Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your safari guide will welcome you and begin the scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda. The journey takes you through vibrant market towns, lush tea plantations, and rolling countryside, with views of the Rwenzori Mountains gracing the horizon on clear days. You will arrive in the evening, check into your lodge, enjoy a warm dinner, and receive a detailed briefing about the primate encounters ahead. If you are interested in combining birdwatching with your primate adventures, explore our Uganda Birding Trips for tailored options.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Wetland Community Walk

After an early breakfast, head to Kibale Forest headquarters for a ranger briefing before entering the rainforest for chimpanzee tracking. Guided by experienced trackers, trek through dense forest canopy in search of habituated chimpanzee families and spend time observing their fascinating social behaviours, calls, and aerial movements.

In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a thriving community-run conservation area. A guided walk may reveal red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus, olive baboons, and a wealth of bird species. This visit directly funds local schools and healthcare projects. Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay. Browse our Primate Safari packages to see how this experience can be extended.

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, depart Kibale and drive south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The scenic route descends into the Albertine Rift Valley, passing volcanic crater lakes, small family farms, and wide open savannah landscapes. Arrive in the afternoon, with early chances to spot elephants or buffalo near the park entrance. Check into your lodge, unwind, and soak in the golden sunset over the sweeping savannah plains.

Day 4: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Begin your day with an early morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, one of Uganda’s most productive wildlife zones. Look for lions on the hunt, large elephant herds, cape buffalo, warthogs, and various antelope species including the iconic Uganda kob. For a fuller picture of what this park offers, see Kenlink’s dedicated 3-Days Tree Climbing Lions & Boat Cruise itinerary.

In the afternoon, board a boat for a cruise along the Kazinga Channel, celebrated for its dense populations of hippos and Nile crocodiles. Elephants and buffalo often wade to the shores to drink, while spectacular waterbirds line the banks. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. You can also explore our combining tours to add birding to this experience.

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a game drive through the Ishasha sector, famed for its rare tree-climbing lions often spotted draped across ancient fig trees. Continue through dramatic highland scenery and terraced hillsides toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, sanctuary of the mountain gorilla. Arrive in the late afternoon, check in, and attend an important briefing covering gorilla trekking procedures and conservation ethics. Travellers looking to pair this journey with birding can review our 14 Days Birding & Gorilla Safari package.

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest

Rise early for breakfast before transferring to the park headquarters for your pre-trek briefing. Join a small group led by veteran trackers and hike through the dense, mist-wrapped rainforest terrain in search of a habituated gorilla family. Trekking time varies depending on the gorillas’ movements that day — this is true wilderness. Once you locate the family, you will spend one extraordinary hour watching them feed, groom, play, and interact at close range — a moment that never leaves you. Kenlink Tours’ 8-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari is a superb option if you wish to extend this adventure further. After the trek, return to your lodge for a well-earned rest, dinner, and overnight stay. You can also view our 7 Days Ultimate Uganda Primate Safari for a similar comprehensive journey.

Day 7: Return to Entebbe & Departure

After a leisurely final breakfast, begin the long but scenic drive back to Entebbe, passing through rolling hills, rural trading centres, and rich farmland. Stop at the famous Equator crossing for photographs and souvenir shopping before continuing to the airport. Arrive comfortably in time for your onward flight, marking the close of an unforgettable Uganda primate and wildlife safari.

Ready to start planning? Contact our safari specialists at Uganda Birding Safaris, or browse Kenlink’s popular 7 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari for a comparable itinerary with flexible pricing options.