Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe/Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park
Your 7-Day Uganda Gorillas and Chimps Safari begins with pickup from Entebbe International Airport, Kampala, or your hotel. Meet your professional safari guide and begin the scenic drive west toward Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda’s primate capital.
The journey takes you through vibrant towns, traditional homesteads, fertile farmland, and endless green tea plantations. As you approach Fort Portal, enjoy spectacular views of the legendary Rwenzori Mountains, often called the Mountains of the Moon.
This region is one of the most scenic parts of Uganda, known for crater lakes, rolling hills, and rich volcanic soils.
Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon and relax in preparation for the next day’s chimpanzee adventure.
Dinner and overnight near Kibale Forest
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale – Vanilla & Coffee Experience – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing before your thrilling chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale is one of the best places in Africa to see wild chimpanzees and hosts 13 species of primates. Walk through lush tropical forest guided by expert trackers as you listen for calls echoing through the canopy.
Once located, spend time observing these intelligent and energetic primates as they feed, socialize, and move through the forest.
After lunch, continue with a unique local experience visiting a vanilla farm and enjoying a highland organic coffee tour, where you learn how vanilla and coffee are grown, processed, and prepared using traditional methods.
Later, proceed south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular savannah reserve.
Dinner and overnight at your safari lodge
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
Rise early for a classic game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park across the Kasenyi plains, where wildlife is most active during the cool morning hours.
Look out for elephants, buffaloes, lions, Uganda kob, warthogs, hyenas, waterbucks, and numerous bird species. With over 600 recorded bird species, the park is also a paradise for bird lovers.
Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, enjoy the famous Kazinga Channel boat cruise, one of Uganda’s top wildlife experiences. This natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George attracts huge numbers of animals to its shores.
Expect close sightings of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and countless water birds.
Dinner and overnight in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, travel through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park known as Ishasha, world-famous for its rare tree-climbing lions.
Search for these unique lions often seen resting in giant fig trees while scanning the plains below. Ishasha is also rich in buffaloes, topis, elephants, and scenic wilderness landscapes.
After this memorable wildlife experience, continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Drive through remote highland villages and terraced hillsides before arriving at your lodge near the forest.
Dinner and overnight near Bwindi
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Today is the highlight of your safari — the once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.
After breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a ranger briefing before entering the dense rainforest in search of a habituated gorilla family.
The trek may take between two and seven hours depending on the gorillas’ location, but every step is worth it.
Once found, spend one extraordinary hour with these gentle giants, observing family interactions, feeding behavior, and playful young gorillas in their natural habitat.
After the trek, transfer to the scenic shores of Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa’s most beautiful lakes surrounded by terraced hills and dotted with islands.
Dinner and overnight at a lakeside lodge
Day 6: Early Island Exploration – Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Night Game Drive
Wake early for a peaceful boat ride or canoe excursion exploring the beautiful islands of Lake Bunyonyi, known as the “Place of Many Little Birds.”
Enjoy stunning sunrise photography, birdlife, and local stories connected to the lake’s islands before departing for Lake Mburo National Park.
Arrive in the afternoon and settle into your lodge.
After dinner, head out for an exciting night game drive, offering a chance to spot wildlife rarely seen during the day, including bush babies, hyenas, civets, genets, porcupines, and possibly leopard.
Dinner and overnight in Lake Mburo National Park
Day 7: Morning Nature Walk – Transfer to Entebbe via Equator Crossing
On your final morning, enjoy a guided walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park, one of the few parks in East Africa where wildlife walks are possible.
Walk safely with an armed ranger as you encounter zebras, giraffes, impalas, elands, topis, and abundant birdlife on foot — a completely different safari perspective.
After breakfast, begin your return journey to Entebbe. Stop at the Uganda Equator crossing for photos, refreshments, and souvenirs before continuing to Entebbe International Airport or your hotel.
Day 1: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Your 7-Day Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari begins with a warm welcome on arrival at Kigali International Airport or pickup from your hotel in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a guided Kigali city tour through one of Africa’s cleanest and fastest-growing capitals.
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial for a powerful insight into Rwanda’s history and remarkable transformation. Continue through colorful local markets, artisan centers, and scenic viewpoints that showcase Kigali’s modern charm.
After lunch, begin your scenic drive north to Volcanoes National Park, famous for its mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and dramatic volcanic scenery. The journey passes through Rwanda’s famous rolling hills, terraced farms, and picturesque villages, earning the country its title as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon. If time allows, you may visit the Gorilla Guardians Village or the Dian Fossey Museum before dinner.
Dinner and overnight near Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda and Transfer to Bwindi Uganda
After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing before your golden monkey trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Golden monkeys are among Africa’s rarest and most playful primates, known for their bright golden-orange fur and energetic behavior. Trek through bamboo forests and volcanic slopes as expert guides lead you to one of the habituated groups.
Once found, enjoy time observing these lively monkeys as they leap through the forest canopy.
After the trek, return for lunch and proceed to Uganda via the Cyanika border crossing. Continue through the stunning highlands of southwestern Uganda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Dinner and overnight near Bwindi Forest
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Today is the highlight of your safari — the unforgettable gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.
After breakfast, head to the park headquarters for registration and ranger briefing before entering the ancient rainforest of Bwindi. Trekking can take anywhere from two to seven hours depending on the movement of your assigned gorilla family.
The reward is extraordinary: spending one magical hour in the presence of mountain gorillas as they feed, groom, play, and interact in their natural habitat.
Few wildlife encounters on earth compare to the emotion and privilege of standing just meters away from these gentle giants.
After your trek, receive your gorilla trekking certificate and transfer to the scenic shores of Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa’s most beautiful lakes surrounded by terraced hills and dotted islands.
Dinner and overnight at a lakeside lodge
Day 4: Lake Bunyonyi Boat Excursion and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up to fresh mountain air and breathtaking lake views. After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing boat excursion on Lake Bunyonyi, known as the “Place of Many Little Birds.”
Explore some of the lake’s historic islands while learning local stories and enjoying exceptional scenery perfect for photography and relaxation.
Later, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular savannah safari destination. The drive takes you through rolling countryside, crater lakes, tea plantations, and dramatic views of the western rift valley.
Arrive in the evening and settle into your safari lodge
Dinner and overnight in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
Rise early for a sunrise game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, when predators and grazers are most active across the Kasenyi plains.
Look out for elephants, buffaloes, lions, Uganda kob, waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas, and numerous bird species. The park is one of Uganda’s richest wildlife areas and offers superb classic safari scenery.
Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, enjoy one of Uganda’s finest wildlife activities — the Kazinga Channel boat cruise. This natural waterway connects Lake Edward and Lake George and attracts one of Africa’s highest concentrations of hippos.
Expect close sightings of hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and abundant birdlife along the shoreline.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest and Transfer to Lake Mburo
After breakfast, transfer to Kalinzu Forest Reserve for an exciting chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda.
Walk through tropical forest guided by trackers in search of chimpanzees, whose calls often echo through the trees before they are seen. Kalinzu is also home to colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, butterflies, and many forest birds.
After lunch, continue to Lake Mburo National Park, a compact but wildlife-rich reserve known for zebras, giraffes, impalas, and elands.
After dinner, head out for a thrilling night game drive, offering chances to spot nocturnal animals such as bush babies, hyenas, civets, genets, and possibly leopard.
Dinner and overnight in Lake Mburo National Park
Day 7: Walking Safari in Lake Mburo and Transfer to Entebbe
On your final morning, enjoy a guided walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park, one of the few parks in East Africa where walking among wildlife is possible.
Accompanied by an armed ranger, explore the savannah on foot while encountering zebras, giraffes, impalas, elands, topis, and a variety of birds from a completely different perspective.
After breakfast, begin your scenic drive back to Entebbe with lunch en route. Stop at the Uganda Equator crossing for photos, souvenirs, and refreshments before continuing to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight.