Seven days is the sweet spot for a first Uganda trip: enough time for the gorilla trek that anchors the whole itinerary, a proper savannah safari day in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, without the longer commitment a full two-week circuit demands. This itinerary combines all three of Uganda’s signature wildlife experiences into one coherent week-long loop.
Detailed Itinerary
Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Transfer from Entebbe International Airport, either by road (roughly 8–9 hours to the southwestern sector gates) or by scheduled light aircraft into Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip, cutting the journey to around ninety minutes in the air plus a short drive. Check into your lodge near your permitted sector — Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo — with an evening briefing on trekking etiquette before the following day’s trek.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Report to park headquarters for your sector by 7:30am for a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, who assign trekking groups to specific habituated gorilla families that morning based on fitness level and where each family was last located. The trek itself can run anywhere from 30 minutes to six hours each way through genuinely dense, humid, often muddy rainforest. Once you find the family, you get a strict one hour with them, watching them feed, groom and move as a group at a distance of around seven metres.
As above
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha
The drive north is routed through the Ishasha sector, known for its tree-climbing lions that rest in the branches of fig trees during the heat of the day — a genuinely unusual sighting most visitors don’t expect from an African safari. It’s a scenic, unhurried transfer day rather than a packed activity day, arriving at your Queen Elizabeth lodge in the afternoon.
Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise and Game Drive
A full day split between two very different ways of seeing wildlife. The morning boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel reliably delivers some of the highest hippo and Nile crocodile density anywhere in Uganda, plus strong birdlife along the banks. The afternoon game drive crosses the open savannah of the Kasenyi plains for elephant, buffalo, Uganda kob and, with some luck, lion.
As above
Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
A drive north to Kibale, often called Africa’s primate capital, home to thirteen primate species including a large, well-habituated chimpanzee population. The transfer takes most of the day, with time on arrival to settle in before the following morning’s tracking permit.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale
A morning chimp tracking permit, following a habituated community through Kibale’s dense forest, with the option of the longer half-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience for travellers who want more than the standard one-hour visit. The afternoon is well spent at nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, good for birding and monkey sightings on a community-run boardwalk.
As above
Return to Entebbe
A road transfer back to Entebbe, roughly five to six hours from Kibale, timed against your onward international flight.
Permits & Costs
| Gorilla trekking permit (Uganda) | $800 per person |
| Chimpanzee tracking permit (Kibale) | ~$250 per person |
| Boat cruise & park entry (Queen Elizabeth) | Included in tour price |
| Porter (optional, recommended) | $15–20 per trek day |
Expect the Uganda gorilla trekking permit and the Kibale chimpanzee tracking permit to be the two largest per-person line items, on top of six nights of lodging across three parks, road transfers throughout, and park entry and boat cruise fees in Queen Elizabeth. A porter for trekking day is optional but genuinely worth hiring — it supports the local trekking economy around Bwindi and takes real weight off a demanding forest walk.
Who This Itinerary Suits
Travellers who want the classic “big three” Uganda combination — gorillas, big game, and chimpanzees — in one coherent week-long loop, without the longer commitment a full two-week circuit demands.
Tour Includes
- Travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking permits
- All accommodation per itinerary
- Meals as specified
- Park entry & activity fees
Tour Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips & gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Porter fees (optional, $15–20/day)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can accommodation tiers be mixed across the trip?
Yes — many travellers choose mid-range for transfer nights and luxury for the two trekking-adjacent nights specifically. We build the mix into your quote.
How physically demanding is this itinerary?
Moderate overall. The gorilla trek is the most demanding single day, variable from 30 minutes to six hours depending on where the family is found; the rest of the trip is comfortable vehicle-based travel and shorter activities.
Can this itinerary be shortened or extended?
Yes — this 7-day structure is our most popular length for this route, but it compresses to 5 days by dropping Kibale, or extends with a Rwanda add-on via the Cyanika border crossing.