Sample Itinerary

6-Day Lake Mburo & Queen Elizabeth Family Safari

This 6-day Uganda family safari is designed for families travelling with children under 15, the minimum age for gorilla trekking.

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This 6-day Uganda family safari is designed for families travelling with children under 15, the minimum age for gorilla trekking. It focuses on Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, where zebra, hippos, elephants and lions can be seen from a vehicle or a boat, driving days are shorter than on most Uganda routes, and the activities can be adjusted to your children’s ages and energy.

Quick Overview

Parks: Lake Mburo NP, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Highlights: No gorilla permit, so no age-15 minimum to plan around, Lake Mburo’s zebra, boat cruise and guided walks for families with older children, A Kazinga Channel boat cruise — one of the easiest ways for young children to see big wildlife

Best For: Families with young children, families where not everyone wants to trek, and grandparents travelling with grandchildren.

Group Size: Private vehicle, any group size from solo travellers to families

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Peak (dry season) Shoulder (rains)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Your Safari Begins
Entebbe

Day 1

Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe. Airport pick-up and a short transfer to a family-friendly hotel. Entebbe’s botanical gardens are an easy first outing if everyone has energy after the flight.

Continue Your Journey To
Lake Mburo NP

Days 2–3

Lake Mburo NP

Entebbe to Lake Mburo. Roughly four to five hours on the road, with a stop at the Equator. You arrive in time for lunch and a late-afternoon game drive, when zebra, impala and eland are out on the plains. Lake Mburo activities. A morning boat cruise to see hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds, then a choice of activities suited to your children’s ages: a guided walk or horseback ride where age rules allow, or a relaxed game drive and an afternoon at the lodge.

Continue Your Journey To
Queen Elizabeth National Park

Days 4–5

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Lake Mburo to Queen Elizabeth. Around five to six hours via Mbarara, arriving for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise past hippos, buffalo and elephants at the water’s edge. Queen Elizabeth game drive. An early game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, the best area in the park for lions and herds of Uganda kob, then a slower afternoon at the lodge or a visit to the crater lakes viewpoints.

Continue Your Journey To
Entebbe

Day 6

Entebbe

Depart. The drive back to Entebbe is long — roughly seven to eight hours — so we break it with stops, or you can take a scheduled flight from the area to shorten it.

Your Safari Ends in Entebbe

What's Included

Your quoted price covers accommodation for every night on the route, all ground transport in a private 4x4 with an experienced driver-guide, and park entry fees for each park visited, including the gorilla trekking permit. Fuel and the driver-guide's costs across the full route are built into the quoted price rather than billed separately.

Excluded, as with every Uganda itinerary we quote: international flights, visa fees, travel insurance, tips for your driver-guide and gorilla trekking porters, and personal spending such as drinks and souvenirs. We itemise all of this clearly when we send your formal quote, so nothing arrives as a surprise once you're on the ground.

Lodging across the route is mid-range by default — the properties can be swapped for budget or luxury alternatives at the same locations without changing the underlying route, activities or duration. Tell us which tier fits your trip and we'll send a revised, fully itemised quote.

Who This Itinerary Suits

Families with young children, families where not everyone wants to trek, and grandparents travelling with grandchildren. For families with teenagers aged 15 or over, the 7-day itinerary adds a Bwindi gorilla trek to a similar route; our guide to activities for children under 15 covers the options in more detail.

Age Rules for Family Activities

Age limits are set by the park authority or by the operator of each activity, and they are firm. Gorilla trekking has a minimum age of 15. Walking safaris and horseback rides at Lake Mburo have their own age and experience requirements, which can vary by operator and season, so we confirm them for your children before booking. Boat cruises and game drives have no practical minimum age, which is why they form the core of this route. See kid-friendly walks at Lake Mburo and horseback safaris at Lake Mburo.

Making the Drives Work With Children

Driving is the hardest part of any Uganda safari for children, so this route keeps the longest days to the start and end of the trip. A private vehicle means you stop when you need to, and a pop-up roof lets children stand and look out on game drives. Bring snacks, downloaded entertainment and a small bag of essentials within reach. Our guide to managing long drives with children has practical tips from families who have done it.

Health and Safety for Children

Uganda requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for travellers aged one year and over, and malaria prevention is recommended for the whole family — speak to a travel clinic about suitable options for each child’s age and weight well before you travel. Lodges on this route are used to families, and your driver-guide stays with you throughout. Read our guide to whether Uganda is safe for children and family travel insurance before booking.

Family Safari Costs

Without gorilla permits, this route costs considerably less than a gorilla safari of the same length. The main costs are the vehicle and driver-guide (shared by the whole family), park entry fees, activities and lodges, many of which offer family rooms or reduced rates for children. We itemise everything, including children’s rates, so you can compare options. See family safari costs for children and adults.

Start Planning

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Good To Know

6-Day Lake Mburo & Queen Elizabeth Family Safari FAQs

Yes. Younger children can stay at a Bwindi lodge while older family members trek, and some lodges can arrange supervised activities. We plan this carefully so the day works for everyone.

No wildlife sighting can be guaranteed, but the Kasenyi Plains give good chances on an early-morning drive. Hippos, buffalo, elephants and kob are very likely across the two parks.

The drier months of June to September and December to February suit most families, and coincide with many school holidays. Our family timing guide covers the alternatives.

Yes. With a private vehicle and guide, activities can be swapped or shortened on the day.

Plan Your Family Safari

Tell us your children’s ages, your travel dates and what they are most excited to see, and we will confirm which activities suit your family before building a final route.

  • ● Day 1: Entebbe
  • ● Days 2–3: Lake Mburo NP
  • ● Days 4–5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • ● Day 6: Entebbe