7-Day Uganda Gorilla and Game Adventure

The ultimate 7-Day Gorilla and Game Adventure in Uganda, is carefully designed to showcase the country’s unparalleled beauty. This exceptional journey offers a comprehensive exploration of three remarkable national parks. Begin with the awe-inspiring Bwindi Forest National Park, where the highlight is an unforgettable Gorilla tracking adventure. Move on to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a wildlife haven that promises enthralling animal encounters and a captivating boat safari along the iconic Kazinga Channel. Your expedition continues to Kibale Forest National Park, where you’ll have the privilege of tracking Chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Throughout this expedition, you’ll have the opportunity to witness diverse primate species and encounter the renowned Big 4 animals. With every detail taken care of, this all-inclusive 7-day Best Gorilla Trip in Uganda starts and concludes in Kampala/Entebbe. Moreover, flexibility is at your fingertips as starting and ending locations can be tailored to your preferences.

• 01

  Day 1: Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park (5-6 hours drive)

  Your driver guide meets you at Entebbe Airport or your Kampala/Entebbe accommodation, and you set off west through green countryside, tea estates and busy trading centres. The road offers glimpses of everyday Ugandan life, and you can ask your guide to stop for photos or to browse roadside stalls along the way.

  After a relaxed lunch en route, you reach Kibale Forest National Park in the late afternoon. Check in, enjoy dinner and settle in early, as tomorrow begins with a briefing at dawn. The forest edge is alive with birdsong and the calls of monkeys at dusk.

  Meal Plan: Enroute Lunch | Dinner

  Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge (Budget) | Turaco Treetops (Mid-Range) | Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)

• 02

  Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Optional Bigodi Nature Walk

  After an early breakfast, gather at the Kanyanchu visitor centre, where Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers brief you on the rules and plan for the day. You then walk into the forest to track a habituated chimpanzee community, listening for pant-hoots and following fresh signs. Once found, you spend an hour watching these remarkable primates feed, groom and play.

  Along the trail you may also meet vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, baboons and colourful forest birds. In the afternoon, you can take an optional guided walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run swamp trail rich in monkeys, butterflies and more than 200 bird species.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Same as Day 1

• 03

  Day 3: Journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park (2-3 hours drive)

  After a leisurely breakfast, drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park through rolling hills, crater lakes and farming villages. Your guide will point out landmarks and stop at viewpoints so you can enjoy the changing scenery. Lunch is taken en route or on arrival, depending on timing.

  Check in at your lodge and rest before an afternoon game drive. As the heat fades, the savannah comes alive, and you can look out for elephants, buffalo, waterbucks and Uganda kob grazing in the golden light. Return to the lodge for dinner and a restful night.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Pumba Safari Lodge (Budget) Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-Range) | Buffalo Safari Lodge – Upgraded Room (Luxury)

• 04

  Day 4: Morning Wildlife Exploration and Afternoon Boat Safari

  Rise early for a morning game drive across the Kasenyi plains, one of the best areas in the park for predators. Your guide searches for lions, leopards, hyenas and herds of elephants and buffalo, while Uganda kob graze across the open grassland. Bring a camera, as the soft morning light is ideal for photography.

  After lunch, board a boat for the afternoon cruise on the Kazinga Channel. Slow-moving boats take you close to hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffalo along the shore, with pelicans, kingfishers and fish eagles overhead. Return to your lodge for dinner and rest.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Same as Day 3

• 05

  Day 5: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park through Ishasha (4-5 hours drive)

  After breakfast, head south to the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Drive slowly along the tracks, scanning the branches of the large fig trees where the lions often rest during the day. Even when they are elusive, the open plains offer fine views of topi, kob and other wildlife.

  Enjoy a picnic or lodge lunch en route, then continue into the hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The road winds through terraced farmland and misty ridges, and you arrive in the evening. Enjoy dinner and turn in early to prepare for tomorrow’s trek.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge (Budget) | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Mid-Range) | Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury)

• 06

  Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Tracking

  After an early breakfast, gather at the park headquarters, where Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers brief you and assign your gorilla family. You then trek through the dense forest, guided by trackers who follow the group’s trail. The difficulty depends on terrain, weather and the gorillas’ movements, but porters are available to help you.

  When you find the gorillas, spend one magical hour observing them quietly and taking photographs. Afterwards, receive your tracking certificate. In the afternoon, you can take an optional Batwa cultural experience, where Batwa guides share their forest heritage through traditional songs, dances and demonstrations of hunting and fire-making.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Same as Day 5

• 07

  Day 7: Drive from Bwindi to Entebbe via the Equator (8-9 hours drive)

  After an early breakfast, begin the long journey back to Entebbe, enjoying the scenic highland views as you leave Bwindi. Your guide keeps the drive comfortable, with stops for stretching, refreshments and photos along the way.

  Pause at the Equator for the classic photo straddling the two hemispheres, and have lunch and shop for souvenirs en route. You arrive in Entebbe in time for your evening flight or drop-off at your accommodation, bringing your safari to a close with memories to treasure.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

  Accommodation: None unless requested.