10 Day Gorilla Chimps and Big 5 Safari

Wildlife comes thick and fast here. This 10-day private safari packs Uganda’s best-known animal experiences into one ambitious route, from rhino walks and Nile boat trips to chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge and the main event, mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The trip begins and ends near Entebbe, with private transport, accommodation, meals, park fees, permits, and a safari guide included.

I especially like the range of activities. You are not sitting in a vehicle every day: you walk with rhino guides, search for chimpanzees, cruise Kazinga Channel, visit Lake Bunyonyi, and look for lions in the trees at Ishasha. I also like that this is a private tour, so your group can set a more comfortable pace than a large coach party.

The main caution is the packed schedule. Several days involve long drives followed by another activity, and gorilla trekking can be steep, slippery, and physically demanding. The route gives you a lot of Uganda in a short time, but it is better suited to an active person than to someone seeking a slow, restful holiday.

Key things to know before booking

• Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are included, a major part of the tour’s value and planning convenience.
• The private format includes only your group, with a safari guide and private transportation throughout.
• Bwindi trekking can be hard, so bring water, rain gear, and consider hiring a porter for $15.
• The animal list is unusually broad, including rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards, chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, hippos, antelopes, and many birds.
• The route includes major driving days, especially between Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Entebbe.
• The price is $3,500 per person, with accommodation, meals, permits, park entry, boat fees, and transport included.

What $3,500 covers on this Uganda safari

At $3,500 per person, this is not a cheap short safari. But the price needs to be judged against what is bundled into the 10 days. Private transportation, accommodation, a safari guide, park entry fees, chimpanzee and gorilla permits, and boat cruise fees are included. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are also covered during the trip, with nine breakfasts and nine dinners listed, plus lunch provisions across the route.

The gorilla permit alone is a major expense in Uganda, and the chimpanzee permit adds another important cost. Having both permits arranged as part of one package takes away a difficult piece of trip planning. You are also paying for the vehicle, fuel, park access, guide services, and transfers between several widely separated parks.

The value is strongest if you want a private, all-in-one trip and plan to take part in nearly every activity. It is less attractive if you prefer to choose only one park or spend more time in each place. You should also budget separately for visa charges, airfares, tips, laundry, souvenirs, and other personal purchases.

The experience has received three top-rated comments, with particular praise for the personal service from guides Tim and Gerald. Tim is described as warm, professional, and attentive from pickup through the final goodbye. Gerald is praised for careful driving, friendliness, and explaining the sights along the way. Guide quality matters greatly on a trip with this much road time, so these details are worth noting.

Day 1: A simple arrival in Entebbe

Your arrival day is deliberately light. A representative from Big Apes Africa Safaris meets you and transfers you to your hotel in Entebbe. You spend the night there before the long journey inland.

If your flight arrives early enough, you can have the trip briefing that day. Otherwise, it can happen early the next morning. This flexible start is useful after an international flight, since you do not need to rush straight into a park or activity.

The early start listed for the tour is 5:30 a.m. That gives you a sense of the days ahead: this is a safari built around animal activity, cooler morning temperatures, and making good use of daylight.

Days 2 and 3: Rhinos, Nile scenery, and Murchison Falls

Day 2 takes you west to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. The journey is paired with a walking safari to see white rhinos. This is a valuable contrast to the usual vehicle-based safari because you experience the animals on foot with guides, while still keeping a safe and controlled distance.

Lunch is taken along the way, then you head toward Murchison Falls itself. You can walk to the bottom of the falls and later visit the top, with strong views of the Nile forcing its way through a narrow gorge. The description calls Murchison Falls the world’s most powerful waterfall, but the real appeal is easier to grasp from the path: a huge volume of water squeezed into a tight channel, followed by spray, noise, and dramatic viewpoints.

A guided game drive follows as you make your way to the lodge. This creates a long first safari day, listed at about seven hours before considering the road travel. You should be ready for a full day rather than expecting a quick transfer and an easy evening.

Day 3 begins with another early game drive. The focus is on elephants, hartebeests, antelopes, and birds, with the possibility of lions and leopards if conditions are favorable. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and the value here comes partly from having time in the park during the cooler morning hours.

After lunch, you take a boat trip along the River Nile toward the bottom of Murchison Falls. The route includes the place used for the 1951 film The Queen of Africa. Along the water, you might see animals and birds from a different angle than you get from a vehicle.

An optional evening game drive gives you another chance to search for wildlife. You can also rest at the lodge. I like having that choice because the first two days are active, but you should ask about the extra cost if you want the additional drive. It is not clearly listed among the included items.

Day 4: The long move to Kibale

Day 4 shifts from open parkland to the forest country of Kibale National Park. The listed drive time is about six hours, with lunch along the route. This is mainly a transfer day, so keep your expectations realistic.

You are preparing for the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk that follows. If you still have energy, you can take a guided community walk after arriving. If not, resting at the lodge is the sensible choice. The private format helps here, since you can discuss the pace with your guide rather than following a fixed large-group schedule.

Kibale is best known on this route as the base for forest walks and primate viewing. The next day gives you a more active introduction through Bigodi, before the tour continues toward Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 5: Bigodi monkeys and a Kazinga Channel cruise

The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk covers a 4.5-kilometer circuit. It is known for birding and monkey viewing, with forest and wetland habitats attracting a good range of species. This is a strong day for anyone who enjoys smaller wildlife as much as the famous animals.

The walk is listed at about three hours. That gives you time to watch for monkeys and birds without turning the outing into a punishing trek. Still, comfortable walking shoes are important, since wetland paths can be uneven.

After lunch en route, you continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The schedule aims to get you there in time for the afternoon boat trip on Kazinga Channel. This is one of the most appealing parts of the route because you look for birds and mammals from the water, rather than from a safari vehicle.

The channel is known here for abundant wildlife, and the boat provides a different viewing position for animals near the water. Afterward, you can choose an evening game drive or return to the lodge. That choice is useful, though adding another activity after the wetland walk, transfer, and boat trip may leave you tired.

Day 6: Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge and Ishasha lions

Day 6 begins at Kyambura Gorge with chimpanzee tracking. After a briefing, you are divided into small groups and enter the forest with a park ranger. The activity usually lasts about three hours, including up to an hour in the company of the chimpanzees if you find them.

You need to carry enough drinking water. This is not a casual stroll, and the forest setting means conditions can change underfoot. The tour description does not promise a chimpanzee sighting, so you should approach this as a search rather than a guaranteed wildlife encounter.

After the tracking activity, you transfer to Ishasha, an area known for tree-climbing lions. You can check into the lodge and then take a game drive, finishing the day with drinks as the sun goes down in the wilderness. The contrast is excellent: a close forest walk in the morning, followed by open-country wildlife viewing later in the day.

This is another full day, listed at about seven hours before adding road time. If chimpanzee tracking is a major reason for booking, ask your operator to confirm the current permit arrangements and exact meeting point before departure.

Day 7: Ishasha wildlife and the road to Bwindi

The day starts with an early game drive in Ishasha. The stated targets include elephants, lions, leopards, and birds. Lions may be easier to find once the sun is fully up and the ground warms, so you may have the option to stay out longer or return to the lodge for a break and go back later.

That flexibility is practical, but it also shows how much the safari depends on timing and patience. You may spend time searching with no guarantee of a particular animal. The tree-climbing lions are a special possibility, not a promise.

After the drive, you transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The listed activity time is only about two hours, but the overall road journey may take longer. This is a day when you should pack your water, rain layer, and trekking clothes where you can reach them easily, rather than burying them in luggage.

Day 8: The main event in Bwindi

Gorilla trekking is the centerpiece of the trip. After breakfast, you drive to the forest briefing point, where park staff explain the rules and the day’s plan. Groups are limited to eight people, and a park ranger leads each group into Bwindi.

Once you find the gorillas, you are allowed one hour in their company. That hour can pass quickly, so keep your camera ready but do not let photography take over the experience. The forest itself is part of the challenge and the reward, with steep or slippery sections possible.

The tour advises bringing a lunch box, plenty of drinking water, and rain gear. Bwindi is a tropical rainforest, so wet weather is a real possibility. A porter costs $15 and can carry your bag or help you on steep and slippery sections. I consider that money well spent for many people, even if you are normally fit. Hiring a porter also gives direct support to someone from the local area.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness for this day. Trek duration can vary because the gorillas move, and the listed six hours should be treated as an approximate activity time rather than a strict finish. The walk can be demanding, so this is the point where the tour’s active nature matters most.

Day 9: A gentler pause at Lake Bunyonyi

After the effort of Bwindi, Day 9 offers a slower change of pace at Lake Bunyonyi. Breakfast is at leisure, followed by a transfer to the lake, described as the deepest lake after Tanganyika.

You can swim in the lake or use the swimming pool at the lodge. A canoe trip offers another way to see the surroundings, and you can also explore nearby communities. The available information does not specify which community or cultural activities are offered, so ask your guide what is possible and whether any optional tour has an extra charge.

This is a well-placed rest day. The tour does not give you many chances to slow down, and Lake Bunyonyi helps break up the return journey. You still have a transfer the next day, but the morning is not built around a strenuous wildlife walk.

Day 10: The Equator stop and return to Entebbe

The final day takes you back toward Entebbe. The drive is listed at about nine hours, with lunch at the Equator. You can also choose to shop for African crafts before continuing to Entebbe International Airport.

Do not treat this as a quick airport transfer. It is a long final day, and your departure flight time needs to allow plenty of room for road delays. The package ends back at the meeting point, so confirm the exact airport drop-off plan and make sure your flight schedule fits the return drive.

The Equator stop adds a simple geographic marker to the journey home. Shopping is optional, which is helpful if you prefer to reach the airport early or are already carrying enough souvenirs.

Transport, meals, and the private-tour advantage

Private transportation is one of the most useful inclusions here. You are covering a large section of Uganda, and private travel means your group does not have to wait for unrelated passengers. It also gives you more room to discuss rest stops, optional evening drives, and the pace of the day.

The schedule still involves substantial time on the road. I would bring water, snacks if you like a particular brand, sun protection, and something to occupy you between wildlife stops. The listed meals include breakfast and dinner for nine days, plus lunch during the trip, but confirm how packed lunches and drinks are handled on trekking days.

Only your group participates in the tour. Group discounts are offered, so the per-person value may improve if you book with family or friends. The published details do not state the maximum group size for the overall safari, though gorilla groups in the forest are limited to eight.

Pickup is offered, and confirmation is received at booking. The listed start time is 5:30 a.m. Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. After that point, refunds are not provided, and late changes are not accepted.

Who should book this safari?

This trip fits you best if you want Uganda’s headline wildlife experiences in one organized journey. It is particularly appealing if gorillas and chimpanzees are priorities, but you also want rhinos, classic game drives, a Nile cruise, a wetland walk, tree-climbing lion searches, and time at Lake Bunyonyi.

You should be comfortable with early starts, long transfers, changing activity levels, and basic physical exertion. The gorilla trek requires the most preparation, but several other days are long enough to test your energy too.

This is not the best choice if you want a leisurely holiday with several free afternoons. The route is efficient, but efficiency means moving often. It is also not a budget trip, though the included permits, park fees, accommodation, meals, transport, and private guide make the $3,500 price easier to justify.

Should you book the 10-day Uganda safari?

I would book this trip if you want a busy wildlife holiday and value having the difficult pieces arranged for you. The combination of a private guide, included gorilla and chimpanzee permits, varied activities, and stops at Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Lake Bunyonyi gives you a strong first look at Uganda.

Before paying, confirm the accommodation names, vehicle details, the exact length of each road transfer, and the cost of optional evening drives or cultural activities. If you can accept the demanding pace, pack proper rain gear, carry water, and reserve room in your schedule for delays, this safari offers an impressive amount of wildlife and scenery for ten days.

FAQ

Where does the safari start?

The tour starts in Entebbe, where a Big Apes Africa Safaris representative meets you and transfers you to a hotel.

Where does the safari end?

The experience ends back at the meeting point after the return journey to Entebbe. The final day includes a transfer toward Entebbe International Airport.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 5:30 a.m.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation is included, along with a safari guide.

Are gorilla and chimpanzee permits included?

Yes. The package includes both the chimpanzee trekking permit and the gorilla trekking permit.

How many people take part in the private tour?

Only your group participates in the private tour. The gorilla trekking groups are limited to eight people.

How physically demanding is the safari?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required. Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking involve walking in forest conditions, and the Bwindi route can be steep or slippery.

Can I hire a porter for gorilla trekking?

Yes. A porter is available for an additional $15 to carry your bag and assist on steep or slippery sections.

What should I bring for gorilla trekking?

Bring enough drinking water, a lunch box, and rain gear. The forest is tropical rainforest, so wet weather is possible.

What is not included in the price?

Airfares, visa charges, tips, laundry, souvenirs, and other personal purchases are not included. Optional activities may also have additional costs, so confirm those before booking.