12-Day Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari

🛏 Stay: The Boma Guest House (Standard Room) · Bed & Breakfast

✈️ International arrival in Entebbe · Transfer to hotel (10 minutes)

Entebbe, Uganda’s former colonial capital, sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. Depending on your arrival time, discover the town or take a 2–3 hour walk through the Entebbe Botanical Gardens for a first look at Uganda’s wonderful flora and birdlife.

🛏 Stay: Murchison River Lodge (Cottage) · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Murchison Falls (5–6 hours)

Your Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari begins with an interesting drive across Uganda, through the capital Kampala and past small villages that offer a first glimpse of everyday life in Africa.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest protected area. It takes its name from Murchison Falls, where the mighty River Nile explodes through a narrow gorge before becoming a placid river whose banks are thronged with hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants and much more.

Activities: Game drives, a boat safari and a bush walk in Murchison Falls National Park

🛏 Stay: Lake Albert Lodge (Cottage Room) · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Lake Albert (3–4 hours)

Lake Albert is the northernmost of the Great Rift Valley’s chain of lakes, on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On the western side, the Rift Valley escarpment rises abruptly to nearly 2,000 metres above the water, and from the Ugandan shore you can enjoy dramatic views of the Congolese mountains.

Lake Albert conveniently breaks the long journey from Murchison Falls to the south. Alongside beautiful scenery, a very relaxing ambiance and a visit to a local fishing village, the Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve offers a rare opportunity in Uganda for guided bush walks, and a memorable bush dinner under the stars followed by a night game drive.

Activities: Guided bush walks in Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve

🛏 Stay: Ndali Lodge (Cottage Room) · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Kibale (4–5 hours)

The chimpanzee half of your Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari takes place in the lush tropical rainforest of Kibale National Park. It has one of the highest diversities and densities of primates in Africa, 13 species in all, including more than 1,000 chimpanzees, our closest living relatives.

Unlike gorillas, which usually don’t move much, chimpanzees move swiftly, either on the forest floor or in the treetops. Early in the morning or in the afternoon, you’ll walk into the forest with an experienced ranger to track one of the chimpanzee families.

Outside the park, enjoy wonderful walks through picturesque open landscapes of tea plantations, beautiful small crater lakes, wide views and tiny villages where children smile and wave.

Activities: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park

🛏 Stay: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge (Tented Room) · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (2 hours)

Set majestically in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains and flanking Lake Edward and Lake George, the lush savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park offers prime grazing to buffalo, elephant and various antelope.

The northern Mweya Sector is more densely vegetated than the southern Ishasha Sector and offers diverse activities, including game drives, boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel, chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge and exploring the beautiful crater lakes.

On the open plains of Ishasha, enjoy wonderful game drives among many elephants and giraffe, large herds of buffalo, antelope, waterbuck and bushbuck, and, if you’re lucky, leopards and the famous tree-climbing lions.

Activities: Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park

🛏 Stay: Engagi Lodge (Cottage Room) · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (5–6 hours)

The highlight of every Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari awaits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to more than half of the world’s highly endangered mountain gorillas. Sitting face to face with a 160 kg silverback in the impenetrable rainforest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A group of trackers and a ranger will guide you up and down the steep, rainforest-covered slopes. Depending on the gorillas’ movements, you’ll spend between 3 and 9 hours in the forest, one hour of which is spent in their company.

Activities: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

🛏 Stay: Mantana Tented Camp (Tented Room) · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Lake Mburo (4–5 hours)

With rolling hills, open grassy valleys, acacia grasslands and marshes, Lake Mburo National Park is home to a huge array of flora and fauna. Its five lakes are known for their rich birdlife, notably the secretive African finfoot. The surrounding acacia woodland harbours dense populations of zebra, warthog, buffalo, impala and other grazers, including eland, Africa’s largest antelope.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive or guided game walk, during which you might also come across hyenas and leopards, followed by a spectacular sundowner in the park.

Activities: Game drive or guided game walk

🚙 Drive to Entebbe International Airport (5–6 hours)

Enjoy your last day on safari before driving back to Entebbe International Airport for your flight home.

End of your Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari.

12 days and 11 nights, starting and ending in Entebbe: 1 night in Entebbe, 2 at Murchison Falls, 1 at Lake Albert, 2 in Kibale, 2 in Queen Elizabeth National Park, 2 in Bwindi and 1 at Lake Mburo.

Yes. Gorilla tracking in Bwindi and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale are included, along with all national park and conservation fees.

Between 3 and 9 hours in the forest, depending on where the gorillas are, with one hour spent in their company once you find them.

Gorillas usually don’t move much, while chimpanzees move swiftly on the forest floor and in the treetops. Both treks are led by experienced rangers, and gorilla treks in Bwindi involve steep, forested slopes.

The drier months, December to February and June to September, are best for gorilla trekking and wildlife viewing. Gorilla permits are limited, so book well in advance.