A deliberately balanced itinerary giving equal weight to Uganda’s Big Five game viewing (lion, elephant, buffalo and, with luck, leopard) and its two headline primates, gorillas and chimpanzees, across an eight-day loop through Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale.
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1
Your driver-guide meets you at Entebbe International Airport for the drive south-west to Bwindi, via Kampala’s Northern Bypass, the Equator crossing at Kayabwe and lunch at Igongo Cultural Centre near Mbarara. Evening trekking briefing on arrival.
Entebbe to Bwindi
Accommodation Options
BudgetBuhoma Community Camp
Mid-rangeEngagi Lodge
LuxuryBuhoma Lodge
Meals: Dinner
DAY 2
7:30am briefing at park headquarters, family assignment based on fitness and tracker reports, then the trek itself through dense rainforest — thirty minutes to six hours — followed by a strict hour with your gorilla family.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
North through Ishasha’s tree-climbing lion territory, arriving at your Queen Elizabeth lodge by mid-afternoon with time for a short evening game drive across the Kasenyi plains before dinner.
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth via Ishasha
Accommodation Options
BudgetSimba Safari Camp
Mid-rangeKatara Lodge
LuxuryMweya Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
A dedicated full day rather than a transfer day squeezed around activities: an early game drive across the Kasenyi plains, the Kazinga Channel boat cruise mid-morning for hippo and crocodile density, then back out in the afternoon toward Ishasha specifically hunting for lion, elephant, buffalo and, with genuine luck, leopard.
Full Big Five Game Drive Day
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
The drive north to Kibale runs through tea country and past the crater lakes near Fort Portal, arriving with time to settle into your lodge before the next morning’s chimp tracking briefing.
Transfer to Kibale Forest
Accommodation Options
BudgetChimpanzee Forest Guest House
Mid-rangeKibale Forest Camp
LuxuryKyaninga Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6
Briefing at Kanyanchu visitor centre, then tracking a habituated chimpanzee community through Kibale’s forest for a strict hour once found, followed by an afternoon at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary’s community-run boardwalk for monkeys and birding.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale
Accommodation
As above
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7
A genuinely open day built in deliberately after six activity-heavy days — most travellers simply rest at the lodge, though a cultural visit or an additional forest walk can be arranged on request.
Free Day at Leisure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8
Checkout after breakfast for the drive south, roughly five to six hours via Fort Portal and Mubende, with a lunch stop en route and drop-off timed against your onward flight.
Return to Entebbe
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Permits & Costs
| Gorilla trekking permit | $800 per person |
| Chimpanzee tracking permit | ~$250 per person |
| Boat cruise & park entry | Included in tour price |
Who This Itinerary Suits
Travellers who want neither primates nor Big Five game viewing to feel secondary — this itinerary gives both a genuinely dedicated full day rather than squeezing one in around the other.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
Tour Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips & gratuities
- Travel insurance