10-Day Uganda Safari: Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls
Ten days is the sweet spot for combining Uganda's three flagship parks without rushing. You trek gorillas in Bwindi, spot tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth, and watch the Nile squeeze through a 7-metre gap at Murchison Falls. This article is the day-by-day itinerary with transfer logistics and price comparisons. If you want detail on booking the gorilla permit itself, see our dedicated permit guide; if you're weighing Uganda against Rwanda for gorilla tracking, that comparison is in a separate piece.
Budget from around 3,800 EUR per person on a shared 4x4 with mid-range lodges, up to 6,500 EUR for private departures with premium camps.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Best months | June-July and December-February |
| Price range | 3,800-6,500 EUR per person |
| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights |
| Gorilla permit | USD 800 per person (Bwindi) |
| Entry visa | USD 50 (e-visa, single entry) |
| Closest airport | Entebbe International (EBB) |
| Internal transfers | Road + optional domestic flight to Murchison |
When is the best time to do this Uganda circuit?
June and July are the driest months across all three parks. Forest trails in Bwindi are less slippery, Nile roads stay passable, and the savannah in Queen Elizabeth is easy to drive. December through February is a strong second window: shorter rains ease off and animal concentrations around the Kazinga Channel water sources are excellent. We avoid Bwindi in April and May specifically because the red mountain mud makes the gorilla trek much harder than it needs to be.
Gorilla permits sell out three to six months ahead during peak season. If you're travelling in June or July 2027, reserve the permit before you book flights.
How does the day-by-day itinerary look?
Here is how we typically structure the 10 days, balancing drive times with meaningful time in each park. Long transfers are split with an overnight stop so you arrive fresh.
Day 1. Arrival Entebbe. Land at EBB, transfer to a guesthouse near the lake. If you arrive before 14:00, Entebbe Botanical Garden has wild chimpanzees right at its edges and makes for a low-key first afternoon.
Days 2-3. Queen Elizabeth National Park. Around a 6-hour drive southwest, or a 45-minute domestic flight if you want to save the road. Morning game drive in the Kasenyi sector for lions and elephants. Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel: hippo-dense and good for photography. Day 3 is for the Ishasha sector, the corner of the park where lions climb into fig trees. It sounds like a cliché until you see a pride of eight sprawled across branches 5 metres up. We watched exactly that in December 2024.
Days 4-6. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive from Ishasha to Bwindi is beautiful and only 2 hours, through tea plantations. Day 4: arrival, afternoon briefing with Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. Day 5: the gorilla trek. Treks range from 1 hour to 6 hours depending on where the family has moved overnight; the permit is USD 800 regardless of duration, and you get one unrushed hour with the group. Day 6: optional chimpanzee habituation in Kyambura Gorge or forest walks around Bwindi.
Days 7-8. Transfer north and Murchison Falls National Park. This is the longest leg: roughly 8-9 hours by road, or a domestic flight from Kasese to Pakuba airstrip at around USD 180 one-way. On private trips we almost always fly because the time saving translates directly into an extra game drive. Day 8: full game drive in the northern circuit for Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes and Uganda's largest elephant population. Afternoon: boat cruise from Paraa up to the foot of Murchison Falls. The sight of the Nile being forced through that narrow gorge from the boat deck is something you don't forget.
Day 9. Murchison continuation. Morning game drive. Optional top-of-the-falls hike, an easy 30-minute walk with a clear view down into the gorge. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 10. Return Entebbe, departure. Transfer or flight back to EBB. Most international connections leave in the evening, giving you a useful half-day buffer.
What does this safari cost, and what is included?
How we do it
If you want to travel it with us: 11 days, from 3.995 € per person. Uganda - The Wild Jungle
Here is a straightforward comparison of the two main ways to run this circuit.
| Format | Price per person | Included | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small group (4-6 pax) | 3,800-4,500 EUR | Gorilla permit, all park fees, 4x4, mid-range lodges, full board, driver-guide | Flights to Uganda, visa, travel insurance, tips |
| Private departure | 5,200-6,500 EUR | Same as above plus domestic flights, premium camps, private guide | Flights to Uganda, visa, personal expenses |
The gorilla permit (USD 800) is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and is already inside our package price. The Uganda e-visa (USD 50) you apply for at Uganda's official immigration portal before arrival, and that cost sits outside the package. Budget around USD 100-150 for tips across the whole trip: tracker, driver-guide, lodge staff.
Which lodges do we use on this route?
In Queen Elizabeth, Mweya Safari Lodge sits on a peninsula above the Kazinga Channel and is our standard recommendation. For a more budget-conscious option, Engiri Game Lodge is honest value. In Bwindi, Buhoma Lodge and Mahogany Springs are our favourites near the Buhoma sector entrance. In Murchison, Paraa Safari Lodge is within walking distance of the ferry crossing; Chobe Safari Lodge sits slightly downstream and is very comfortable. All three parks also have community-run bandas at around USD 60-100 per person per night, basic but perfectly adequate.
What wildlife will you actually see?
Uganda has the highest primate diversity in Africa. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi are the headline. In Queen Elizabeth's Ishasha sector, the tree-climbing lion sightings are reliable enough that we've never come away empty-handed. Murchison adds Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes and the country's densest elephant population.
Across all three parks you can also expect hippos, Nile crocodiles, Uganda kobs and shoebill storks. The shoebill looks genuinely prehistoric. Mabamba Swamp near Entebbe is the easiest place to find them, and a 2-hour canoe trip fits neatly into an arrival or departure morning. Uganda sits within the Albertine Rift, the richest zone for endemic species in Africa, and a focused birder can top 300 species on this 10-day circuit.
How do you get between the three parks?
Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi is the easy leg: 2 hours on tarmac through tea plantations. Bwindi to Murchison is the tricky one, nearly 500 km. You can drive it by splitting the journey with a night in Fort Portal, or fly Kasese to Pakuba on Aero Link Uganda for roughly USD 180. On group trips we usually drive to keep costs manageable. On private trips we fly, almost without exception.
If you want to extend this circuit into Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, or you're trying to decide whether to book Bwindi or Rwanda for the gorilla trek, those logistics are covered in our Uganda-Rwanda gorilla comparison article.
FAQ
- Do I need any vaccinations to visit Uganda?
- Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory and you must carry the certificate at all times. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended. Hepatitis A and typhoid are standard additions. Check the latest requirements with your travel health clinic or the NaTHNaC travel health advisory before you travel.
- Can I combine this itinerary with gorilla tracking in Rwanda?
- Yes. You can add Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda either at the start or end of this circuit. Rwanda permits cost USD 1,500 per person, so it adds meaningful cost. Road crossings at Katuna are straightforward. Many clients travelling 14 days or more include both. See our full Uganda-Rwanda gorilla comparison for a detailed breakdown.
- Is this route suitable for children?
- Gorilla trekking has a minimum age of 15. Queen Elizabeth and Murchison are excellent for families with younger children: boat rides, open-vehicle game drives, no age restrictions. If you travel with under-15s, we swap the Bwindi gorilla day for a forest walk or chimp tracking.
- How fit do I need to be for the gorilla trek?
- Reasonably fit, not athletic. The trails are steep and often muddy. Most people who exercise two or three times a week handle it without problems. Uganda Wildlife Authority provides porters at USD 15-20, highly recommended. They carry your bag, help you on slippery sections and the income makes a real difference to local families.
- What currency should I carry?
- US dollars, cash, in clean notes printed after 2006. Most lodges accept cards but connectivity is unreliable in remote areas. Bring USD 300-400 in cash for tips, park extras and incidentals. Ugandan shillings are easy to buy at Entebbe or Kampala on arrival.
Your next step
If you want to travel it with us: 11 days, from 3.995 € per person. Uganda - The Wild Jungle
10-Day Uganda Safari: Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls
Ten days is the sweet spot for combining Uganda's three flagship parks without rushing. You trek gorillas in Bwindi, spot tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth, and watch the Nile squeeze through a 7-metre gap at Murchison Falls. This article is the day-by-day itinerary with transfer logistics and price comparisons. If you want detail on booking the gorilla permit itself, see our dedicated permit guide; if you're weighing Uganda against Rwanda for gorilla tracking, that comparison is in a separate piece.
Budget from around 3,800 EUR per person on a shared 4x4 with mid-range lodges, up to 6,500 EUR for private departures with premium camps.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Best months | June-July and December-February |
| Price range | 3,800-6,500 EUR per person |
| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights |
| Gorilla permit | USD 800 per person (Bwindi) |
| Entry visa | USD 50 (e-visa, single entry) |
| Closest airport | Entebbe International (EBB) |
| Internal transfers | Road + optional domestic flight to Murchison |
When is the best time to do this Uganda circuit?
June and July are the driest months across all three parks. Forest trails in Bwindi are less slippery, Nile roads stay passable, and the savannah in Queen Elizabeth is easy to drive. December through February is a strong second window: shorter rains ease off and animal concentrations around the Kazinga Channel water sources are excellent. We avoid Bwindi in April and May specifically because the red mountain mud makes the gorilla trek much harder than it needs to be.
Gorilla permits sell out three to six months ahead during peak season. If you're travelling in June or July 2027, reserve the permit before you book flights.
How does the day-by-day itinerary look?
Here is how we typically structure the 10 days, balancing drive times with meaningful time in each park. Long transfers are split with an overnight stop so you arrive fresh.
Day 1. Arrival Entebbe. Land at EBB, transfer to a guesthouse near the lake. If you arrive before 14:00, Entebbe Botanical Garden has wild chimpanzees right at its edges and makes for a low-key first afternoon.
Days 2-3. Queen Elizabeth National Park. Around a 6-hour drive southwest, or a 45-minute domestic flight if you want to save the road. Morning game drive in the Kasenyi sector for lions and elephants. Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel: hippo-dense and good for photography. Day 3 is for the Ishasha sector, the corner of the park where lions climb into fig trees. It sounds like a cliché until you see a pride of eight sprawled across branches 5 metres up. We watched exactly that in December 2024.
Days 4-6. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive from Ishasha to Bwindi is beautiful and only 2 hours, through tea plantations. Day 4: arrival, afternoon briefing with Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. Day 5: the gorilla trek. Treks range from 1 hour to 6 hours depending on where the family has moved overnight; the permit is USD 800 regardless of duration, and you get one unrushed hour with the group. Day 6: optional chimpanzee habituation in Kyambura Gorge or forest walks around Bwindi.
Days 7-8. Transfer north and Murchison Falls National Park. This is the longest leg: roughly 8-9 hours by road, or a domestic flight from Kasese to Pakuba airstrip at around USD 180 one-way. On private trips we almost always fly because the time saving translates directly into an extra game drive. Day 8: full game drive in the northern circuit for Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes and Uganda's largest elephant population. Afternoon: boat cruise from Paraa up to the foot of Murchison Falls. The sight of the Nile being forced through that narrow gorge from the boat deck is something you don't forget.
Day 9. Murchison continuation. Morning game drive. Optional top-of-the-falls hike, an easy 30-minute walk with a clear view down into the gorge. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 10. Return Entebbe, departure. Transfer or flight back to EBB. Most international connections leave in the evening, giving you a useful half-day buffer.
What does this safari cost, and what is included?
How we do it
If you want to travel it with us: 11 days, from 3.995 € per person. Uganda - The Wild Jungle
Here is a straightforward comparison of the two main ways to run this circuit.
| Format | Price per person | Included | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small group (4-6 pax) | 3,800-4,500 EUR | Gorilla permit, all park fees, 4x4, mid-range lodges, full board, driver-guide | Flights to Uganda, visa, travel insurance, tips |
| Private departure | 5,200-6,500 EUR | Same as above plus domestic flights, premium camps, private guide | Flights to Uganda, visa, personal expenses |
The gorilla permit (USD 800) is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and is already inside our package price. The Uganda e-visa (USD 50) you apply for at Uganda's official immigration portal before arrival, and that cost sits outside the package. Budget around USD 100-150 for tips across the whole trip: tracker, driver-guide, lodge staff.
Which lodges do we use on this route?
In Queen Elizabeth, Mweya Safari Lodge sits on a peninsula above the Kazinga Channel and is our standard recommendation. For a more budget-conscious option, Engiri Game Lodge is honest value. In Bwindi, Buhoma Lodge and Mahogany Springs are our favourites near the Buhoma sector entrance. In Murchison, Paraa Safari Lodge is within walking distance of the ferry crossing; Chobe Safari Lodge sits slightly downstream and is very comfortable. All three parks also have community-run bandas at around USD 60-100 per person per night, basic but perfectly adequate.
What wildlife will you actually see?
Uganda has the highest primate diversity in Africa. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi are the headline. In Queen Elizabeth's Ishasha sector, the tree-climbing lion sightings are reliable enough that we've never come away empty-handed. Murchison adds Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes and the country's densest elephant population.
Across all three parks you can also expect hippos, Nile crocodiles, Uganda kobs and shoebill storks. The shoebill looks genuinely prehistoric. Mabamba Swamp near Entebbe is the easiest place to find them, and a 2-hour canoe trip fits neatly into an arrival or departure morning. Uganda sits within the Albertine Rift, the richest zone for endemic species in Africa, and a focused birder can top 300 species on this 10-day circuit.
How do you get between the three parks?
Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi is the easy leg: 2 hours on tarmac through tea plantations. Bwindi to Murchison is the tricky one, nearly 500 km. You can drive it by splitting the journey with a night in Fort Portal, or fly Kasese to Pakuba on Aero Link Uganda for roughly USD 180. On group trips we usually drive to keep costs manageable. On private trips we fly, almost without exception.
If you want to extend this circuit into Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, or you're trying to decide whether to book Bwindi or Rwanda for the gorilla trek, those logistics are covered in our Uganda-Rwanda gorilla comparison article.
FAQ
- Do I need any vaccinations to visit Uganda?
- Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory and you must carry the certificate at all times. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended. Hepatitis A and typhoid are standard additions. Check the latest requirements with your travel health clinic or the NaTHNaC travel health advisory before you travel.
- Can I combine this itinerary with gorilla tracking in Rwanda?
- Yes. You can add Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda either at the start or end of this circuit. Rwanda permits cost USD 1,500 per person, so it adds meaningful cost. Road crossings at Katuna are straightforward. Many clients travelling 14 days or more include both. See our full Uganda-Rwanda gorilla comparison for a detailed breakdown.
- Is this route suitable for children?
- Gorilla trekking has a minimum age of 15. Queen Elizabeth and Murchison are excellent for families with younger children: boat rides, open-vehicle game drives, no age restrictions. If you travel with under-15s, we swap the Bwindi gorilla day for a forest walk or chimp tracking.
- How fit do I need to be for the gorilla trek?
- Reasonably fit, not athletic. The trails are steep and often muddy. Most people who exercise two or three times a week handle it without problems. Uganda Wildlife Authority provides porters at USD 15-20, highly recommended. They carry your bag, help you on slippery sections and the income makes a real difference to local families.
- What currency should I carry?
- US dollars, cash, in clean notes printed after 2006. Most lodges accept cards but connectivity is unreliable in remote areas. Bring USD 300-400 in cash for tips, park extras and incidentals. Ugandan shillings are easy to buy at Entebbe or Kampala on arrival.
Your next step
If you want to travel it with us: 11 days, from 3.995 € per person. Uganda - The Wild Jungle
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