10 Day Uganda Safari: Overview and What to Expect
A 10 day Uganda safari covers the four main wildlife regions in a logical southern loop without backtracking. You experience rainforest primates, open savanna big game and ancient impenetrable forest gorillas across a compact but diverse country. Mid-range total cost runs approximately $5,500 to $7,000 per person excluding international flights.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 1: Arrive Entebbe, Transfer to Kibale
Your safari begins with arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Transfer immediately toward Kibale Forest, a 5 to 6 hour drive northwest via Kampala and Mubende. Arrive at your lodge by early evening. Rest and acclimatize for the activities ahead. Budget accommodation at Kibale: $40 to $70 per night. Mid-range: $120 to $200 per night. Luxury: $300 to $500 per night.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 2: Chimp Trekking and Bigodi Wetland
The chimp trek begins at 7:30am from Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. Your ranger group enters the forest to track one of Kibale’s 1,500 resident chimpanzees. The permit costs $250 per person. Most treks last 2 to 5 hours. The afternoon visit to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary costs $10 and adds grey-cheeked mangabeys, red colobus, olive colobus and exceptional birds to your primate count.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 3: Queen Elizabeth Drive and Kazinga Channel
Drive south from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park — approximately 4 hours. Check in at your Mweya or channel-side lodge. Take the 2pm Kazinga Channel boat cruise at $30 per person. The two-hour cruise delivers hippos, crocodiles, elephants at the water’s edge and over 200 waterbird species from extremely close range. This ranks among Uganda’s highest-value single activities.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 4: Kasenyi Game Drive and Optional Kyambura Chimps
Rise at 5:30am for the Kasenyi Plains game drive. Lions hunt most actively in this window. Buffaloes graze in herds of 200 or more. Uganda kob display in open leks. Uganda’s largest elephant herds pass through Kasenyi during dry season. Optional afternoon activity: Kyambura Gorge chimp trekking at $50 per person. The gorge holds a small isolated chimp community in dramatic rift valley scenery.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi
Drive from Queen Elizabeth south to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — approximately 4 hours. The road passes through Kigezi Highlands with extraordinary views of terraced hillsides and tea estates. Arrive at Bwindi in the afternoon. Rest before the most anticipated morning of the safari. This day involves no major paid activities — use it for briefing, walking the village edge or visiting the Batwa Trail.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 6: Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi
Your $800 gorilla permit covers this morning. The pre-trek briefing begins at 7am at the park gate. Rangers divide guests into groups of maximum eight per permitted gorilla family. Trekking starts at 7:30am and can last 2 to 8 hours depending on gorilla family location. You spend exactly one hour with the family once found. The experience consistently ranks as the most profound wildlife encounter in East Africa.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 7: Batwa Cultural Experience or Rest
The Batwa Trail costs $30 per adult and takes 3 to 4 hours. Batwa elders lead you along the forest edge, demonstrating traditional fire-making, honey gathering, medicinal plant use and ancestral storytelling. Community managers direct over 90 percent of trail revenue to participating Batwa families. Alternatively, rest at your lodge, walk the village or hire a local guide for a community walk at $10 to $15.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 8: Transfer to Mgahinga or Lake Bunyonyi
Drive from Bwindi toward either Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (45 minutes) or Lake Bunyonyi (45 to 60 minutes from Bwindi). Mgahinga suits travelers who want golden monkey trekking tomorrow. Lake Bunyonyi suits travelers wanting rest, canoeing and extraordinary lake scenery. The lake sits at 1,962m altitude, keeping malaria risk very low and temperatures pleasantly cool.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking or Lake Bunyonyi Activities
Golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga costs $100 per person. These endangered golden-orange primates live only in the Virunga bamboo zone and number fewer than 4,000 individuals. The trek lasts 2 to 4 hours. Alternatively, spend the day canoeing between Lake Bunyonyi’s 29 islands at $10 to $15 per hour for a dugout canoe. Swimming, birding and island hiking complete a perfect recovery day after the gorilla trek intensity.
10 Day Uganda Safari Day 10: Return to Entebbe and Depart
The drive from Lake Bunyonyi or Kisoro to Entebbe takes approximately 7 to 8 hours. Depart early morning to connect with evening international flights. The route passes through Mbarara and the Equator crossing point on the main highway — worth a 10-minute stop. Book your gorilla permit 9 to 12 months before departure. Book accommodation 3 to 6 months ahead during peak season June through September.
| Day | Location | Key Activity | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kibale | Transfer, settle in | Transport |
| 2 | Kibale | Chimp trek + Bigodi | $260 |
| 3 | Queen Elizabeth | Kazinga Channel cruise | $70 |
| 4 | Queen Elizabeth | Game drive + optional chimps | $40–90 |
| 5 | Bwindi | Transfer + Batwa optional | $0–30 |
| 6 | Bwindi | Gorilla trekking | $800 |
| 7 | Bwindi | Batwa Trail or rest | $0–30 |
| 8 | Lake Bunyonyi/Mgahinga | Transfer | Transport |
| 9 | Mgahinga/Lake Bunyonyi | Golden monkeys or canoeing | $10–100 |
| 10 | Entebbe | Return drive, depart | Transport |
Plan Your Uganda Safari Itinerary
Building Your Custom Itinerary
Start With Your Travel Dates
Send African Wild Trekkers your preferred travel window and group size. We check gorilla permit availability first — permits anchor the entire itinerary. Once your permit date is confirmed, we build every other day around it.
Choose Your Budget and Style
We build Uganda safaris at every level — budget guesthouses at $150 per day, mid-range lodges at $350 to $550 per day, and luxury camps at $800 to $2,000 per day. Tell us your preferences and we match the itinerary to your comfort and budget.
Full Package Inclusions
All Permits and Park Entry Fees
Your gorilla permit ($800), chimpanzee permit ($200) and all national park entry fees are included in your confirmed package price. No unexpected costs appear at park gates or trailheads during your trip.
Logistics From Arrival to Departure
Private safari vehicle, driver-guide, all accommodation, full-board meals and airport transfers from Entebbe on day one through your final departure are included. You land and we handle everything from that point forward.
Our Promise to You
Transparent, Itemised Pricing
Every quote we send is fully itemised. You see exactly what each cost covers before you commit. We never use vague “from” pricing or add fees after booking confirmation.
Book Your Uganda Safari Now
Contact us at africanwildtrekkers.com/contact to start building your itinerary. We respond within 24 hours and have your personalised plan ready within three working days.
