Gorilla trekking Sample itinerary
Bwindi gorilla trek
- Your gorilla permit, on the day you choose
- Lodge at the forest edge
- Driver-guide from Entebbe or Kampala
Bwindi · Kibale · Queen Elizabeth · Murchison · Lake Mburo · Jinja
Safaris in Uganda
Tailor-made safaris for individual travellers, families and groups. We plan the itinerary, the permits, the lodges and the driver-guide around your dates.
Plan a Uganda safari- 10
- national parks in Uganda
- 1,000+
- bird species recorded
- 8
- visitors per gorilla family, each day
- 7 m
- the gap the Nile forces through at Murchison
Places
Where to go
Six places for a first visit, from the forest in the south-west to the Nile in the east.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Mountain gorillas, in four trekking sectors. The permit comes first; the rest of the trip is built around it.
Gorilla trekking
Kibale Forest
Chimpanzee tracking in the morning, and the crater lakes around Fort Portal in the afternoon.
The Kibale trip
Queen Elizabeth
A boat on the Kazinga Channel past hippos and buffalo, game drives on the Kasenyi plains, and lions in the fig trees at Ishasha.
The Queen Elizabeth trip
Murchison Falls
The whole Nile forces itself through a gap in the rock about seven metres wide. Giraffes and lions on the north bank.
The Murchison tripLake Mburo
Zebra, eland and impala on open grassland, about four hours from Kampala. A good night on the way to Bwindi.
Jinja
Where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria. A boat to the source, rafting and kayaking, two hours from Kampala.
More ways to see Uganda
Luxury, golf, birds and forests
Any of these can be the whole trip, or a few days added to a safari.
Luxury tours
The best room at each park, a vehicle and driver-guide for your party alone, and flights over the longest drives.
Luxury tours
Golf safaris
A morning with the gorillas, an afternoon on a quiet course in the hills. Seven courses near the parks and the lake.
Golf safaris
Birding tours
More than 1,000 species. Shoebills at Mabamba, forest birds in Bwindi, and waterbirds along the Kazinga Channel.
Birding tours
Forest walks
Guided walks in Mabira, Budongo, Kibale and Bwindi, to waterfalls, rivers and the primates in the canopy.
Forest walksThe Rwenzori
A climb through the glaciers to Margherita Peak, 5,109 m, the highest point in Uganda. Or a shorter walk in the foothills.
Ask us
Lake Mutanda
A canoe on the lake under the Virunga volcanoes, close to the gorillas in Mgahinga and southern Bwindi.
Gorilla trekkingA birder’s paradise
Birding in Uganda
More than 1,000 species in a country the size of Britain: rare forest birds of the Albertine Rift, turacos in the canopy and the shoebill waiting in the papyrus. We plan your route around the birds you came for, with a specialist birding guide.
- Mabamba Swamp, near Entebbe: shoebills from a canoe
- Bwindi: Albertine Rift birds found only in this region
- Queen Elizabeth: waterbirds along the Kazinga Channel
- Murchison Falls: the Nile delta by boat
- Lake Mburo: birds of the lake and the acacia
Forest walks
Forest walks
Walks with a guide under the canopy, to waterfalls and rivers, with monkeys overhead. A morning on its own, or between the parks.
- Mabira, between Kampala and Jinja
- The Royal Mile in Budongo, near Murchison
- Kibale, after chimpanzee tracking
- The waterfall trail at Buhoma, Bwindi
- Sipi Falls on Mount Elgon
Cultural and educational tours
Uganda’s cultural diversity
More than fifty peoples, each with its own language, dress and traditions. Meet communities in their villages, hear their music and stories, and see a side of Uganda most visitors miss.
The Kasubi Tombs and the Kabaka’s palace in Kampala, Ndere dancers, the Batwa near Bwindi, and study tours for schools.
A sample route
Eight days, Murchison to Bwindi
One route for a first visit. We change it to your dates and the gorilla permit we can get.
- Day 1
Kampala to Murchison Falls
Through Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhino on foot, then on to the park.
- Day 2
A game drive and the boat to the falls
Giraffes and lions on the north bank in the morning, then the launch up the Nile to the bottom of the falls.
- Day 3
The top of the falls, then south
Stand where the Nile goes through the gorge, then drive south to Fort Portal.
- Day 4
Chimpanzees in Kibale
Chimp tracking in the morning, then on to Queen Elizabeth.
- Day 5
The Kazinga Channel
A game drive at dawn, and the afternoon boat along the channel.
- Day 6
Ishasha to Bwindi
Look for lions in the fig trees at Ishasha on the way to Buhoma.
- Day 7
Gorilla trek
Your hour with a gorilla family.
- Day 8
Back to Kampala or Entebbe
By road, or on a flight from Kihihi.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla permits
Each gorilla family takes eight visitors a day, so in the dry months the permit decides the dates. Everything else is built around it.
About gorilla trekkingTrips
Uganda trips to start from
Each one is planned around your dates, and each can be joined to another.
Gorilla trekking Sample itinerary
Safari Sample itinerary
Murchison Falls
- Stand at the top of the falls
- Game drive, and a boat up the Nile to the falls
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa on the way
Safari Sample itinerary
Queen Elizabeth and the Kazinga Channel
- Boat on the Kazinga Channel, past hippos and buffalo
- Game drives on the Kasenyi plains
- On the road to Bwindi, so easy to combine
Primates Sample itinerary
Kibale chimpanzees
- Chimpanzee tracking permit
- Crater lakes around Fort Portal
- Lodge with meals
Questions
What people ask about a Uganda safari
How many days do we need?
Three days is enough for a gorilla trek from Kampala. Seven to ten days covers the gorillas, the chimpanzees and two savannah parks without a long drive every day.
When is the best time to go?
December to February and June to August are the dry months: firmer trails and easier game drives. You can travel all year; the wet months are greener and quieter.
Do Ugandans and residents pay less?
Yes. Park fees and gorilla permits are lower for East African citizens, and foreigners who live in Uganda have their own rate. We quote the rate that applies to each person.
What vehicle will we travel in?
A 4x4 with a pop-up roof for game viewing, and a driver who knows the parks. If you’d rather drive yourself, we hire self-drive vehicles too.
Can you meet us at Entebbe?
Yes. We collect you at the airport, and the plan starts from there.
Plan your Uganda safari
Tell us your dates, how many of you, and what you’d most like to see. We’ll send a day-by-day plan with a quote. For a quicker answer, WhatsApp or call the office.
