7 Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari

Your safari begins with an early pickup from Entebbe or your hotel and a transfer to Mabamba Swamp, one of Uganda’s best-known wetlands for searching for the rare shoebill stork.

Board a traditional canoe and travel quietly through the papyrus channels with a local guide. Keep watch along the wetland edges for shoebills, while also looking for other bird species that inhabit the swamp. The early morning light also provides excellent conditions for bird photography.

After the Mabamba experience, continue north toward Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Enjoy lunch on arrival before joining a guided walking experience in search of the sanctuary’s southern white rhinos. Your ranger will explain the rhinos’ behaviour, tracking techniques and the conservation work involved in protecting and restoring rhinos in Uganda.

After the walk, check in at the lodge and enjoy a relaxed evening within the sanctuary.

After breakfast, leave Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and continue north toward Murchison Falls National Park. The journey takes you through rural communities and changing landscapes before entering Uganda’s largest national park.

After lunch and check-in, head to the Victoria Nile for a boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls. Cruise along the river while watching for hippos, Nile crocodiles and wildlife coming down to drink along the banks. Elephants and buffalo may be seen close to the water, while the river supports a wide variety of birds.

After the cruise, continue with an evening game drive in the northern sector of the park. Search the open savannah for elephants, buffalo, giraffes, Uganda kobs and other wildlife. Lions are regularly encountered in the park, while leopards are more elusive and sightings depend on wildlife movements.

Rise early for a sunrise game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. The cooler morning hours offer good conditions for wildlife viewing as animals become active across the savannah.

Continue searching for elephants, buffalo, giraffes, Uganda kobs and other species, with opportunities to look for lions and other predators.

After breakfast, begin the long journey south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The route passes through rural communities, farmland and small towns, with views toward the Rwenzori Mountains as you approach western Uganda.

Enjoy lunch along the way before continuing to your lodge. Arrive later in the afternoon, giving you time to settle in and relax ahead of tomorrow’s chimpanzee tracking and wildlife activities.

After breakfast, travel to Kyambura Gorge for a guided chimpanzee trekking experience. Descend into the gorge with experienced trackers and follow the forest trails in search of chimpanzees.

The gorge provides a different forest experience from the surrounding savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Once chimpanzees are located, observe their natural behaviour while following the guidance of your trackers. Other primates, birds and forest wildlife may also be encountered during the trek.

After lunch, continue to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The shoreline provides excellent opportunities to see hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and buffalo, together with a wide range of waterbirds.

Later, head into the Kasenyi Plains for an evening game drive. Search for Uganda kobs, elephants, buffalo, lions and other savannah wildlife as temperatures begin to cool.

After breakfast, leave the central part of Queen Elizabeth National Park and continue south toward the Ishasha Sector.

Enjoy a game drive through this quieter part of the park, searching for the area's famous tree-climbing lions. The lions are sometimes found resting in the branches of large fig and acacia trees, although sightings are never guaranteed. The drive also offers opportunities to see elephants, buffalo, topi, Uganda kobs and other wildlife.

After exploring Ishasha, continue toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, travelling through the cultivated hills and rural communities of southwestern Uganda.

Arrive in the Buhoma area and check in at your lodge. The remainder of the evening is free to relax and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking experience.

Today is the highlight of your safari. After an early breakfast, travel to the Bwindi park headquarters for registration and a briefing before entering the forest.

Embark on a Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours experience in search of your assigned gorilla family. The trek can take anywhere from a short walk to several hours depending on the location and movements of the gorillas, with steep terrain and dense vegetation adding to the experience.

Once the gorilla family is located, spend the permitted viewing time observing them in their natural environment. You may see adults feeding and grooming, young gorillas playing and exploring, or the dominant silverback keeping watch over the group.

After the trek, return for lunch before continuing to Lake Bunyonyi, a highland lake surrounded by terraced hills and numerous small islands.

Depending on your arrival time, enjoy an optional boat excursion, birdwatching or simply relax beside the lake after the day's trek.