Overview
Uganda is one of the few places where you can trek both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas on the same trip. This safari begins in Kibale Forest, the “primate capital of the world”, for a morning with a habituated chimpanzee community.
Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park for the Kazinga Channel and the lions of Ishasha, then to Bwindi for your gorilla trek. A flight from Kihihi back to Entebbe avoids a long drive at the end.
Route
Highlights
- Chimpanzee trek in Kibale (permit included)
- Mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi (permit included)
- Bigodi Wetland walk
- Kazinga Channel boat safari
- Tree-climbing lions
Activities
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Swamp walk
- Crater lake hikes
- Boat safari
- Game drives
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura
- Gorilla trekking
- Gorilla habituation experience
- Nature walks
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1:
Kibale & the Crater Lakes
Kibale ForestYour guide collects you from your hotel in Entebbe in the morning for the drive to Kibale Forest (5–6 hours). Travel west to Fort Portal and the crater lakes near Kibale Forest. In the afternoon, walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary with a community guide, looking for red colobus monkeys and the great blue turaco.
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Day 2:
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale
Kibale ForestSet off early into Kibale Forest with a ranger to find a habituated chimpanzee community. Listen for their pant-hoot calls echoing through the trees, then spend an hour watching them feed, groom and swing through the canopy. Return to the lodge for an afternoon crater lake walk.
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Day 3:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National ParkAfter breakfast, continue by road from Kibale Forest to Queen Elizabeth NP (about 3 hours). In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, passing pods of hippos, buffalo and elephants drinking at the water's edge, and an extraordinary number of waterbirds.
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Day 4:
Kasenyi Plains & Crater Lakes
Queen Elizabeth National ParkHead out at dawn onto the Kasenyi plains to look for lions hunting Uganda kob, then explore the explosion craters with their sweeping views across the Rift Valley.
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Day 5:
Journey to Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable ForestAfter breakfast, continue by road from Queen Elizabeth NP to Bwindi (about 4 hours via Ishasha). Arrive at your lodge on the forest edge in time to hear the evening chorus of birds and the rainforest settling for the night.
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Day 6:
Mountain Gorilla Trek
Bwindi Impenetrable ForestAfter an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing, then set off with rangers and trackers into the forest. The trek may take from one to several hours through steep, green terrain. When you find the gorillas, spend a magical hour watching the silverback, mothers and playful youngsters at close quarters — an experience few people ever forget.
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Day 7:
Bwindi to Entebbe
Bwindi Impenetrable ForestEnjoy a final early-morning activity and breakfast, then transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Entebbe. You will be met on arrival and transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your onward journey, or to a day room on request.
Meals: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.
Accommodation
This itinerary is priced with mid-range accommodation. Every property is chosen for its location, guiding and service; final properties are confirmed at booking and we can upgrade or adjust any night.
- Kibale ForestForest lodge on the edge of Kibale2 nights
- Queen Elizabeth National ParkLodge with Rift Valley views near Mweya2 nights
- Bwindi Impenetrable ForestForest lodge with gorilla-trek access2 nights
Meals: Full board on safari; breakfast and dinner in cities and at the beach
What's included
Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation as listed (or similar, subject to availability)
- Meals as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- All national park, reserve and conservation fees
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Bottled drinking water during the safari
- All government taxes and levies
- 24-hour in-country support from our Nairobi office
- Domestic and light-aircraft flights as described in the itinerary
- One mountain gorilla trekking permit per person (currently USD 800)
- One chimpanzee trekking permit per person in Kibale (currently USD 250)
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Comprehensive travel insurance (required)
- Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Drinks other than drinking water, unless stated
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and souvenirs
- Optional porters on gorilla and chimpanzee treks (around USD 20 per trek)
Travel information
Best time to travel
Year-round; drier from June to September and December to February.
What to pack
- Neutral-coloured, lightweight clothing (khaki, olive, beige)
- A warm fleece or jacket for early mornings and evenings
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
- Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards
- Insect repellent and personal medication
- Soft-sided duffel bag — light aircraft allow around 15 kg per person
- Waterproof hiking boots and gaiters for forest treks
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Gardening gloves for gripping vegetation
- Long-sleeved shirt and long trousers
Experiences on this safari
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This itinerary runs privately for your own group, with your own vehicle and guide. It can start on any date, and we can adjust the route, pace and accommodation to suit you.
What does the price include?
The guide price from USD 3,400 per person is based on two people sharing mid-range accommodation in the low season. It includes accommodation, the meals and activities listed, park fees and transfers. Prices vary by season and group size; we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Is there a luggage limit on the flights?
Yes. Light aircraft and some domestic flights allow around 15 kg per person including hand luggage, packed in soft-sided bags. We can store extra luggage for you.
When should I book my gorilla permit?
As early as possible — ideally three to six months ahead for June to September and December to February. We purchase permits as soon as you confirm your booking.
How long is a chimpanzee trek?
Usually two to four hours, including one hour with the chimps once they are found. The terrain is flatter than Bwindi.
Gallery
Open image: Chimpanzee mother and infant, Mahale Mountains
Open image: Mist rising over Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Open image: Lioness at golden hour in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Open image: Wildlife on the banks of the Kazinga Channel
Open image: African elephants in the Maasai Mara
Open image: Mountain gorilla feeding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Open image: Mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkEnquire about this safari
Every date is available on request. Tell us when you would like to travel and we will send a tailored quote — adjustments welcome.
