21 Day Southern Tanzania Wilds to Uganda Gorillas
Udzungwa, Ruaha, Mikumi and Selous in southern Tanzania, then Uganda from Murchison to Lake Mburo.
Go beyond the expected.
Twenty-one days for travellers who want quieter parks. Walk and swim in Udzungwa, search for wild dogs in Ruaha, take a boat safari in Selous, then fly to Uganda for the Nile, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions and gorillas.
- Udzungwa rainforest and Sanje waterfalls
- Wild dogs and walking safaris in Ruaha
- Selous boat safari
- Murchison Falls and Kibale chimps
- Tree-climbing lions and gorillas
What's included
Included
- Airport transfers
- Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Mountain gorilla permit and chimpanzee permit
- Domestic flight Dar es Salaam to Entebbe
- Boat safaris as listed
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival and drive to Udzungwa
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Arrive in Tanzania and travel to Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
Day 2 Udzungwa walk and Sanje waterfalls
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Walk in the park and climb to the Sanje waterfalls for a swim and views.
Day 3 To Ruaha
Ruaha National Park
Drive through sisal plantations and villages, up the Great Rift escarpment and through Iringa to Ruaha.
Day 4 Ruaha game drives
Ruaha National Park
A full day of game drives for wild dogs, elephants and buffalo, with a picnic lunch and an evening drive.
Day 5 Ruaha walking safari
Ruaha National Park
A morning bush walk with your guide, followed by an afternoon game drive.
Day 6 To Mikumi
Mikumi National Park
Drive to Mikumi via a traditional village, with an afternoon game drive.
Day 7 To Selous
Selous Game Reserve
An early game drive in Mikumi, then scenic drive to the northern gate of Selous and an evening game drive.
Day 8 Selous exploration
Selous Game Reserve
Explore the reserve with a picnic lunch and a visit to the hot springs.
Day 9 Walk and boat safari
Selous Game Reserve
A morning walking safari and an afternoon boat safari for hippos, crocodiles and water birds.
Day 10 Fly to Entebbe
Dar es Salaam and Entebbe
Travel to Dar es Salaam and fly to Uganda. In Entebbe you are met, transferred to your hotel and briefed on the Uganda safari.
Day 11 To Murchison via Ziwa
Ziwa and Murchison Falls National Park
Track white rhinos on foot at Ziwa, lunch in Masindi, then on to Murchison Falls.
Day 12 Murchison game drive and cruise
Murchison Falls National Park
A morning game drive, then an afternoon launch cruise to the base of the falls and an optional walk to the top.
Day 13 To Kibale
Hoima and Fort Portal
Drive south through farmland and tea estates.
Day 14 Chimpanzees and Bigodi Wetland
Kibale Forest
Track chimpanzees in the morning and walk the Bigodi Wetland in the afternoon.
Day 15 To Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive beside the Rwenzori Mountains and take an afternoon cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
Day 16 Game drive and Ishasha
Queen Elizabeth National Park
An early game drive with the Rwenzori behind you, then on to Ishasha to look for tree-climbing lions.
Day 17 To Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A final game drive, then through the Kigezi Highlands to Bwindi.
Day 18 Gorilla trekking
Bwindi
Trek to a gorilla family and spend an hour with them.
Day 19 Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi
Transfer to Uganda's deepest lake for a dugout canoe paddle and fresh crayfish.
Day 20 Lake Mburo
Lake Mburo National Park
Drive to Lake Mburo, with a boat trip in the afternoon and an optional evening game drive.
Day 21 Return to Entebbe and departure
Lake Mburo and Entebbe
A morning guided walk with an armed ranger, then drive to Entebbe with stops at the equator and the Mpigi drum makers, in time for an evening flight.
On this safari
Places you will visit
Ruaha National ParkExplore place →
Mikumi National ParkExplore place →
Dar es SalaamExplore place →
EntebbeExplore place →
Murchison FallsExplore place →
Murchison Falls National ParkExplore place →
Kibale National ParkExplore place →
Queen Elizabeth National ParkExplore place →
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkExplore place →
Lake BunyonyiExplore place →
Lake Mburo National ParkExplore place →
Udzungwa Mountains National ParkExplore place →
HoimaExplore place →
Fort PortalExplore place →
Bigodi Wetland SanctuaryExplore place →Travel Guide
Knowledge connected to this page
Read planning and destination stories connected to this Offmap entity.
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Cultural Safari Uganda: Batwa, Buganda and Karamoja
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Best Time for Birding in East Africa, Month by Month
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East Africa Conservation Culture
Batwa Cultural Experience in Uganda: What It Is and How to Choose
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East Africa Gorilla Trekking Planning a Safari
Gorilla and Beach Safari: Combine Gorillas with Zanzibar
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Lake canoes, forest walks and one gorilla trek at a slow pace.
Ready to plan this Safari?
Start with the places and experiences that matter to you. We will shape the Safari around them.
Plan This Safari →Need to know?
Questions about 21 Day Southern Tanzania Wilds to Uganda Gorillas
Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?
Yes, this is one of the most popular East African combinations; a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari followed by several days on Zanzibar’s beaches, connected by a short flight.
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?
Most nationalities need a visa for Uganda, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so check the current official guidance for your passport well ahead of your safari.
How many days do I need in Uganda?
A focused gorilla trekking safari can work in as few as 4–5 days, but 8–12 days lets you combine gorilla trekking with chimpanzee tracking, a savannah park such as Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls, and some rest time. We shape the exact length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Tanzania have?
Tanzania protects its landscapes across more than twenty national parks, alongside conservation areas and game reserves that together cover roughly a third of the country’s total area; one of the highest proportions of protected land of any country in the world.
How many national parks does Uganda have?
Uganda protects its landscapes and wildlife across ten national parks, ranging from the rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (home to mountain gorillas) to the savanna of Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest park.
How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost in Uganda?
Uganda gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and priced separately from your safari cost. Permit prices and availability change periodically, so we confirm the current official rate and secure your permit as part of planning your safari: book several months ahead where possible, since permits for popular dates sell out.
Is climbing Kilimanjaro part of a normal safari?
Kilimanjaro is usually planned as its own multi-day trek (typically 6–9 days depending on route) either before or after a separate safari itinerary, rather than combined into the same days, since it requires its own acclimatisation schedule.