8-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari

We fly from Entebbe toward Kibale Forest National Park, then settle into the rainforest surroundings with a relaxed afternoon activity before our chimpanzee tracking adventure.

Your Uganda safari begins at Entebbe International Airport, where our representative welcomes you and assists with your onward domestic flight.

The flight gives you an early glimpse of Uganda’s changing landscapes from above. As you travel west, the scenery transitions from the Lake Victoria basin toward the greener highlands of western Uganda.

On arrival, we transfer you to your lodge near Kibale Forest National Park.

After lunch, we keep the afternoon relaxed.

Depending on your arrival time and conditions, we can arrange a short guided walk around the lodge area. The surrounding forest provides opportunities to encounter several primate species, including blue monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys.

You may also notice birds, bushbuck, and other smaller wildlife around the forest edge.

This gentle introduction allows us to settle into the rhythm of the forest before tomorrow’s chimpanzee tracking experience.

We return to the lodge later in the day for dinner and a peaceful evening surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Included
Transfer: Included
Activity: Guided forest-area walk, time permitting

Our Tip

We recommend keeping your first afternoon flexible. Flight schedules and arrival times can influence the activities we can comfortably arrange.

We enter Kibale Forest to track habituated chimpanzees, following experienced guides through the rainforest while observing their behavior and other primates along the way.

Today is dedicated to one of Uganda’s most rewarding primate experiences.

After breakfast, we head into Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking.

Kibale’s dense rainforest provides habitat for numerous primate species. As we follow the forest trails, we may encounter red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Uganda mangabeys, and other forest wildlife.

Our guides and trackers look for signs of chimpanzee activity while listening for their distinctive calls.

Finding chimpanzees is part of the adventure. Their movements through the forest mean every trek develops differently.

Once we locate the habituated chimpanzee community, we spend the permitted viewing time observing their natural behavior.

We may see individuals feeding in the canopy, moving between trees, interacting with one another, or communicating through calls and gestures.

Chimpanzees offer an extraordinary opportunity to observe behavior that can feel surprisingly familiar while remaining completely wild.

The activity can take much of the day, depending on the location and movement of the chimpanzees.

We return to our lodge afterwards for well-earned rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Included
Activity: Chimpanzee Tracking

Our Tip

Wear comfortable hiking shoes and lightweight clothing. The forest can be humid, muddy, and challenging in places, so preparation makes a real difference.

We travel from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park and enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where hippos, elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, and birds gather around the water.

We leave Kibale Forest and travel toward Queen Elizabeth National Park.

As the rainforest gives way to open savannah, the scenery changes dramatically.

This transition is one of the pleasures of traveling through western Uganda. Dense forest gradually becomes rolling grassland, scattered trees, wetlands, and crater landscapes.

After arriving at our lodge and having lunch, we prepare for a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel.

The channel is one of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s best places to observe wildlife from the water.

We cruise slowly along the shoreline, watching hippos, elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, and water-associated birdlife.

The relaxed pace allows us to spend time observing animal behavior rather than simply passing through.

The shoreline also provides opportunities to see antelope and other wildlife coming to drink.

After the cruise, we return to the lodge and enjoy a relaxed evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Included
Activity: Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
Transfer: Included

Our Tip

A boat cruise is particularly enjoyable in the afternoon. Bring binoculars and keep your camera ready for wildlife along the shoreline.

We spend today exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park on game drives, searching for elephants, lions, antelope, hippos, leopards, and other wildlife across the savannah.

We begin the morning with a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The early hours can provide excellent opportunities to observe wildlife as temperatures remain cooler and animals become active.

We explore the savannah in search of elephants, Ugandan kob, buffalo, hippos, lions, leopards, and other wildlife.

One of the experiences we hope to find is Queen Elizabeth’s famous tree-climbing lions.

These lions are particularly associated with the Ishasha area, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. We focus on reading the landscape and following recent animal activity rather than promising specific encounters.

After our morning exploration, we return to the lodge for lunch and some time to relax.

In the afternoon, depending on your preference and park conditions, we can continue with another game drive or enjoy a walking experience where available.

Walking allows us to appreciate the smaller details of the ecosystem, including tracks, plants, birds, insects, and smaller mammals.

We return to the lodge in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Included
Activities: Game Drive & optional walking experience

Our Tip

We recommend carrying binoculars even on game drives. They are especially useful for spotting birds, distant wildlife, and animals resting in trees.

We continue south through Queen Elizabeth National Park before traveling toward Bwindi, passing changing landscapes and local communities on our way to the gorilla trekking region.

We begin the day with another opportunity to explore the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The landscape becomes more open and dry as we approach the Ishasha area, creating a different safari atmosphere from the northern sections of the park.

We continue our search for wildlife before leaving the park and driving toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The journey takes us through rural communities and changing highland landscapes.

Depending on the timing of the day, we can include a stop at a traditional community experience along the route.

As we approach Bwindi, the scenery becomes increasingly mountainous and green.

The forest rises across the hills, often surrounded by mist. This dramatic environment provides the setting for one of Uganda’s most sought-after wildlife experiences: mountain gorilla trekking.

We arrive at our lodge and settle in.

The afternoon is intentionally relaxed, giving you time to enjoy the forest views and prepare for tomorrow’s trek.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Included
Transfer: Included
Activity: Game drive, time permitting

Our Tip

Use this afternoon to prepare your trekking gear. Comfortable hiking boots, waterproof layers, gardening gloves, and a small daypack are useful in Bwindi.

We trek through Bwindi’s dense rainforest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family, then spend the permitted viewing time observing these remarkable apes in their natural habitat.

Today is the centerpiece of our Uganda safari.

After breakfast, we drive to the appropriate gorilla trekking trailhead for our briefing.

Before entering the forest, park officials explain the trekking guidelines and responsible gorilla viewing practices.

We then begin our trek.

Bwindi is a genuine rainforest environment, so the terrain can be steep, muddy, and physically demanding. The duration varies according to where the gorilla family is located.

Our guides and trackers lead us through the forest while searching for signs of the gorillas.

The anticipation grows as we move deeper into the vegetation.

Then, eventually, we find the family.

The encounter allows us to observe the gorillas as they go about their natural routines.

Adults may feed quietly while juveniles play nearby. Mothers may care for infants, while the dominant silverback keeps watch over the group.

We maintain the required distance and follow all instructions from our guides and park authorities.

The permitted viewing period gives us time to appreciate the experience without rushing.

After the trek, we return to the lodge to rest and reflect on the day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Included
Activity: Gorilla Trekking
Transfer: Included

Our Tip

Gorilla trekking is physically demanding. If you have concerns about fitness or mobility, tell us before booking so we can help you choose the most appropriate trekking arrangements.

We return to Bwindi for a second gorilla trekking experience, giving us another opportunity to observe a different habituated gorilla family and discover new behaviors.

A second gorilla trek gives us more than another chance to take photographs.

Every gorilla family has its own social structure, personalities, and daily routines.

After breakfast, we return to the trailhead and prepare for another walk through Bwindi’s rainforest.

We follow our trackers through the forest, looking for signs that reveal where the gorillas have moved.

The experience can differ greatly from the previous day.

The terrain may be different. The weather may change. The gorilla family may be closer or deeper in the forest.

Most importantly, the behavior we observe can be completely new.

We may see juveniles playing, adults feeding, mothers caring for infants, or a silverback interacting with other members of the group.

Because we have already experienced a gorilla trek, we can often slow down and focus more closely on behavior and photography.

After our permitted viewing time, we trek back through the forest.

We return to the lodge for lunch and a relaxed final afternoon in the Bwindi region.

The evening provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on two remarkable days among Uganda’s mountain gorillas.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Included
Activity: Gorilla Trekking

Our Tip

If photography is important to you, we recommend carrying spare batteries and keeping your equipment protected from moisture. Bwindi’s rainforest conditions can change quickly.

We fly from the Bwindi region to Entebbe, enjoying aerial views of Uganda’s forests, hills, and savannah before connecting with your international departure.

Our final morning begins at the lodge.

After breakfast, we transfer to the appropriate airstrip for our scheduled flight toward Entebbe.

Flying provides a convenient conclusion to the safari and significantly reduces the amount of time spent on the road.

From above, Uganda’s landscapes become part of the final experience.

Forest-covered hills, cultivated areas, winding roads, wetlands, and open savannah reveal the remarkable diversity we have encountered during the journey.

On arrival in Entebbe, our representative assists with your onward transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your international departure.

If your flight schedule allows, we can also arrange additional accommodation or activities in Entebbe.

Your 8-day Uganda safari ends here, but the memories remain: chimpanzees moving through Kibale’s canopy, elephants crossing Queen Elizabeth’s savannah, hippos along the Kazinga Channel, and mountain gorillas emerging from Bwindi’s mist.

Meals: Breakfast
Flight: Included
Transfer: Included

Our Tip

If your international flight departs later in the day, we can help plan your Entebbe transfer around your flight schedule rather than leaving unnecessary waiting time at the airport.