10 Day Gorilla Chimps and Big 5 Safari

The big draw is the chance to combine mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking with a full safari in only 10 days. You move from the Nile and Murchison Falls to forest primates, tree-climbing lions, rhinos, and the gorilla country of Bwindi. I like the strong mix of activities, especially the rhino walking safari and Kazinga Channel boat trip. I also like that the gorilla and chimp permits, park fees, lodging, meals, and private transport are bundled into the $3,500 price.

The tradeoff is pace. Several days involve long road transfers followed by a game drive or forest walk, and gorilla trekking can be physically demanding in wet, steep terrain. Guides including Tim and Gerald are praised for their warmth and care, but you should still arrive ready for early starts, changing plans, and a busy schedule.

Key points to know before booking

• Gorilla time is limited to one hour: You trek in groups of up to eight and spend one hour with the gorillas once they are found.
• The chimp walk is in Kyambura Gorge: The activity usually lasts about three hours, including roughly one hour with the chimpanzees.
• Rhino tracking is done on foot: The walk takes place in Murchison Falls National Park, adding a close-range wildlife experience to the vehicle safaris.
• Kazinga Channel is a major highlight: The boat trip gives you a water-level view of birds, mammals, and other wildlife.
• Lake Bunyonyi provides a slower final day: You can swim, use a canoe, or visit nearby communities before returning to Entebbe.
• This is a private trip: Only your own group participates, with private transport throughout the route.

What this 10-day Uganda safari is really like

This is not a slow, single-park safari. It is a fast-moving circuit built around Uganda’s headline wildlife experiences. You cover a lot of ground, but you also get several different ways to see animals: on foot, from a safari vehicle, by boat, and in the forest with park rangers.

That variety matters. A standard game drive can be thrilling, but walking toward white rhinos or listening for chimpanzees in a gorge changes the feel of the trip. The gorilla trek is the centerpiece, yet the smaller experiences help make the journey feel like more than a single-purpose expedition.

The $3,500 per-person price includes private transportation, accommodation, park entry fees, gorilla and chimp permits, a safari guide, the boat cruise, and all listed breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Airfare, visas, tips, laundry, souvenirs, and other personal purchases are extra. For a private 10-day trip with both primate permits included, that is a substantial package, though the value depends on your comfort with long drives and a tightly packed schedule.

Arrival in Entebbe and the early start

Your first night is in Entebbe after airport pickup by a Big Apes Africa Safaris representative. This is a sensible opening because it avoids turning an international arrival into an immediate road transfer.

The briefing can happen on arrival or early the next morning, depending on your landing time. The official start time is 5:30 a.m., so you should treat the first night as a practical rest stop rather than a sightseeing evening.

Private transport is useful here. You are not waiting for a large coach or adjusting to strangers’ schedules. You can ask questions, settle into the vehicle, and prepare for the long journey toward Murchison Falls.

Murchison Falls: rhinos, Nile views, and big game

Day two packs several strong experiences into one long outing. You drive west toward Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s largest and best-known parks, then take a walking safari to look for white rhinos.

A rhino walk gives you a closer sense of scale and movement than a vehicle sighting. You are on foot, accompanied by guides, and the experience depends on following instructions and staying alert. Lunch is taken along the way, so expect a practical safari day rather than a polished restaurant stop.

Later, you visit the top of Murchison Falls. The route includes time to walk toward the bottom of the falls for wider views. The Nile forcing itself through the narrow gorge creates the park’s signature scene, and this is one of the few points on the schedule where the scenery competes with the animals.

A guided game drive follows before you reach the lodge. That makes day two especially full. If you prefer unhurried travel, this is an early sign that the program may feel demanding.

Day three starts with another early game drive. The focus is on elephants, hartebeests, antelopes, birds, lions, and possibly leopards. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the range of animals listed gives you a clear idea of what the drive is designed to find.

After lunch, you take a boat along the Nile toward the bottom of Murchison Falls. The water route offers a different angle on the park, with wildlife and birds gathered near the river. The area was also used for the 1951 film The African Queen, an unusual bit of film history connected to the day’s route.

You may add an evening game drive or rest at the lodge. I would keep that choice open. After two early starts, another drive could produce a useful lion or leopard sighting, but an evening off may help you handle the rest of the trip.

Kibale and the Bigodi Wetlands

Day four shifts from open savanna to the forest region around Kibale National Park. The drive south takes much of the day, with lunch en route and arrival at the lodge before a possible community walk.

The main activity comes on day five at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The 4.5-kilometre circuit passes through forest and swamp habitat and is known for birding and monkey sightings. This is not a substitute for the formal chimp tracking later at Kyambura Gorge, but it gives you a gentler introduction to Uganda’s forest life.

Bring patience. Monkey viewing and birding reward careful attention rather than speed. The walk also breaks up the road-heavy structure of the trip, giving you a chance to use your legs before the later gorilla trek.

After Bigodi, you continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The schedule allows for a possible evening game drive, but the key activity is the afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. You look for birds and mammals from the water, where animals may be easier to observe without the movement and noise of a safari vehicle.

This is one of my favorite parts of the route because it changes your viewpoint without requiring another hard trek. You can sit, watch the banks, and take in the concentration of wildlife around the channel. An evening drive remains optional, so you can choose between more searching and a quiet evening at the lodge.

Kyambura Gorge and Ishasha lions

Day six begins at Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking. After a briefing, you join a small group led into the forest by a park ranger. The activity usually lasts about three hours, including about one hour in the company of the chimpanzees once they are found.

The walk requires a moderate level of fitness, and you should carry enough drinking water. Forest paths can be uneven, and the timing may vary depending on where the chimpanzees are located. This is a real tracking activity, not a quick animal viewing stop.

After the gorge, you transfer to Ishasha, an area associated with tree-climbing lions. You check in, then take a game drive in search of them. Seeing lions in trees is never assured, but the search gives this section a distinct purpose rather than repeating the standard savanna drive.

The day ends with a sunset drink in the wilderness. That small pause is welcome after a morning on foot and another transfer. It also gives you a chance to enjoy Ishasha for its atmosphere, not just as a place to tick off a particular lion sighting.

Bwindi and the mountain gorilla trek

Day seven starts with an early game drive in Ishasha. The stated targets include elephants, lions, leopards, and birds. The schedule notes that lions may be easier to locate once the sun has warmed the area, so you can either continue searching or return to the lodge for a break and try again later.

Afterward, you transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is a major transition. The open wildlife viewing of Ishasha gives way to thick tropical forest and a much more physical walking day.

Gorilla trekking takes place on day eight. After breakfast, you drive to the forest briefing point, where rangers explain what to expect. You are then divided into groups of up to eight and led into the forest.

The timing can vary because the gorillas move. Once your group finds them, you have one hour in their company before returning. That hour is the fixed reward for what may be a short or strenuous walk, so you should judge the experience by the entire trek, not only the time spent near the animals.

Pack rain gear. Bwindi is a tropical rainforest, and wet conditions can make steep or slippery sections harder. Water and a lunch box are advised. A porter is available for $15 to carry your bag and help on slippery or steep parts. Even if you are fit, hiring one can be a practical way to support local employment and keep your attention on the forest.

The trek calls for moderate physical fitness, but that phrase should not make you think the walk is easy. The ground may be wet, the route may climb, and you may spend hours moving through forest before reaching the gorillas. Good shoes, water, rain protection, and a willingness to move at the group’s pace matter more than athletic speed.

Lake Bunyonyi brings the pace down

After the intensity of Bwindi, day nine gives you a needed change of rhythm at Lake Bunyonyi. The schedule describes it as one of Uganda’s most beautiful lakes and notes that it is among the deepest lakes 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 water and surrounding communities. You may also explore nearby communities, making this the clearest opportunity for a local or cultural addition to the main wildlife program.

This is a good recovery day. There is no listed major trek or game drive, so you can enjoy breakfast at leisure and decide how active you want to be. If you have spent the previous days rising early and riding between parks, the slower pace will feel well timed.

The long return to Entebbe

Day ten is mostly a return journey to Entebbe. You stop at the Equator for lunch, with time to shop for African crafts before continuing to Entebbe International Airport.

The final day is useful but long, listed at about nine hours. Be cautious about scheduling a tight flight connection. The tour ends back at the meeting point, and the road journey, meal stop, and shopping option all need to fit before your departure.

The Equator stop works best as a break in the drive rather than the main event of the day. It gives you somewhere to stretch, eat, and buy souvenirs, but you should not count on a relaxed final afternoon if your flight leaves soon after arrival.

Guides, group size, and the human side

This is a private activity, so only your own group participates. That gives you more control over breaks, optional evening drives, and the balance between rest and extra activity.

The guide is central to the experience. Tim is singled out for his kindness, professionalism, warmth, and ability to explain what you are seeing. Gerald is also praised for being accommodating, friendly, and careful while driving and explaining the country.

Those details matter on a trip with this many road hours. A guide does more than point out animals. You need someone who can handle early starts, changing wildlife sightings, forest logistics, and the practical needs of a private group.

The small ranger groups during chimp and gorilla activities are separate from the private vehicle arrangement. For gorilla trekking, groups are limited to eight, which keeps the forest encounter relatively contained.

What the $3,500 price includes

At $3,500 per person, this is not a budget safari. Still, the package includes some of the most expensive and difficult-to-arrange parts of a Uganda trip:

• Gorilla trekking permit
• Chimpanzee trekking permit
• Park entry fees
• Private transportation
• Accommodation
• Safari guide
• Boat cruise fees
• Nine breakfasts
• Nine dinners
• Ten lunches

You still need to pay for airfare, visa charges, tips, laundry, souvenirs, and personal items. The listed inclusions make the price easier to assess because the permits and core meals are not left as surprise costs.

I see the strongest value in the combination of private transport and both primate permits. If you tried to arrange the same route alone, you would need to coordinate several parks, lodge stays, road transfers, boat fees, and permit dates. The weakness is that you pay for a busy circuit even if you would prefer more time in fewer parks.

Who should book this trip

I would recommend this safari to you if gorillas are a top priority but you also want rhinos, lions, elephants, chimpanzees, birds, and boat viewing in the same holiday. It suits people with moderate fitness who can manage early mornings, long drives, and wet forest paths.

It also works well for couples, families with appropriate fitness, or a small private group that values having its own vehicle and guide. The optional evening drives and community walk give you some flexibility, though the overall route remains active.

I would hesitate if you want a slow luxury break, dislike road transfers, or need a fully predictable timetable. Wildlife sightings vary, the gorilla trek can be hard, and several days combine a transfer with another major activity.

Practical details before you commit

Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Pack light but prepare for mixed conditions. Bring drinking water, rain gear, sturdy walking shoes, and a lunch box for the gorilla trek. A porter costs $15 if you want help carrying your bag or managing steep, slippery ground.

Ask about the exact lodge locations, vehicle arrangements, and timing before you pay, especially if you are planning an international flight on day ten. The published route is clear, but wildlife activity and road conditions can affect the daily rhythm.

Should you book the 10 Day Gorilla Chimps and Big 5 Safari?

Book it if you want Uganda in broad strokes: rhinos on foot, Nile boat trips, forest monkeys, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lion searches, classic game drives, gorillas, and Lake Bunyonyi. The program gives you a remarkable amount of wildlife variety, and the included permits make the price easier to justify.

Skip it if you would rather spend several days in one park or if long transfers will spoil the trip for you. Before booking, be honest about your fitness and confirm the final-day timing around your flight. For an active first safari in Uganda, this is a strong, demanding choice with an excellent range of experiences.

FAQ

Where does the safari start?

The safari starts with pickup in Entebbe, Uganda. The listed start time is 5:30 a.m.

Where does the safari end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Entebbe after the return journey from Lake Bunyonyi.

Is airport pickup offered?

Yes. On arrival in Entebbe, a representative from Big Apes Africa Safaris transfers you to your hotel.

Are gorilla and chimpanzee permits included?

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

How long do you spend with the gorillas?

Once your group finds the gorillas, you are allowed one hour in their company.

How large are the gorilla trekking groups?

You are divided into groups of up to eight people and led by a park ranger.

How long does chimpanzee tracking take?

The chimpanzee activity at Kyambura Gorge usually takes about three hours, including about one hour with the chimpanzees.

Is a porter available for the gorilla trek?

Yes. A porter can be hired for $15 to carry your bag and help with slippery or steep sections.

What meals are included?

The package includes nine breakfasts, nine dinners, and ten lunches.

What is not included in the price?

Airfare, visa charges, tips, laundry, souvenirs, and other personal items are not included.