Day 1 – Arrival in Entebbe or Kampala

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be met by your safari guide who will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to explore the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or relax at your lodge as you prepare for the journey ahead.

Recommended Hotels:

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

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

• Budget: Airport Guesthouse or Forest Cottages Kampala

Day 2 – Transfer to Kibale National Park – The Primate Capital of the World

After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to western Uganda through rolling hills, tea plantations, and rural farmlands. The journey to Kibale Forest National Park takes about 5–6 hours with a lunch stop in Fort Portal, a town beautifully framed by the Rwenzori Mountains.

Upon arrival, check into your lodge nestled within the forested landscape. In the evening, you can enjoy a short guided walk around the crater lakes or relax while listening to the distant calls of monkeys and birds — a perfect prelude to the next day’s chimpanzee tracking experience.

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 & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk

Today, you’ll rise early for your chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale Forest. After a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, you’ll set out into the forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee group. The walk through the lush forest is enchanting — full of sounds, rustling leaves, and glimpses of primates swinging above. When you find the chimps, you’ll observe them for an hour, watching them play, feed, and communicate — a truly moving experience.

Return to the lodge for lunch and later visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for an afternoon nature walk. This community-managed swamp is a birdwatcher’s paradise and offers sightings of several monkey species, adding more richness to your primate adventure.

Day 4 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most diverse and scenic wildlife reserve. The journey takes you along the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, offering beautiful views of crater lakes and lush countryside.

Arrive in the park by midday and check into your lodge before heading out for an evening game drive across the Kasenyi plains. Expect to spot herds of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, and, with luck, lions stalking their prey. As the sun sets over the savannah, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Recommended Lodges:

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge

• Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge or Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

• Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages or Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

Day 5 – Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Rise with the dawn for another game drive through the park’s northern plains, a time when wildlife is most active. You might encounter leopards returning from the hunt, warthogs trotting across the grasslands, or majestic elephants framed by the golden sunrise.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is a wildlife magnet — hippos wallow in groups, crocodiles sun themselves on the banks, and elephants often wander down to drink. Bird lovers will find paradise here, with kingfishers, cormorants, and fish eagles dotting the water’s edge. After the cruise, relax at your lodge with the sights and sounds of the wild all around you.

Day 6 – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector

After breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, driving through the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is famous for its rare tree-climbing lions, which rest lazily in fig trees. If lucky, you’ll spot them lounging in the branches before continuing your journey into the misty highlands of Bwindi.

Arrive in Bwindi by evening, check into your lodge, and enjoy dinner as you prepare for the life-changing gorilla trek awaiting you tomorrow.

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 7 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for your pre-trek briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You’ll then begin your trek into the forest in search of one of Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families. The hike can be challenging, but the reward is beyond words — standing face-to-face with a family of mountain gorillas in their natural home.

You’ll spend up to one hour observing them as they feed, interact, and care for their young — an encounter that leaves a lasting imprint on your heart. After your trek, return to the lodge to relax and reflect, or enjoy a cultural walk to the Batwa community to learn about their traditional forest life.

Day 8 – Return to Kampala or Entebbe / Departure

After breakfast, begin your journey back to Kampala or Entebbe, stopping en route for lunch and a photo opportunity at the Equator. You’ll arrive in the evening for your onward flight or overnight stay, marking the end of your incredible 8-day Uganda primate and wildlife adventure.