Day 1 – Arrival in Entebbe or Kampala

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed by your safari guide who will transfer you to your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. Depending on your arrival time, you may take a short tour around the city or relax at your lodge as you prepare for your week-long adventure through Uganda’s wild frontiers.

Recommended Hotels:

• Luxury: Hotel No.5 Entebbe or Serena Kampala Hotel

• Mid-range: 2 Friends Beach Hotel or Fairway Hotel

• Budget: Forest Cottages or Airport Guesthouse

Day 2 – Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, depart Kampala for the western region of Uganda. The 5–6-hour journey leads you through lush countryside, vibrant roadside markets, and tea plantations surrounding Fort Portal — a charming town nestled beneath the Rwenzori Mountains. Upon arrival, check into your lodge near Kibale Forest, home to the highest concentration of primates in East Africa.

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided nature walk at the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run project that supports local conservation. The swamp is rich in birdlife — including the great blue turaco — and offers a chance to see monkeys such as red colobus, black-and-white colobus, and vervet. Return to your lodge for dinner and an evening surrounded by the soothing forest sounds.

Recommended Lodges:

• Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge

• Mid-range: Turaco Treetops or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

• Budget: Kibale Forest Camp or Rweteera Safari Park

Day 3 – Chimpanzee Tracking & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today is dedicated to meeting our closest relatives in the wild. After breakfast, report to the Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking. Accompanied by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, you’ll enter the forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee group. The experience is thrilling — filled with forest calls, drumming sounds, and the sight of chimps swinging through the trees or feeding quietly in the canopy.

After the tracking, return for lunch and then embark on a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The landscape shifts from dense forest to open savannah dotted with acacia trees. You’ll arrive in time for an evening game drive before checking into your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Recommended Lodges:

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge

• Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge or Marafiki Safari Lodge

• Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages or Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

Day 4 – Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Rise early for a sunrise game drive across the Kasenyi plains — a perfect time to spot elephants, lions, buffaloes, and Uganda kobs grazing under the morning light. The park is also home to elusive leopards and numerous bird species.

After lunch, set out for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is a wildlife paradise, with hippos wallowing in the shallows, crocodiles basking on the banks, and elephants coming down to drink. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy spotting African fish eagles, kingfishers, and pink-backed pelicans. After the cruise, enjoy a relaxed evening at your lodge overlooking the savannah.

Day 5 – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector

After breakfast, begin your drive toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park — home to Uganda’s mountain gorillas. You’ll pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its rare tree-climbing lions that often rest on fig tree branches. If lucky, you may spot them lounging lazily before continuing your journey south through rolling hills and terraced farms.

Arrive in Bwindi by evening, check into your lodge, and prepare for your next day’s gorilla trekking adventure. The cool air and misty forest views signal your arrival in the heart of Uganda’s gorilla country.

Recommended Lodges:

• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge or Gorilla Forest Camp

• Mid-range: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Gorilla Mist Camp

• Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp or Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 6 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

The day you’ve been waiting for begins with an early breakfast followed by a briefing at the park headquarters. With the help of trained guides and trackers, you’ll set off into the dense forest in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek can take one to six hours depending on their location, but every step through the lush vegetation brings anticipation and awe.

When you find the gorillas, you’ll spend up to one hour watching them feed, play, and interact. The experience is humbling — a quiet connection with one of the rarest animals on earth. After your trek, return to your lodge to relax or enjoy an optional visit to the nearby Batwa community for cultural insights into the lives of the forest’s indigenous people.

Day 7 – Return to Kampala or Entebbe

After breakfast, begin your return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. The drive passes through the scenic Kigezi Highlands and stops along the Equator line for photos and souvenirs. You’ll arrive in the evening, marking the end of your unforgettable 7-day adventure through Uganda’s primate habitats and wildlife plains.