10 Days Uganda Adventure Safari
You are looking for a trip that covers the best parts of the country in a single path. This 10-day trip takes you from the dry savannas to the wet rainforests. You will see animals like elephants and lions. You will also spend time with primates like gorillas and chimps. This trip is built for people who want action and nature. It solves the problem of trying to see too much in too little time. We have timed each drive so you spend more time looking at animals and less time sitting in a car.
Understanding Your Gorilla and Chimp Permits
One of the biggest worries for travelers is getting permits. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues these documents. Only a few people can visit the gorillas each day. We handle this process for you immediately after you book. A gorilla permit costs 800 dollars. A chimpanzee permit for Kibale costs 250 dollars. These prices are set by the government to help protect the forest. We check the live permit list before we confirm your dates. This ensures you do not miss out on the main reason for your trip. You should book at least six months early to get the best spots
Safari Highlights
Tracking southern white rhinos on foot at the Ziwa sanctuary.
Watching the powerful Murchison Falls squeeze through a narrow rock gap.
Finding the rare tree-climbing lions in the remote Ishasha plains.
Walking through the thick Bwindi forest to find a mountain gorilla family.
Sitting near wild chimpanzees in the tropical Kibale forest.
Abseiling down the massive 100-meter Sipi Falls.
Rafting through the heavy white water rapids of the River Nile in Jinja.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe and Settling In
Your trip starts at the Entebbe International Airport. This airport sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria. You will meet your driver at the exit gate. They will help you with your bags and take you to your hotel. Entebbe is a quiet town with lots of green trees. It is a good place to rest after a long flight. You can walk to the botanical gardens if you arrive early. You will see many tropical birds and monkeys in the trees there.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: No. 5 Boutique Hotel
Mid-range: 2Friends Beach Hotel
Budget: Airport Link Guest House
Day 2: The Journey to Murchison Falls via Ziwa
You will leave Entebbe early in the morning. The drive goes north through small towns and green farms. Your first stop is the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is the only place in the country to see rhinos
in the wild. You will walk with a ranger to find them. These rhinos are large but peaceful. You can get close enough to take great photos. After lunch, you continue to Murchison Falls National Park. You will enter the park and see the top of the falls. The water makes a loud noise as it drops into the gorge.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge
Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp
Day 3: Lions and Boats on the Nile
You wake up before the sun. This is the best time to find predators like lions and leopards. You will drive across the savanna. You will see thousands of Uganda kob and big herds of buffalo. Giraffes stand tall against the trees. Your driver knows the best tracks to find the hidden animals. In the afternoon, you take a boat trip on the Victoria Nile. You will see hundreds of hippos in the water. Crocodiles sun themselves on the banks. The boat takes you to the base of the falls. You can see the white foam as the water hits the river below.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
Today, you head south to the Kibale Forest. This drive shows you the tea plantations of Fort Portal. The green hills look like waves. Kibale is home to thirteen types of monkeys and apes. It has the highest number of primates in East Africa. You will check into your lodge near the forest edge. You can hear the sounds of the jungle at night. It is a mix of bird calls and monkey screams. This forest is very old and has very tall trees.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
Mid-range: Turaco Treetops
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Day 5:Chimps and Queen Elizabeth Park
You go to the forest center in the morning. A ranger will tell you how to act around the chimps. You then walk into the thick woods. You will listen for their loud hooting. Once you find them, you spend
one hour watching them play and eat. They are very active and move fast through the branches. After the trek, you drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park sits in the rift valley. You will see the tall Rwenzori Mountains in the distance. They are often called the mountains of the moon.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Kasenyi Safari Camp
Budget: The Bush Lodge
Day 6: The Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha
You will drive to the southern part of the park called Ishasha. This area is famous for a rare behavior. The lions here like to climb high into the fig trees. They do this to stay cool and stay away from bugs. You will look up into the branches to find them. It is a strange sight to see a large lion sleeping on a limb. You will also see many elephants and topis in this area. This part of the park feels very wild and empty. There are fewer cars here than in the north.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Mid-range: Enjojo Lodge
Day 7: The Bwindi Gorilla Encounter
This is the most important day of your trip. You will drive into the high mountains of Bwindi. The forest is very thick and dark green. You will meet your group at the park gate. You will then hike into
the steep hills. The walk can be hard and muddy. You might hike for two hours or six hours. When you find the gorillas, everything changes. You will sit just a few meters from a giant silverback. He is the leader of the family. You will see mothers holding their babies. You spend sixty minutes with them. It is a very quiet and moving time. You will never forget the look in their eyes.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge. This is the highest lodge in the country.
Mid-range: Mahogany Springs. It has large stone rooms and a great fireplace.
Budget: Bakiga Lodge. This lodge supports local water projects in the village.
Day 8: Resting at Lake Bunyonyi
After the hard hike, you need to rest your legs. You will drive to Lake Bunyonyi. This lake is very deep and has 29 islands. It is one of the few lakes in the region where you can swim safely. There are no hippos or crocodiles here. You can take a dugout canoe to visit the islands. You can hear the stories of the “Punishment Island.” You can also just sit on the balcony and look at the mist on the water. The air is cool and fresh here.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort
Mid-range: Arcadia Cottages
Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 9: Sipi Falls and the Abseiling Challenge
Most people go back to Entebbe now, but you are going East. This is the special part of your trip. You will drive to Mount Elgon to see Sipi Falls. These are three big waterfalls that drop down the cliffs. The 
main fall is 100 meters high. This is where you can try abseiling. You will wear a harness and lower yourself down the rock face. You will be right next to the falling water. It is a big rush for anyone who loves a thrill. If you do not want to abseil, you can hike to the top of the falls. The view of the plains below is vast.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Sipi River Lodge. These cozy cottages sit right by the river.
Mid-range: Rafiki Lodge Sipi. This lodge has the best views of the main waterfall.
Day 10: White Water Rafting in Jinja
Your last day is for the River Nile. You drive to Jinja, which is the center of action in East Africa. You will get on a raft with a professional team. You will face some of the biggest rapids in the world. The water is warm, and the waves are huge. You will get wet, and you might fall in, but it is very safe. The team uses high-quality gear and follows boats. After the rafting, you will have a big lunch. You then drive back to Entebbe for your flight home. This is the end of your ten-day circle.
Optional Things To Do
You can add these activities to your trip to see more of the country.
Kazinga Channel Boat Trip: This is a two-hour trip in Queen Elizabeth Park. You will sit on a boat and watch hippos and crocodiles. Elephants often come to the water to bathe. It is the best way to see animals without driving.
Hot Air Balloon Ride: In Murchison Falls, you can go up in a balloon at sunrise. You will see the animals in the sky. It ends with a breakfast in the bush with a glass of bubbles.
Night Forest Walk: In Kibale, you can go into the woods at night with a torch. You will look for small animals like bushbabies and pottos. They have very large eyes that glow in the light.
Lion Tracking: You can join the researchers who study the lions. You will use a radio to find the pride. This lets you see how the animals live every day.
- Batwa Cultural Walk: In Bwindi, you can walk with the local people who used to live in the forest. They will show you how they hunted and found medicine in the plants
Getting Ready and Packing
You need to pack the right things to stay comfortable. The weather changes from hot to cold very fast.
Clothing: Pack light clothes in earth colors like green or brown. Do not bring bright colors because they attract bugs. Do not bring clothes with a camo print as they are against the law.
Layers: Bring a warm sweater for the mornings. Bring a light rain jacket for the forest.
Shoes: You must have strong boots that keep your water out. Do not wear new shoes for the first time on your trek. You need to wear them at home first.
Gear: Bring a small bag to carry your water and camera. Bring a pair of gardening gloves. These help you grab vines and trees during your hike.
Power: Uganda uses the 3-pin plugs from the UK. Bring an adapter so you can charge your phone.
Health: You must have a yellow fever card to enter the country. Bring pills to prevent malaria and a strong spray for bugs.
What is Included and Excluded
What you get:
A 4×4 car with a roof that opens for photos.
A local driver who stays with you the whole time.
All your meals and a place to sleep every night.
Your permits to see the gorillas and the chimps.
Entry fees for all the national parks.
Bottled water in the car every day.
Pickup and drop off at the airport.
What you need to pay for:
Your flight from your home to Uganda.
Your entry visa, which you get online.
Travel insurance for your health.
Drinks like soda or beer at the lodges.
Tips for the people who help you at the lodges.
The extra things to do, like the balloon or rafting.
