10-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

4.4/5 – 413 Uganda Reviews

Whether you’re talking habitats, wildlife or experiences, Uganda boasts what is probably the most varied safari circuit anywhere in Africa. Here, grassy savannahs, tangled rainforests and vast papyrus swamps stand alongside oceanic lakes, lofty volcanoes and snowcapped mountains. There are mountain gorillas, chimps and monkeys, but also lions, elephants and rhinos. And where most African safari circuits focus on game drives, the range of activities in Uganda also includes forest hikes, mountain climbs and boat excursions. Spending 10 days on safari in Uganda allows you to appreciate much of this wonderful country’s ecological diversity, to see most of its wildlife icons, and to experience a wide range of activities on offer.

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5 Questions About 10-Day Uganda Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Philip Briggs

Philip is an Africa-specialized travel writer who first visited Uganda in 1988. He has returned on numerous occasions to research his Bradt Guide to Uganda (first published in 1993 and now in its 10th edition) and to lead wildlife tours and bird-watching safaris.
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Is 10 days a good amount of time for a trip in Uganda?

“Many people would regard 10 days to be the ideal duration for a Uganda safari. It is sufficient to cover all the main national parks in Uganda’s varied western circuit in a reasonably unrushed manner, but not so long that you can’t add a beach or other extension to your holiday. Having said that, if you plan to cover the western circuit in full, from the southwestern gorilla trekking reserves to the more northerly Murchison Falls National Park, you might consider allocating a couple more days. Extending your itinerary, for instance to 12 days, would allow you to do more activities and enjoy more downtime between days dominated by driving from A to B.”

Where should I go on a 10-day safari in Uganda?

“The most popular 10-day Uganda safari itinerary loops from the capital Kampala (or nearby Entebbe International Airport) through the far west. This loop can be covered in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, neither of which has a strong advantage over the other. However, given that many people are quite stressed about gorilla trekking (how tough will it be and will they definitely see gorillas?), clockwise is possibly preferable as it allows you to do this activity close to the start of your holiday. Following the loop in a clockwise direction, it’s worth spending a night at Lake Mburo National Park, which is home to giraffe, zebra and plenty of different types of antelope. Your next stop is almost certain to be at either Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, the two places in Uganda that offer gorilla trekking. From here, you can head north to Queen Elizabeth National Park, possibly doing a game drive in the Ishasha sector to search for tree-climbing lions, and almost certainly taking a boat out onto the wildlife-rich Kazinga Channel. If you want to track chimps, this can be done in Kalinzu Forest or Kyambura Gorge, both of which border Queen Elizabeth, or farther north in Kibale National Park. Farther north still, Murchison Falls National Park is flowed through by the mighty Nile River and offers a great combination of game drives and boat trips. On the drive back to Kampala, a day visit or overnight stop at the excellent Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch is recommended.”

Which animals can I expect to see?

“Although there are no guarantees on any safari, Uganda is one of only two African countries where all the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) can be seen alongside gorillas and chimps. In some instances – most obviously gorilla, chimp and rhino – the probability of a sighting is dependent on you doing a specific trekking activity in a suitable location. For gorillas and rhinos, the trekking success rate is almost 100%. And while the rate for chimp trekking is slightly lower, a 10-day itinerary should allow an opportunity to try again should you miss out on your first attempt. As for the rest of the Big Five, you’re likely to see elephant, buffalo and, to a lesser extent, lion on game drives and boat trips in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls. And although leopards are the most widespread of the Big Five in Uganda, they are also the hardest to see. Lucky visitors might encounter one in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls. Avoid the trap of getting too hung up on the Big Five. Uganda supports a huge variety of other less glamorous wildlife, and a 10-day safari should provide you with opportunities to see giraffe, zebra, warthog, hippo and numerous different antelopes and monkeys. The birdlife is incredible too. A dedicated bird-watcher might tick 300 bird species on a 10-day safari. And casual visitors will be blown away by the easily seen grey crowned crane, marabou stork and African fish eagle.”

What are the options to extend my 10-day Uganda trip?

“That depends on what you’re looking for. A great add-on for active travelers is white-water rafting on the Nile upriver of its source near the city of Jinja (on the shore of Lake Victoria). If you’re looking for something a bit more chilled, Lake Bunyonyi is a beautiful highland lake lined with low-key budget and mid-range resorts. For a more conventional beach holiday, you’ll have to fly to neighboring Kenya or Tanzania because Uganda’s inland location means that it lacks a coastline. The lovely Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar (offshore of mainland Tanzania) is only a short flight away.”

How much will a 10-day Uganda safari cost?

“The typical price of a 10-day budget or mid-range tour in western Uganda is around US$2,800 to US$4,000 per person. This will usually be inclusive of gorilla and chimp trekking permits and other national park fees and activity costs. It will also include all accommodations, meals and road transport, and the services of drivers and guides as required. The main variable in the price range will be down to the quality of accommodations, which range from simple campsites to smart mid-range hotels, lodges and tented camps. If your safari uses domestic flights, includes a second gorilla trekking excursion, and/or offers accommodations at the top end of the luxury scale, the price is likely to be upwards of US$6,000.”

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 413 Reviews

Expert

Mark Eveleigh –

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

Fantastic Wildlife and Some of the Friendliest People in Africa Make Uganda Unbeatable

5/5

I spent a month travelling around Uganda with a self-drive, expedition-prepared Landcruiser and visited almost every national park in the country. Uganda was a revelation! I had not expected such a richness of wildlife nor such great...

Full Review

Expert

Ariadne van Zandbergen –

Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.

Gorilla Tracking in Uganda

4/5

Uganda’s biggest attraction is mountain gorilla tracking. Seeing these gentle giants has been one of my best wildlife experiences ever. With Congo being unstable, Rwanda is the only other country where this is offered. Aside from...

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Beata –

Reviewed: Mar 19, 2025

It was was the best trip among all I went there to see gorillas and I saw them

5/5

Uganda it`s a beautifull wild country Country of thousand hills Very good hotels Delicious fresh food Smiling friendly people
I went to Uganda mainly to see gorillas and I did it!
Our guide Mr Hamza was the best guide I ever saw

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Natalia –

Reviewed: Mar 19, 2025

Lifetime experience

5/5

Well, from the 1st until the the last day our Super guide Kiiza as well as the nicest ever manager Geoffrey from Kashari Resort Tours and Travel, did all possible and impossible to make our trip to Uganda unforgettable. Geoffrey well...

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Wojtek Hegglin –

Reviewed: Mar 17, 2025

Once in a lifetime experience

5/5

It was my first time in Africa. My brother and I (30 and 32) spent in Uganda 10 day. Uganda is simply a beautiful country and I can really recommend it to everyone! The people of Uganda are very friendly and I always felt safe. We booked...

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Guangsu Zhang –

Reviewed: Mar 15, 2025

It was one of the most exciting experiences of my life.

5/5

Going to Uganda to see the gorillas and chimpanzees was not easy, but the experience was super good. To protect this rare species, the Uganda National Park has invested enormous resources both to allow visitors to interact with them and to...

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5 Questions About 10-Day Uganda Safaris

Answered by

Philip Briggs

5 Questions About 10-Day Uganda Safaris

Is 10 days a good amount of time for a trip in Uganda?

Where should I go on a 10-day safari in Uganda?

Which animals can I expect to see?

What are the options to extend my 10-day Uganda trip?

How much will a 10-day Uganda safari cost?

Uganda Reviews

Fantastic Wildlife and Some of the Friendliest People in Africa Make Uganda Unbeatable

Gorilla Tracking in Uganda

It was was the best trip among all I went there to see gorillas and I saw them

Lifetime experience

Once in a lifetime experience

It was one of the most exciting experiences of my life.