7-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari

Your 7-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari begins with a morning pick-up from Entebbe, Kampala or another agreed location.

You will meet your professional Enjobe Safaris driver-guide, receive a short briefing about the journey and begin the scenic drive towards western Uganda.

The journey takes you through Uganda’s beautiful countryside, passing roadside communities, farmland, tea plantations and rolling green hills. You will stop for lunch along the way before continuing to Fort Portal, one of Uganda’s most attractive tourism towns.

Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy views of the surrounding crater lake region before continuing to your lodge near Kibale National Park.

Kibale National Park is famous for its tropical rainforest, exceptional primate diversity and one of Africa’s most rewarding chimpanzee trekking experiences.

You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon or early evening, check in and enjoy the peaceful forest surroundings.

Dinner and overnight will be at your selected lodge in the Kibale region.

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the chimpanzee trekking briefing point at Kibale National Park.

You will meet experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, receive a briefing about chimpanzee trekking guidelines and begin your guided walk into the tropical rainforest.

As you move beneath the forest canopy, listen for the calls of chimpanzees and watch for movement in the trees. Your ranger will help identify animal tracks, feeding signs, medicinal plants, birds and other primates.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend a memorable hour observing them as they feed, groom, communicate, play and move through the forest.

Kibale National Park is also home to several other primate species, including black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and olive baboons.

After the chimpanzee trekking experience, you will return to the lodge or a nearby restaurant for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided Bigodi community and wetland walk. During this experience, you may learn about traditional farming, coffee production, banana cultivation, local foods, medicinal plants, crafts and everyday community life.

The Bigodi experience supports local conservation and community development initiatives.

You will later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and begin the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The scenic drive takes you through the Fort Portal and Kasese region, with views of tea plantations, crater lakes, rural communities and the distant Rwenzori Mountains.

You will stop at the Kikorongo Equator landmark for photographs and the exciting experience of standing between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

After the Equator stop, you will continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park and arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and check-in.

Later in the afternoon, you will head out for your first game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Depending on wildlife movements, your driver-guide may explore the Kasenyi Plains, Mweya Peninsula or another productive wildlife-viewing area.

Possible wildlife sightings include African elephants, Cape buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, lions, leopards, hyenas and several antelope species.

The open savannah, distant mountains and beautiful evening light provide excellent opportunities for wildlife photography.

You will return to the lodge around sunset for dinner and overnight.

After an early breakfast, you will begin the day with a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Wildlife is often most active during the cooler morning hours, making this an excellent time to search for predators and grazing animals.

You will explore the Kasenyi Plains and surrounding savannah areas in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks and other wildlife.

With some luck, you may also encounter a leopard or spotted hyena.

After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a short period of relaxation.

In the afternoon, you will transfer to the Kazinga Channel for a scenic boat cruise.

The Kazinga Channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is one of the best places in Uganda to view wildlife from the water.

During the cruise, you may see large groups of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, monitor lizards and numerous waterbirds along the shoreline.

The slow-moving boat offers excellent photography opportunities and allows you to observe animals from a different perspective.

After the boat cruise, you will continue to the crater lake region for panoramic views of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s volcanic landscapes.

You will see a collection of beautiful crater lakes, grasslands, salt lakes and sections of the Great Rift Valley before returning to your lodge.

Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and begin the journey towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The journey takes you through the remote Ishasha Sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are sometimes seen resting on the branches of large fig trees.

You will enjoy a game drive through the sector as your driver-guide searches for tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, topis, Uganda kobs and other wildlife.

Although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, the Ishasha Sector offers beautiful scenery and a quieter safari experience.

After the game drive, you will stop for lunch and continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The landscape gradually changes from open savannah to cultivated hills, mountain roads and dense rainforest.

You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, check in and enjoy views of the forest or surrounding highlands.

Your driver-guide will brief you about the following day’s gorilla trekking experience, including what to carry, what to wear and what to expect during the trek.

You will have dinner and an early night in preparation for the gorilla trekking adventure.

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters.

Remember to carry your original passport, drinking water, packed lunch, rain jacket, hiking boots, gloves and any personal medication you may require.

At the park headquarters, you will meet Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and receive a detailed briefing about gorilla trekking procedures and conservation guidelines.

You will then be assigned a habituated gorilla family and placed in a small trekking group.

Accompanied by experienced trackers and rangers, you will enter the ancient rainforest and begin searching for the mountain gorillas.

The trek may take between two and several hours, depending on the gorillas’ location, movements and the condition of the forest trails.

The hike can involve steep slopes, thick vegetation, mud and uneven terrain, but the reward is one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences.

Once the gorilla family is located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas as they feed, rest, groom, play and interact with one another.

You will have time to take photographs while following the instructions provided by your ranger.

After the encounter, you will trek back to the park headquarters and receive a gorilla trekking certificate.

You will then return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Later in the afternoon, you will participate in a respectful, community-led Batwa cultural experience.

During the visit, Batwa community members may share stories about their forest heritage, traditional hunting methods, medicinal plants, songs, dances and survival skills.

The experience offers an opportunity to learn about the Batwa people while contributing to community livelihoods and cultural preservation.

You will return to the lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay on safari.

After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and begin the return journey to Kampala or Entebbe.

The drive takes you through the beautiful hills and rural landscapes of southwestern Uganda.

Depending on the location of your Bwindi accommodation, you may travel through Kabale, Ntungamo, Mbarara and Masaka.

You will stop for lunch along the way.

Where time allows, you may also stop at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe for photographs, souvenir shopping and a chance to stretch your legs.

You will then continue to Kampala or Entebbe, arriving in the evening.

Your driver-guide will drop you at your hotel, residence or Entebbe International Airport, marking the end of your 7-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari.

Guests planning to fly out on the same day should book a late-evening flight. Alternatively, an additional night in Entebbe can be arranged to provide a more relaxed ending to the safari.