Standing metres from a mountain gorilla family in the dense undergrowth of Bwindi, watching a silverback tend to his young while the forest closes in around you, is one of the most profound wildlife encounters on Earth. Uganda’s primate and safari circuit delivers exactly that, beginning on the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe before climbing into the rolling tea country of Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale shelters one of the greatest concentrations of primates on the continent, with thirteen species recorded, and chimpanzee trekking here begins with a briefing at Kanyanchu before rangers lead you into the rainforest in search of a habituated community. The tracking can last several hours, and the reward is one hour with the chimpanzees—hooting, branch-swinging, social grooming, and occasionally dramatic displays of dominance filling the forest around you. An afternoon at the Bigodi Wetland offers a quieter counterpoint, with rich birdlife and community-led conservation.
The journey continues south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the Great Rift Valley opens into savannah, swampland, and woodland. A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel reveals hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife along the shoreline, while an early morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains or the Ishasha sector offers elephant, buffalo, and the famous tree-climbing lions that rest in the fig trees of Ishasha. On clear days, the Rwenzori Mountains frame the horizon. From Queen Elizabeth, the route climbs toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, passing through Uganda’s scenic highlands before arriving at the edge of the ancient rainforest.
The final day belongs to the gorillas. After a briefing at park headquarters, you are assigned to a family group and set out through the dense undergrowth of Bwindi, following trackers who have located a habituated family that morning. The trek can last from half an hour to several hours depending on where the gorillas have moved overnight, but the reward is one magical hour in their presence—silverbacks, mothers with babies, and juveniles at close range, with guides whispering and time seeming to slow down. After the trek, the journey returns to Entebbe, carrying the memory of chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions, and the silent wonder of standing among mountain gorillas.
Safari Overview
This seven-day Uganda safari combines chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with scenic drives through Uganda’s tea country and highlands. The journey begins in Entebbe and moves through Kibale’s primate-rich rainforest, Queen Elizabeth’s savannah and swampland, and the ancient Bwindi forest where mountain gorillas are tracked at close range. Along the way, expect tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, hippos and crocodiles on the Kazinga Channel, and one hour with a habituated gorilla family. The route returns to Entebbe carrying the memory of chimpanzees, savannah predators, and the silent wonder of standing among mountain gorillas.
Highlights
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, home to one of Africa's greatest concentrations of primates with thirteen species recorded
- One hour with a habituated chimpanzee community, watching social grooming, branch-swinging, and displays of dominance
- The Bigodi Wetland Walk, a community-based experience with rich birdlife and local culture
- Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife along the shoreline
- Game drives across the Kasenyi Plains and Ishasha sector in search of elephant, buffalo, antelope, and Uganda kob
- The famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, resting in the fig trees of the southern sector
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, following trackers through ancient rainforest in search of a habituated family
- One magical hour with mountain gorillas, observing silverbacks, mothers with babies, and juveniles at close range
- Optional Batwa cultural experience and community walk near Bwindi
