Route and travel time
| Leg | Distance or geographic reference | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|
| Entebbe / Kampala → Kibale | UWA reference: 326 km from Kampala; add the actual Entebbe and lodge legs | Editorial allowance 6-8 hours from Entebbe |
| Kibale → Queen Elizabeth base | Confirm the actual northern-area lodge route | Editorial allowance 3-4 hours |
| Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi | UWA gives Mweya-Buhoma about 160 km as one example; other sectors differ | Editorial allowance 4-7 hours |
| Bwindi → Lake Mburo | Actual sector-to-lodge road route required | Editorial allowance 6-8 hours |
| Lake Mburo → Entebbe | UWA’s Kampala reference is about 228 km; airport-region transfer is additional | Editorial allowance 4-6 hours |
Road-time ranges are editorial planning allowances including ordinary breaks, not measured current traffic. Where an official distance is available it is identified; other distances need confirmation for the chosen gate and lodge. Safari driving is additional.
Sources: UWA: tariff changes 2026-2027, dated 26 February 2026 · UWA: conservation tariff July 2024-June 2026 · UWA: Kibale National Park · UWA: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park · UWA: Lake Mburo National Park
Book these decisions first
Confirm gorilla sector and chimpanzee product, date, age eligibility and payable tariff before committing to rooms. The interim 2026 chimpanzee amount requires written confirmation; the sample uses the older USD 250 baseline transparently.
Obtain separate quotes for the channel boat, any guided walk, vehicle entry and optional experiences. The published gorilla and Kibale tracking inclusions differ from ordinary park-entry products; ask the operator to avoid charging an already included entry again.
Sources: UWA: tariff changes 2026-2027, dated 26 February 2026 · UWA: conservation tariff July 2024-June 2026 · UWA: Kibale National Park
Day 1: Entebbe arrival
Rest after the flight and confirm the operator, permits and next-day departure. Keep original identification and permit references accessible.
Day 2: Drive to the Kibale area
Use the Fort Portal route and the actual lodge approach. UWA gives a Kampala-Kibale road reference of 326 km and about six hours; Entebbe departure and stops add time. Keep the evening for preparation.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking
Use the confirmed reporting point and product. Follow the ranger’s health and behaviour instructions, and leave the rest of the day flexible. Families need written resolution of the conflicting official age information before booking.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth
Move to the base chosen for northern drives and the Kazinga Channel programme. Treat the transfer as part of the day rather than promising a full itinerary at both ends.
Day 5: A drive and a confirmed channel activity
Plan a manageable combination of game viewing and a separately reserved boat trip. Ask how meals and pickup fit the departure. The sample budget does not include the boat ticket.
Day 6: Travel to the booked Bwindi sector
Use a route that fits the sector and current roads. An Ishasha stop may be possible in some plans, but it must not make arrival late or be sold as a guaranteed lion encounter.
Day 7: Gorilla tracking
Keep the day dedicated to the trek, with no fixed long transfer afterwards. Arrange any porter support beforehand and follow the briefing on health, distance and photography.
Day 8: Road stage to Lake Mburo
Leave with a realistic drive plan and breaks. A late-afternoon activity depends on arrival time and current entry arrangements. The overnight should make the return journey more comfortable.
Day 9: A short park interest, then Entebbe
Only add a morning walk or drive if it fits the paid access and leaves enough time for the road. Return to Entebbe for the final night, keeping the international flight separate from the transfer.
Day 10: Departure
Use the airport transfer with proper check-in margin. Any optional local activity remains secondary to the flight and rest.
A transparent budget you can adapt
The calculation below is an illustrative planning scenario for two adults sharing a room and a private road vehicle. Room, food and vehicle amounts are explicit assumptions chosen to make the arithmetic visible, not current supplier prices or a quote. Replace them with dated offers before booking.
Only the park and permit figures identified as published tariffs are sourced prices. Count paid access periods from the actual entry and exit times; the sample below does not establish how many tickets your operator will charge. Do not pay for a fee twice if it is already included in a package.
| Cost line | Basis | Per adult |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 9 nights × assumed USD 160 per room ÷ 2 adults | USD 720 |
| Meals not included in the room | 10 days × assumed USD 25 per person | USD 250 |
| Road vehicle / driver allowance | 8 charged days × assumed USD 210 per vehicle ÷ 2 adults | USD 840 |
| Gorilla tracking | 1 regular foreign nonresident permit | USD 800 |
| Kibale chimpanzee illustration | USD 250 older baseline, not a confirmed post-June 2026 payable quote; revise to USD 300 for the regular tariff from 1 January 2027 | USD 250 |
| Queen Elizabeth entry illustration | 2 adult foreign nonresident periods × displayed / older baseline USD 40; confirm | USD 80 |
| Lake Mburo entry illustration | 1 adult period × displayed / older baseline USD 40; confirm | USD 40 |
| Illustrative subtotal per adult | Only the numeric lines above; exclusions still need pricing | USD 2,980 |
International and domestic flights, entry authorisation, insurance, optional activities, tips, drinks, excess baggage and any unconfirmed fee are excluded unless explicitly included above. Do not convert separate KES or UGX costs with an invented exchange rate.
Sources: UWA: tariff changes 2026-2027, dated 26 February 2026 · UWA: conservation tariff July 2024-June 2026
How to adapt the route
For a slower pace, add a rest night in the Kibale area or near Bwindi. For fewer road hours, compare a fly-out from the correct Bwindi airstrip and remove Lake Mburo rather than retaining every stage.
If the actual permit sector makes the Queen Elizabeth connection awkward, revise the order or base. Do not force the map to fit an unchangeable room reservation made before the permit.
Sources: UWA: tariff changes 2026-2027, dated 26 February 2026 · UWA: conservation tariff July 2024-June 2026
Questions & answers
Is this a bookable package?
No. It is an editorial route with explicit budget assumptions. Obtain dated transport, accommodation and activity confirmations from providers.
Are the road times guaranteed?
No. The exact gate, lodge, traffic, weather and stops determine the journey. Keep daylight and a buffer before fixed departures.
Does the subtotal include every cost?
No. Read the exclusions and replace every assumed amount with a quote. Check whether a package already includes park or permit lines.
Should I add another destination?
Only after the actual transfers still leave worthwhile time at each base. Removing a stop is often the simplest way to protect the pace.
Sources & verification
Checked on 21 September 2026. Prices apply only to the visitor category and dates stated. Route timings, suggested stays and budget scenarios are editorial planning estimates unless a source is specified.
- UWA: tariff changes 2026-2027, dated 26 February 2026 - checked 20 September 2026. Low-season permits take immediate effect; the revised regular tariff starts 1 January 2027. These are different effective dates.
- UWA: conservation tariff July 2024-June 2026 - checked 20 September 2026. The document is labelled July 2024-June 2026. Unamended rates after that period require booking confirmation; the February 2026 notice is listed separately.
- UWA: Kibale National Park - checked 20 September 2026.
- UWA: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - checked 20 September 2026.
- UWA: Lake Mburo National Park - checked 20 September 2026.
Published · Updated . Send a correction.