7 days · Uganda
7-day Uganda gorillas, chimps and Queen Elizabeth safari
Three of Uganda's best wildlife experiences in one week: chimpanzees in Kibale, lions and boats in Queen Elizabeth, then gorillas in Bwindi. The route runs west in a single sweep, so you never double back.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Our driver-guide meets you at Entebbe airport and heads west through Mubende to Fort Portal, about five to six hours with a lunch stop. The road passes tea estates, crater lakes and small market towns. You reach your lodge near Kibale Forest in time for dinner and an early night.
Day 2
After breakfast, attend the ranger briefing at the park office and walk into Kibale Forest to find a chimpanzee community. You spend one hour with the animals once rangers locate them. In the afternoon, take the guided walk through the Bigodi wetland for monkeys and birds. The minimum age for chimpanzee trekking is 12.
Day 3
Drive south for about two to three hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing crater lakes and the edge of the Rwenzori foothills. After lunch, go on an afternoon game drive on the Kasenyi plains, where kobs, buffaloes and elephants gather, and where lions are sometimes found.
Day 4
Take a morning game drive, then board the boat on the Kazinga Channel, about two hours of hippos, buffaloes, elephants and water birds at close range. After lunch, drive south to the Ishasha sector, about two to three hours, and settle in at your lodge. Look out for the tree-climbing lions on the way or the next morning.
Day 5
Spend the early morning in Ishasha, where lions sometimes rest in fig trees. Then continue to your lodge near Bwindi, about two to three hours by road. Your guide helps you sort your daypack, boots and rain gear, because tomorrow is the main event.
Day 6
Breakfast is early. At the park office, rangers brief you on the rules and assign you to a gorilla family. You trek with a guide and trackers, sometimes for under an hour and sometimes for most of the morning. Once you reach the family, you spend one hour with the gorillas at a distance of 10 metres where possible. A porter can carry your bag. Rest in the afternoon.
Day 7
Leave after breakfast for the long drive back to Entebbe or Kampala, about eight to ten hours with stops. If you prefer to save the day, ask us about a short domestic flight from a nearby airstrip instead.
What is included
- Gorilla permit for your date
- Chimpanzee trekking permit for your date
- Lodging and meals as set out in your quote
- Private vehicle with driver-guide
- Park entrance fees and activity permits listed in the itinerary
- Bottled water on the road
Not included
- International flights
- Extra nights before or after the trip
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Personal items and tips
Your quote lists every inclusion for your dates and group size.
How to book this trip
- Send your dates. Use the request form or WhatsApp.
- We check for you. Our office confirms your permit date with the park, normally within 24 hours.
- You receive one quote. Then we secure your permit and plan the rest.
Why this route works
This route follows the map. Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi lie in a rough line from north to south, so every drive moves you closer to the gorillas and none sends you backwards. Because the legs are short, you spend most of each day on the trail or on the water, and not in the vehicle.
It also puts the gorilla trek in the middle of your week, after two warm-up days. By the time you reach Bwindi, you have already walked in a forest, listened for primates and learned how a ranger briefing works. That experience makes the main trek feel less daunting.
Finally, the order protects your trip. If a day of rain slows the road, the buffer sits in the savannah days, not on the gorilla day. Our team builds the plan around your permit date, which the Uganda Wildlife Authority issues for a specific trailhead.
What each stop gives you
Each stop offers a different kind of wildlife, so the week never repeats itself.
- Kibale. One of the best places in Africa for chimpanzees. The forest also holds a dozen or so other primate species, plus the Bigodi wetland for birds. Read the Kibale National Park guide for the detail.
- Queen Elizabeth. Open plains, a long channel full of hippos, and crater lakes. See the Queen Elizabeth National Park guide and the Kazinga Channel cruise guide.
- Ishasha. The southern sector, where lions sometimes climb fig trees. Our Ishasha lion guide explains what to expect.
- Bwindi. A UNESCO World Heritage forest and home to about half of all mountain gorillas. Our Bwindi sector guide compares the four trailheads.
Gorilla trek day, step by step
On day six you wake early, because the briefing starts at the park office in the morning. Rangers explain the rules, group you with no more than eight visitors and assign a gorilla family. Trackers have already set out to find it.
Next, you walk. The trail may be short or long, because the gorillas move each day. Rangers, trackers and porters help on steep sections. When you reach the family, you spend one hour with them. Keep your voice low, keep to the distance your guide sets, and never eat or drink near the animals. Our rules and etiquette guide lists each rule.
After the hour, you walk back, collect your certificate at the office and return to your lodge. Many travellers say the afternoon rest is the best part of the day.
Who this safari suits
This trip suits travellers who want a variety of wildlife in one week and are comfortable with early starts. It works well for couples, friends and families with teenagers, because the activities differ and the drives are broken up.
It suits less well if you want a slow pace. With nightly changes of lodge in the first half, you pack and move often. If that does not appeal, our 4-day Bwindi trek keeps you in one place, and our 5-day gorillas and game safari is a shorter mix.
Fitness matters for day six. Read how difficult gorilla tracking is and pack well with our packing guide.
Adapting the trip to you
Every itinerary is a starting point. We can add a night at Lake Bunyonyi after the trek, swap lodge styles, change the order of the parks, or replace the long drive home with a flight. If you want to compare this route with a longer one, see our gorilla safari combinations guide.
We handle your gorilla permit once your dates are confirmed with the park. Read how that works in our permit booking guide. For the cost of the trip, ask for your quote and a named member of our team will reply with a plan for your group.
Frequently asked questions
Is seven days enough for gorillas, chimpanzees and savannah wildlife?
Yes. The route runs west in one sweep, so travel time stays reasonable. The trade-off is pace: you spend about two nights in each area, so you see the highlights and do not linger.
Can I swap the chimpanzee trek for something else?
Yes. You can replace it with a longer game-drive day, or add the Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee option from Queen Elizabeth. Tell us what you prefer when you ask for your quote.
How strenuous is the gorilla trek on day six?
The trek can last from under an hour to most of a morning, on steep and often muddy forest trails. Read our difficulty guide, and ask us about porters and easier assignments.
Is there a minimum age?
Gorilla trekking has a minimum age of 15. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale has a minimum age of 12. We confirm the current park rules when we prepare your quote.
Can we shorten the drive home?
Yes. Ask us about a domestic flight from the Bwindi area to Entebbe. It saves most of day seven.
Is the gorilla permit included?
Yes. We buy your permit for your chosen date once we have confirmed it with the park.
Can the dates and lodges be changed?
Yes. Every trip is a starting point, and we adapt it to your dates, group and comfort level.
Ready to trek? Ask for your quote.
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