking, Nile boat trips, chimpanzee tracking, tree-climbing lion searches, and the gorilla hour in Bwindi.

I would hesitate only if you dislike long transfers or have concerns about steep forest terrain. Before booking, confirm your arrival and departure times, ask about accommodation, and decide if you want a $15 porter for Bwindi. If you can handle the pace, this is a well-packed route with strong value and a good chance to see Uganda’s wild side from several angles.

FAQ

What is included in the $3,500 tour price?

The price includes private transportation, park entry fees, chimpanzee and gorilla trekking permits, accommodation, a safari guide, boat cruise fees, nine breakfasts, nine dinners, and ten lunches.

Are airfare and visa charges included?

No. Airfare and visa charges are not included. Personal purchases, laundry, souvenirs, and tips are also excluded.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 5:30 am. Your first arrival and transfer take place in Entebbe, with the briefing held either that evening or early the next day, depending on your arrival time.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the private tour or activity.

How physically demanding is the safari?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required. Chimpanzee tracking takes about three hours, and gorilla trekking can involve steep and slippery sections in Bwindi’s tropical rainforest.

Can I hire a porter for gorilla trekking?

Yes. A porter is available for $15 to carry your bag and help you on steep or slippery parts of the forest.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.