Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Welcome to Uganda

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be greeted by your safari guide and transferred to your accommodation for the night. Whether you stay at a lakeside lodge like 2 Friends Beach Hotel or a cozy guesthouse like The Boma, this first day allows you to rest and acclimate.

If time permits, you may visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, or enjoy a walk along Lake Victoria before your welcome dinner.

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest – Home of the Chimpanzees

After breakfast, begin your scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park, known as the primate capital of East Africa. The journey takes approximately 5–6 hours, passing through tea plantations, rural villages, and beautiful landscapes.

Check in at your lodge such as Primate Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge, or Turaco Treetops, located close to the forest. Enjoy lunch and, in the afternoon, take a guided nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, famous for its birdlife, monkeys, and community conservation efforts.

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking – Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Start the day early with a chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest. Accompanied by park rangers, you’ll trek through the tropical forest to find these intelligent and playful primates. Watching them swing from tree to tree and communicate in their social groups is a thrilling and educational experience.

After lunch, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (2–3 hours drive). Arrive at your lodge—Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains, or Enganzi Lodge—and enjoy views over the plains or the Kazinga Channel. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 4: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

Begin the day with a game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, where lions, buffalo, elephants, antelopes, and warthogs roam freely. With luck, you might even spot a leopard or a hyena.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a highlight of the park. This waterway connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is home to hundreds of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and over 600 bird species. It’s a great way to view wildlife up close while relaxing on the water.

Day 5: Drive to Bwindi via Ishasha – Search for Tree-Climbing Lions

After breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the southern Ishasha Sector, famous for its rare tree-climbing lions. During a game drive in this area, keep an eye on the branches of fig trees where lions often rest during the day.

Continue on to Bwindi, arriving in the late afternoon. Your lodge—such as Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, or Mahogany Springs—offers a peaceful retreat with views of the forested mountains. Settle in, enjoy dinner, and rest ahead of the big day tomorrow.

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking – A Life-Changing Experience

Today is the highlight of your safari. After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing before heading into the dense forest with experienced guides and trackers. The gorilla trek can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family’s location.

Once located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas as they eat, groom, and interact. It’s an intimate and emotional encounter with one of the world’s most endangered and magnificent species.

After the trek, return to the lodge to relax. Enjoy a massage, sip on some locally grown Ugandan coffee, and soak in the beauty of Bwindi.

Day 7: Community Visit or Nature Walk – Return to Lake Mburo

After breakfast, you can choose to take a community visit to meet the Batwa people, the original inhabitants of the forest, or enjoy a nature walk with a local guide. Then, begin your journey toward Lake Mburo National Park, a smaller but scenic park with abundant wildlife.

Arrive in the afternoon and enjoy an optional game drive or evening nature walk. Overnight at Rwakobo Rock, Mihingo Lodge, or Arcadia Cottages.

Day 8: Game Drive and Return to Entebbe – Departure

Start the day with an early game drive or walking safari in Lake Mburo to see zebras, impalas, elands, and more. After breakfast, begin your drive back to Entebbe, stopping at the Equator for photos and souvenirs.

Depending on your flight time, you may have a farewell meal before your transfer to the airport for your international departure.