11-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari

Pickup : Kigali Airport
Drop-off : Entebbe Airport

Tour Overview

This 11-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari takes you from the misty slopes of Bwindi to the thunder of Murchison Falls, and finally to the crashing rapids of the Nile at Jinja. You track mountain gorillas through dense rainforest, sit within feet of wild chimpanzees, spot lions draped across fig tree branches in Ishasha, and cruise past hippos and crocodiles on the Kazinga Channel. Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park bring elephants, giraffes, and buffalo in big numbers, plus a boat ride to the base of Africa’s most powerful waterfall. Before you fly home, you paddle through Grade 4 and Grade 5 rapids on the Nile. This Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari packs eleven days with wildlife encounters most people only ever see on a screen.

Cost Includes

Transportation (Car, Fuel, Driver Guide)
Meals & Accommodation as mentioned
Gorilla Trekking Permit
White Water Rafting Experience
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit
Boat Cruises
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: Pickup from Kigali & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Your journey will begin with a pickup from Kigali International Airport or your hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. From there, your driver guide will head toward Uganda, crossing the border and winding through green hills and small villages before reaching the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The drive takes around four to five hours, so you can sit back, enjoy the scenery, and let the excitement build. Bwindi is one of Africa’s oldest and most diverse rainforests, home to almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Once you check into your lodge, you will settle in, enjoy dinner, and get a good night’s rest, since tomorrow marks the true start of this Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari.

Meal Plan: Half Board
Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge (Budget) | Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Mid Range) | Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

You will rise early, enjoy breakfast, and head to the park briefing point, where ranger guides will explain the trekking rules and assign each group to a gorilla family. Then the real adventure begins. You will push through thick forest, climbing steep slopes and ducking under branches, following the trail of one of Uganda’s habituated gorilla families. Once you find them, you will get a full hour in their presence, watching silverbacks beat their chests, mothers nurse their young, and playful juveniles tumble through the undergrowth. Few moments in wildlife travel match this one. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for a hot meal and time to relive every incredible moment.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge (Budget) | Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Mid Range) | Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha

After breakfast, pack up and set off toward Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular wildlife destinations. Along the way, the Ishasha sector offers a special treat, a remote southern corner of the park famous for its tree climbing lions. Unlike most lions, which rest on the ground, these big cats drape themselves lazily across the branches of giant fig trees. Keep your camera ready as you scan the canopy for that unmistakable silhouette. After this exciting detour, continue on to your lodge in the main park area, arriving in time for dinner and a restful overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Lodge (Budget) | Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid Range Cottages) | Buffalo Safari Lodge (Luxury Cottages)

Day 4: Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi Plains and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

You will start the morning with a game drive across the open Kasenyi Plains, one of the best spots in the park for spotting large herds of Uganda kob, elephants, buffalo, and lions. The golden morning light makes for wonderful photography, so bring along your best zoom lens. After a hearty lunch back at camp, the afternoon shifts pace with a relaxing boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the wide natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George. Massive hippos laze at the water’s edge, enormous Nile crocodiles bask on the banks, and hundreds of water birds crowd the shoreline, making this one of the richest wildlife experiences of your trip.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Lodge (Budget) | Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid Range Cottages) | Buffalo Safari Lodge (Luxury Cottages)

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Afternoon Optional Bigodi Wetland Walk

After breakfast, your guide drives you north to Kibale Forest National Park, widely regarded as the best place on earth to track wild chimpanzees. The drive passes through fertile Ugandan countryside dotted with tea plantations and crater lakes. Once you arrive and check into your lodge, spend the afternoon on optional guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community run conservation area just outside the park boundary. Along the trail, you may encounter red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, colourful birds, and lush swamp vegetation, a gentle yet rewarding introduction to the ecosystem surrounding Kibale Forest.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge (Budget) | Turaco Treetops (Mid Range) | Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)

Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking and Option Visit to the Surrounding Areas

Wake up bright and early for the highlight of your Kibale stay, chimpanzee trekking. Like gorilla trekking, this begins with a morning briefing at Kanyanchu at 7:00am before rangers lead you into the forest. Chimpanzees move fast and make a great deal of noise, so tracking them through the dense canopy proves both thrilling and entertaining. Once you find them, usually after one to four hours of searching, you get a full hour to watch them swing overhead, groom one another, and call out across the treetops. After the trek and a relaxed lunch, the afternoon brings a rewarding but optional visit to nearby tea plantations and a scenic crater lake.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge (Budget) | Turaco Treetops (Mid Range) | Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)

Day 7: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, set off on the long but scenic drive north to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area. The route passes through rolling savannah and small towns before opening into the vast, wild landscape of the park. Murchison Falls takes its name from the dramatic point where the entire Nile River forces itself through a narrow seven metre gap in the rocks, creating one of the most powerful waterfalls on earth. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon, check in, and relax before dinner. Take a moment to soak in the atmosphere of this remote corner of Uganda, since the sounds here after dark are unlike anywhere else.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Hornbill Bush Lodge (Budget) | Tilenga Safari Lodge (Mid Range) | Chobe Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 8: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

The north bank of the Nile within Murchison Falls National Park ranks among Uganda’s richest areas for wildlife viewing. Head out early for a game drive across the open savannah, where elephants, giraffes, lions, oribi, leopards, impalas, kobs, topis, and buffalo roam in impressive numbers. After lunch at the lodge, board a boat for an afternoon cruise along the Nile heading upriver toward the base of Murchison Falls. Hippos surface nearby, enormous crocodiles lie motionless on the banks, and hundreds of birds fill the air. The closer you get, the louder the roar becomes, making for a deeply dramatic close to the day.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Hornbill Bush Lodge (Budget) | Tilenga Safari Lodge (Mid Range) | Chobe Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 9:Hike to the Top of the Falls and Drive to Kampala via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Begin with an exhilarating morning hike to the very top of Murchison Falls, standing just above the narrow gorge where the Nile explodes through the rocks below. The spray, the noise, and the sheer power of the water make this one of Uganda’s most breathtaking viewpoints. Afterward, start the long drive south toward Kampala, breaking the journey with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can track southern white rhinos on foot. Walking beside these massive, prehistoric looking animals, accompanied only by a ranger, feels like a genuine privilege. Arrive in Kampala by evening and check into your hotel.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Humura Resort (Budget) | Onomo Hotel (Mid Range) | Sheraton Hotel (Luxury)

Day 10: Drive to Jinja for White Water Rafting

After breakfast in Kampala, head east on a two to three hour drive toward Jinja, the adventure capital of East Africa and the source of the mighty Nile. This stage of the Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari delivers some of the best rapid riding on the continent, with powerful Grade 4 and Grade 5 rapids that challenge and thrill in equal measure. Your rafting guides brief you thoroughly before you launch onto the water, and from that moment on, it is pure adrenaline, paddling hard through crashing waves and flipping boats. Even non swimmers can join, since safety kayakers accompany every group. Spend the night in Jinja, tired, soaked, and buzzing with excitement.

Meal Plan: Full Board
Accommodation: Nile Porch Lodge (Budget) | The Haven Eco River Lodge (Mid Range) | Lemala Wildwaters Lodge (Luxury)

Day 11: Drive to Kampala or Entebbe for Departure

After a final breakfast to close out an extraordinary eleven days, your guide drives you to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport, depending on your flight schedule. Along the way, you carry with you memories of mountain gorillas in the mist, chimpanzees swinging through forest canopies, lions perched in fig trees, and the thundering power of Murchison Falls. Uganda surprises almost every traveler who visits, proving wilder, greener, and more welcoming than expected. As this Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari comes to an end, one thing becomes clear: Uganda has a way of pulling people back for more.

Meal Plan: Half Board
Accommodation: None unless requested

Answered FAQs

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

This Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari is offered as a private trip, so the final cost depends on your choice of accommodation tier and the number of people traveling in your group. Budget, mid range, and luxury lodges are all available across the itinerary, allowing you to balance comfort and cost as you prefer. Yes, the trip can absolutely be customized, whether that means adjusting the number of trekking days, swapping lodges, adding extra nights in any park, or removing the rafting segment entirely. Simply share your preferences with us, and a tailored quote will follow.

How physically demanding is the trekking on this itinerary?

Both the chimp trek in Kibale and the gorilla trek in Bwindi involve walking on uneven forest terrain, sometimes uphill, sometimes through mud or dense vegetation, so reasonable fitness helps. Chimp trekking usually runs two to five hours, while gorilla trekking is less predictable, ranging from thirty minutes to seven hours depending on where the family has moved. Neither requires technical climbing skills, but comfort walking for extended periods on slippery slopes matters. Porters are available in Bwindi for a small fee and are worth hiring, even for fit travelers, since they also support the local community.

Are gorilla and chimpanzee permits included in the price?

Yes, gorilla and chimpanzee permits are included in the final quoted price for this Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari, unless you specifically request to purchase them separately. The quoted figure already accounts for the Uganda Wildlife Authority gorilla permit and the chimp trekking permit, alongside accommodation, transport, and guided activities. Gorilla permits are limited each day and must be secured well in advance, especially in peak season, so having them bundled into your booking means the reservation is handled on your behalf.

When is the best time of year to do this safari?

Uganda works year-round, but the dry seasons, roughly June to September and December to February, offer the easiest trekking conditions since trails stay firmer. This Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White water rafting safari still runs well in wetter months if you don’t mind occasional rain and muddier trails. Wetter months also mean fewer crowds at trekking sites and better lodge rates. Gorilla & Chimp Permits are discounted by 25% during the month of April, May and November. Birdlife picks up during the rains too, which helps on the Bigodi Nature Walk. Pick dry months if hiking ease matters most to you.

What should I pack for the treks and game drives?

Pack in layers, since forest mornings are cool but warm up fast. Bring sturdy, broken-in hiking boots with ankle support, gardening gloves for gripping vegetation, and trousers tucked into socks to keep ants and nettles off your skin. A lightweight rain jacket matters in any season, since Uganda’s forests can turn wet with little warning. For the game drives, pack neutral-coloured clothing, a hat, sunscreen, and binoculars. A camera with a zoom lens pays off for the tree-climbing lions and the primates. Add insect repellent, a water bottle, and small bills for tips.

Which travelers can book this Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White water rafting adventure?

This itinerary suits almost anyone, which is part of why it remains such a popular choice. Solo travelers are welcome and often paired with a private guide and vehicle for full control over pacing. Couples and honeymooners frequently choose this route for its mix of adventure and romance, from quiet forest walks by day to candlelit dinners at lodges like Chimpundu or Gorilla Safari Lodge by night. Families are welcome too, though age limits apply: children under 15 cannot join gorilla trekking, and those under 12 cannot join chimpanzee trekking, since both activities carry official minimum age rules.

Is white water rafting on the Nile suitable for beginners?

Yes, the rafting stage of this Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & White Water Rafting Safari welcomes first timers as well as experienced paddlers. Professional guides lead every raft, give a thorough safety briefing before launch, and pair each group with safety kayakers who stay close throughout the run, so even non swimmers can join with confidence. The Nile at Jinja offers a mix of gentler sections and powerful Grade 4 and Grade 5 rapids, giving a genuine adrenaline rush without requiring prior rafting experience. Life jackets and helmets are provided, and calmer, scenic alternatives can be arranged for those preferring a gentler river experience.