12 Day Budget Gorilla Safari
Murchison Falls · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth · Bwindi Impenetrable
From $4,010 pp in a group of 4
13 days · Uganda
13 Day Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda
Thirteen days from Entebbe through Ziwa rhinos, Murchison Falls, Kibale chimps and Bigodi, Queen Elizabeth, Ishasha lions, Bwindi gorillas, Lake Bunyonyi canoe, Lake Mburo walks, and equator photos on the final airport run. Longer routes add Ishasha lions, canoe on Bunyonyi, and Mburo walks without compressing gorilla briefing windows.
from$5,522pp in a group of 4
$7,161 pp for a solo traveller. See every group size
- 13days
- 1country
- 4travellers at most
In brief
What this safari is
- Rhinos
- Chimps
- Kazinga
- Gorillas
- Bunyonyi
- Mburo
The safari crosses Albertine Rift valleys, Nile rapids at Murchison, primate forests at Kibale, Queen Elizabeth crater lakes, Bwindi mist forest, volcanic Lake Bunyonyi, and acacia savanna at Mburo.
Before you go
Chimp and gorilla treks require hours of forest walking on steep, uneven paths. Valid passport, visa, and Uganda Wildlife Authority health rules apply; permits are included when secured for your dates.
Before you book
Quick facts
- Starts at
- Entebbe International Airport
- Length
- 13 days / 12 nights
- Group size
- Up to 4 travellers
- 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: Entebbe welcome
Entebbe
Airport pickup at Entebbe International Airport with signboard meet and transfer to hotel for rest, meal, and briefing on day two pickup time from your driver-guide.
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Day 2: Rhinos and Murchison
Murchison Falls
Early breakfast and drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for white rhino tracking on foot among bush and birds, lunch in Masindi, then enter Murchison Falls National Park for overnight after checking into lodge.
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Day 3: Murchison drive and Nile cruise
Murchison Falls
Morning savanna game drive seeking lions, elephants, giraffes, and hartebeest, return for lunch, then afternoon launch cruise on the Nile to the foot of Murchison Falls with hippos, crocodiles, and waterfowl.
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Day 4: Scenic drive to Kibale
Kibale Forest
Checkout and transfer through Albertine Rift scenery with Fort Portal lunch stop before reaching Kibale Forest National Park lodge at the forest edge for relaxed evening.
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Day 5: Chimps and Bigodi swamp
Kibale Forest
8am chimp briefing and forest trek with grey-cheeked mangabeys and colobus possible, one hour with chimps, then Bigodi Wetland nature walk for more primates and birds in papyrus.
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Day 6: Into Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth
Early tea or coffee and morning game drive en route or within Queen Elizabeth seeing lions, buffalo, elephants, hyena, and kob among crater lakes, then breakfast at lodge and afternoon rest after transfer into the park.
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Day 7: Kasenyi and Kazinga boat
Queen Elizabeth
Another morning savanna drive across rolling hills and crater lakes, lunch at lodge, then afternoon boat safari on Kazinga Channel for hippos, buffalo, elephants, monitor lizards, and dense waterbird colonies.
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Day 8: Ishasha lions to Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable
Breakfast, checkout, and Ishasha sector drive for tree-climbing lions with lunch in sector, then continue south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lodge for dinner ahead of gorilla day.
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Day 9: Gorillas and Batwa
Bwindi Impenetrable
6:30am breakfast with packed lunch, ranger briefing, gorilla trek up to one hour with mountain gorillas, return for refreshment, then Batwa community walk observing traditional forest life before lodge dinner.
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Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi canoe
Lake Bunyonyi
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, lunch at lodge, unwind, then canoe journey across deep freshwater framed by terraced hills and many islands before overnight on the lakeshore.
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Day 11: Lake Mburo evening drive
Lake Mburo
Checkout from Bunyonyi, drive to Lake Mburo National Park, lunch at lodge, rest, then evening game drive watching sunset over plains with zebra, impala, and eland possible.
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Day 12: Mburo walk and boat
Lake Mburo
Early guided nature walk with armed ranger for close wildlife views, return for lunch and freshen up, then serene afternoon boat ride on Lake Mburo among hippos and birds before final lodge night.
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Day 13: Return to Entebbe
Entebbe
Breakfast, checkout, and road journey back toward Entebbe with lunch en route and Kayabwe equator photo stop before drop-off at airport or your chosen Entebbe location.
A wide lake and a big sky in Queen Elizabeth.
Your group
Price for your group
2 travellers: $6,578 each, $13,156 in total.
| Travellers | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7,161 | $7,161 |
| 2 | $6,578 8% off | $13,156 |
| 3 | $5,974 17% off | $17,922 |
| 4 | $5,522 23% off | $22,088 |
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 the tour
- All meals
- Fully guided safari in a 4x4 vehicle
- All accommodations listed in the itinerary
- All permits and park entry fees including chimps and gorillas
- Ground transport between parks
Not included
- Laundry services
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Souvenirs
- Tips and gratuities
- Transport to and from the meeting point if you do not use the included airport pickup
Nights and arrival
Where you stay and how you get there
Where you stay
Lodge nights follow each park sector from Entebbe through Murchison after rhino tracking, Kibale at the forest edge after chimps and Bigodi, and Queen Elizabeth after Kasenyi drives and Kazinga Channel cruises. Rooms are tourist standard with meals on full activity days.
Getting there
Your guide meets you at Entebbe International Airport on day one with signboard pickup and briefing for the following day. Day thirteen returns you to Entebbe or your chosen drop-off with lunch and equator photos en route.
Good questions
Questions about this safari
Does the route include Mabira Forest?
The published thirteen-day highlights list Mabira Forest among landscapes on the route overview, while the day-by-day plan focuses on Murchison through Mburo before Entebbe. Ask in advance if a Mabira extension fits your dates.
Are chimps and gorillas included?
Kibale chimp tracking on day five and Bwindi gorilla trekking on day nine are included when Uganda Wildlife Authority permits are secured for your travel dates. Bigodi swamp and Batwa community walks follow the itinerary.
What happens on Lake Bunyonyi?
Day ten transfers to Lake Bunyonyi for lunch and an afternoon canoe ride on one of Africa's deepest lakes, paddling yourself or with a guide among terraced hills and islands. Dinner and overnight follow at lakeside lodge.
Will we see tree-climbing lions?
Elephants, topi, and buffalo also appear on the scenic transfer toward Bwindi.
How fit must I be?
Forest treks can last several hours on muddy slopes while savanna and boat days are gentler but still start early. Reasonable fitness and willingness to walk off-trail matter for chimps and gorillas.
Where do we meet?
Day one airport pickup at Entebbe International Airport includes driver briefing on the full thirteen-day schedule. Final day drop-off returns to Entebbe with equator stop unless you request another Ugandan endpoint.
What is included at Lake Mburo?
Day eleven adds an evening game drive in Lake Mburo National Park and day twelve combines guided morning nature walk with afternoon boat ride for hippos and birds. Both days use the same lodge base inside the park area.
Do I need a visa for this safari?
Most visitors need a visa for Uganda, Rwanda, or Zambia depending on your route. Check current requirements for your passport nationality before you travel.
Are park and trekking permits included?
Your safari includes the park entries and trekking permits listed in the tour inclusions for the days on your itinerary. Wildlife sightings vary by day; your guide knows recent patterns in each sector you enter.
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.
- 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.
- Best time to visit Uganda Dry and wet months, park by park.
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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