8 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour, Chimp Tracking and Wildlife Safari
Overview
This 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour , Chimp Tracking and Wildlife Safari allows you to experience an abundance of wildlife in Uganda. For most people, mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking are the highlight of this safari. There are many amazing opportunities to see numerous animals like buffaloes, hippos, lions, elephants, and several species of birds. This journey will bring you close to nature and the beauty of Uganda, the Pearl of Africa!
During your Uganda tour, you’ll have the rare opportunity to trek through misty forests in search of endangered mountain gorillas and playful chimpanzees in their natural habitats. This immersive Uganda tour also features classic game drives across the savanna plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where lions, elephants, and countless other species roam freely against the backdrop of the magnificent Rwenzori Mountains.
Your Uganda tour includes comfortable accommodations throughout, professional English-speaking guides, and carefully planned activities that showcase the country’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. From the lush rainforests of Kibale to the explosion crater lakes and the legendary Kazinga Channel, this Uganda tour delivers unforgettable experiences while supporting conservation efforts that protect these precious ecosystems for future generations.
Price Includes
Chimpanzee tracking permit
Gorilla trekking permit
Park fees
All activities
Ground transport per 4WD custom
Bottled water in the safari vehicle
Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
Driver allowances
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Price excludes
Uganda Visa
International and Internal Flights
Personal needs such as gratitude, beverages, etc.
Visa
Air ticket
Optional Activities
Laundry fees
Tips
Life insurance
Other drinks apart from water
Itineraries
Day 1Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Your Uganda tour begins with a warm welcome from a Kagera Safaris representative at Entebbe International Airport, located approximately 40 km from Kampala, Uganda's capital city. This Uganda tour starts with a comfortable transfer to your hotel near Lake Victoria the world's second-largest freshwater lake by surface area. Your Uganda tour guide will brief you on the exciting journey ahead while you settle into your accommodation and enjoy the refreshing lake breeze. Rest and recuperate from your journey as you prepare for the adventures that await on your Uganda tour through this beautiful country.
Day 2Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, your Uganda tour continues with a scenic 5–6-hour journey (approximately 300 km) westward to Kibale National Park, home to Uganda's largest population of chimpanzees. Your Uganda tour route passes through Fort Portal town, famous for its tea plantations and stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains, also known locally as the "Mountains of the Moon." This leg of your Uganda tour takes you through vibrant rural communities where you'll observe daily life in Uganda's countryside, with colorful roadside markets displaying fresh produce and handcrafts. Arrive at your lodging near Kibale Forest in time for dinner and overnight rest as you anticipate tomorrow's primate adventure.
Day 3Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Village Walk
The highlight of today's Uganda tour is an early morning trek through Kibale Forest National Park, starting with a 7:30 AM briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Center. During this exhilarating Uganda tour experience, you'll spend 2-3 hours hiking through the forest with expert ranger guides in search of habituated chimpanzee families. Your Uganda tour adventure in Kibale offers opportunities to spot numerous other primates, including L'Hoest's monkeys, red colobus, and black-and-white colobus monkeys, along with over 375 bird species. After lunch, your Uganda tour continues with a community-based ecotourism initiative at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (Magombe Swamp), just 8 km from Kanyanchu, where you'll enjoy a 3-hour guided walk to observe wildlife while learning about local traditions, medicinal plants, and cultural practices.
Day 4Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Crater Drive
This morning, your Uganda tour proceeds with a 2–3-hour drive (approximately 100 km) southward to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's most visited savannah reserve spanning 1,978 square kilometers. Your Uganda tour route offers spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains and passes multiple crater lakes formed by volcanic activity in the Albertine Rift. Upon arrival at this vital stop on your Uganda tour, you'll check into your lodge before embarking on an afternoon expedition to the explosion crater lakes field in the Kyambura area, where sunken volcanic craters now filled with water create a surreal landscape. Your Uganda tour guide will explain the geological history of this region while you capture stunning panoramic views of the park and surrounding mountains.
Day 5Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Safari
Your Uganda tour adventure intensifies with a dawn game drive through the Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, departing around 6:30 AM when wildlife activity peaks. During this exciting Uganda tour activity, you'll traverse open savannah in search of the park's famous tree-climbing lions, herds of Uganda kob (the national antelope), elephants, buffalo, and numerous other species. After lunch at your lodge, your Uganda tour continues with a memorable 2-hour boat cruise along the 40 km Kazinga Channel, connecting Lakes Edward and George. This relaxed component of your Uganda tour provides excellent opportunities to observe hippos, Nile crocodiles, and elephants at close range, while over 600 bird species, including the African fish eagle and numerous kingfishers, frequent the channel's shores.
Day 6Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park
Today, your Uganda tour journey takes you southward through the beautiful terraced hillsides of Kigezi highlands, often called the "Switzerland of Africa," on a 4–5-hour drive (approximately 160 km) to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This crucial segment of your Uganda tour passes through Ishasha sector, where you might spot tree-climbing lions lounging in fig trees, before continuing through picturesque farming communities where traditional agricultural practices shape the landscape. Your Uganda tour route climbs into cooler mountain elevations as you approach Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects roughly half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Upon arrival at your selected lodge near one of Bwindi's four trekking sectors (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo), you'll check in and prepare for tomorrow's gorilla tracking adventure.
Day 7 Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Forest
The pinnacle of your Uganda tour arrives as you gather at 7:30 AM at the park headquarters for a briefing before embarking on your gorilla tracking experience. During this unforgettable Uganda tour highlight, experienced ranger guides will lead you through dense forest vegetation in search of a habituated gorilla family, a trek that may take 1-6 hours depending on the gorillas' location. Your Uganda tour investment includes the coveted gorilla permit, allowing you one magical hour in the presence of these gentle giants once found. Witnessing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat represents the most profound wildlife encounter on your Uganda tour, as you observe their remarkably human-like behaviors and social interactions against the backdrop of Bwindi's ancient forest. Return to your lodge for dinner and reflection on this life-changing experience.
Day 8Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
The final day of your Uganda tour begins with breakfast at your lodge before commencing the 8-9 hour return journey (approximately 500 km) to Entebbe International Airport. This concluding stretch of your Uganda tour passes through the scenic highlands of southwestern Uganda, with a lunch stop in Mbarara town, famous for its long-horned Ankole cattle. Your Uganda tour guide will ensure comfortable travel as you reflect on the incredible experiences of the past week, traversing Uganda's diverse landscapes and encountering its remarkable wildlife. Your Uganda tour concludes with arrival at Entebbe International Airport in time for your departure flight, where you'll bid farewell to the Pearl of Africa with memories to last a lifetime.
