8-Day Uganda Safari: Chimps, Gorillas & Game Drives from Kampala

Trek through rainforest to meet chimpanzees and mountain gorillas, then watch wildlife from a 4x4 and a boat.

An 8-day guided tour from Kampala through Uganda's four major parks — Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo — with chimp trekking, gorilla trekking, game drives and a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. The guide speaks English, picks you up from the airport or hotel, and all meals, accommodation and park permits are included. Minimum age is 15 and you need at least one other traveler; a moderate level of fitness is required for the forest hikes and early morning drives.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and transfer to Kibale Forest

• Pick-up from hotel or airport
• Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park edge
• Check in and relax at lodge

Day 2 — Chimp tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth

• Breakfast at lodge
• Briefing at rangers’ post
• Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Optional afternoon-evening game drive

Day 3 — Game drive and Kazinga Channel boat trip

• Early breakfast
• Morning game drive in Kasenyi plains
• Return to lodge for rest and lunch
• Two-hour boat trip on Kazinga Channel
• Optional late afternoon game drive
• Return to lodge

Day 4 — Drive to Ishasha and Bwindi National Park

• Relaxed breakfast
• Drive to Ishasha sector for tree-climbing lions
• Drive to Bwindi National Park edge
• Check in and relax at lodge

Day 5 — Gorilla trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

• Breakfast at lodge
• Briefing at rangers’ post
• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest
• Return to lodge and check out
• Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
• Relax and admire lake islands

Day 6 — Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi

• Relax and enjoy meals at accommodation
• Optional activities arranged by guide

Day 7 — Transfer to Lake Mburo and game drive

• Relaxed breakfast
• Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
• Check in and rest
• Late afternoon to evening game drive
• Return to lodge for dinner

Day 8 — Morning walking safari and departure

• Early breakfast
• Guided morning walking safari
• Return to lodge and check out
• Transfer to Entebbe Airport

The Experience

You arrive in Kampala or Entebbe and the driver-guide picks you up before 2pm, then heads west toward Kibale Forest. The first night settles you at the edge of the park. Next morning, after briefing from a ranger, you trek into Kibale to find chimpanzees — the guide locates a group and you spend a full hour watching them move through the canopy and forage. Back at the lodge for lunch, you then drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park and check in by evening.

Queen Elizabeth gives you three days of different angles on wildlife. A sunrise game drive across the Kasenyi plains puts you close to Cape buffalo, elephant herds and the occasional lion or leopard. After rest and lunch, a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel — the waterway connecting Lakes George and Edward — brings hippos, crocodiles and elephants to the water's edge, plus dozens of bird species along the shore. On day four, you drive south into the Ishasha sector, where tree-climbing lions rest in acacia branches about 60 to 70 percent of the time, then continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi is the centerpiece. After a ranger briefing on protocol, you enter the rainforest on foot with your guide. The terrain is steep and dense, crisscrossed by animal trails, and the time to find a gorilla group depends on where they've moved — sometimes an hour's walk, sometimes longer. Once located, you have one hour in their presence, watching them feed, rest and interact. The forest itself is dramatic: thick canopy, dramatic slopes, and the sheer scale of the landscape. You return to the lodge, then transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a full day of rest. The lake sits in a bowl of green terraced hills between 2,200 and 2,478 meters high, ringed by 29 islands of different shapes and sizes.

The final stretch takes you to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda's smallest savannah reserve but dense with giraffes, zebras, impalas, elands, buffalo and leopards. An afternoon game drive brings you close to the animals, and on the last morning, an armed ranger leads a guided walk across the bush — you move on foot through herds of zebra and giraffe at close range, then climb to a hilltop where you can see nine of the twelve lakes surrounding Mburo. After breakfast and checkout, you drive back to Entebbe airport for your evening flight.

What’s included

• Airport or hotel pickup and drop-off in Kampala.
• all accommodation at lodges near each park.
• all meals throughout the eight days.
• ground transportation in a comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for wildlife viewing.
• a professional English-speaking driver-guide for the entire tour.
• chimp trekking permit and guided trek in Kibale Forest.
• gorilla trekking permit and guided trek in Bwindi.
• game drives in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo.
• a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.
• a guided morning walk in Lake Mburo with an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger.
• all national park entrance fees.
• and bottled drinking water while on safari.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Home To Africa Tours and Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want safari, primate trekking, and downtime bundled together with all logistics handled—you'll move between locations in a private vehicle rather than arranging your own transport or permits.

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Top questions

What's the difference between chimp trekking in Kibale and gorilla trekking in Bwindi?

Chimp trekking in Kibale Forest happens on a guided hike where you locate a group and watch them for an hour; gorilla trekking in Bwindi follows the same structure but takes place in a denser rainforest with steeper terrain, and the gorillas are larger and move differently through the landscape. Both treks depend on where the animals have moved that day, so timing varies.

Do I need a visa to enter Uganda, and is it included in the tour price?

A visa is required to enter Uganda, but it is not included in the tour price — you arrange it before arrival. The tour includes airport pickup, all park entry fees, the chimp and gorilla trekking permits, and ground transportation.

How much time do I actually spend with the gorillas once we find them?

Once your guide locates a gorilla group in Bwindi, you have exactly one hour in their presence before returning to the lodge. The hike to find them can take anywhere from an hour to several hours depending on their location that day.

What happens on the boat trip along the Kazinga Channel?

The Kazinga Channel boat trip lasts two hours and travels the waterway connecting Lakes George and Edward. You'll see hippos, crocodiles, elephants at the water's edge and a wide variety of birds along the shore; the boat moves slowly to give you time to watch and photograph.

Is the Lake Bunyonyi rest day completely free, or are there activities included?

Lake Bunyonyi is a full rest day with all meals at the accommodation included. If you want to do something active — kayaking, a boat ride to the islands, or a walk — you can arrange it with your guide, but those activities cost extra and are not part of the tour package.

What should I pack for eight days covering rainforest, savannah and a lake?

Bring layers for cool mornings and warm afternoons, sturdy hiking boots for the forest treks, binoculars for game drives, sun protection and rain gear — Uganda's weather varies by park and season. The guide will brief you on what to wear for each activity before you start.