7-Day Uganda Wildlife & Primate Safari

Safari Overview
This 7-day Uganda safari offers an enriching blend of chimpanzee  trekking, gorilla tracking, savannah wildlife viewing, birding, cultural  immersion, and scenic exploration. Designed for nature lovers and  adventure seekers, the tour includes visits to Uganda’s top national  parks—Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi Impenetrable—along with  special encounters with the Batwa pygmies and vibrant local  communities.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park via Fort Portal

Your safari begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in  Kampala or Entebbe. You’ll embark on a scenic drive through Uganda’s  lush countryside, passing tea plantations, rolling hills, traditional  homesteads, and herds of Ankole longhorn cattle.
● En route: Stop in Fort Portal, Uganda’s tourism capital, for lunch and  a explore this charming town, known for its mild climate, Toro Kingdom  palace.
Overnight:
● Primates Lodge (Mid-range)

● Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury)

● Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget)
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

After an early breakfast, head to Kibale National Park headquarters  for a briefing before setting off into the forest for chimpanzee  trekking. Kibale is home to 13 primate species and is famously dubbed  the “Primate Capital of the World.”
● Enjoy an up-close encounter with wild chimps and learn about their complex social behaviors.

● After lunch at the lodge, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a
community-run eco-project known for primates, butterflies, and over 200 bird species, including the Great Blue Turaco.

Overnight: Same as Day 1
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP via Ishasha – Kyambura Gorge Walk

Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, entering via the remote  Kasenyi sector, known for its iconic tree-climbing lions. These rare  lions often lounge in fig and acacia trees, a behavior unique to only a  few places in Africa.
● Continue to your lodge and refresh, you will go for a game drive to explore the wild in its habitat.
Overnight:
● Park View Safari Lodge / Ihamba Safari Lodge (Mid-range)

● Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)

● Simba Safari Camp/ Tembo Safari Lodge (Budget)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Morning Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

Begin the day with a sunrise game drive across the Kasenyi plains, a  prime area for spotting lions, elephants, buffalo, antelopes, warthogs,  and diverse birdlife.
● After lunch, head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat safari, offering  close-up views of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, and countless  waterbirds like the African fish eagle, pelicans, and cormorants.

Overnight: Same as Day 3
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Maramagambo Forest Walk – Salt Lake Visit – Transfer to Bwindi
Following breakfast, enjoy a guided nature walk in Maramagambo Forest,  where you’ll explore ancient bat caves, view crater lakes, and spot  primates such as red-tailed and vervet monkeys. Occasionally,  non-habituated chimpanzees and pygmy antelopes are seen.

● Stop at Lake Katwe to witness traditional salt mining, where locals harvest salt from the crater lake using age-old methods.

● Afterward, travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

Overnight:
● Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range)

● Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury)

● Tarvan Trekkers Bwindi (Budget)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking Experience – Visit to the Batwa Community

Today is the highlight of your safari—gorilla trekking in Bwindi’s  misty, ancient forest. After a morning briefing, set off with expert  rangers in search of one of the park’s habituated gorilla families.
● Once located, you’ll spend a magical hour observing their behavior—feeding, grooming, and interacting—at close range.

● After trekking, return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest.

● In the afternoon, visit the nearby Batwa pygmy community, the  forest’s original inhabitants, to learn about their hunter-gatherer  traditions and cultural history.

Overnight: Same as Day 5
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Return to Kampala/Entebbe via Equator Stop
After breakfast, start your return journey to Kampala or Entebbe with scenic stops along the way:
● Visit the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara for lunch and insight into western Uganda’s Ankole culture.
● Stop at the Equator in Kayabwe for photo ops and souvenirs.
● Optional: Visit the Buganda royal drum makers if time permits.

Arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening. Drop-off at your hotel or Entebbe International Airport for departure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Includes:
● Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking permits
● All park entrance & activity fees
● Full-time English-speaking driver/guide
● Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
● Accommodation (mid-range)
● All meals as per itinerary
● Bottled water in the vehicle
● Airport transfers

Tour Excludes:
● International flights & Uganda visa
● Personal expenses (drinks, tips, laundry)
● Optional activities not listed
● Travel & medical insurance

Let me know if you’d like this customized for:
● A luxury or budget version
● A start from Kigali, Rwanda
● A family-friendly or honeymoon theme
● Or exported as a printable PDF itinerary