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6 Day Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Safari
From
US $2,214 Per Person
6 Day Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Safari
From
USD $2214
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6 Day Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Safari
When we mention Uganda, you immediately think of massive silverback gorillas, showing off in thick montane rainforest jungle. And luckily this is true! But “the Pearl of Africa” is much more. This amazing east African country has great tourism facilities, fantastic birdwatching, a pleasant tropical climate, excellent coffee, friendly people, stunning scenery, and some very special wildlife, including many primates along with Africa’s famous Big Five.
The country is a nature hotspot, with an incredible 1,080 bird species (around half of Africa’s total) recorded, along with 345 mammals, 4,500 plants, 142 reptiles, 1,250 butterflies, and much more.
This 6-day safari visits some of Uganda’s top wildlife destinations, including Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Lake Mburo National Park, with some amazing surprises along the way. Let’s go on safari in the country that has four of Africa’s tallest mountains, the largest lake and the source of the world’s longest river!
Itinerary In Brief
Day 1: Entebbe to Kibale National Park, Bigodi Wetland nature walk
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kazinga Channel private boat cruise
Day 3: Morning game drive, travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 4: Gorilla trekking and relaxation
Day 5: Relaxed Breakfast & Travel to Lake Mburo National Park, game drive
Day 6: Morning game walk or drive, return to Entebbe via the Equator
Your Itinerary Detail
Day 1: Entebbe to Kibale National Park
Your professional English-speaking driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala, or from Entebbe International Airport. After a short briefing, you will begin a scenic drive of about 5 hours (320 km) west toward Kibale National Park, with plenty of sights along the way.
You will stop in Fort Portal for lunch. Though the original fort no longer stands, this beautiful town lies at the foot of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon. Fort Portal is in Uganda’s tea-growing heartland and boasts a lively market and stunning scenery.
After lunch, enjoy a guided walk-through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run reserve rich in birds, monkeys, and butterflies. Keep an eye out for the famous great blue turaco, one of the wetland’s highlights. Next, you will continue for about 30 minutes to your lodge near or inside Kibale National Park, a 776 km² (300 sq mi) forest famous for its primates.
Established in 1993, Kibale connects with Queen Elizabeth National Park, forming a 180 km (110 mi) wildlife corridor where African elephants roam freely. The park’s varied altitude (1,100–1,600 m / 3,600–5,200 ft) creates diverse habitats, from moist evergreen forest on the Fort Portal plateau to semi-deciduous forest, woodland, and savanna along the rift valley. Over 350 tree species have been recorded here.
Kibale is world-renowned for its primates, including endangered chimpanzees, Ashy Red Colobus, Ugandan Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Olive baboons, Red-tailed monkeys, Guereza, Blue monkeys, and the vulnerable L’Hoest’s monkey.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp – Self Contained Tents
Midrange: Turaco Treetops – Standard Cottage
Semi Luxury: Turaco Treetops – Luxury Cottage
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking, Queen Elizabeth NP, private boat cruise
Today promises to be a highlight! If excitement keeps you awake, enjoy a cup of fresh Ugandan coffee or tea on your tent terrace, surrounded by lush forest. After breakfast, you head to the Kanyanchu Tourism Centre in Kibale for chimpanzee trekking, starting at 8:00 AM.
The activity begins with a briefing by expert park rangers, who will guide you through the forest in search of our closest relatives. The trek lasts about 2–4 hours and has a 95% success rate in spotting the 1,450 chimpanzees in Kibale.
You will have a full hour to watch these incredible animals as they swing through the trees, socialize, patrol, eat fruit, and make hooting calls—a truly unforgettable experience perfect for photography.
Kibale is also home to other mammals, though they are rarely seen, including Bushbuck, Blue Duiker, Warthog, Sitatunga, Forest Hog, and Bushpig. On a very lucky day, you might spot African Buffalo, Leopards, forest-adapted Elephants, mongooses, otters, or even Lions. Sharp observers will also notice a variety of amphibians, reptiles, and colorful butterflies.
Bird enthusiasts will enjoy 325 bird species, including six endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley: Dusky Crimsonwing, Black-capped and Black-collared Apalis, Blue-headed and Purple-breasted Sunbird, and Red-faced Woodland Warbler. Other highlights include Green-breasted and African Pitta, Afep Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Crowned Eagle, and Grey Parrot.
After trekking, enjoy a packed picnic lunch at the starting point. Post-lunch, travel about 2 hours south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most visited park, renowned for its diverse habitats: grassland savannah, moist forests, fertile wetlands, and scenic crater lakes. The park hosts 95 mammal species, over 600 birds, and much more.
A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel is a highlight of your visit. The channel connects Lake George to Lake Edward and is home to hundreds of hippos, enormous crocodiles, bathing buffalo, and elephants, along with countless bird species. You can opt for a private boat cruise but it more expensive.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Bush Lodge – Self-Contained Tent
Midrange: Bush Lodge – Banda
Semi Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge – Safari Tent
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge Deluxe Room
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Morning game drive, travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Start your day with an early breakfast at the lodge before heading out for a morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains. Here, you may spot impressive African wildlife, including African Elephant, African Buffalo, Kob, Bushbuck, Hippopotamus, Giant Forest Hog, Warthog, Nile Crocodile, Spotted Hyena, Leopard, and many smaller species. The plains are particularly beautiful in the golden morning light, making it a photographer’s dream.
Bird enthusiasts will enjoy spotting species such as Shoebill, African Hobby, Rüppell’s Vulture, Bateleur, Brown Snake Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Grey Kestrel, African Finfoot, African Skimmer, Black Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Caspian Plover, Great Blue Turaco, Great White Pelican, Grey-winged Robin-chat, Palm-nut Vulture, Papyrus Gonolek, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Red-chested Sunbird, Rufous-bellied Heron, Western Banded Snake Eagle, White-backed Night Heron, and Yellow-throated Cuckoo, among many others.
After exploring Kasenyi, travel further south to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Rukungiri District. Here, you may encounter the famous tree-climbing lions, whose males boast striking black manes as they rest on fig tree branches scanning for prey. Ishasha is also the only area in the park to see Tsessebe (Topi subspecies) and Sitatunga.
Leaving Queen Elizabeth National Park, continue toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, stopping for lunch along the route. You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon or early evening.
Bwindi, composed of 321 km² (124 sq mi) of montane and lowland rainforest, is accessible only on foot due to its steep terrain. Gazetted as a National Park in 1991 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, Bwindi is a living relic of the last Ice Age, having survived when most African forests disappeared. Its name in the local Lukiga language means “impenetrable.”
Bwindi is most famous for being home to over half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas (about 500 individuals), making it Uganda’s most iconic wildlife destination. In addition, the park boasts almost 350 bird species (including 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics), 120 mammal species (including other primates, African Elephants, and numerous antelopes), over 200 butterfly species, 27 frog species, more than 1,000 flowering plants, and 324 tree species, making it one of Africa’s most biologically diverse forests.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Ride 4 A Woman Guest House
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp
Semi Luxury: Buhoma Haven Community Lodge
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Gorilla trekking & Relaxation
Today is truly a highlight of your safari—and possibly your life. Gorilla trekking is a bucket-list experience that nature lovers from around the world dream of. After breakfast at your lodge, you will head to the park offices for a briefing by expert local guides.
At 8:00 AM, begin your trek along the designated trails in the impenetrable forest in search of the majestic Mountain Gorillas.
Bwindi is home to around 500 gorillas, almost half of the world’s total population. Trekking can take a few hours depending on their movements, as the forest can be wet and the trails steep. The effort is more than worth it—spending time with these incredible creatures, photographing them, and gazing into their warm, expressive eyes is a once-in-a-lifetime experience only Bwindi can offer.
While the gorillas are the main attraction, you may also encounter other mammals such as Black-fronted and Yellow-backed Duiker, Guereza, L’Hoest’s, Blue and Red-tailed Monkeys, Chimpanzees, and several squirrel species, including Fire-footed Rope, Carruthers’ Mountain, Ruwenzori Sun, and Red-legged Sun Squirrel. After this life-changing experience, receive your gorilla trekking certificate and enjoy a packed picnic lunch.
Return to the lodge for relaxation, or optionally take a village walk or visit the Batwa people, a tribe of hunter-gatherers who lived in Bwindi alongside gorillas for centuries before the park was established.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Ride 4 A Woman Guest House
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp
Semi Luxury: Buhoma Haven Community Lodge
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Travel to Lake Mburo National Park, game drive
After a relaxed breakfast, depart for the final park of your tour. The drive northeast takes most of the morning, with a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Centre, a top destination featuring a five-star hotel, excellent restaurant, craft shops, conference facilities, and one of Uganda’s best museums. After lunch, continue toward Lake Mburo National Park, entering through Sanga Gate. Just outside the park, you will encounter the famous long-horned Ankole cattle of the Bahima people—a classic photo opportunity.
Lake Mburo, covering 260 km² (100 sq mi), is a stunning wetland and Acacia savanna sanctuary. It is a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and forms part of a 50 km-long wetland system with 13 lakes, five of which lie within the park.
Enjoy an afternoon and early evening game drive as you head to your lodge. Wildlife highlights include Plains Zebra, Impala (the only park in Uganda with this elegant antelope), Common Eland, African Buffalo, Oribi, Defassa Waterbuck, Leopard, Lion (possibly one remaining), Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, Topi (Tsessebe subspecies), Southern Reedbuck, and Banded, Slender, and Dwarf Mongoose.
Bird enthusiasts can look out for gems like Red-faced Barbet, Rufous-bellied Heron, African Marsh Harrier, White-backed, Lappet-faced, and White-headed Vultures, Brown Snake Eagle, African Hawk-eagle, Bateleur, Coqui Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-headed Lovebird, Ross’s Turaco, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, White-headed Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Long-tailed Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, White-winged Tit, and African Finfoot.
Arrive at your beautifully located lodge in time to freshen up, followed by an excellent farewell dinner, as the African night gently settles over the waters of Lake Mburo—an unforgettable end to your “Pearl of Africa” adventure.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Eagles Nest Mburo
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
Semi Luxury: Rwakobo Rock
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Morning game walk and return Entebbe via the Equator
After an early breakfast, embark on a nature walk, your final safari activity. Guided by a knowledgeable local expert, this walk takes you through some of Uganda’s most scenic savannah landscapes, dotted with iconic Acacia trees. Along the way, you may encounter primates, a wide variety of birds, and antelopes such as Common Eland, Waterbuck, Impala, Topi, Bushbuck, and Klipspringer. Larger wildlife like Spotted Hyena, African Buffalo, Giraffe, Plains Zebra, and Common Warthog may also make an appearance.
After the walk, begin the transfer back to Entebbe, a journey of about 4–5 hours. Along the way, stop at the Ugandan Equator at Kayabwe, a fun and unique opportunity to stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere.
Capture memorable photos and browse for souvenirs to take home as a keepsake from your incredible Ugandan safari. Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where you will say farewell to your guide before departing on your onward or homeward flights, taking with you memories of a truly unforgettable adventure.
Accommodation: Not included (End of tour)
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Prices For This Trip
The selected comfort levels (see the bottom of the page for more information) give you a good indication of the type of accommodations and the total price. We’d be happy to discuss in person whether the accommodations meet your needs and combine different levels where appropriate.
* The prices below are starting prices and are shown in US Dollars per person .
Simple
- 1 Person = US$ 4240
- 2 Pax = US$ 2976
- 3 Pax = US$ 2664
- 4 Pax = US$ 2426
- 5 Pax = US$ 2349
- 6 Pax = US$ 2243
- 7 Pax = US$ 2214
Middle Class
- 1 Person = US$ 4461
- 2 Pax = US$ 3125
- 3 Pax = US$ 2815
- 4 Pax = US$ 2559
- 5 Pax = US$ 2486
- 6 Pax = US$ 2370
- 7 Pax = US$ 2345
Semi-Luxury
- 1 Person = US$ 4866
- 2 Pax = US$ 3408
- 3 Pax = US$ 3118
- 4 Pax = US$ 2826
- 5 Pax = US$ 2768
- 6 Pax = US$ 2632
- 7 Pax = US$ 2618
Luxury
- 1 Person = US$6372
- 2 Pax = US$ 4658
- 3 Pax = US$ 4449
- 4 Pax = US$ 4037
- 5 Pax = US$ 4016
- 6 Pax = US$ 3848
- 7 Pax = US$ 3769
Tour Inclusions
- Pick-up and drop-off from Entebbe International Airport or hotels in Entebbe/Kampala.
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with professional English-speaking driver-guide throughout the safari.
- All road transfers between parks and lodges.
- All park entrance fees
- 5 nights in your choice of lodge/camp across different categories (Simple, Midrange, Semi-Luxury, Luxury) as per the itinerary:
- Daily breakfast at all lodges.
- Lunches and dinners as specified (including packed picnic lunches during treks
- Guided Bigodi Wetland Nature Walk (Day 1).
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park with expert park rangers (Day 2).
- Private boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park (Day 2).
- Morning game drive at Kasenyi Plains, Queen Elizabeth National Park (Day 3).
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with expert guides (Day 4).
- Afternoon game drive in Lake Mburo National Park (Day 5).
- Morning game walk or drive in Lake Mburo National Park (Day 6).
- Gorilla trekking permit.
- Chimpanzee trekking permit.
- Gorilla trekking certificate post-trek.
- Bottled water during transfers and game drives
Tour Exclusions
- International flights to/from Uganda.
- Travel insurance, visa, and personal expenses.
- Tips and gratuities for guides and staff.
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Accommodation on Day 6 (end of tour).
