10-Day Uganda & Tanzania: Chimpanzee, Nile Wildlife & Serengeti Plains

This 10 day Uganda and Tanzania safari links the forests of western Uganda with the plains of the Serengeti. You track chimpanzees in Kibale, continue to Murchison Falls for the Nile and its wildlife, fly from Entebbe to Tanzania, and spend a full day in the Serengeti before returning to Arusha. It is an ambitious route with real travel days, and we plan them as such: the activities on those days are short, and the international flight is confirmed before you book.

The first half is Uganda. Day two is a long drive to Kibale, and day three is the main event, chimpanzee tracking, when you walk into the forest with a ranger and spend an hour with a group. Then you turn north toward Murchison Falls, where the Nile squeezes through a gap and drops, and the boat cruise upriver shows hippos, crocodiles and birds. Read whether Murchison Falls is worth visiting and whether Kibale is the best place for chimpanzee tracking.

The second half is Tanzania, and the link is an international flight. We confirm the connection and the arrival airport before we sell the trip, and we do not assume a daily service. On day eight you travel to the Serengeti by scheduled flight or road, with an afternoon drive if timing allows, and day nine is a full day on the plains. We say plainly that ten days is ambitious: it spends a lot of time in transit, and a twelve-day version with extra nights in Murchison and the Serengeti gives a calmer trip. Browse the chimpanzee tracking and Nile river safaris pages and the Uganda and Tanzania pages.

Moderate. Chimpanzee tracking is a walk on steep forest ground that can last from one to several hours. The rest is easy but involves long travel: a five to six hour drive on day two, a long return to Entebbe, an international flight, and a transfer to the Serengeti. Pack light for the small aircraft. If you want a calmer pace, ask for the 12-day version.

June to September is the best overlap, with dry weather in Uganda and Tanzania and the best game viewing. January and February are also dry. The rains, March to May and October to November, make forest trails muddy and some roads slow. Tell us your month and we will advise on what to expect in the Serengeti, where the herds move through the year.

This tour suits travellers who want chimpanzees and the Serengeti in one trip and are comfortable with a lot of travel. It works for couples and friends who have a short window. For a calmer Uganda-only trip, see the 6-day Uganda chimpanzee tracking and Kazinga Channel safari. For Tanzania alone, see the 7-day Tanzania Great Migration safari.

Tell us your dates and whether you would prefer more days. We advise on visas for both countries free of charge and confirm the flights and the lodges before you book. Read how to plan an East Africa safari across Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

For a journey with a community focus, see our Signature Journey, the 5-day Uganda chimpanzee habituation experience and forest safari.