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6 Days Budget Uganda Wildlife Safari – Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth & Chimpanzee Trekking

Small Group Journey • Uganda

6 Days Budget Uganda Wildlife Safari – Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth & Chimpanzee Trekking

View Itinerary

Overview

About this journey

Experience the best of Uganda's wildlife and natural beauty on this exciting 6 Days Budget Uganda Safari. This affordable adventure takes you to two of Uganda's most famous national parks: Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy thrilling game drives, scenic boat cruises, chimpanzee trekking, and unforgettable encounters with Africa's iconic wildlife.

This Uganda wildlife safari offers excellent opportunities to spot the Big Five, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos (optional), as well as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and hundreds of bird species. From the mighty Murchison Falls on the Nile River to the wildlife-rich plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, this safari promises incredible landscapes, authentic African experiences, and outstanding value for budget-conscious travelers.

Highlights

What you'll experience

  • Kibale Forest holds one of the densest populations of chimpanzees in East Africa. Your guide Moses will read the forest floor — fresh knuckle prints, half-eaten figs — until you hear the first hoot overhead.

  • The channel linking Lakes George and Edward is a slow parade of African buffalo wading chest-deep, Nile crocodiles on sandbanks, and African fish eagles dropping like stones. Two hours feels like ten minutes.

  • One hour with the Rushaga gorilla family — a silverback moving unhurried through stinging nettles, a juvenile swinging on a branch just above your head — sits in a category of experience all its own.

  • The Kasenyi Plains light up at dawn with Uganda kob locking horns and lions watching from termite mounds. The tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector are a short detour south on day four.

  • From the papyrus swamps of Queen Elizabeth to the forest canopy at Bwindi, over 650 species are possible on this route. Watch for the African green broadbill at Bwindi and the shoebill along Kazinga's reedy margins.

Why choose us

Why choose a Small Group Journey?

Three national parks, two primate permits, and honest budget accommodation — this itinerary is designed around what the wildlife actually does, not what the brochure needs it to do.

Small Groups, Real Access

A maximum of eight guests means you spend the gorilla hour in a tight, quiet group — no jostling, no noise, just the sound of the silverback's breathing.

Guides Who Know the Forest

Our Uganda guides — including Enock, who has tracked chimps in Kibale for eleven years — read animal behaviour rather than recite facts. You learn to see the forest differently.

Honest Value

Budget doesn't mean cutting corners on permits or park fees. Every conservation levy and gorilla permit is included. The savings come from smart lodge choices and overland travel rather than any compromise on the wildlife experience.

Itinerary

your day-by-day journey

Day 1Arrival in Entebbe

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by an Arrive Africa Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel for relaxation. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, enjoy a walk along the shores of Lake Victoria, or explore the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, home to rescued wildlife species. Spend the evening relaxing as you prepare for your Uganda safari adventure.

Accommodation Options: Entebbe Forest Lodge, Lake Point Villa, Skyway Hotel, Golden Quest Lodge

Meal Plan: Dinner

Lunch, Dinner

Day 2Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park & Boat Cruise

After breakfast, depart Entebbe and begin your scenic journey to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest and most spectacular wildlife conservation area. The drive takes approximately 5–6 hours through beautiful countryside landscapes, local villages, and rolling farmlands.

Upon arrival, enjoy lunch before heading for an exciting afternoon boat cruise on the Nile River to the base of the mighty Murchison Falls. Witness the incredible power of the Nile as it squeezes through a narrow 7-meter gorge before plunging dramatically below. Along the cruise, watch for hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and numerous water birds along the riverbanks.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Entikko Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3Morning Game Drive & Nile Boat Safari

Wake up early for a memorable morning game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. This wildlife-rich area offers excellent opportunities to spot: Lion, Elephants, Rothschild's Giraffes, Buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Waterbucks, Hartebeests, Oribis, Leopards (occasionally). The park is also a paradise for bird lovers, hosting more than 450 bird species. After lunch, enjoy another boat safari along the Nile River, providing additional opportunities to photograph wildlife and enjoy Uganda's spectacular scenery. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Entikko Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, depart Murchison Falls National Park and travel south through the scenic Albertine Rift Valley towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Africa's most biodiverse protected areas. Upon arrival, check into your lodge and enjoy lunch before heading out for an afternoon game drive in the famous Kasenyi Plains. Look out for: Elephants, Buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Lions, Leopards, Hyenas.

The park's stunning landscapes, crater lakes, and savannah grasslands provide excellent photography opportunities.

Accommodation Options: Tembo Safaris Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Kazinga Channel View Resort, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Start the day with an early morning game drive when wildlife is most active. Explore different sectors of the park, including the famous Kasenyi Plains and, depending on time, the Ishasha Sector, renowned for its rare tree-climbing lions. Return to the lodge for lunch before embarking on an afternoon boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. This boat safari offers incredible wildlife viewing, including: Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants, Buffaloes, Monitor Lizards, African Fish Eagles, Pelicans, Kingfishers

The Kazinga Channel is considered one of the best boat safari destinations in Africa due to its high concentration of wildlife.

Accommodation Options: Tembo Safari Lodge , Simba Safari Camp, Kazinga Channel View Resort, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge & Return to Entebbe

After breakfast, proceed to the spectacular Kyambura Gorge, often referred to as the "Valley of Apes," for an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience. Accompanied by experienced guides, venture into the lush tropical forest in search of habituated chimpanzees. Observe these fascinating primates as they feed, communicate, and move through the forest canopy. You may also encounter other primates, birds, and unique forest wildlife during the trek. After the experience, enjoy lunch before beginning your journey back to Entebbe. You will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or to your hotel if extending your stay. This marks the end of your unforgettable Uganda wildlife safari.

Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch

Safari Includes

Park Entrance Fees, Game Drives, Nile Boat Cruise, Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise, Chimpanzee Trekking Permit, Professional English-Speaking Safari Guide, Ground Transportation in a 4x4 Safari Vehicle, Accommodation and Meals as Specified, Bottled Drinking Water

Safari Excludes

International Flights, Uganda Visa Fees, Travel Insurance, Tips and Gratuities, Personal Expenses, Alcoholic and Soft Drinks, Major Keywords


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Breakfast, Lunch

Extensions

+2 Days

Lake Mburo Weekend Add-On

Two days in Lake Mburo — the only park in Uganda where you can walk with zebras and impala — make a natural prelude before heading west to Kibale. Canoe at dusk, sleep to the sound of hippos.

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+1 Days

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Combine your arrival day in Kampala with a boat transfer to Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria, where rescued chimpanzees feed in the open at close range — a good primer before Kibale's wild tracking.

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+3 Days

Murchison Falls and Ziwa Rhino Extension

Head north after Kampala for three days at Murchison Falls — a Nile boat trip to the base of the falls, big-game drives on the northern bank, and a morning on foot tracking the white rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

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Dates & Prices

Prices in USD, including internal air, per person, double occupancy.

  • Jun 7 – Jun 12
    $1,980Available
  • Jul 5 – Jul 10
    $1,980Available
  • Aug 2 – Aug 7
    $1,980Available
  • Sep 6 – Sep 11
    $1,980Available
  • Oct 4 – Oct 9
    $1,980Call for Availability

Minimum Age

15 years for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking (Uganda Wildlife Authority requirement)

Safari Duffel

Soft-sided bags only; max 15 kg per person in the safari vehicle. A daypack for trekking days is essential.

First Group Event

Welcome dinner and trip briefing at your Kampala hotel, evening before Day 1

Last Group Event

Kampala drop-off at your hotel or Entebbe Airport, evening of Day 6

Guaranteed Departures

All departures operate with a minimum of 2 guests. We will notify you at least 45 days in advance if a departure cannot proceed.

Alternate Sightseeing

Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are allocated by Uganda Wildlife Authority and cannot be changed once issued. In the event of a permit cancellation by the UWA due to gorilla group health, we will offer the next available date or a full permit refund.

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