7 Days Primate Trekking & Wildlife Safari

Overview

The 7-day primates and wildlife safari takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a gorilla experience, Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife adventures, and then to Kibale Forest National Park for a chimpanzee experience.

This safari is the best for those who love both primates and wildlife experiences.

Highlights

• Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
• Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience
• Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
• Day 4: Game viewing and boat cruise
• Day 5: Drive to Kibale forest national park
• Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking experience
• Day 7: Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Your unforgettable safari with Chosen Expeditions begins with an early morning pick-up from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Kampala. After a warm welcome and safari briefing from your professional driver-guide, you will set off on a scenic journey to southwestern Uganda, a region known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

The drive takes you through vibrant towns, rolling hills, expansive banana plantations, and long-horned Ankole cattle grazing in open fields. You will stop at the Equator crossing for memorable photographs and a brief explanation about this geographical landmark. Continuing westward, you’ll enjoy lunch in Mbarara before proceeding into the highlands of Kigezi, often referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa” because of its terraced hills and dramatic scenery.

By late afternoon, you will arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for harboring nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Check in at your lodge nestled near the forest, enjoy dinner, and relax as you prepare for tomorrow’s life-changing gorilla encounter.

Accommodation:

• Gorilla safari lodge [luxury]
• Icumbi Gorilla camp [Midrange],
• Trekkers Tavern [budget]

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Cultural Experience

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters for a comprehensive briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will be allocated a habituated gorilla family and guided on the rules and expectations of trekking in this dense tropical rainforest.

Gorilla Trekking Experience

Accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers, you will venture into the thick jungle, following trails through mist-covered hills, tangled vines, and towering ancient trees. The trek can take anywhere from two to six hours depending on the gorillas’ movements, but every step is an adventure filled with bird calls, butterflies, and unique forest vegetation.

Once you locate the gorilla family, you will spend one magical hour observing them at close range. Watch the silverback assert his authority, juveniles playfully tumble in the undergrowth, and mothers tenderly care for their infants. The experience of locking eyes with a mountain gorilla in its natural habitat is profoundly moving and unforgettable.

You will have your picnic lunch.

Batwa Cultural Experience

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the rich heritage of the Batwa people, the original forest dwellers of Bwindi. Through storytelling, traditional music, dance, and demonstrations of hunting and gathering techniques, the Batwa share insights into their ancient way of life before conservation efforts led them to resettle outside the forest. This cultural interaction offers meaningful perspective on community-based conservation and the human history of Bwindi.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, depart Bwindi and journey north to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular and biodiverse savannah park. The drive offers scenic views of crater lakes, rural villages, and vast savannah plains.

Depending on your route, you may pass through the Ishasha sector, famous for its rare tree-climbing lions that lounge in fig trees—a remarkable sight if encountered.

Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and relaxation. As the sun sets over the savannah, listen to the distant sounds of wildlife and enjoy the tranquility of the African wilderness.

Accommodation:

• Mweya safari lodge [luxury]
• Park view safari lodge [mid-range]
• Irungu safari lodge [budget]

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Game Drive & Boat Cruise

Morning Game Drive

Rise early for a sunrise game drive in the Kasenyi plains, when wildlife is most active. As golden light spreads across the savannah, you may encounter elephants moving in herds, buffalo grazing in open grasslands, antelopes darting through the plains, and predators such as lions or hyenas returning from a night hunt. Your guide will help interpret animal behavior and explain the delicate balance of this ecosystem.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation.

Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

In the afternoon, enjoy a spectacular boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. This channel boasts one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa. As you glide along the calm waters, you’ll see hippos grunting in pods, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, elephants cooling off at the shoreline, and an incredible array of birdlife, including African fish eagles and kingfishers.

This boat safari offers exceptional photographic opportunities and a different perspective of wildlife viewing.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and drive toward Kibale Forest National Park, famously known as the “Primate Capital of the World.” The journey takes you through scenic crater lakes, rolling hills, and expansive tea plantations that blanket the countryside in vibrant green.

Upon arrival, check in at your lodge surrounded by lush tropical forest. The area is rich in birdlife and primates, offering a serene and refreshing atmosphere. You may opt for a guided walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary to spot birds and monkeys and interact with the local community.

Accommodation:

• Primate Lodge [luxury]
• Mountain of moons [mid-range]
• chimp guest house [budget]

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking Experience

After an early breakfast, head to Kibale Forest headquarters for a briefing before beginning your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Kibale is home to one of the largest populations of habituated chimpanzees in Africa.

Accompanied by expert guides, you will walk through the forest, listening carefully for pant-hoots and rustling in the canopy that signal chimpanzee presence. Once located, you will spend one hour observing their dynamic social interactions—grooming, playing, feeding, and communicating through expressive calls.

In addition to chimpanzees, you may encounter other primates such as red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys. The forest experience is immersive, educational, and thrilling.

Return to the lodge for relaxation and reflection on your primate adventures.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Departure

After breakfast, begin your return journey to Entebbe or Kampala. Enjoy a scenic drive with lunch en route and optional souvenir stops along the way. Upon arrival in Entebbe, you will be dropped off at the airport for your international flight or at your hotel, marking the end of your remarkable safari with Chosen Expeditions.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Includes

• Gorilla permit
• Chimpanzee permit
• Park entrance fee
• Guide/driver’s allowance
• Government taxes
• Accommodation
• Transport to and from,
• Mineral water
• Meals full board

Excludes

• Visa
• flights
• tips
• laundry
• extra expenses.