8 Days Uganda Wildlife, Chimps and Gorilla Trekking Safari
The 8 Days Uganda Wildlife, Chimps and Gorilla Trekking Safari is a remarkable journey that brings you up close with wildlife, chimpanzees and habituated mountain gorillas across the country’s top destinations. Major highlights include game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This itinerary is built for travelers who want the full range of Uganda’s wildlife experiences, savanna game drives, a Nile boat cruise, both of Uganda’s great ape treks, and the Kazinga Channel within a single, well-paced week and a day.
Trip Snapshot
| Duration | 8 days / 7 nights |
| Starts / Ends | Kampala or Entebbe |
| Main destinations | Murchison Falls NP, Kibale Forest NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi Impenetrable NP |
| Key activities | Game drives, Nile boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking, Kazinga Channel cruise, gorilla trekking |
| Physical level | Moderate to challenging |
| Minimum age | 12-15 for chimpanzee trekking; 15 for gorilla trekking |
Safari Highlights
- Game drive and launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Game drive and Kazinga Channel cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Ishasha sector drive-through for a chance at tree-climbing lions
Summary Itinerary
| Day | Overview |
| Day 1 | Arrival and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park |
| Day 2 | Game drive and launch cruise |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Kibale National Park |
| Day 4 | Chimpanzee trekking, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| Day 5 | Game drive and launch cruise, Queen Elizabeth |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 7 | Gorilla trekking in Bwindi |
| Day 8 | Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe and departure |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
On arrival, you will be met at Entebbe Airport by your driver-guide, who will welcome you and set off on the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. En route, you may stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and have lunch in Masindi town.
On entering the park, visit the top of the falls, where you will come face to face with one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. Afterward, proceed to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Game Drive and Launch Cruise
Enjoy an early breakfast, then head out for a game drive where you will spot wildlife including elephant, giraffe, lion and Uganda kob, among other species. In the afternoon, take a launch cruise to the park’s main attraction, Murchison Falls and the surrounding stretch of the Nile, where hippo and crocodile line the sandbanks and large numbers of other species come down to drink and bathe. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After an early breakfast, set off on the journey to Kibale Forest National Park, with lunch en route in Hoima or Kagadi. This is a full day’s drive, with an optional stop at the Amabere Ga Nyinamwiru caves in Fort Portal, known for their waterfall and stalactite formations, as well as a visit to the crater lakes for impressive views of the Rwenzori foothills. You will arrive at your lodge in Kibale in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking, Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake early for breakfast and report to the park headquarters for a briefing, followed by chimpanzee trekking. Head into the forest in search of Kibale’s lively chimpanzee communities, watching them move through the canopy high above the forest floor, a genuinely thrilling experience.
Though the chimpanzees can be difficult to spot at times, their calls carry through the forest and leave no doubt of their presence nearby. After trekking, you will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda, arriving in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Game Drive and Launch Cruise — Queen Elizabeth
Wake early for breakfast, then head out for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will spot African elephant, buffalo, antelope, impala and a wide range of birds. Drive to the Mweya Peninsula for lunch.
In the afternoon, take a launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where you will come close to hippo, crocodile and other aquatic life, along with an impressive array of water birds along the banks. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda, driving through the Ishasha sector south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you may be lucky enough to spot the tree-climbing lions. Continue to Bwindi with a lunch stop in Kabale town, arriving in the late afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Enjoy an early breakfast, then head to the park headquarters for a briefing from your ranger-guide before setting off into the forest. Gorilla trekking can take anywhere from two to eight hours, depending on where the gorilla family is located that day.
Once you find the gorillas, you will be permitted one hour with them before making your way back. Your driver-guide will take you back to the lodge to relax and enjoy another night at your accommodation.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Transfer Back to Kampala/Entebbe and Departure
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and meet your driver-guide for the return journey to Kampala or Entebbe, with a lunch stop in Mbarara town. On arrival, you will be dropped off at a location of your choice.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Safari Price Includes
- Private transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Park entrance fees and game drives
- Boat cruise fees
- Full-board accommodation
- Bottled drinking water
Safari Price Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, drinks and tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Which parks does this 8-day safari visit?
The itinerary covers Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Are both gorilla and chimpanzee permits included?
Yes, both the gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi and the chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale are included in the safari price.
Will I see tree-climbing lions on this safari?
There is a good chance of spotting them while driving through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park en route to Bwindi on Day 6, though sightings are never guaranteed.
How much driving does this itinerary involve?
There are several transfer days between parks, generally 3 to 6 hours of driving with scenic stops, giving the itinerary a good balance between activity days and travel days.
Book Your 8 Days Uganda Wildlife, Chimps and Gorilla Trekking Safari
From the thunder of Murchison Falls to a quiet hour spent with mountain gorillas in Bwindi, this 8-day itinerary captures the full range of what makes Uganda one of Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations.
Contact us to check permit availability and start planning your 8 Days Uganda Wildlife, Chimps and Gorilla Trekking Safari.