7-Day Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari – Kibale, Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi

Your Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari begins after an early breakfast with a scenic westward drive through lush tea plantations and rolling hills — some of Uganda’s most picturesque countryside — toward Fort Portal Town, where a relaxed en-route lunch break awaits before continuing on to your first destination, the remarkable Kibale National Park.

After checking into your camp, the afternoon adventure begins immediately with a guided nature walk through the dense papyrus wetlands of Magombe Swamp, nestled within the celebrated Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary on the edge of Kibale Forest. This hidden gem of a wetland is an absolute paradise for wildlife and nature enthusiasts, offering the chance to spot an extraordinary 138 bird species — including the spectacular and vibrantly coloured Great Blue Turaco — alongside a dazzling variety of butterflies fluttering through the lush vegetation.

The real highlight of Magombe Swamp, however, is its remarkable seven primate species, all potentially viewable on a single walk — including the red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, L’Hoest’s monkey, vervet monkey, black and white colobus, blue monkey, and olive baboon — offering a thrilling and accessible introduction to Kibale’s world-renowned primate population before the chimpanzee trekking experience that follows.

Main Destination: Kibale National Park, Uganda

Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp — a charming mid-range tented camp situated just outside Kibale National Park, offering an authentic and immersive forest safari atmosphere.

- Meals included: All meals - Non-alcoholic drinks included

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters at Kanyanchu for a comprehensive pre-trek briefing before venturing into the heart of Kibale Forest in search of its famous habituated chimpanzee communities. Once your group locates the chimps, you will spend an unforgettable hour in their company — observing their remarkably expressive hand gestures and facial expressions, listening to their ear-piercing calls echoing through the forest canopy, and watching in amazement as they perform breathtaking death-defying leaps between the towering trees above. It is a joyful, humbling, and deeply captivating wildlife encounter that never fails to leave a lasting impression.

Following the trek, leave the rainforest behind and drive south along the dramatic Rwenzori Mountain chain — the legendary Mountains of the Moon — through some of Uganda’s most stunning highland scenery. Stop at the famous equator line for lunch and photos at this iconic geographical landmark before continuing on to the sweeping savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Arrive in time for an exciting evening game drive through the park’s remarkable explosion crater-lake landscape — a dramatic volcanic terrain unlike anywhere else in Africa. Keep watch for elephants, Uganda kob, bushbuck, and large troops of olive baboons as the golden evening light washes over the crater-studded plains — a spectacular and memorable introduction to one of Uganda’s finest wildlife destinations.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Accommodation: The Bush Lodge — a welcoming mid-range lodge situated just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park, offering comfortable access to the park’s exceptional wildlife and landscapes.

- Meals included: All meals - Non-alcoholic drinks included

Begin the day with an exhilarating early morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains — one of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s most productive and exciting wildlife areas, and the premier location in Uganda for tracking lion prides on the hunt. Accompanied by an expert Uganda Wildlife Authority lion-tracking guide, scan the golden grasslands for predators in action as the cool morning air provides ideal hunting conditions. The plains also support impressive populations of elephants, buffalo, warthogs, bushbuck, waterbuck, and vast grazing herds of Uganda kob — delivering exceptional and diverse game viewing at every turn.

After a relaxed lunch back at the lodge, the afternoon adventure continues on the water with a scenic boat cruise along the legendary Kazinga Channel — a remarkable 32-kilometre natural waterway that flows through the very heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, connecting the vast Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel’s banks are among the most wildlife-dense stretches of waterway in all of Africa, drawing enormous concentrations of animals seeking relief from the afternoon heat. Drift past elephants wading in the shallows, buffalo wallowing along the banks, warthogs cooling off at the water’s edge, and waterbuck grazing in the riverside vegetation — all observed from the comfort of your boat at remarkably close range, making for outstanding wildlife photography opportunities throughout the cruise.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Accommodation: The Bush Lodge — a comfortable mid-range lodge situated just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park.

- Meals included: All meals - Non-alcoholic drinks included

Depart Queen Elizabeth National Park through the remote and captivating Ishasha Plains in the park’s wild southern sector — saving one final and truly special wildlife experience for last. Ishasha is world-famous for its remarkable population of tree-climbing lions — one of only two places on Earth where lions regularly scale ancient fig trees to rest on the branches, catch cooling breezes, and survey the plains below. Spotting these iconic big cats draped lazily across the tree branches is one of Uganda’s most unique and unforgettable wildlife sightings, and a fitting grand finale to your Queen Elizabeth National Park safari experience.

Following this memorable game drive through the Ishasha sector, leave the sweeping savannah behind and journey onward through Uganda’s dramatic and ever-changing highland landscapes toward your next extraordinary destination — the ancient and mist-shrouded Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, Bwindi is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas — and the anticipation of tomorrow’s gorilla trekking adventure builds with every kilometer as the dense forest closes in around you.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Accommodation: Buhoma Gorilla Camp — a welcoming mid-range lodge nestled just outside the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, perfectly positioned for an early start on gorilla trekking day.

- Meals included: All meals - Non-alcoholic drinks included

The day every visitor to Uganda dreams of has finally arrived — mountain gorilla trekking in the breathtaking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. After an early breakfast and with a packed lunch in hand, transfer to the Uganda Wildlife Authority park headquarters for a thorough briefing session before the trek commences promptly at 8:00 AM.

Led by expert UWA ranger guides, your group ventures deep into the dense and ancient rainforest in search of one of Bwindi’s habituated mountain gorilla families. The trek length is entirely dependent on where the gorillas have chosen to spend the previous night — ranging anywhere from a relatively short 30-minute walk to a more demanding 7-hour hike through Bwindi’s steep, mist-covered terrain. Every step through this extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage jungle is an adventure in itself, with the forest’s remarkable biodiversity, towering ancient trees, and atmospheric mist creating an almost otherworldly setting that stays with you long after the safari ends.

Upon locating the gorilla family, you will be granted a deeply moving and completely life-changing one-hour encounter with these magnificent and critically endangered great apes in their natural habitat — watching silverbacks demonstrate their extraordinary power and authority, observing mothers tenderly nurturing their young, and delighting in the playful antics of juvenile gorillas tumbling through the undergrowth. It is an intimate, humbling, and profoundly unforgettable wildlife experience that no other safari destination on Earth can replicate.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Accommodation: Buhoma Gorilla Camp — a comfortable mid-range lodge situated just outside the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

- Meals included: All meals - Non-alcoholic drinks included

After breakfast, depart Bwindi and transfer to the charming and often underrated Lake Mburo National Park, journeying through a scenic tapestry of winding roads, farmlands, and forest that showcases the beautiful diversity of Uganda’s countryside. Compact yet remarkably rewarding, Lake Mburo enchants visitors with its gorgeous acacia savannah terrain, dense woodlands, and a network of sparkling lakes that together create one of Uganda’s most picturesque and distinctive landscapes.

On arrival, head straight out on an afternoon game drive through the park’s varied habitats, keeping watch for warthog, impala, zebra, oribi, and leopard alongside an impressive selection of savannah bird species including lapwings, hornbills, and the distinctive coqui francolin. Lake Mburo is also one of only two places in Uganda where you can encounter the magnificent eland — Africa’s largest antelope species — making it a particularly special destination for wildlife enthusiasts seeking rare and unique sightings.

After dinner, the adventure continues with a thrilling nocturnal game drive guided by an experienced UWA ranger, scanning the darkened savannah with a spotlight in search of the park’s fascinating night-time wildlife. The genet cat, warthog, hippo, spotted hyena, and the supremely elusive leopard are all regularly encountered after dark — offering an entirely different and equally exciting dimension to the Lake Mburo wildlife experience.

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

Accommodation: Mburo Safari Lodge — a comfortable mid-range lodge ideally situated inside Lake Mburo National Park, offering exceptional access to the park’s unique wildlife and scenic landscapes.

- Meals included: All meals - Non-alcoholic drinks included

With a delicious African breakfast, you will transfer from Lake Mburo to Mabamba Swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria, driving through Mbarara town and crossing the equator at Mbarara. At Mabamba Swamp, you will set out on the water in a local canoe guided by an expert birder. You will explore the swamp in search of the infamous Shoebill Stork, the Grey Crowned Crane, Uganda’s National Bird, the Saddle-billed Stork, the African Fish Eagle, and the Malachite Kingfisher. Your guide will then drive you across town to Entebbe International Airport in time for you to check in and catch your outbound air transfer back home.

Main Destination:Entebbe (City)Accommodation:No accommodation (End of tour)Meals & Drinks:

- Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) - Drinking water (Other drinks not included)