Private • Uganda
6: Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari
Bwindi's mountain gorillas, Kibale's chimpanzees, and the forests that connect them
Overview
About this safari
- Region
- Western Uganda
- Duration
- 6 days
- Departures
- All year round
- Party size
- Up to 6
Experience the very best of Uganda on this unforgettable 6-day primate and wildlife adventure. This safari combines thrilling gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, exciting chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, and classic wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Journey through Uganda's spectacular landscapes, from lush tropical rainforests and rolling tea plantations to the vast savannah plains of the Albertine Rift Valley. Encounter endangered mountain gorillas, playful chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions, and an abundance of wildlife and bird species in some of East Africa's most iconic national parks.
Highlights
What you'll experience
One full hour with a mountain gorilla family
Your Uganda Wildlife Authority permit grants you sixty uninterrupted minutes with a habituated gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — close enough to hear a silverback breathe.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest
Kibale holds one of the densest populations of eastern chimpanzees on Earth. Your guide, Ronnie Tumwebaze, has tracked the Kanyanchu community for eleven years and reads their calls the way others read a clock.
The Bigodi Wetland walk
An hour from Kibale Forest House, the Bigodi community wetland boardwalk threads through papyrus swamp. Grey-cheeked mangabeys watch from the canopy above while African finfoot slip between lily pads below.
Queen Elizabeth's Kazinga Channel at dusk
A late-afternoon boat cruise on the channel puts you alongside the largest congregation of hippos in Uganda, with African skimmers cutting low over the water and buffalo coming down to drink on the far bank.
Ishasha's tree-climbing lions
The southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the few places in Africa where lions regularly rest in fig trees. Your driver takes you through at sunrise, when the light is low and the cats are still.
Small-group forest mornings
With no more than six guests per vehicle, there is no queue at the trailhead and no hustle at the sighting. You move at the pace the forest sets.
Why choose us
Why choose a Private Safari?
Uganda's primate forests reward patience and small numbers. Here is how we make sure you get both.
Permits secured before you book flights
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are limited and released months in advance. We hold your permits the moment your deposit clears so the date you want is the date you get.
Guides who know these animals personally
Ronnie at Kibale has followed the Kanyanchu community for over a decade. Our Bwindi guide, Moses Baryomuntu, was part of the original Rushegura habituation team. Their knowledge changes what you see.
Private travel, no shared vehicles
You and your group travel in your own vehicle throughout. No picking up strangers at other lodges, no waiting for a group consensus on when to leave a sighting.
Itinerary
Your safari, day by day
Day 1
Entebbe to Kibale Forest
After an early breakfast, your professional safari guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe for a scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of East Africa. Travel through picturesque countryside landscapes, vibrant local communities, and the beautiful town of Fort Portal, famous for its tea plantations and stunning crater lakes.
Enjoy lunch en route before continuing to the park. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit the crater lakes region for breathtaking views and photography opportunities. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.:
Accommodation Options: Kimpundu Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Lake Nyamirima Cottages, Kalinzu Eco Lodge.
Stay · Chimpanzee Forest Camp Meals · Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before beginning your chimpanzee trekking adventure. Venture into the lush rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzees. Watch these fascinating primates as they feed, play, groom, and interact in their natural habitat. Along the way, you may also spot other primates, including black-and-white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and baboons. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch before departing for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's most popular savannah park, known for its remarkable biodiversity.
Dinner and overnight at your selected lodge.
Accommodation Options: Tembo Safari Lodge, Engiri Game Lodge, Kalinzu Eco Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge
Stay · Tembo safari lodge Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Rise early for an exciting morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, one of the park's prime wildlife-viewing areas. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, hyenas, and, with luck, elusive leopards. The park is also home to over 600 bird species, making it a paradise for bird enthusiasts. Return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation before enjoying lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a memorable boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel boasts one of Africa's highest concentrations of hippos and offers excellent opportunities to spot crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and numerous water birds along the shoreline.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Stay · Tembo safari lodge Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the scenic Ishasha Sector, renowned for its rare tree-climbing lions. Enjoy a game drive through Ishasha as you search for these unique predators resting in fig trees. Continue your journey through breathtaking landscapes of terraced hills and rural villages. Arrive at Bwindi in the afternoon and check in to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation Options: Buhoma Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Orugano Bwindi Lodge
Stay · Buhoma Lodge Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Cultural Experience
After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines. Accompanied by experienced ranger guides, hike through the dense rainforest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. Trekking duration varies from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the gorillas' location. Once you find the gorillas, spend one unforgettable hour observing their natural behavior as they feed, play, groom, and interact. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, visit the Batwa community for a cultural experience. Learn about the traditions, history, music, and way of life of the indigenous forest people who once lived in Bwindi.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Stay · Rushaga Gorilla Lodge Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
Return to Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, begin your return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. Enjoy lunch in Mbarara and stop at the Equator for photography, souvenir shopping, and the famous water experiment. Arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening, where you will be dropped off at your hotel or Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight.
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions
What is and isn't included
Included
- One Uganda Wildlife Authority gorilla trekking permit per person
- One chimpanzee tracking permit per person at Kanyanchu, Kibale
- All accommodation as listed (5 nights, twin or double rooms)
- All meals as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Private 4WD vehicle and driver-guide throughout
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Bigodi Wetland community walk with local guide
- Guided morning forest walk on Day 6
- All national park entry fees
- Drinking water in the vehicle daily
- Airport transfers from/to Entebbe International Airport
Not included
- International flights to and from the region
- Entry visas and any transit visas
- Travel and medical insurance, which is mandatory
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
- Laundry, telephone and other items of a personal nature
- Tips and gratuities for your guide, drivers and lodge staff
- Optional activities not listed in the day-by-day itinerary
Lodges
Lodges on this safari
Chimpanzee Forest Camp
Chimpanzee Forest Lodge is a charming mid-range accommodation located near Kibale National Park in western Uganda. Set among beautiful gardens, tea plantations, and indigenous forest, the lodge offers comfortable cottages, a historic colonial guesthouse, and camping facilities. Guests can enjoy delicious meals, scenic views of the crater lakes and Rwenzori Mountains, and easy access to chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching, and nature walks.
- Tier
- Comfort
Pricing
Available all year round
A private itinerary with no fixed departure dates. Rates are per person in USD.
Safari Details
Essential information
Minimum Age
15 years for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits (Uganda Wildlife Authority requirement)
Safari Duffel
Soft-sided bags only in the vehicle. Maximum 15 kg checked luggage per person if any internal flights are added. Hard-shell cases can be stored at your Entebbe hotel.
First Group Event
Welcome dinner on arrival evening, Day 1
Last Group Event
Lunch in Mbarara on Day 6, before the final Entebbe transfer
Guaranteed Departures
All departures listed run with a minimum of 2 guests. Private departures on any date are available on request.
Alternate Sightseeing
If a gorilla tracking permit date cannot be fulfilled due to force majeure, we will work with Uganda Wildlife Authority to reschedule your permit or offer an equivalent alternative activity. No cash replacement is available for permits under UWA policy.