7 Days Uganda Wildlife and Primates Safari
The 7 Days Uganda Wildlife and Primates Safari is a complete introduction to Uganda’s headline wildlife experiences, starting and ending in Kampala. This itinerary takes you to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, giving you the chance to see elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffe, rhino, waterbuck and Uganda kob, alongside dedicated time with two of Africa’s great apes in their natural habitat.
Rhino tracking, a Nile boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking and a wetland walk lead up to the trip’s centerpiece: a full day of mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Trip Snapshot
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Starts / Ends | Kampala |
| Main destinations | Murchison Falls NP, Kibale Forest NP, Bwindi Impenetrable NP |
| Key activities | Rhino tracking, game drive, Nile boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi Wetland walk, gorilla trekking |
| Physical level | Moderate to challenging |
| Minimum age | 12-15 for chimpanzee trekking; 15 for gorilla trekking |
Safari Highlights
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Game drive and Nile boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking and a Bigodi Wetland walk in Kibale Forest
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Summary Itinerary
| Day | Overview |
| Day 1 | Pick-up and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park |
| Day 2 | Morning game drive, afternoon Nile boat cruise |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Kibale National Park |
| Day 4 | Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Wetland walk |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 6 | Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 7 | Departure to Kampala |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick-up and Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by our driver-guide, briefed on your trip ahead, and set off for Murchison Falls National Park. You will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a rhino tracking walk before continuing to Masindi for lunch.
After lunch, continue on to the park, driving directly to the top of the falls for sweeping views of the waterfall and its surrounding spray and mist. From there, head to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, your driver-guide will take you into the park for a morning game drive across open savanna plains, watching for buffalo, Uganda kob, warthog, elephant, Jackson’s hartebeest and giraffe, along with a chance of spotting lion, leopard or hyena before they retreat from the morning heat. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, drive to the Paraa jetty for a boat cruise to the base of the falls. Over roughly two hours, you will see hippo and Nile crocodile in the water, plus elephant, buffalo, warthog and antelope along the shore, along with water birds such as kingfisher, bee-eater, cormorant and fish eagle. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, check out and begin the full-day drive to Kibale National Park in western Uganda, passing traditional homesteads, scenic countryside, the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes and tea plantations along the way, with a lunch stop en route. Check in at your lodge on arrival for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. You will be placed in a small group with an assigned park guide and head into the forest in search of a chimpanzee community, a trek that typically takes one to four hours depending on where the group has moved overnight, since chimpanzees range widely in search of food.
Along the way, look out for red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabey, plus a variety of forest birds and plant life. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will spend a closely regulated hour observing their behavior: feeding, playing, and occasionally hunting, all valuable insight into a species whose social structure feels remarkably human. Afterward, return to the park headquarters and head back to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, take a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland, where you are likely to spot further primates and bird species. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, check out and begin the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with a lunch stop along the way. Check in at your lodge on arrival for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, carry your packed lunch and transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules, regulations and expectations. You will then set off into the forest with an experienced ranger-guide well versed in the trails.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi typically takes between two and seven hours, depending on where the gorilla family was located overnight. Along the way, you may spot other primates including chimpanzees and L’Hoest’s monkeys, along with a wide range of birds and plant life. Once the gorilla family is located, you will spend a closely regulated hour observing them feed, play and interact, an experience many travelers describe as the highlight of their entire trip. Afterward, trek back to the park headquarters and return to your lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast, check out and begin the drive back to Kampala, with a lunch stop in Mbarara and a further stop at the Equator in Kayabwe for photos and souvenirs. On arrival in Kampala, your driver-guide will drop you at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight, or at a location of your choice.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Safari Price Includes
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Rhino tracking fee
- Park entrance fees and game drives
- Boat cruise fee
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board accommodation
- Ground transfers in a 4×4 vehicle
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Safari Price Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry, porter fees and tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this itinerary combine gorilla and chimpanzee trekking?
Yes, this 7-day itinerary includes both, with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park on Day 4 and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on Day 6.
What parks are included in the 7 Days Uganda Wildlife and Primates Safari?
The itinerary covers Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Are gorilla and chimpanzee permits included in the price?
Yes, both the gorilla trekking permit and chimpanzee trekking permit are included in the safari price.
How long is the drive between parks on this itinerary?
Transfers between Murchison Falls, Kibale and Bwindi are full-day drives with scenic stops along the way; each transfer day is dedicated to travel rather than additional activities.
Book Your 7 Days Uganda Wildlife and Primates Safari
Combining Murchison Falls’ dramatic scenery, Kibale’s chimpanzees and Bwindi’s mountain gorillas, this 7-day itinerary offers one of the most complete introductions to Uganda’s wildlife available in a single week.
Get in touch to check permit availability and start planning your 7 Days Uganda Wildlife and Primates Safari.