8-Day Luxury Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari Overview
8-Day Luxury Uganda Safari combines mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and outstanding wildlife experiences in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks. This private luxury journey showcases some of Uganda’s most remarkable primates, savannah wildlife and landscapes while providing comfortable accommodation, a private 4×4 safari vehicle and an experienced driver-guide throughout the safari.
The journey takes you from Entebbe through the forests of Kibale, the wildlife-rich savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Ishasha Sector and the ancient rainforest of Bwindi before continuing to Lake Mburo National Park. Along the way, you will enjoy chimpanzee trekking, game drives, a Kazinga Channel boat safari, mountain gorilla trekking and a guided walking safari.
The itinerary is designed for travelers looking for a more comfortable and personalized Uganda safari while still experiencing the country’s diverse wildlife. Accommodation is provided in carefully selected luxury lodges, with opportunities to see elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, primates and numerous bird species. Lions and leopards may also be encountered, although wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.
8-Day Luxury Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari Highlights
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
- Private 4×4 safari transportation
- Luxury safari lodges throughout the journey
- Morning and afternoon wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Kazinga Channel boat safari
- Search for the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha
- Elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles and numerous antelope species
- Professional English-speaking Uganda safari driver-guide
- Personalized private safari experience
Welcome to Uganda. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your Safari Vacations and Travel Services representative. After introductions and assistance with your luggage, transfer to your hotel in Entebbe.
Depending on your arrival time, the remainder of the day is available for relaxation after your international flight. Your driver-guide can also brief you about the journey ahead, including the expected driving times, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking and general safari arrangements.
Entebbe sits along the shores of Lake Victoria and provides a convenient and comfortable starting point for your Uganda safari.
Accommodation: Entebbe Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Depending on arrival arrangements
After breakfast, meet your private driver-guide and begin your journey west toward Kibale National Park, one of Uganda's most important primate destinations.
The drive takes you through changing landscapes of rural communities, farmland, tea-growing areas and the rolling hills of western Uganda. There will be opportunities for comfort stops and lunch along the way.
Kibale is particularly famous for its primate diversity and is one of Uganda's leading destinations for tracking habituated chimpanzees. The forest also supports several other primate species as well as an impressive variety of birds and butterflies.
Arrive at your luxury lodge and spend the evening relaxing in the peaceful surroundings ahead of the following morning's chimpanzee experience.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge Kibale / Kyaninga Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an early breakfast, transfer to the chimpanzee trekking starting point for registration and a briefing from the ranger guides. You will then enter Kibale Forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community.
The trek provides an opportunity to experience the rainforest on foot while listening for chimpanzee calls and watching for other forest wildlife. Besides chimpanzees, Kibale supports primates such as black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys, although sightings vary.
Once the chimpanzees are located, standard tracking visitors normally spend up to one hour observing them as they feed, move through the forest and interact.
After the trek, meet your driver-guide and continue toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey offers beautiful views of western Uganda, with the Rwenzori Mountains sometimes visible when conditions are clear.
Arrive at your luxury lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Wake up early for a morning game drive through the wildlife-rich landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kasenyi Plains and surrounding savannahs provide opportunities to search for elephants, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks and other wildlife.
Lions and leopards also occur within the park, although sightings depend on their movements and cannot be guaranteed.
Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch before proceeding to the Kazinga Channel for an afternoon boat safari.
The natural channel connecting Lake George and Lake Edward attracts large numbers of animals and birds to its banks. Hippos are particularly abundant, while Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and various waterbirds may also be encountered.
After the cruise, return to your luxury lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, leave the northern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel south through the Ishasha Sector.
Ishasha is particularly well known for its tree-climbing lions, which are sometimes seen resting on the branches of large fig trees. The sector is also home to Uganda kobs, topis, buffaloes, elephants and other savannah wildlife. Tree-climbing lion sightings are not guaranteed, but your guide will search areas where they are frequently encountered.
Continue toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with the landscape gradually changing from open savannah to the forested hills of southwestern Uganda.
Arrive at your luxury lodge near the appropriate gorilla trekking sector. Your lodge location will be selected according to your confirmed gorilla permit and trekking trailhead.
Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for the following day's mountain gorilla adventure.
Accommodation: Burunga Gorilla Lodge/ Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge / Mahogany Springs or similar, depending on trekking sector
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is one of the major highlights of your Uganda safari.
After an early breakfast, transfer to the appropriate Bwindi gorilla trekking trailhead for registration and a briefing by the ranger guides. You will learn about trekking procedures, forest conditions and the guidelines for observing mountain gorillas.
Accompanied by ranger guides and trackers, enter Bwindi's dense rainforest in search of your assigned habituated gorilla family.
The duration and difficulty of the trek vary because mountain gorillas move freely through the forest. The experience may involve steep slopes, thick vegetation and muddy trails, particularly after rainfall. Hiring a porter can make the trek more comfortable and also supports members of the surrounding communities.
Once the gorillas are located, standard trekking visitors normally spend up to one hour observing them. You may watch adults feeding, youngsters playing and family members interacting at close range while following the ranger's instructions.
After the trek, return to your lodge for a well-deserved afternoon of relaxation.
Accommodation: Burunga Gorilla Lodge/ Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge / Mahogany Springs or similar, depending on trekking sector
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy breakfast at your lodge before beginning the scenic journey from Bwindi toward Lake Mburo National Park.
The journey takes you through southwestern Uganda's rolling hills, agricultural communities and changing landscapes before reaching the open savannah and acacia woodland of Lake Mburo.
Although considerably smaller than Uganda's major savannah parks, Lake Mburo provides a different wildlife experience. The park is particularly associated with zebras and impalas and also supports elands, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs and several other mammals.
Depending on arrival time, you may relax at your lodge or enjoy an optional additional activity where practical.
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Begin the final morning of your safari with a guided walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park.
Walking with an experienced guide provides a different perspective from viewing wildlife inside a vehicle. Depending on the route and animal movements, you may encounter zebras, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks and other wildlife while learning about tracks, plants, birds and the wider ecosystem.
After the activity, return for breakfast or refreshments before starting the journey toward Entebbe.
Continue through the countryside toward Kampala and Entebbe, with appropriate stops along the way. Your driver-guide will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport or your Entebbe accommodation, depending on your onward arrangements.
This marks the end of your 8-Day Luxury Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari.
Accommodation: None – Departure
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch, depending on departure arrangements
8-Day Luxury Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari Includes
- - Airport pickup and transfer on arrival
- - Private 4×4 safari vehicle throughout the safari
- - Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- - Fuel for the entire safari
- - Luxury accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- - Meals as specified in the itinerary
- - One Uganda gorilla trekking permit per person
- - One Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit per person
- - Queen Elizabeth National Park game drives
- - Kazinga Channel boat safari
- - Ishasha wildlife viewing
- - Lake Mburo guided walking safari
- - Applicable national park entrance fees for included activities
- - Bottled drinking water during safari transfers
- - Airport transfer at the end of the safari
- - Safari planning and logistical support
- Safari Excludes
8-Day Luxury Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari Excludes
- International and Domestic Flights
- Visas
- Tips and Gratuities
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The road journey is arranged as a private safari with your own 4×4 vehicle and driver-guide. Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking are conducted under the respective park authorities and therefore involve other permitted visitors in your assigned trekking group.
During standard gorilla trekking, visitors normally spend up to one hour with their assigned habituated gorilla family once it has been located.
Yes, one standard Uganda mountain gorilla trekking experience is included when the gorilla permit is specifically included in your confirmed quotation.
During standard gorilla trekking, visitors normally spend up to one hour with their assigned habituated gorilla family once it has been located.
Yes. The itinerary includes standard chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, one of Uganda's best-known destinations for viewing habituated chimpanzees.
The difficulty varies from day to day depending on the location of the assigned gorilla family, weather and terrain. Trekkers should be prepared for hills, uneven ground, thick vegetation and potentially muddy trails.
Depending on location and wildlife movements, there are opportunities to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, Nile crocodiles, zebras, impalas, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs and numerous primates and birds. Lions, leopards and Ishasha's tree-climbing lions may also be encountered, but no wild-animal sighting can be guaranteed.
The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years.
The safari is operated in a private 4×4 safari vehicle suitable for Uganda's national parks and longer road transfers.
Uganda can be visited throughout the year. The relatively drier periods are generally popular for gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris, while wetter periods can offer greener scenery and fewer visitors. Conditions vary from year to year.
You do not need to be an athlete, but reasonable mobility and fitness are beneficial, particularly for gorilla trekking. A porter can be hired at Bwindi to carry your daypack and assist on difficult sections.
Yes. The safari can be adjusted according to your arrival and departure flights, preferred luxury lodges, gorilla permit availability, interests and budget.
Yes. Domestic flights can be incorporated into a luxury itinerary, particularly between Entebbe and western/southwestern Uganda, subject to schedules, routing and availability. This can reduce road travel considerably.
