8 Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimp & Wildlife from Kigali

Your adventure begins upon arrival at Kigali International Airport or pickup from your hotel in Kigali. You will be warmly welcomed by your driver-guide who will brief you before beginning the scenic journey toward Uganda.

If time allows, you may visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and enjoy a brief city tour of Rwanda’s vibrant capital before continuing your journey.

You will cross into Uganda via the Katuna border and stop in Kabale town for lunch. Continue through misty hills and lush countryside toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

Arrive at your lodge in the evening to relax and prepare for the next day’s trek.

Drive Time: 4–5 hours
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

• Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge / Bakiga Lodge
• Midrange: Four Gorillas Lodge / Gorilla Leisure Lodge
• Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge / Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge / Kiho Lodge

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will then begin your trek into the dense rainforest in search of one of Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families.

The trek can vary in length depending on the location of the gorillas, but the reward is an incredible hour spent observing these magnificent primates in their natural habitat.

Enjoy a packed lunch before returning to your lodge for relaxation. In the evening, you may visit a nearby community project or cultural group.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Same as Day 1

After breakfast, depart Bwindi and travel north through the beautiful highlands of southwestern Uganda toward Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Along the way, pass rolling hills, banana plantations, and crater lakes before arriving at your lodge near the park. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive on the Kasenyi Plains in search of elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, and possibly leopards.

Drive Time: 5–6 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

• Budget: The Bush Lodge
• Midrange: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Elephant Hab Lodge / Parkview Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge / Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Start the day with an early morning game drive to catch wildlife at its most active. Explore the park’s open savannah in search of lions, hyenas, warthogs, elephants, and a variety of bird species.

After lunch, enjoy a scenic boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. This is one of the best places in Uganda to observe hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and hundreds of water birds up close.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Same as Day 3

Enjoy a final morning game drive before departing Queen Elizabeth National Park for Fort Portal, a charming town located near the Rwenzori Mountains.

Stop for lunch in Fort Portal before continuing to Kibale Forest National Park, known as the “Primate Capital of the World.”

Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon and relax for the evening surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest.

Drive Time: 2–3 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

• Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Kibale Forest Camp / Isunga Lodge
• Midrange: Turaco Treetops Lodge
• Luxury: Primate Lodge / Tabebuia Hotel

After breakfast, head to Kibale Forest headquarters for a chimpanzee tracking briefing. With your ranger guide, trek into the forest to locate one of the habituated chimpanzee groups.

Once located, spend an hour observing these fascinating primates as they groom, feed, and communicate in their natural habitat.

In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-based conservation project known for excellent birdwatching and primate sightings.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Same as Day 5

After breakfast, begin the scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda’s most beautiful destinations. Often referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa,” this tranquil lake is surrounded by terraced hills and dotted with 29 islands.

Upon arrival, check into your lodge and spend the rest of the day relaxing by the lakeshore, swimming, or enjoying canoeing on the calm waters.

Drive Time: 6–7 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options

• Budget: Bunyonyi Rock Resort
• Midrange: Birdnest Resort

After breakfast, enjoy an optional canoe ride across Lake Bunyonyi to explore some of its islands, including the historic Punishment Island. Alternatively, take a short hike for panoramic views of the surrounding hills.

After lunch, begin the drive back to Kigali, crossing the Katuna border once again. Upon arrival, your guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport or your hotel.

Drive Time: 4–5 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch