11-Day Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach Safari

Pickup : Entebbe Airport
Drop-off : Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

Tour Overview

This 11-day journey takes you through the very best of East Africa. The Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach safari opens in Uganda, where you explore Murchison Falls National Park, track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, and watch lions and elephants roam Queen Elizabeth National Park. The high point of the trip is coming face to face with endangered mountain gorillas deep inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a moment that changes the way you see the wild forever. The adventure then winds down on the sun warmed, white sand beaches of Zanzibar, where the Indian Ocean invites you to slow down and simply be.

Cost Includes

Transportation (Car, Fuel, Driver Guide)
Meals & Accommodation as mentioned
Gorilla Trekking Permit
Park Entrance Fees (Savannah Parks)
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit
Rhino Tracking Fee
Boat Cruises
Flight from Kigali to Zanzibar
Optional Kigali City Tour
Bottled Drinking Water
Government Taxes

Cost Excludes

International Flights
Accommodation Before and After your Trip
Optional Batwa Cultural Experience
Bigodi Sanctuary Nature Walk
Sourvenirs
Tips & Porter Hiring

Travel Plan

Day 1: Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Your Iconic Africa Safaris driver guide will collect you from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Entebbe in a comfortable 4×4 Land Cruiser and begin the drive north toward Murchison Falls National Park. On the way, you stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see southern white rhinos roaming freely. A short guided walk brings you close to these magnificent animals before you continue on to the park. You arrive at the lodge in the evening, in time for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Accommodation: Tilenga Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise

After breakfast, you set out at 6:00am for a morning game drive across the park’s open savannah. Murchison Falls is home to some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife. You have a strong chance of spotting herds of elephants and buffaloes, a pride of lions, and on a good day a leopard resting in the branches of a tree or hidden in the tall grass. Giraffes move gracefully through the acacia trees, alongside topis, Uganda kobs, impalas, and bushbucks. Birdwatchers will enjoy sightings of the rare shoebill stork, African fish eagle, goliath heron, and several species of kingfisher.

After the game drive, you return to the lodge for lunch and some rest before heading out in the afternoon for a boat cruise along the Nile toward the base of Murchison Falls. The cruise is spectacular: hippos yawn and grunt from the water’s edge, large Nile crocodiles bask on the riverbanks, and colourful water birds such as herons, pied kingfishers, African skimmers, and bee eaters line the shores. As you approach the falls, the roar of water forcing through a narrow gorge and dropping 43 metres is simply breathtaking.

Accommodation: Tilenga Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Hike to the Top of the Falls & Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

This morning you have the option of hiking to the top of Murchison Falls before departing. This short but rewarding optional hike brings you to the exact point where the full force of the Nile squeezes through a gap only 7 metres wide, sending a powerful jet of water crashing into the gorge below, a truly awe inspiring sight. Afterward, the drive turns south to Kibale Forest National Park, passing through rolling green hills, tea plantations, and small towns along the way. You will arrive at your treetop lodge, tucked inside the forest, by evening.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking (Morning) & Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Late Afternoon)

You are up at 5:30am for an early breakfast so you are ready for the 7:30am briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. Park rangers explain the rules for chimp trekking: keeping a safe distance, no flash photography, and staying quiet so the chimps are not disturbed. Visitors are split into small groups so the experience stays personal and intimate. You then walk into the lush forest with your guide in search of habituated chimpanzee families. Once you find them, you spend a full hour watching them go about their day: feeding on wild fruit, grooming one another, calling through the canopy, and caring for their young. It is a deeply moving and unforgettable encounter.

After trekking, you return to the lodge for lunch and some downtime. In the afternoon, the drive continues 2 to 3 hours south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in time for dinner.

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Standard Cottage)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise

You head out at 6:00am for a game drive across the famous Kasenyi Plains, one of the best places in Uganda to find lions. Queen Elizabeth National Park holds large herds of elephants and buffaloes, lions, leopards, warthogs, topis, Uganda kobs, impalas, and bushbucks. It is also one of Africa’s top birding destinations, with over 600 species recorded, including the African skimmer, palm nut vulture, and papyrus gonolek.

After lunch at the lodge, you head out for an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel holds one of the highest concentrations of hippos anywhere in Africa. You drift slowly past hundreds of hippos wallowing in the shallows, large Nile crocodiles stretched out on the banks, and big flocks of water birds including pink backed pelicans, African spoonbills, and great white egrets. Elephants and buffaloes often come down to the water’s edge to drink, making for wonderful sightings.

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Standard Cottage)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Morning Game Drive in Ishasha & Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

This morning takes you to the remote Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, known worldwide for its tree climbing lions. Unlike lions elsewhere, the Ishasha lions are famous for lounging lazily in the branches of large fig trees, a rare and remarkable sight. You search for them during a morning game drive before continuing on to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, arriving at your lodge by evening.

Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Experience & Evening Optional Activities

This is the moment the whole Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach journey has been building toward. You are up at 5:30am for breakfast, then head to the park headquarters for the 7:30am briefing. Rangers explain the rules for gorilla trekking carefully: keeping a distance of at least 10 metres, keeping your voice low, and limiting your time with the gorillas to exactly 1 hour to minimise stress on the animals. Groups are capped at 8 trekkers per gorilla family to protect the intimacy of the experience.

You then set off into the ancient forest with your ranger guides. The trek can last anywhere from 1 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas have moved that day. When you finally find them, you spend 1 unforgettable hour watching a habituated mountain gorilla family go about its day: silverbacks beating their chests, mothers nursing their infants, juveniles tumbling and playing, and the whole family feeding on leaves, stems, and wild fruit. It is an emotional, humbling experience that many visitors describe as the highlight of their lives, and the true heart of any Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach itinerary.

After trekking, you return to the lodge for a well earned lunch and some rest. In the evening you have a few choices. You can join a Batwa Cultural Experience, where the Batwa community, the original forest dwellers of Bwindi, share their traditions, songs, dances, and forest survival skills. You can browse the craft markets in the nearby villages for handmade baskets, carvings, and jewellery, supporting the local community directly. Or you can simply relax at the lodge and take in the day. From here, the trip shifts gears, leaving the forest behind for the beaches of Zanzibar.

Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Drive to Kigali & Flight to Zanzibar

After breakfast, the drive from Bwindi to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, will take roughly 4 to 5 hours, including time for the Uganda to Rwanda border crossing. Depending on your flight time, you may have the chance to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a deeply moving and important site that tells the story of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which more than 800,000 people lost their lives. The memorial is a place of reflection, remembrance, and hope.

From Kigali, you will fly on to Zanzibar (Abeid Amani Karume International Airport), typically connecting through Dar es Salaam depending on airline schedules, arriving on this beautiful island off the coast of Tanzania. This flight marks the turning point of the Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach safari, from forest and savannah to ocean and sand. Your local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your beach hotel, where you settle in and enjoy dinner by the sea.

Accommodation: Villa Kiva Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Beach Day, Rest, Relax & Explore

This day is entirely yours. Spend it unwinding on the pristine white sand beach, with the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean stretching out before you. You can swim, snorkel, paddleboard, or try other water sports available at the resort. Take long walks along the shore, enjoy fresh tropical fruit, soak up the sun, and let the ocean breeze wash away any tiredness left over from the safari. This is the true beach half of the Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach experience: no schedules, no guides, just rest.

Accommodation: Villa Kiva Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Dolphin Excursion & Stone Town

After breakfast, you drive south to the quiet fishing village of Kizimkazi, one of the most famous dolphin watching spots in the world. Two species of wild dolphin, bottlenose dolphins and Indo Pacific humpback dolphins, live naturally in these warm coastal waters. You board a traditional wooden dhow and head out to sea to find them. With luck, you watch them leap and swim close to the boat, and you may even get the chance to snorkel in the clear water alongside them. The experience is gentle, unhurried, and genuinely magical.

After the excursion, you enjoy lunch on the way before driving into Zanzibar’s historic Stone Town in the late afternoon. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a maze of narrow alleys, coral stone buildings, carved wooden doors, spice markets, and mosques that tell the story of Zanzibar’s Swahili, Arab, and Portuguese heritage.

Accommodation: Villa Kiva Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11: Departure

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few last hours for a morning stroll, some last minute souvenir shopping, or one more quiet moment by the ocean. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your flight to Dar es Salaam and your onward international connection home, carrying memories from your Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach safari that will last a lifetime.

Accommodation: End of tour (no accommodation unless requested)
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Answered FAQs

How much does this safari cost, and can it be customized?

The cost is $5,600 per person, based on 2 people sharing, mid range accommodation, and the transportation and inclusions listed below.

Included: Transportation, including transfers and game drives in a 4×4 Land Cruiser All meals and accommodation as indicated in the itinerary Rhino tracking fee Park entrance fees (savannah parks) Gorilla trekking permit Chimpanzee trekking permit Boat cruises in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks Flight from Kigali to Zanzibar Zanzibar beach activities En route lunches Bottled drinking water Optional Kigali city tour Government taxes

Can this itinerary be customized? Yes. Days can be added or removed, accommodation can be upgraded or adjusted, and the balance between Uganda and Zanzibar can be shifted, for example by adding extra beach days, extending gorilla trekking to a second permit, or adding a Kigali city tour. Let us know your preferences and travel dates and we will tailor the Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach safari to fit.

How physically demanding is this safari?

Overall, this is a moderate itinerary suited to most reasonably fit travellers. Gorilla trekking is the most demanding day, since it involves hiking through steep, sometimes muddy, high altitude forest for anywhere from 1 to 6 hours, and porters are available to help carry your daypack and support you on the trail. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest is generally easier and shorter. Game drives and boat cruises involve no walking at all, and the Zanzibar section of the trip is almost entirely restful, giving you a comfortable balance between activity and relaxation across the full Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach experience.

What is the best time of year to go on this trip?

The best months for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking are the drier periods from June to September and from December to February, when trails are firmer and easier to walk. Zanzibar is at its best during those same dry windows, from June to October and again from December to February, while the long rains between March and May bring heavier showers to both Uganda and Zanzibar and are best avoided if possible. Because the dry seasons overlap well, most travellers plan their Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach trip for June through September or December through February.

What should I pack for safari?

Pack light, neutral coloured clothing (khaki, olive, grey) for game drives and forest walks, and sturdy waterproof hiking boots for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking.

Bring a warm fleece or jacket for early morning game drives, a rain jacket, gardening style gloves for gripping vegetation on the trek, a hat, sunglasses, and high factor sunscreen.

Insect repellent and your malaria prophylaxis are essential, along with any personal medication and a basic first aid kit.

A facemask is required for gorilla trekking, since Uganda Wildlife Authority rules ask trekkers to wear one near the gorillas to protect them from human respiratory illnesses, so pack a few.

Bring binoculars and a camera with a good zoom for wildlife and birding.

For the Zanzibar leg, pack swimwear, light breathable clothing, a beach cover up, reef safe sunscreen, and snorkelling gear if you have your own, plus a modest outfit for visiting Stone Town’s mosques and old town.

Are the gorilla and chimpanzee permits guaranteed?

Permits are issued in limited numbers by the relevant wildlife authorities to protect primate populations. Before your booking is confirmed, we check permit availability and purchase the permits on your behalf, so once confirmed, your trekking spots are guaranteed. Because demand is high during peak months, you should book this itinerary 4 to 6 months in advance, especially for peak season travel.

What type of vehicle is used for transportation?

Within Uganda, you travel in a customised 4×4 safari Land Cruiser fitted with a pop up roof for wildlife viewing and photography. The vehicle has four wheel drive to handle rough park tracks and rural dirt roads, comes stocked with bottled drinking water, and is set up so every passenger gets a window seat. In Zanzibar, transfers and excursions use a private car or minivan on land, and a traditional wooden dhow for the Kizimkazi dolphin trip.

Do I need a visa for Uganda, Rwanda, and Zanzibar (Tanzania)?

Most nationalities need a visa for Uganda and Rwanda, and many travellers use the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya on a single visa for multiple entries within 90 days. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so a separate Tanzanian visa is required for that leg of the trip, available on arrival for many nationalities or in advance through an e-visa. Requirements vary by nationality, so we recommend checking with the relevant embassy or an official visa portal a few months before travel, and we are happy to advise based on your passport.

Is the Kigali to Zanzibar flight included, and how does it work?

Yes, the flight from Kigali to Zanzibar is included in the cost of this itinerary. It is typically routed through Dar es Salaam depending on the day and airline, and our team books it on your behalf as part of the arrangements, so you simply need to be ready at Kigali airport after the drive from Bwindi.