6 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzee Habituation and Wildlife Safari
This 6 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzee Habituation and Wildlife Safari is tailored for travelers who want a deeper, more immersive primate experience than standard trekking alone offers. The itinerary takes you to three of Uganda’s best safari destinations: Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Rather than a standard one-hour chimpanzee trek, this trip includes the full-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale Forest, alongside gorilla trekking in Bwindi and classic game viewing, including a Kazinga Channel boat cruise, in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Trip Snapshot
| Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Starts / Ends | Entebbe |
| Main destinations | Kibale Forest NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi Impenetrable NP |
| Key activities | Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, game drive, Kazinga Channel cruise, gorilla trekking |
| Physical level | Moderate to challenging |
| Minimum age | 15 years for gorilla trekking |
Safari Highlights
- Full-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale Forest National Park
- Game drive and boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- Ishasha sector drive-through for a chance at tree-climbing lions
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Summary Itinerary
| Day | Overview |
| Day 1 | Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park |
| Day 2 | Chimpanzee Habituation Experience |
| Day 3 | Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| Day 4 | Game drive, transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 5 | Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your driver-guide and set off on the journey to Kibale Forest National Park, Africa’s primate capital. Along the way, enjoy scenic views of Uganda’s countryside, with a stop at the Equator crossing. Continue to Kibale with lunch in Fort Portal, checking in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Isunga Lodge (Budget), Kibale Forest Camp (Mid-range), or Chimpundu Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
Wake early for breakfast, then head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, where a ranger will walk you through the rules and regulations for spending time with these playful primates. Accompanied by researchers and rangers, head into the forest to follow a chimpanzee community for a full day, learning how the habituation process works and getting to know the distinct personalities and traits of individual chimpanzees.
After this immersive experience, head to your lodge for lunch, then check out and continue on the roughly 1-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Park View Safari Lodge (Budget), Elephant Hab Lodge (Mid-range), or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake for breakfast and head into Queen Elizabeth National Park for a full day of activity. Take a morning game drive across the Kasenyi plains, known for a strong population of lion, leopard, elephant, Uganda kob and buffalo. Return to the lodge for lunch, then head out in the afternoon for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, one of the park’s highlight attractions, connecting Lake Edward to Lake George and home to a dense population of hippo. As you cruise, watch for crocodile and water birds including heron and grey crowned crane. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Park View Safari Lodge (Budget), Elephant Hab Lodge (Mid-range), or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi
Enjoy breakfast, check out of your lodge, and begin the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with an en-route game drive through the Ishasha sector, where you have a chance of spotting the tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees. Continue on to Bwindi with lunch en route, arriving in the afternoon with the rest of the day free to rest.
Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge (Budget), Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-range), or Mahogany Springs Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Enjoy an early breakfast, meet your guide and head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking. In groups of up to eight, you will head into the forests of Bwindi in search of mountain gorillas, a trek that typically takes between two and six hours depending on the family’s movement, followed by one closely regulated hour in their presence, watching them groom, feed and play.
Afterward, return to the park headquarters to collect your trekking certificate, then head to your lodge for an evening of rest. Travelers who finish with time to spare can opt for a cultural visit to a nearby Batwa village.
Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge (Budget), Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-range), or Mahogany Springs Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
Enjoy breakfast, meet your guide, and begin the drive back to Kampala with an en-route lunch stop. You will be dropped at Entebbe International Airport to catch your flight home, bringing your safari to a close.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Safari Price Includes
- Chimpanzee Habituation Experience permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Park entrance fees and game drives
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board accommodation as specified
- Ground transfers in a 4×4 vehicle
- Bottled drinking water
Safari Price Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary, including the Batwa cultural visit
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, drinks and tips
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience?
The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is a full-day activity that allows visitors to follow researchers and rangers as they work to habituate a wild chimpanzee community to human presence, offering far more time with the chimpanzees than the standard one-hour trek.
How is this different from standard chimpanzee trekking?
Standard trekking permits one hour with an already-habituated chimpanzee community. The habituation experience is a full-day activity with a community still being acclimatized to humans, offering deeper access but at a higher permit cost.
How long does gorilla trekking take on this itinerary?
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi typically takes between two and six hours depending on the family’s movement, followed by one hour spent in their presence once found.
Is the Batwa cultural visit included?
The Batwa cultural visit is offered as an optional alternative activity after gorilla trekking and is not included in the standard itinerary price; ask your operator to add it if you’re interested.
Book Your 6 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzee Habituation and Wildlife Safari
For travelers who want more than a standard one-hour primate encounter, this itinerary’s full-day chimpanzee habituation experience, paired with gorilla trekking and a classic Queen Elizabeth game drive, delivers one of the most immersive primate trips available in Uganda.
Get in touch to check permit availability and start planning your 6 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzee Habituation and Wildlife Safari.