7-Day Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Wildlife Encounter

Tour Description

7 Days – Gorillas, Chimps, Lions & Murchison Falls_Track mountain gorillas in Bwindi, trek chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest, search for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, and witness the thunder of Murchison Falls. This comprehensive Ugandan safari delivers the country’s top wildlife experiences from rhinos to gorillas.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Entebbe – Murchison Falls National Park

Your driver-guide will pick you up from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Entebbe. You will then transfer to Murchison Falls National Park 5–6 hours. En route: Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. You will spend about one hour observing rhinos on foot – the only place in Uganda where this is possible. After rhino tracking, enjoy lunch at Kabalega Dinner. Continue to the park and check into your prepared Lodge. Relax in the evening in preparation for tomorrow’s adventures.

Destination: Murchison falls NP

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Day 2: Murchison Falls National Park – Game Drive & Boat Cruise

Have an early breakfast, then tour the northern section of Murchison Falls, which has a high concentration of wildlife. Enjoy game viewing and photography of elephants, buffaloes, and waterbucks, rothschild giraffes and uganda kobs, lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas, and variety of bird species Return to the lodge for lunch. Then prepare for a 3 hour boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls. This is often the highlight of a Murchison safari. You will cruise past huge hippo pods, see nile crocodiles basking on the banks, spot numerous aquatic birds, witness the mighty Nile plunging through a 7-metre gap. Optional activity – additional cost: Hike to the top of the falls. This hike is strenuous, but the thrill of reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your prepared lodge for dinner and overnight.

Destination: Murchison Falls NP

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Day 3: Murchison Falls – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, transfer south from Murchison Falls to Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx.350km / 5–6 hours). The journey offers a view of rural Ugandan life as you pass through a variety of landscapes –grasslands, crater lakes, and rolling hills. Upon arrival, enjoy an evening game drive providing an opportunity to see elephants and buffalo, uganda kobs and waterbucks, warthogs and antelopes, lions and hyenas (with luck) Check into your prepared lodge for dinner and overnight.

Destination: Queen Elizabeth NP

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth – Kalinzu Forest Chimpanzee Trek & Kazinga Channel

Morning: Go on an early morning chimpanzee trek in Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The trek follows chimpanzees through the dense forest, observing their interactions and behavior. Treks typically last 2–4 hours. Other primates (red-tailed monkeys, colobus) and birds are also common. Afternoon: Enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel – a 36km natural waterway connecting Lakes George and Edward. Wildlife viewing includes hundreds of hippos wallowing in the shallows, nile crocodiles gaping on the banks, elephants and buffalo drinking at the water’s edge, abundant birdlife: fish eagles, pelicans, cormorants, and kingfishers. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Destination: Kalinzu Forest Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 5: Kalinzu – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha

After breakfast, set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park – famous for its resident tree-climbing lions. You have approximately a 70% chance of seeing lions lounging in the branches of fig trees. You may also see elephants, buffalo, and topi antelopes. Continue to Bwindi – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bwindi harbors an estimated 1,000 mountain gorillas, roughly half of the world’s population. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest rainforests, dating back over 25,000 years. Check into your lodge. Take it easy upon arrival – relax and prepare for tomorrow’s gorilla trekking experience.

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Day 6: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Morning – Gorilla Trekking: After an early breakfast and briefing by a ranger guide, enter the Impenetrable Forest. The beauty of this rainforest is spectacular – dramatic, steep, and incredibly dense, but crisscrossed with animal trails.The trek lasts 1–6 hours depending on where the gorillas have moved. Once you locate a gorilla group, you will be allowed 1 hour in their presence. Observe the silverback leading with quiet authority, mothers grooming infants, and juveniles playing. The thrill of spending time with these gentle and endangered giants is an experience to be long savored. Porters are available for hire. Return to the trailhead for your trekking certificate. Afternoon: Return to the lodge for lunch, then check out for a transfer to Lake Bunyonyi 2 hours. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green terraced hills. Its 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water make it most remarkable. At about 900 metres deep, it is considered the third deepest lake in Africa. It is also bilharzia-free and safe for swimming. Check into your prepared dinner overnight.

Destination: Lake Bunyonyi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi – Entebbe Airport

After early breakfast, embark on your return journey to Entebbe International Airport 7–8 hours. En route stops:
●​ Lunch at a reputable restaurant.
●​ Equator line in Kayabwe – stand with one foot in each hemisphere, watch the water swirl experiment, and take photos. Continue the journey, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening for drop-off at Entebbe International Airport. This marks the end of your amazing Ugandan safari tour.

Destination: Entebbe International Airport

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Drinking water

End of Tour

Inclusions

• Kigali airport transfers
• Gorilla permit
• All park entry fees
• ​Private 4×4 safari vehicle
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• All meals
• Drinking water
• Accommodation

Exclusion

• International flights
• Uganda visa
• Rwanda visa
• Travel insurance
• Porter hire
• Optional activities at Lake Bunyonyi (canoeing, boat ride, community visit),
• Alcoholic drinks
• Soft drinks beyond water
• Tips
• Personal items