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Gorillas, Chimps & the Nile
Rhinos at Ziwa, the Nile at Murchison, chimpanzees at Kibale, the Kazinga Channel, the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha — and a full day with the gorillas at Ruhija.
Eleven days covers the whole western arc of Uganda without the long hauls to the far north: the great apes, the Nile and the savannah in one loop, with two nights in most places so the days are not all driving.
At a glance
| Length | 11 days, 10 nights |
|---|---|
| Gorilla treks | One |
| Parks and places | Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary · Murchison Falls · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth · Ishasha · Bwindi (Ruhija) · Lake Mburo |
| Starts and ends | Entebbe International Airport |
| Accommodation | Full board throughout, in the lodges named below |
| Price | being finalised — ask for a quote |
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrive at Entebbe
We meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, about five minutes away.
Overnight: Boma Hotel, Entebbe
- Day 2
Rhinos at Ziwa, then Murchison Falls
North to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track rhino on foot, with lunch there. Then on to Murchison and up to the top of the falls before the lodge.
Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge
- Day 3
Murchison — game drive and the Nile
An early game drive, back for lunch, then the afternoon boat upstream to the foot of the falls: hippos, crocodiles, elephants, sometimes giraffe at the water, and a great many birds.
Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge
- Day 4
To Kibale, along the escarpment
South along the great escarpment above Lake Albert, past villages and farmland — about five hours on good roads. Lunch in Fort Portal, then on to the forest.
Overnight: Chimpanzee Guest Lodge
- Day 5
Chimpanzees, and the community walk
An early start to track chimpanzees, our closest relatives. In the afternoon a community walk: the traditional healer, the banana-beer makers, the women’s basket-weaving group and the coffee gardens.
Overnight: Chimpanzee Guest Lodge
- Day 6
To Queen Elizabeth — the Kazinga Channel
A scenic drive with the Rwenzori mountains alongside. After lunch, the boat on the Kazinga Channel for hippos, crocodiles and birds.
Overnight: Bush Lodge
- Day 7
The Kasenyi plains
A morning game drive on the Kasenyi plains in the north of the park — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo — back for lunch, and out again in the evening.
Overnight: Bush Lodge
- Day 8
Through Ishasha to Bwindi
South through Ishasha, looking for the lions that climb the fig trees, with a picnic lunch on the way, then up into Bwindi’s eastern sector at Ruhija. Two national parks in one day.
Overnight: Bakiga Lodge
- Day 9
Gorilla trekking
The day the trip is built around. Breakfast, then the briefing point ten minutes from the lodge, a ranger guide, and the walk into the forest to find the family. Lunch is a picnic after you have seen them.
Overnight: Bakiga Lodge
- Day 10
To Lake Mburo
Four to five hours on good roads to Lake Mburo, with an evening game drive before the lodge.
Overnight: Rwakobo Rock Lodge
- Day 11
Last game drive, and home
A morning game drive on the way out of the park, then Entebbe airport for your flight.
What is included
- Vehicle, fuel and a driver-guide throughout
- All accommodation as listed, full board
- Park entrance fees and boat trips
- One gorilla permit and one chimpanzee permit, booked in your name
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa and the Kibale community walk
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
What is not
- International flights and Uganda visa
- Travel insurance — required, see booking terms
- Drinks, tips and personal spending
- Optional activities not listed above
About the gorilla permit
The permit is included in the price and bought in your name from the Uganda Wildlife Authority — currently USD 800 each for foreign non-residents, less in April, May and November. We pass it through at cost and send you the reference number so you can see it is real.
UWA takes full payment when the permit is booked and does not hold them, so a trek is only confirmed once the permit is paid. How permits work →