Experience the best of Uganda’s western circuit on this 11-Day Uganda Gorilla Tracking & Wildlife Safari from Entebbe to Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo. Begin with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, followed by wildlife viewing and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Continue south through Ishasha in search of its famous tree-climbing lions before reaching Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for an unforgettable mountain gorilla trek. A Batwa cultural experience adds a deeper connection with the communities around the forest. The journey then continues to Lake Mburo for walking, game drives and a boat cruise before returning to Entebbe via the Equator. Full-board accommodation, private transport and experienced local guides make this a rewarding introduction to Uganda’s primates, wildlife, landscapes and culture.
Highlights
- Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
- Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Nature & Community Walks
Price Includes
Price Excludes
01
Day 1: Pickup from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park
Your safari begins with pickup from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel by your private driver-guide. You will travel west through Uganda’s countryside, passing towns, villages, banana plantations, tea-growing areas and changing landscapes as you approach the foothills of the Rwenzori region.
Stop for lunch along the way before continuing towards Kibale Forest National Park. Arrive at your lodge in the evening, check in and enjoy dinner as you prepare for the following day’s chimpanzee trekking experience.
Travel Duration: About 5–6 hours
Meal Plan: En-route Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge (Budget) | Turaco Treetops (Mid-Range) | Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)
02
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Optional Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, head to the Kibale National Park headquarters for registration and a briefing before beginning your chimpanzee trekking experience. Kibale is one of Uganda’s best destinations for observing wild chimpanzees, and the forest also supports several other primate species.
Your guided trek takes you into the forest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities. Once you locate them, you can spend up to an hour observing them under the established trekking guidelines.
After lunch, you may choose an optional guided walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The community-run wetland is particularly rewarding for birdwatchers and offers opportunities to encounter monkeys, butterflies and other forest wildlife while supporting local conservation initiatives.
Accommodation: Same as Day 1
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
03
Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Relax
After breakfast, leave Kibale and travel south towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The route passes through crater-lake country, rural communities and rolling green hills before reaching the park.
Arrive around lunchtime and check into your lodge. The afternoon is deliberately relaxed, giving you time to recover from the previous day’s forest trek. Depending on your lodge and the wildlife around the property, you may enjoy views of the surrounding savannah or spot birds and small wildlife before dinner.
Travel Duration: About 3–4 hours
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Lodge (Budget) | Buffalo Safari Lodge – Standard Cottage (Mid-Range) | Buffalo Safari Lodge – Deluxe Cottage (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
04
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Rise early for a morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, one of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s most rewarding areas for savannah wildlife. The open plains provide opportunities to see African buffalo, Uganda kob, warthogs, elephants and other wildlife, while lions and leopards may be encountered with some luck.
Return to the lodge for lunch before heading to the Kazinga Channel for an afternoon boat cruise. The channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and attracts large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and water birds. The cruise provides a different perspective of the park and is one of the highlights of a Queen Elizabeth safari.
Accommodation: Same as Day 3
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
05
Day 5: More Wildlife Exploration in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Spend another day exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park, allowing more time for wildlife viewing and photography. A second game drive can target areas where wildlife activity may be different from the previous day.
You may also explore the Mweya Peninsula, where the surrounding lakes and channel create beautiful views across the park. Depending on your interests and the available activities, the afternoon can be used for birdwatching, a guided nature experience or relaxing at the lodge.
Having an additional day in Queen Elizabeth also gives your guide flexibility to respond to recent wildlife sightings rather than rushing through the park.
Accommodation: Same as Day 4 & 5
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
06
Day 6: Ishasha Game Drive and Journey to Bwindi
After breakfast, travel south towards the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This remote part of the park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are sometimes seen resting on large fig and acacia trees.
Enjoy a game drive through Ishasha, keeping an eye out for lions, elephants, buffalo and other wildlife. After the game drive, continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, passing through the dramatic highlands and cultivated slopes of southwestern Uganda.
Arrive at your lodge in the evening. Dinner and an early night prepare you for the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure.
Travel Duration: About 4–5 hours, depending on the route and game-drive conditions
Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge (Budget) | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Mid-Range) | Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
07
Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
This day is the highlight of your Uganda safari: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After an early breakfast, you may carry your packed lunch and travel to the relevant park headquarters for registration and the pre-trek briefing. Rangers explain the trekking guidelines before you join your trekking group and enter the forest.
The trek can take several hours depending on where the gorilla family is located. Bwindi’s steep terrain, dense vegetation and changing weather make the journey part of the experience. Once you reach the gorillas, you will have your permitted viewing time to observe their behaviour, family interactions and distinctive personalities.
After the trek, return to your lodge to rest and reflect on one of Africa’s most memorable wildlife encounters.
Accommodation: Same as Day 6
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
08
Day 8: Batwa Cultural Experience, Crafts and Community Visit
Spend a more relaxed day discovering the culture and communities surrounding Bwindi. Meet Batwa community members and learn about their traditional relationship with the forest, including stories, music, dance and aspects of their former forest-based way of life.
You can also visit local craft initiatives and purchase handmade products directly from community members, helping support household livelihoods. Depending on the arrangement, the experience can continue into nearby villages and farms, giving you an opportunity to see everyday life around Bwindi beyond the national park.
The remainder of the day is free to relax at your lodge and enjoy the mountain scenery.
Accommodation: Same as Day 7
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
09
Day 9: Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Nature Walk
After breakfast, leave the Bwindi highlands and begin your journey east towards Lake Mburo National Park. The landscape gradually changes from steep mountain slopes and cultivated hills to rolling countryside, open grasslands and acacia woodland.
Stop for lunch along the way before continuing to Lake Mburo. After checking into your lodge, enjoy an evening guided nature walk with a park ranger.
Lake Mburo is one of Uganda’s few national parks where guided walking safaris provide an opportunity to experience wildlife at ground level. Keep watch for zebras, impalas, elands, buffalo and numerous bird species as the light begins to soften over the savannah.
Travel Duration: About 6–7 hours
Accommodation: Mburo Eagle’s Nest (Budget) | Rwakobo Rock (Mid-Range) | Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
10
Day 10: Morning Game Drive and Lake Mburo Boat Cruise
Begin the morning with a game drive through Lake Mburo National Park. The park’s open landscapes provide good opportunities to see zebra, impala, eland, buffalo and other savannah species.
After lunch, head to the lakeshore for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. The water supports hippos and crocodiles, while the surrounding vegetation attracts numerous bird species. Fish eagles, kingfishers and other water-associated birds can often be spotted along the shoreline.
Return to your lodge later in the afternoon for your final evening in the Ugandan countryside.
Accommodation: Same as Day 9
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
11
Day 11: Lake Mburo to Entebbe via the Equator
After breakfast, begin the final drive towards Entebbe. Along the way, stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photographs and a short visit to the local craft shops and demonstrations.
Continue towards Entebbe, with the timing adjusted according to your international flight schedule. If your departure is late enough, an optional visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary can be considered, although this requires additional time and should be planned around your flight departure.
Your driver-guide will drop you at Entebbe International Airport or your preferred accommodation, marking the end of your 11-day Uganda western circuit safari.
Travel Duration: About 5–6 hours, excluding optional activities
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: None unless requested at extra fee
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