12 Day Budget Gorilla Safari
Murchison Falls · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth · Bwindi Impenetrable
From $4,010 pp in a group of 4
10 days · Uganda · Budget
10-Day Uganda Budget Safari
We're as excited as you are to get started on your Ugandan safari. After an introduction to your guide and a few brief formalities, it's time to get out there and find the animals for which Uganda is so famous. The capital of Uganda, Kampala derives its name from a local phrase meaning Hill of Antelope; you won't find any antelope here today, but rather a rapidly growing city whose high-rise center ranks among the most important economic hubs in East Africa, with a varied culinary scene and nightlife.
from$3,250pp in a group of 5
$5,346 pp for a solo traveller. See every group size
- 10days
- 1country
- 5travellers at most
- Budgetstyle
In brief
What this safari is
The drive passes through Fort Portal and then south along the Eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains with the hope of viewing the glaciated peaks. We gently descend to the Great African Rift Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park and arrive at Mweya Lodge. The lodge is situated on a peninsula overlooking Lake Edward and the Kazinga Channel, offering beautiful views of the park with the Rwenzori Mountains in the background. As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including a total of 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 species of birds.
Before you go
After breakfast, we take a short drive to the park headquarters and meet the excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and muddy at times.
Before you book
Quick facts
- Starts at
- Entebbe Airport
- Length
- 10 days
- Book ahead
- Please ask at least 7 days ahead
Day by day
The itinerary
Each day shows where you spend it, with today's sunrise and sunset there.
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Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Botanical Gardens
Entebbe
On your arrival at Entebbe Airport, meet and greet and then transfer to the Lake Victoria Hotel. If time permits, visit the famous Entebbe Botanical Gardens and discover amazing flora species. You can also enjoy seeing a variety of bird species like the pink-backed pelican, yellow-billed stork, Eastern grey plantain-eater, yellow white-eye, purple-banded sunbird, African jacana, lesser jacana, yellow-billed duck, glossy ibis and many others.
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Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest
The drive to the Kibale Forest area is a full day of approximately 7 hours. After leaving the Lake Victoria Basin, you pass through the beautiful agricultural countryside where every type of fruit and vegetable imaginable is grown. Upon reaching Kyanjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains (mountains of the moon), we drive through beautiful tea plantations and into the Kibale tropical rainforest. Check in at your hotel for an overnight stay.
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Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and swamp walks
Kibale Forest
This morning we get the opportunity to explore Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species and a guided forest trek can be taken in search of one of the most popular primate species in the world, the chimpanzee. There are 9 diurnal primates which include the vervet monkey, red-tailed monkey, L'Hoest's monkey, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red colobus, black and white colobus, olive baboon, and the most famous of all, the chimpanzee. In the afternoon, we go on a swamp walk.
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Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth
The drive passes through Fort Portal and then south along the Eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains with the hope of viewing the glaciated peaks. We gently descend to the Great African Rift Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park and arrive at Mweya Lodge. The lodge is situated on a peninsula overlooking Lake Edward and the Kazinga Channel, offering beautiful views of the park with the Rwenzori Mountains in the background. As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including a total of 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 species of birds.
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Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise
Queen Elizabeth
Today, we go on game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park including a launch trip of about 2 hours on the Kazinga Channel. You'll view some of the largest concentrations of hippos in the world (reported to be about 30,000) and other game, as well as excellent birding. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best birding parks in Africa, with more than 560 recorded species and a record of 296 bird species seen in a 24-hour period.
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Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Forest via the Ishasha sector
Ishasha
Today we drive through the park to the Ishasha region. During the game drive, we search for the tree-climbing lions (75% success rate) and other game. In the afternoon, we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a World Heritage Site, passing through the scenic area known as the "Switzerland of East Africa". The driving today is about 5.5 hours (excluding the game drives).
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Day 7: Gorilla trekking
Ishasha
After breakfast, we take a short drive to the park headquarters and meet the excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and muddy at times. Although the hike is physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile.
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Day 8: Transfer to lake Mburo national park
Lake Mburo
We drive to Mbarara passing through the "Switzerland of East Africa" area and eventually into the Ankole cattle country around Mbarara. These cattle are incredible with horns larger than one can imagine. Continue to Lake Mburo National Park for a game drive. The drive today is 6 to 7 hours.
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Day 9: Game drive and boat cruise
Lake Mburo
After breakfast will drive through the park for our morning game drive where you will be able to see the zebra, giraffe, antelope, impalas and many more wildlife. After the game drive you will have a boat cruise to explore more wildlife. Our guide will take you through different route in the park for the best views.
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Day 10: Transfer back to Entebbe
Entebbe
We have an early morning game drive before heading back to Entebbe. The drive back takes approximately 5 hours, depending on the road and weather. If time permits, it is possible to stop in Kampala for shopping and lunch and to visit the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers.
Your group
Price for your group
2 travellers: $3,820 each, $7,640 in total.
| Travellers | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,346 | $5,346 |
| 2 | $3,820 29% off | $7,640 |
| 3 | $3,590 33% off | $10,770 |
| 4 | $3,460 35% off | $13,840 |
| 5 | $3,250 39% off | $16,250 |
Prices are in US dollars per person, from the group rates listed with this trip.
The detail
What is included
Included
- All internal Airport transfers on this ten-day Uganda route
- All meals on safari days as set out on the published day-by-day plan
- Fully guided safari with driver guide for the full loop
- All accommodations named in the itinerary from Entebbe through Lake Mburo
- All permits and Park entry fees for the activities listed on this tour
- Transport between Entebbe, western parks, and return sectors by road
Not included
- Laundry Services
- Flights
- Visa
- Souvenirs
- Tips
- Transport to and from the meeting point if you do not use the included transfers
Nights and arrival
Where you stay and how you get there
Where you stay
Nights follow this tour's lodge sequence with Lake Victoria Hotel on arrival, Turaco Treetops at Kibale, banda rooms at The Bush Lodge in Queen Elizabeth, Gorilla Valley Lodge by Bwindi, and Kigambira Safari Lodge at Lake Mburo.
Getting there
On your arrival at Entebbe Airport, meet and greet and then transfer to the Lake Victoria Hotel to begin the loop as written for day one.
On day ten you are transferred to Entebbe International Airport to connect with your flight; the departure should be in the late afternoon or evening, or we can arrange another overnight stay in Entebbe.
Good questions
Questions about this safari
What is included in the package price?
Price includes all internal Airport transfers, all meals, fully guided hosting, all accommodations on the route, all permits and Park entry fees, and transport between the sectors named in the itinerary for this 10-Day Uganda Budget Safaris product.
What is not included?
Price excludes laundry services, international flights, visa costs, souvenirs, and tips, matching the price excludes list on the operator tour page for this itinerary.
How long is the drive to Kibale Forest?
The drive to the Kibale Forest area is a full day of approximately 7 hours, as written on day two of this itinerary.
What happens on the Queen Elizabeth boat cruise?
Today, we go on game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park including a launch trip of about 2 hours on the Kazinga Channel. You'll view some of the largest concentrations of hippos in the world (reported to be about 30,000) and other game, as well as excellent birding.
What should we expect from gorilla trekking?
After briefing at park headquarters you hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point; trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet on rough, muddy ground.
How does the Ishasha sector fit into the journey?
Today we drive through the park to the Ishasha region; during the game drive, we search for the tree-climbing lions (75% success rate) and other game before driving toward Bwindi in the afternoon.
What is Lake Mburo like on this safari?
Lake Mburo National Park is a small park, excellent for birding, antelope, and other grazers, and one of the only places to easily see impala and zebra in Uganda, with buffalo, waterbuck, and eland among the variety of wildlife.
How does the safari finish in Entebbe?
We have an early morning game drive before heading back to Entebbe; the drive back takes approximately 5 hours, depending on the road and weather.
Do we visit botanical gardens on arrival?
On your arrival at Entebbe Airport, meet and greet and then transfer to the Lake Victoria Hotel; if time permits, visit the famous Entebbe Botanical Gardens to discover amazing flora species.
Who leads the trip?
This safari runs fully guided with one English-speaking driver guide and road transport between Entebbe, western parks, and return sectors.
Read before you book
Guides for this safari
- How a gorilla trek works Fitness, trek times, what to bring, and why a sighting is never guaranteed.
- Every gorilla trekking safari compared Lengths, styles and prices side by side.
- Budget gorilla safaris in Uganda The same circuit at three standards.
- Chimpanzee trekking safaris Every trip that tracks chimpanzees.
- Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale and Budongo How the longer habituation experience differs from an ordinary trek.
- What a Uganda safari costs Every Uganda trip priced, and what the price covers.
More answers are on our safari questions page and in what guests say. We also arrange flights, hotels and insurance.
How payment works: the balance is due one month before your safari, a reservation made within 45 days of arrival is paid in full when it is confirmed, and a card payment carries a 3.9% service charge. The full wording is in our terms and conditions.
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