Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Kampala or Hotel Near Entebbe

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you are warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide. After a short briefing about the safari, you are transferred to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a relaxed evening or a short walk around the lake shores. Dinner and overnight are at the hotel, allowing you to rest and prepare for the journey ahead.

Day 2: Transfer from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, you depart for Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda’s premier chimpanzee tracking destination. The drive takes you through the countryside of central and western Uganda, passing tea plantations, traditional homesteads, and scenic hills. Lunch is taken en route, followed by continued travel toward Fort Portal, a town set against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains.

You arrive at your lodge near Kibale Forest in the late afternoon. The area is rich in biodiversity and known for its scenic crater lakes. The rest of the day is spent relaxing at the lodge, enjoying the forest environment. Dinner and overnight are at the lodge.

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast, you head to Kibale Forest headquarters for a chimpanzee tracking briefing. Accompanied by expert guides and rangers, you enter the forest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities. Tracking usually lasts between two and four hours and offers opportunities to observe chimpanzees feeding, calling, and interacting in the treetops.

After the chimpanzee encounter, you return to the lodge for lunch and then proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse wildlife reserves. The drive takes you through the scenic crater lake region. Upon arrival, you check in at your lodge and relax. Dinner and overnight are at the lodge within or near the park.

Day 4: Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The day begins with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, where you may encounter elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, and predators such as lions. The open savannah landscape provides excellent wildlife viewing and photography opportunities.

In the afternoon, you enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The cruise offers close views of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a wide variety of bird species along the banks. After the cruise, you return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, you depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel south toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive passes through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, and continues through rolling hills and rural landscapes. Lunch is taken en route.

You arrive in Bwindi in the late afternoon and check in at your lodge near the designated gorilla trekking sector. The evening is spent relaxing in preparation for the next day’s gorilla trek. Dinner and overnight are at the lodge.

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This is the highlight of the safari. After an early breakfast, you proceed to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. You are assigned to a small group and a habituated gorilla family. Guided by experienced trackers and rangers, you trek through the dense rainforest in search of mountain gorillas.

The trek can take from one to six hours depending on the gorillas’ movements. Once found, you spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas as they feed, rest, and interact. The experience is deeply moving and often described as a life-changing wildlife encounter.

After the trek, you return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. The afternoon is spent at leisure or on an optional community visit. Dinner and overnight are at the lodge.

Day 7: Return to Entebbe and Departure

After breakfast, you begin the return journey to Entebbe. The drive offers final views of Uganda’s scenic countryside, with stops along the way for lunch and refreshments. You arrive in Entebbe in the late afternoon or evening and are transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of the 7 Days Best of Uganda Primate Safari.