8-Day Best of Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Trekking Safari
The 8-Day Best of Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari is an unforgettable journey through Uganda’s most spectacular wildlife and primate destinations. This carefully designed safari combines chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park with the ultimate mountain gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, while also allowing you to discover Uganda’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, and local communities.
The safari begins in Kampala or Entebbe and takes you westward through the beautiful Ugandan countryside to Kibale Forest, renowned as one of Africa’s best destinations for chimpanzee tracking and home to a remarkable variety of primates. From Kibale, the journey continues to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can enjoy game viewing and a boat safari along the famous Kazinga Channel.
The adventure then continues to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most important habitats for endangered mountain gorillas. The highlight of the safari is a thrilling gorilla trekking experience, where you hike through the ancient rainforest in search of a habituated gorilla family and spend precious moments observing these incredible primates in their natural habitat.
With a combination of chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking, wildlife viewing, scenic landscapes, and cultural experiences, this 8-day safari offers an ideal introduction to Uganda—the Pearl of Africa. The itinerary can be customized with budget, mid-range, or luxury accommodation, as well as private transportation and other activities according to your interests and travel schedule.
8-Day Best of Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Trekking Safari Highlights
Day 1 : Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 2 : Guided Nature Walk, Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 3 : Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 4 : Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Via Isasha Sector
Day 5 : Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel
Day 6 : Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 7 : Chimpanzee Trekking at Kibale National Park
Day 8 : Transfer to Entebbe
Detailed 8-Day Best of Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Trekking Safari
Day 1 : Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
You will be picked up by our experienced, knowledgeable driver-guide and given a detailed briefing of your safari. You will travel south-west to Lake Mburo National Park. You will break your 4-hour journey at the Equator crossing for some pictures and lunch at the Hotel. You will then enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park, followed by a boat ride on Lake Mburo, where you will see more aquatic wildlife. You’ll return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation : rwakobo Rock
Day 2 : Guided Nature Walk, Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You’ll have a morning game walk and later transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park. Bwindi is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda (harboring over 300 mountain gorillas— roughly half of the world’s population), including several habituated groups, which can be trekked. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check into your accommodation, relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the next morning.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation : Bweza Gorilla Lodge
Day 3 : Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You’ll have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rainforest is spectacular! The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The time with these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to your lodge for relaxation.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation : Bweza Gorilla Lodge
Day 4 : Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Via Isasha Sector
You’ll enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then travel to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP – famously known for tree-climbing lions frequently seen in the area. The chance of spotting these lions stands at about 60-70%, but sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them in the tree, the sight is picturesque and memorable. From Ishasha, you’ll proceed to the northern part of Queen Elizabeth (Mweya) with an afternoon game drive. You’ll check in at your lodge for an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation : Acacia Wilderness Mweya
Day 5 : Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel
You’ll have an early breakfast. Then, you’ll proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and be on the lookout for Cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot), among others. You’ll return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife, including giant hippos, elephants, and crocodiles, among others, will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water’s shore. *After the boat trip, you can decide either to return to the lodge to rest or first proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive. Thereafter, you will return to the lodge.
Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation : Acacia Wilderness Mweya
Day 6 : Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast at your accommodation, you’ll drive past local communities and countryside on to Fort Portal. You’ll have a drive through the crater lakes, continue to Kibale Forest National Park, self-guided nature walk
Kibale is popular for its primates like chimpanzees, Colobus monkeys, mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys. On your chimpanzee trails, these are regularly seen swinging in the forest trees, and others feeding on the wild fruits.
Main Destination: Kibale National Park (Chimps)
Accommodation : Kibale Forest Camp
Day 7 : Chimpanzee Trekking at Kibale National Park
You will head to the forest head office for a briefing. Thereafter, you will start your trek with a ranger as early as 8:00 am. Kibale Forest National Park boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including chimpanzees. Approximately 5,000 chimpanzees live in the wild in Uganda, which makes it a perfect place to spot them!
Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour with them. You will return to the lodge for lunch and an evening Bigodi walk.
Main Destination: Kibale National Park (Chimps)
Accommodation : Kibale Forest Camp
Day 8 : Transfer to Entebbe
You’ll have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation with a spectacular view of the Kibale forest. Thereafter, you will embark on your return journey to Entebbe Airport. Expect en-route stopovers for lunch along Fort Portal. You’ll proceed with the journey, arriving in the afternoon/evening for drop-off at the airport. This will mark the end of your amazing tour in Uganda.
Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
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Rates Per Person
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