12-Day Primates and Wildlife Adventure (Group Tour)
Murchison Falls · Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth
$5,900 pp
7 days · Uganda
7 Day Gorilla and Chimp Safari in Uganda
Track chimps in Kibale, cruise the Kazinga Channel, trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi, explore Lake Mburo by night drive, and finish with a Mabamba swamp shoebill search on this seven-day primate and savanna circuit. Chimp, savanna, and gorilla days alternate with lake and park transfers under one guide team for the full week.
from$3,685pp in a group of 4
$5,115 pp for a solo traveller. See every group size
- 7days
- 1country
- 4travellers at most
In brief
What this safari is
- Bigodi swamp
- Chimps
- Ishasha lions
- Gorillas
- Mabamba
Kibale rainforest holds rich primate diversity; Queen Elizabeth spans crater lakes and Ishasha's famous lions; Bwindi protects half the world's mountain gorillas. Lake Mburo adds compact acacia savanna and Mabamba adds Victoria marsh birding at the end.
Before you go
Chimp and gorilla treks require forest walking on uneven, sometimes steep terrain for up to several hours.
Before you book
Quick facts
- Starts at
- Entebbe International Airport
- Length
- 7 days / 6 nights
- Group size
- Up to 4 travellers
- Book ahead
- Please ask at least 7 days ahead
Day by day
The itinerary
Each day shows where you spend it, with today's sunrise and sunset there.
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Day 1: Kibale and Bigodi swamp
Kibale Forest
Airport pickup and drive west through tea country to Kibale with lunch en route at Fort Portal, check in, then guided Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk in papyrus for monkeys, birds, and butterflies at the forest edge.
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Day 2: Chimp trek and Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth
Early chimp tracking briefing and forest trek with one hour with chimps, lunch, then drive south past the equator to Queen Elizabeth National Park for evening game drive among explosion craters and savanna wildlife.
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Day 3: Kasenyi and Kazinga cruise
Queen Elizabeth
Morning Kasenyi Plains game drive with Uganda Wildlife Authority lion tracking focus, lunch, then Kazinga Channel boat cruise for hippos, buffalo, elephants, crocodiles, and plentiful waterbirds.
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Day 4: Ishasha lions to Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable
Exit Queen Elizabeth through Ishasha sector searching for tree-climbing lions on savanna, then continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for overnight ahead of gorilla trekking.
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Day 5: Gorilla trekking
Bwindi Impenetrable
Early breakfast and packed lunch, briefing at park headquarters, then guided gorilla trek in Bwindi forest with up to one hour observing a habituated family before returning to lodge.
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Day 6: Lake Mburo and night drive
Lake Mburo
Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for afternoon game drive among zebras, impala, eland, and birds, dinner, then optional guided night drive with spotlight for nocturnal species.
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Day 7: Mabamba and Entebbe
Entebbe
Drive to Mabamba Swamp on Lake Victoria for local canoe birding seeking shoebill stork and other marsh species, then transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight.
Mist drifting through the Bwindi hills at dusk.
Your group
Price for your group
2 travellers: $4,664 each, $9,328 in total.
| Travellers | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,115 | $5,115 |
| 2 | $4,664 9% off | $9,328 |
| 3 | $4,213 18% off | $12,639 |
| 4 | $3,685 28% off | $14,740 |
Prices are in US dollars per person, from the group rates listed with this trip.
The detail
What is included
Included
- All internal airport transfers on the tour
- All meals
- Fully guided safari in a 4x4 vehicle
- All accommodations listed in the itinerary
- All permits and park entry fees including chimps and gorillas
- Mabamba swamp canoe birding as described on day seven
Not included
- Laundry services
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Souvenirs
- Tips and gratuities
- Transport to and from the meeting point if you do not use the included airport pickup
Nights and arrival
Where you stay and how you get there
Where you stay
Early nights on this loop use forest and savanna lodges at Kibale and Queen Elizabeth after Bigodi swamp walks, chimp treks, and Kasenyi game drives with Kazinga Channel cruises. Rooms are tourist standard with meals at lodges on full activity days.
Getting there
On arrival you are met at Entebbe International Airport and transferred west toward Kibale Forest to start the safari. Day seven ends with drop-off at Entebbe International Airport after Mabamba swamp; plan a late flight after the shoebill canoe morning.
Good questions
Questions about this safari
Will we see tree-climbing lions?
Your guide focuses the drive on known lion territories in the southern Queen Elizabeth sector.
Is Mabamba shoebill guaranteed?
Day seven uses a local canoe with an expert birder to search Mabamba Swamp for shoebill stork and other marsh species. Shoebills are wild and never guaranteed, but this site is one of the most reliable near Entebbe.
How fit must I be?
Chimp and gorilla days can involve hours of steep, muddy forest walking. Savanna days are mostly vehicle-based with short walks; night drives and canoe rides are low exertion but early starts are common.
Where do we meet?
You are met on arrival at Entebbe International Airport at the start of day one. The safari ends with airport drop-off on day seven after Mabamba swamp.
Is the night drive included?
Lake Mburo night drive on day six is part of the described route with ranger guidance and spotlight scanning for genets, hyenas, and leopards if lucky. It follows the afternoon game drive and dinner at lodge.
What should I pack?
Pack neutral safari layers, rain gear, and sturdy boots for forest treks plus binoculars for Bigodi, Kazinga, and Mabamba birding. Insect repellent helps on swamp and forest days.
Do I need a visa for this safari?
Most visitors need a visa for Uganda, Rwanda, or Zambia depending on your route. Check current requirements for your passport nationality before you travel.
Are park and trekking permits included?
Your safari includes the park entries and trekking permits listed in the tour inclusions for the days on your itinerary. Wildlife sightings vary by day; your guide knows recent patterns in each sector you enter.
Where do we meet on day one?
Your guide meets you at the airport or agreed hotel on arrival day one, as described in the getting there section for this route. Share arrival flight details when you contact us so the guide can meet you after immigration.
Read before you book
Guides for this safari
- How a gorilla trek works Fitness, trek times, what to bring, and why a sighting is never guaranteed.
- Every gorilla trekking safari compared Lengths, styles and prices side by side.
- Chimpanzee trekking safaris Every trip that tracks chimpanzees.
- Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale and Budongo How the longer habituation experience differs from an ordinary trek.
- Birding safaris in Uganda From the Mabamba shoebill swamp to Lake Mburo.
- What a Uganda safari costs Every Uganda trip priced, and what the price covers.
More answers are on our safari questions page and in what guests say. We also arrange flights, hotels and insurance.
How payment works: the balance is due one month before your safari, a reservation made within 45 days of arrival is paid in full when it is confirmed, and a card payment carries a 3.9% service charge. The full wording is in our terms and conditions.
Next
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