Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Chimps 6-Day Safari

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Your 6-day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Wildlife & Chimps Safari begins with a warm welcome by your professional English-speaking guide from Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd in Kampala, Entebbe, or directly at Entebbe International Airport. After a quick safari briefing and luggage check, you’ll hit the road, heading southwest through Uganda’s rolling countryside to Lake Mburo National Park. This scenic 4-5 hour drive will offer picturesque views of traditional homesteads, long-horned Ankole cattle, and lush acacia-dotted savannahs.

Lake Mburo National Park, although one of Uganda’s smaller protected areas, is a hidden gem that boasts an impressive variety of wildlife including zebras, impalas, buffaloes, elands, giraffes, and leopards. As you approach the park, you’ll make a stop at the equator crossing in Kayabwe for a brief photo opportunity and educational demonstration.

Upon arrival at the park gate, you’ll enjoy your first afternoon game drive en route to your lodge. This is your chance to stretch your legs, spot some wildlife, and begin your photographic journey. Depending on time, optional activities such as a guided nature walk or a boat ride on Lake Mburo may be arranged. You’ll check into your selected safari lodge where you’ll be treated to a delicious dinner as the sun sets over the park’s savannah plains.

Overnight: Mihingo Lodge / Rwakobo Rock / Arcadia Mburo Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Rise early for a morning game drive through Lake Mburo National Park, a golden time for wildlife sightings as animals are most active during these cooler hours. Drive along game tracks that wind through open plains, rocky outcrops, and acacia woodlands while keeping an eye out for warthogs, jackals, bushbucks, and the elusive leopard. This is also a bird lover’s paradise with over 350 recorded species including the rare African finfoot and papyrus yellow warbler.

After your game drive, return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast before departing for the next leg of your Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Chimps 6-Day Safari – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The journey to Bwindi takes approximately 6-7 hours, passing through scenic highlands, rural villages, and cultivated hillsides. You’ll stop en route for lunch in a local restaurant or lodge.

Arrive in Bwindi in the late afternoon and check into your lodge located near the gorilla trekking headquarters. The air is cool and fresh, the forest is misty and mysterious, and anticipation for tomorrow’s trek begins to build. Your Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Chimps 6-Day Safari guide will help you prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure, ensuring your permits are ready and briefing you on what to expect.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge / Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge / Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today marks the highlight of your Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Chimps 6-Day Safari! After an early breakfast, head to the Uganda Wildlife Authority briefing point where you’ll receive a short orientation on gorilla trekking etiquette. Armed with your trekking gear, bottled water, and a packed lunch, you’ll set out into the dense, ancient rainforest led by experienced rangers and trackers.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and the chance to spend an hour in their presence is a life-changing experience. Trekking durations can range from 2 to 7 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family you’re tracking. The terrain is steep and the vegetation thick, but the reward is immense. Once you locate the gorillas, you’ll observe their social behavior, listen to their vocalizations, and watch juveniles play under the watchful eye of a silverback.

Photography is permitted (without flash), and your Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Chimps 6-Day Safari guide will help you capture stunning shots while maintaining a safe and respectful distance. After this exhilarating experience, you’ll trek back to the starting point, receive your gorilla trekking certificate, and return to your lodge for a well-earned rest.

Optional cultural visits to the Batwa pygmy community can be arranged in the afternoon for those with energy left to spare.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge / Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge / Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions

Following breakfast, check out and begin your scenic drive north to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through the remote and wildlife-rich Ishasha Sector. This region is famous for its population of tree-climbing lions, a rare behavior only observed in two places in Africa. Keep your camera ready as your Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Chimps 6-Day Safari guide scans the fig and acacia trees for lounging lions.

Aside from tree-climbing lions, Ishasha is also home to topi, hyenas, elephants, and large herds of buffalo. You’ll enjoy a game drive through this sector, with lunch either at a lodge or packed for a picnic in the bush. Proceed further into the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and arrive at your lodge in time for sunset.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited park, known for its diverse ecosystems that include savannah, wetlands, and forests. It’s also a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and home to over 95 mammal species and 600 bird species. Settle into your lodge and enjoy a leisurely evening surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge / Elephant Plains Lodge / Enganzi Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge

Fuel up with a hearty breakfast before heading out to the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, also known as the “Valley of Apes,” for an unforgettable chimpanzee tracking adventure. The gorge is a sunken tropical rainforest within Queen Elizabeth National Park and provides a lush, green corridor for a variety of primates including red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and baboons.

Your chimpanzee tracking experience begins with a briefing from UWA rangers before entering the forested gorge. Chimps here are semi-habituated, making encounters more challenging but authentic. Once you locate a group, spend quality time observing their complex behaviors such as grooming, nesting, or foraging.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some downtime before heading out in the afternoon for a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel. This natural waterway links Lake Edward and Lake George and supports one of the largest concentrations of hippos in the world. During the cruise, expect to see crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and hundreds of bird species, including the African fish eagle, kingfishers, and saddle-billed storks.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge / Elephant Plains Lodge / Enganzi Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

End of Safari

On your final day, rise early for a rewarding game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, giving you another opportunity to spot lions, hyenas, elephants, and various antelope species against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. Early mornings are prime time for predator activity and excellent photography lighting.

After the game drive, return to your lodge for breakfast, then begin the return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. This 6-7 hour drive allows time for reflections on your incredible journey through Uganda’s wildest and most beautiful landscapes. Lunch will be en route, and optional stops can be made for souvenirs or photo opportunities.

Upon arrival in Kampala or Entebbe, your Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Chimps 6-Day Safari guide will drop you off at your hotel or at the airport for your onward flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch