Safari overview
Pair mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and classic game viewing in Uganda with a restful finale on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar.
This private eleven-day safari combines unforgettable wildlife encounters with a relaxing tropical escape. Starting at Entebbe Airport, you travel north to Murchison Falls for game drives, a Nile boat cruise and an optional hike to the top of the falls, then turn south to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking. The journey continues to Queen Elizabeth National Park for savannah game drives and a cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
The highlight is the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park mountain gorilla trekking experience, reached through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth. After meeting a habituated gorilla family, you drive to Kigali and fly to Zanzibar for peaceful days beside the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, including a dolphin excursion at Kizimkazi and an afternoon in historic Stone Town.
Choose budget, mid-range or luxury accommodation to suit your style. The itinerary can also be tailored: add extra beach days, a second gorilla permit or a Kigali city tour, and we will shape the balance between Uganda and Zanzibar to fit your plans.
Tour highlights
Experience Uganda’s savannah wildlife, riverbanks and rainforests, then unwind on Zanzibar’s white sand beaches, all on one private eleven-day journey.
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking in the tropical rainforest of Kibale
- Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary stop on the way to Murchison Falls
- Nile boat cruise and optional hike to the top of Murchison Falls
- Kasenyi Plains game drive and Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Search for tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector
- Relaxing beach days on Zanzibar’s white sand coast
- Kizimkazi dolphin excursion and a visit to historic Stone Town
Detailed itinerary
Day 1
Entebbe to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Your driver-guide meets you at Entebbe Airport or your hotel in the Entebbe area. After a short briefing, begin the journey north towards Murchison Falls National Park in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle.
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 to the park. Arrive at your lodge in the evening in time for dinner and a good night’s rest.
- Approximately 5 to 6 hours’ drive, plus time at the sanctuary
- Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge | Mid-Range: Tilenga Safari Lodge | Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
- Lunch and dinner
Day 2
Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Nile Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, set out at about 6:00am for a game drive across the park’s open savannah. Murchison Falls is home to some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife, and you have a strong chance of spotting herds of elephants and buffaloes, giraffes, lions and, on a good day, a leopard resting in a tree. Topis, Uganda kobs, impalas and bushbucks graze the plains, while birdwatchers may spot the rare shoebill, African fish eagle, goliath heron and several kingfishers.
Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest, then board a boat on the Nile and cruise towards the base of Murchison Falls. Hippos grunt from the water’s edge, large crocodiles bask on the banks and colourful water birds line the shores. As you approach the falls, the roar of the water forcing through a narrow gorge and dropping 43 metres is simply breathtaking.
Return to your lodge for dinner and a second night in the park.
- Morning game drive; afternoon boat cruise
- Budget: Hornbill Bush Lodge | Mid-Range: Tilenga Safari Lodge | Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3
Hike to the Top of the Falls and Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
This morning you may take an optional hike to the top of Murchison Falls before departing. The short but rewarding walk brings you to the 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.
Afterwards, drive south towards Kibale Forest National Park, passing rolling green hills, tea plantations and small towns along the way. Arrive at your forest lodge by evening, have dinner and rest ahead of your chimpanzee trek.
- Optional falls hike; approximately 5 to 7 hours’ drive, depending on stops and road conditions
- Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge | Mid-Range: Turaco Treetops | Luxury: Chimpundu Lodge
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4
Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy an early breakfast before the morning briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. Park rangers explain the rules for chimpanzee trekking, including keeping a safe distance, no flash photography and staying quiet, and visitors are split into small groups to keep the experience personal.
Walk into the lush forest with your guide in search of a habituated chimpanzee community. Once found, you spend a full hour watching them feed on wild fruit, groom one another, call through the canopy and care for their young.
After trekking, return to the lodge for lunch and some downtime, then drive about 2 to 3 hours south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in time for dinner.
- Morning chimpanzee trek; approximately 2 to 3 hours’ afternoon drive
- Budget: Pumba Safari Lodge | Mid-Range: Buffalo Safari Lodge | Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5
Kasenyi Plains Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Head out at about 6:00am for a game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, one of the best places in Uganda to find lions. Queen Elizabeth National Park also holds large herds of elephants and buffaloes, along with warthogs, topis, Uganda kobs and impalas. It is one of Africa’s top birding destinations too, with more than 600 species recorded.
After lunch at the lodge, enjoy an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel holds one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa, with crocodiles on the banks, flocks of pelicans, spoonbills and egrets, and elephants and buffaloes often coming down to drink.
Return to your lodge for dinner and a second night in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Morning game drive; afternoon boat cruise of about 2 hours
- Budget: Pumba Safari Lodge | Mid-Range: Buffalo Safari Lodge | Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6
Ishasha Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
This morning takes you to the remote Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, known worldwide for its tree-climbing lions. Unlike lions elsewhere, the Ishasha lions are famous for lounging in the branches of large fig trees. Search for them on a morning game drive; sightings are not guaranteed.
Continue through the highlands of south-western Uganda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving at your lodge by evening. Have dinner and prepare for the next day’s gorilla trek. Learn more about the park through these facts about Bwindi National Park.
- Morning game drive; approximately 2 to 3 hours’ drive to Bwindi
- Mid-Range: Gorilla Leisure Lodge | Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7
Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Optional Evening Activities
Rise early for breakfast before heading to the park headquarters for the morning briefing. Rangers explain the rules for gorilla trekking, including keeping at least 10 metres from the gorillas, speaking quietly and limiting your time with them to one hour. Groups are capped at eight trekkers per gorilla family.
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, and the terrain can be steep, muddy and uneven. When you find them, spend an unforgettable hour watching a habituated family feeding, playing and resting, an experience many visitors describe as the highlight of their lives.
After trekking, return to the lodge for lunch and a rest. In the evening you may join an optional Batwa cultural experience to learn about the traditions, songs and forest skills of the forest’s original inhabitants, browse village craft markets for handmade baskets and carvings, or simply relax at the lodge. The Batwa experience can be arranged at an extra cost.
- Allow most of the day for trekking; walking time varies from 1 to 6 hours
- Mid-Range: Gorilla Leisure Lodge | Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8
Drive to Kigali and Flight to Zanzibar
After breakfast, drive from Bwindi to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. The journey takes 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 moving place of reflection and remembrance.
From Kigali, fly on to Zanzibar (Abeid Amani Karume International Airport), typically connecting through Dar es Salaam depending on airline schedules. Your local guide meets you on arrival and transfers you to your beach hotel, where you settle in and enjoy dinner by the sea.
- Approximately 4 to 5 hours’ drive to Kigali, then flight to Zanzibar
- Mid-Range: Villa Kiva Hotel
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9
Beach Day: Rest, Relax and Explore
This day is entirely yours. Unwind on the white sand beach with the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean stretching out before you. Swim, snorkel, paddleboard or try other water sports available at the resort, take a long walk along the shore and enjoy fresh tropical fruit.
Let the ocean breeze wash away any tiredness left from the safari. There are no schedules and no guides today, just rest.
- Free day at leisure on the beach
- Mid-Range: Villa Kiva Hotel
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10
Kizimkazi Dolphin Excursion and Stone Town
After breakfast, drive south to the quiet fishing village of Kizimkazi, one of the most famous dolphin-watching spots in the world. Bottlenose dolphins and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins live naturally in these warm coastal waters. Board a traditional wooden dhow and head out to sea to find them; with luck you may even snorkel alongside them.
After the excursion, enjoy lunch on the way and drive into Zanzibar’s historic Stone Town in the late afternoon. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a maze of narrow alleys, coral stone buildings, carved wooden doors, spice markets and mosques that reflect Zanzibar’s Swahili, Arab and Portuguese heritage.
- Morning dolphin excursion; late afternoon in Stone Town
- Mid-Range: Villa Kiva Hotel
- Breakfast, lunch and 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 are transferred to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your flight to Dar es Salaam and your onward international connection home, carrying memories that will last a lifetime.
- Afternoon transfer to the airport, timed to your flight
- No accommodation unless an extra night is requested
- Breakfast and lunch
Request a quote
Tell us your preferred travel dates, number of travellers and accommodation choice. A safari specialist will prepare a tailored quotation for your gorilla, chimpanzee and Zanzibar beach safari adventure.
- Free, no-obligation quote
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permit arrangements
- Budget, mid-range or luxury lodge selection
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FAQs for 11-Day Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach Safari
Planning to combine mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda with a relaxing beach escape in Zanzibar? These are the questions travellers ask most often, answered honestly so you can plan your trip and book with confidence.
What is the price of this safari and what does it cover?
The cost of this 11-Day Uganda Gorillas and Zanzibar Beach Safari starts from $5,600 per person sharing but the net cost depends on your group size, the season you travel in, and your chosen level of accommodation. That price covers your Bwindi gorilla trekking permit, park entrance fees, private 4×4 transport with an experienced driver-guide in Uganda, fuel, meals and accommodation as listed in the itinerary, bottled drinking water, government taxes, and the listed Zanzibar airport transfers and beach accommodation. International flights, internal flights where applicable, optional Zanzibar excursions, diving, snorkelling, spa treatments, extra nights, souvenirs, tips, and porter hire are not included. Your final quotation confirms exactly what applies to your chosen accommodation level.
How does the 11-day Uganda gorilla and Zanzibar itinerary work?
The safari begins in Entebbe, where you are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. You then travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for your gorilla trekking experience, with time for an optional Batwa cultural visit or community walk. After gorilla trekking, you return to Entebbe or fly from a nearby airstrip to connect with your flight to Zanzibar. The final days are spent relaxing on Zanzibar’s beaches, with optional activities such as Stone Town tours, spice farm visits, snorkelling, dhow cruises, and diving. The trip ends with a transfer to Zanzibar Airport for your departure flight.
How do I travel from Uganda to Zanzibar?
After your gorilla trek, you travel from Bwindi to Entebbe by road or take a scheduled light-aircraft flight from Kihihi or Kisoro to Entebbe, depending on the itinerary and flight availability. From Entebbe, you fly to Zanzibar, usually via Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, or another regional hub. Your final quotation will confirm whether the Uganda-to-Zanzibar flights are included or quoted separately. We recommend allowing enough connection time, especially if your international departure flight leaves from Zanzibar on the final day.
How long will I spend with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi?
Your gorilla trekking briefing starts in the morning at the park headquarters, and the trek begins shortly afterwards. Once the trackers locate your gorilla family, you are allowed one hour with them. Visitors are usually grouped in small numbers, with a maximum of eight people per gorilla family each day, which keeps the encounter calm and protects the animals. The time spent finding the family can range from one to six hours depending on where the gorillas moved overnight, so the overall trek can be shorter or longer than you expect.
Can I choose which gorilla family I trek?
Gorilla families are assigned by park rangers at the morning briefing rather than chosen in advance. Rangers consider the fitness levels and preferences of the group, so travellers who prefer a gentler hike can request an easier family and those who want a longer trek can ask for a more distant one. Assignments depend on the day and on where each family is located. Mention any mobility or fitness concerns to your driver-guide early so they can raise them with the rangers.
Is there a minimum age for gorilla trekking?
Yes. Visitors must be at least 15 years old to track mountain gorillas in Uganda, and this rule is strictly enforced by park authorities. Younger children cannot join the trek, even with a parent. If you are travelling as a family, tell us the ages of everyone in your group so we can discuss suitable alternatives and arrange appropriate accommodation and activities.
What rules should I follow near the gorillas?
Follow your ranger’s instructions at all times. Keep the distance the rangers specify, speak quietly, and avoid sudden movements. Do not use flash photography, and never touch or feed the animals. Do not eat, drink, or smoke near them. If a gorilla comes close, stay calm and let it pass. Mountain gorillas are vulnerable to human illnesses, so rangers may require visitors to wear a face mask during the encounter and follow the hygiene guidance given at the briefing.
What happens if I feel sick before the gorilla trek?
Tell your driver-guide and park staff straight away if you have a cold, flu symptoms, diarrhoea, or any other contagious illness. Mountain gorillas can catch human diseases, so rangers may stop visitors who are unwell from trekking. Whether you can reschedule or receive a refund depends on the permit conditions set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. We recommend travel insurance that covers medical issues and trip interruption, and we encourage you to rest and stay hydrated before the trek.
Am I guaranteed to see the gorillas?
Sightings of habituated gorilla families are highly likely because trackers follow the animals daily and guide you to them. However, these are wild animals, so no operator can offer an absolute guarantee. The length and difficulty of the trek depend on where the gorillas have moved overnight. Our team secures your gorilla permit in advance and plans the itinerary to give you the best practical chance of a successful and comfortable encounter.
What can I do in Zanzibar during the beach days?
Zanzibar is primarily a place to relax, swim, and enjoy the Indian Ocean, but there are several optional activities if you want more than beach time. Popular choices include a Stone Town walking tour, a spice farm visit, snorkelling, diving, dolphin tours, sunset dhow cruises, Prison Island visits, and day trips to nearby islands. Some activities are weather and tide dependent, and marine activities are booked and paid for separately unless specifically included in your quotation.
Which part of Zanzibar will we stay in?
Your accommodation depends on the package level and availability. Common areas include Nungwi and Kendwa in the north, known for beautiful beaches and sunset views, as well as Paje, Jambiani, and other east-coast locations known for quieter beaches and turquoise water. Your final quotation lists the confirmed hotel or resort before you pay, and we can recommend an area based on whether you prefer nightlife, family-friendly beaches, romance, water sports, or a quieter retreat.
Do I need visas for Uganda and Zanzibar?
Entry requirements depend on your nationality, so check the current rules before you travel. You must be able to enter Uganda and Tanzania/Zanzibar, and some travellers may qualify for the East Africa Tourist Visa for Uganda and neighbouring countries, although this does not automatically cover Zanzibar. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months and has enough blank pages for entry stamps. Ask your doctor about recommended vaccinations and any yellow fever certificate requirements for your route. We can guide you through the process.
Is the Batwa cultural experience worth adding?
It is optional, and it is a good choice if you want to balance gorilla trekking with culture. The Batwa community shares stories, songs, and dance and explains their former life in the forest. It can usually fit into the evening after your trek, so you do not need extra days. The activity is not included in the starting price, so let us know if you want it added and we will include it in your quotation. Alternatively, you can spend the evening walking around the neighbourhood and buying handmade crafts.
What accommodation is used on this safari?
You choose from budget, mid-range, and luxury lodges and resorts at each stop. In Uganda, options near Bwindi may include Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, or Gorilla Safari Lodge, depending on availability and your preferred trekking sector. In Zanzibar, accommodation ranges from comfortable beach hotels to upscale oceanfront resorts, with options in areas such as Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje, and Jambiani. Lodges and resorts are subject to availability at the time of booking, and your final quotation lists the confirmed properties before you pay.
What should I pack for gorilla trekking and Zanzibar?
For Bwindi, pack sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers, a lightweight long-sleeved shirt, a rain jacket, gardening gloves, insect repellent, a hat, sunscreen, and a small daypack. For Zanzibar, bring swimwear, light cotton clothing, sandals, a wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen, and modest clothing for Stone Town or village visits. A light jacket is useful for early mornings, airport transfers, and cooler evenings. Avoid single-use plastic bags, as both Uganda and Tanzania/Zanzibar have restrictions on them.
Should I tip my driver-guide, rangers, and porters?
Tips are not included in the safari price, but they are a customary way to thank the people who look after you. Many travellers tip their driver-guide at the end of the Uganda section and give separate tips to rangers, trackers, and porters after the gorilla trek. In Zanzibar, tipping hotel staff, boat crews, and local guides is also appreciated. There is no fixed amount, so tip according to the service you receive and what feels comfortable.
What should I do about travel insurance, health, and money?
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical care, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, interruption, and adventure or marine activities where relevant. Carry some US dollars in recent, undamaged notes, and bring a card for lodge and resort extras where accepted. Local currency in Uganda and Tanzania/Zanzibar is useful for small purchases, local markets, and tips. Consult your doctor about malaria prevention, vaccinations, and any yellow fever requirements before travelling.
How do I book this safari and what happens next?
Send us your preferred travel dates, number of travellers, and accommodation level. We first check gorilla permit availability, then prepare a detailed quotation with your Uganda lodge, Zanzibar resort, flights where applicable, inclusions, and total cost. Once you approve the itinerary and agree the payment terms, we purchase your gorilla permit and confirm the lodge, transport, and beach-resort reservations. Because gorilla permits are limited, we recommend booking at least four to six months ahead, and up to ten months ahead for the busy December to February and June to September periods.