Forest Kingdom

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport where you will be warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide, marking the start of your Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari.

You will then be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe, a relaxed lakeside town situated on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Depending on your arrival time, you may relax at the hotel, enjoy the lakeside atmosphere, or take a short walk around the surrounding area.

This day is designed for rest and preparation ahead of your Uganda primate safari adventure.

Mid-Range Collection: Papyrus Guest House or Similar

Premium Collection: Hotel No.5 Entebbe or Similar

After breakfast, begin your journey to Kibale National Park, home to one of Africa’s highest concentrations of primates and the premier destination for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda.

The scenic drive passes through tea plantations, rolling hills, rural communities, and beautiful countryside landscapes before arriving at your lodge near the forest.

Mid-Range Collection: Turaco Treetops Lodge or Similar

Premium Collection: Crater Safari Lodge or Similar

Today is dedicated to one of the most exciting experiences on your Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari.

After an early breakfast, proceed to Kibale National Park headquarters for a briefing before entering the forest with experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers in search of habituated chimpanzee communities.

Kibale National Park is widely regarded as the premier destination for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda, supporting one of Africa’s highest densities of primates.

As you walk beneath the towering rainforest canopy, listen for the calls of chimpanzees echoing through the forest while searching for these fascinating primates in their natural habitat.

Once located, observe their complex social interactions, feeding behaviour, grooming routines, and remarkable intelligence. Along the way, you may also encounter black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and numerous forest bird species.

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-managed conservation area renowned for its exceptional biodiversity.

The sanctuary offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching, cultural interaction, and wildlife observation while supporting local conservation initiatives.

This combination of forest exploration and community tourism creates one of the most rewarding Uganda chimpanzee safari experiences available.

Mid-Range Collection: Turaco Treetops Lodge or Similar

Premium Collection: Crater Safari Lodge or Similar

After breakfast, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse wildlife destinations.

The journey offers spectacular views of crater lakes, rolling hills, and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains before arriving in the park’s wildlife-rich savannahs.

Mid-Range Collection: Elephant Plains Lodge or Similar

Premium Collection: Mweya Safari Lodge or Similar

Today combines two of the finest wildlife experiences within your Uganda wildlife and primate safari.

Begin with an early morning game drive across the vast savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most biodiverse protected areas.

The cool morning hours offer excellent opportunities to search for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs, hyenas, lions, and a variety of antelope species.

The park’s diverse habitats support over 95 mammal species and more than 600 recorded bird species, making it one of East Africa’s premier safari destinations.

The scenic backdrop of crater lakes, open grasslands, and distant mountain ranges creates exceptional photography opportunities throughout the morning.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the famous Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George.

Widely regarded as one of the best wildlife cruises in Africa, the Kazinga Channel supports large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and waterbirds along its shores.

This relaxing safari activity provides excellent close-range wildlife viewing and perfectly complements the forest experiences included in your Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari.

Mid-Range Collection: Elephant Plains Lodge or Similar

Premium Collection: Mweya Safari Lodge or Similar

After breakfast, travel through the scenic Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions, before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Upon arrival, check in and relax while preparing for the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure.

Mid-Range Collection: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Similar

Premium Collection: Mahogany Springs Lodge or Similar

Today is the defining highlight of your Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari and one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences.

After an early breakfast, proceed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority briefing centre where experienced rangers will provide an introduction to gorilla trekking procedures and conservation guidelines before you enter Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Accompanied by expert trackers and guides, begin your gorilla trekking in Uganda adventure through one of Africa’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests.

The trek may take between two and six hours depending on the location of the gorilla family and the terrain encountered along the way. As you navigate dense forest vegetation, your guides will interpret the forest ecosystem and share insights into the behaviour and conservation of mountain gorillas.

Once the gorillas are located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watching a gorilla family interact, feed, play, and care for one another is an emotional and deeply memorable wildlife encounter.

This remarkable experience is the centrepiece of any Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and remains one of the world’s most sought-after wildlife adventures.

Following the trek, return to the lodge for relaxation and an opportunity to celebrate this life-changing experience while enjoying the spectacular scenery of southwestern Uganda.

Mid-Range Collection: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Similar

Premium Collection: Mahogany Springs Lodge or Similar

Following yesterday’s unforgettable gorilla encounter, today offers a more relaxed opportunity to further explore the natural and cultural treasures surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Guests may choose from a variety of optional experiences designed to enrich their Uganda primate safari and provide deeper insight into the region’s wildlife, landscapes, and communities.

Nature enthusiasts may enjoy a guided forest walk through Bwindi’s rainforest ecosystem, offering opportunities to observe forest birds, butterflies, endemic plant species, and other primates. Birdwatchers can explore sections of the Albertine Rift, one of Africa’s most important birding regions.

For those interested in cultural heritage, the Batwa Cultural Experience provides fascinating insight into the traditions of the indigenous forest communities who once lived within Bwindi Forest.

Visitors may also choose a community walk, village experience, or a scenic excursion to Lake Mutanda, where traditional canoeing and spectacular volcanic views create a memorable contrast to the rainforest environment.

Travellers seeking a more exclusive primate experience may opt for the Gorilla Habituation Experience, subject to permit availability.

Alternatively, guests may simply relax at the lodge, enjoy the forest surroundings, and reflect on the highlights of their Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee tour before the journey concludes.

Mid-Range Collection: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Similar

Premium Collection: Mahogany Springs Lodge or Similar

After breakfast, begin the return journey to Entebbe through the scenic landscapes of southwestern Uganda.
A stop at the Uganda Equator provides an opportunity for photographs, refreshments, and souvenir shopping before continuing to Entebbe.

Depending on your flight schedule, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your memorable Forest Kingdom Package and your rewarding Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari experience.

Travel Note: The return journey from Bwindi to Entebbe is a long road transfer. Travellers departing on international flights should allow a generous margin between arrival in Entebbe and their flight departure time. An additional night in Entebbe or a domestic flight upgrade may be recommended depending on the flight schedule.