10 Days Best Uganda Family Safari – Gorillas, Wildlife, Chimps & Scenic Landscapes
This 10 Days Best Uganda Family Safari is a beautifully balanced journey through Uganda’s most iconic national parks perfect for families seeking adventure, wildlife, culture, relaxation, and unforgettable bonding moments. From the thunderous Murchison Falls and the playful chimps in Kibale Forest to the tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the gentle mountain gorillas of Bwindi Forest, this safari offers a smooth, safe, and enriching family travel experience.
Each day is thoughtfully designed to minimize long distances, include fun activities for children and adults, and ensure comfortable accommodation. With a private driver-guide, a well-maintained 4×4 safari vehicle, handpicked lodges, and carefully paced days, this family safari guarantees comfort, safety, and magical memories.
Safari Summary (At a Glance)
- Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Airport pickup & welcome night
- Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls NP via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 3: Game drive + Nile boat safari to the base of Murchison Falls
- Day 4: Scenic transfer to Kibale Forest – Overnight in primate territory
- Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi Wetland Nature Walk
- Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – Crater drive en route
- Day 7: Morning game drive & Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha – Search for tree-climbing lions
- Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi relaxation & return to Entebbe / departure
Detailed 10 Days Best Uganda Family Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Airport Pickup & Welcome Night
Your driver-guide meets you at Entebbe International Airport and transfers you to your chosen lodge. Depending on arrival time, you may enjoy optional activities such as a sunset walk along Lake Victoria or a craft market visit.
Drive time: 15–25 minutes
Overnight in Entebbe.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, start your journey north toward Uganda’s largest national park. En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking—an exciting opportunity for the whole family to see rhinos on foot.
After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls NP and visit the Top of the Falls, where the Nile squeezes through a 7-meter gorge before plunging 45 meters. The thunder and mist create the perfect family photo moment.
Drive time: 5–6 hours (with stops)
Overnight in Murchison Falls NP.
Day 3: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Nile Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, enjoy a thrilling morning game drive on the northern savannah plains. Expect sightings of giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, lions, hartebeest, waterbucks, and countless birds.
After lunch, take a family-friendly boat safari to the base of Murchison Falls, spotting hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and water birds along the Nile. Kids love the dramatic approach to the waterfall.
Drive time: Short transfers within the park
Overnight in Murchison Falls NP.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest – Home of Primates
After breakfast, begin a scenic drive south toward Kibale Forest, the primate capital of Africa. The journey passes through tea plantations, crater lakes, and views of the Rwenzori Mountains. Stop for lunch and photo breaks along the way.
Drive time: 6–7 hours
Check in to your lodge nestled near the forest.
Overnight in Kibale.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Walk
In the morning, report to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing before your chimpanzee trekking adventure. Spend time watching chimps feeding, grooming, calling, and leaping through the trees.
After lunch, enjoy a Bigodi Wetland Walk, an excellent family activity with monkeys, birds, butterflies, and local community encounters.
Drive time: Short transfers near the forest
Overnight in Kibale.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today you transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda’s most diverse savannah park. Take a scenic route via the crater lakes region for spectacular panoramas and photo stops.
Drive time: 2.5–3 hours
Check in and relax at the lodge.
Overnight in Queen Elizabeth NP.
Day 7: Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Enjoy a morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, rich with lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and colorful birdlife.
In the afternoon, embark on a Kazinga Channel boat cruise, famous for its high concentration of hippos and the best birdwatching in East Africa. Animals gather here to drink—perfect for family photos.
Drive time: Short transfers
Overnight in Queen Elizabeth NP.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha – Search for Tree-Climbing Lions
After breakfast, drive through the Ishasha sector, home to the rare tree-climbing lions. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home of the mountain gorillas.
Drive time: 4–5 hours
Check in at your Rushaga lodge.
Overnight in Bwindi (Rushaga region).
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today is the highlight of your family safari. After a briefing at Rushaga, join your ranger guides and enter the rainforest in search of a mountain gorilla family. Trekking can take 2–6 hours depending on gorilla movement.
Spend one magical hour with the gorillas as you observe them eating, playing, and interacting. Children aged 15+ may participate.
Drive time: Short lodge–park transfer
Return to the lodge for relaxation.
Overnight in Bwindi.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & Return to Entebbe
After breakfast, drive to Lake Bunyonyi, the most beautiful lake in Uganda, for a relaxing boat cruise and island sightseeing. Later, begin your journey back to Entebbe with a lunch stop on the way.
Drive time:
• Bwindi → Bunyonyi: 2 hours
• Bunyonyi → Entebbe: 7–8 hours
Drop-off at Entebbe Airport or your hotel.
End of your 10 Days Best Uganda Family Safari.
Accommodation Options
Entebbe
Budget: Malakai Eco Lodge
Midrange: 2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe
Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Hotel
Murchison Falls National Park
Budget: Fort Murchison
Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Kibale Forest
Budget: Kibale Forest Lodge
Midrange: Bweza Kibale Lodge
Luxury: Chimpundu Lodge
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Budget: Kazinga Wilderness Camp
Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Rushaga Sector)
Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
Midrange: Bweza Gorilla Lodge
Luxury: Four Gorillas Lodge
10 Days Best Uganda Family Safari Notes
Your 10 Days Best Uganda Family Safari has been carefully designed to ensure maximum comfort, smooth logistics, and an enriching experience for travelers of all ages. Uganda’s national parks are safe, well-managed, and ideal for families seeking adventure with responsible and professional guidance. Below are important notes to help you prepare and get the very best out of your journey.
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking:
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi requires participants to be 15 years and above, while chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest is suitable for travelers aged 12+. Treks can last between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the gorillas’ movement, and you will be accompanied by experienced rangers who ensure safety and a memorable encounter. Good hiking shoes, garden gloves, a rain jacket, and long trousers are recommended.
Family Travel Pace:
The itinerary is designed with a comfortable pace, fewer early mornings, and shorter transfer days where possible. Lodges are family-friendly and offer a peaceful environment for relaxation, swimming (where available), and unwinding after game drives or treks.
Safari Vehicle & Driver-Guide:
You will travel in a private 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for photography and wildlife viewing. Your English-speaking driver-guide is experienced in family travel, safety, and wildlife interpretation, ensuring that every member of the family remains comfortable and engaged throughout the journey.
Wildlife Viewing:
Uganda’s wildlife sightings are excellent all year round. Animals such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, and lions are commonly seen. The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth is the only place in East Africa famous for tree-climbing lions, and this safari includes a dedicated stop to maximize your chances of seeing them.
Weather & Packing:
Uganda enjoys a temperate climate year-round. Days are warm, while mornings and evenings can be cool—especially in Bwindi and Kibale. Pack light clothing for the day, warm layers for evenings, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars, and a good camera.
Road Conditions & Driving Times:
Uganda’s scenic countryside offers beautiful landscapes and smooth major highways; however, some sections near national parks can be bumpy. All transfers have been planned with comfort and realistic timing in mind.
Health & Safety:
Our team provides safe drinking water in the vehicle and at all lodges. Ensure you have yellow fever vaccination proof, personal medication, and consult your doctor about malaria prophylaxis. Your driver-guide will handle all park procedures, permits, and security briefings.
Dietary Requirements:
All lodges can cater to special dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and child-friendly meals. Kindly inform us in advance so arrangements can be made throughout the safari.
Local Community Interaction:
This safari supports local communities through employment, conservation fees, community tourism initiatives, and handicraft purchases. We encourage respectful engagement, photography with permission, and supporting local initiatives where possible.
Permits & Booking:
Gorilla permits (USD 800 per person) and chimpanzee permits (USD 200 per person) are limited and must be booked early. Pieland Gorilla Safaris handles all permit arrangements to ensure guaranteed trekking availability on your preferred dates.
Flexibility:
The safari itinerary can be customized to suit your family’s preferences—whether you want slower days, more activities, luxury lodge upgrades, or a shorter/longer version of the trip. Our team can tailor it upon request.
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