From gorilla trekking in the remote Bwindi National Park to bird watching in the vast Bigodi Wetland, game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and a sensational boat trip along the Kazinga Channel, our 6-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali takes you off the beaten track, promising unforgettable experiences and encounters with incredible mammals and a dazzling array of birds.
This Uganda safari tour highlights some of the nicest places in Uganda.
6-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
- Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Evening Boat Cruise
- Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 5: Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 6: Return to Kigali
Detailed 6-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast at your accommodation or pick-up from Kigali airport on day one of your 6-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali, drive north. If time permits, take a brief tour of Kigali city to enjoy spectacular views of the shopping malls, genocide museums, craft markets, etc.
Depart immediately for Kibale Forest National Park via Katuna border in Kabale and arrive in Kibale National Park in the evening.
Kibale is renowned for its exceptional population of primates, including the endangered chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, and vervet monkeys. During a typical chimpanzee trek, you can often see them swinging in the trees or feeding on wild fruits.
Arrive at Kibale in the evening, check into your accommodation, have dinner, and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
After breakfast on the second day of your 6-day Uganda safari from Kigali, embark on the unforgettable experience of trekking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest. The trek begins at 8:00 am after a 30-minute briefing session. The chimpanzee trekking experience usually lasts 2 – 5 hours, including one hour spent directly observing these incredible and rare primates.
Besides chimpanzees, this rainforest is home to numerous other primate species such as baboons, bush-babies, colobus monkeys, mangabeys, and various squirrels.
Return to the lodge for lunch or have a picnic lunch at a campsite in the forest. In the afternoon, take a nature walk in Bigodi Wetland. This walk allows you to fully explore this ecologically diverse habitat. Explore the impressive Bigodi Swamp sanctuary, enjoy birdwatching, and discover the exceptional wetland flora and fauna. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner, relaxation, and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Evening Boat Cruise
Your next destination on day three of your 6-day Uganda safari from Kigali is Queen Elizabeth National Park. Popular in Uganda and beyond, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a vast park where wildlife and people coexist harmoniously.
Arrive early enough and in the afternoon, embark on a 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward.
The cruise exposes you to various bird species (both endemic and migratory), large mammals, cats, and reptiles. After the boat cruise, return to the lodge for relaxation.
Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Enjoy an early morning game drive on the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park after a cup of coffee at dawn. This early game drive offers amazing viewing opportunities for a variety of animals such as antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, waterbucks, and numerous birds.
Continue with an en route game drive to the Ishasha sector to track the tree-climbing lions. This part of the park is rich with rare climbing lions and other wildlife, making it an interesting place for epic game viewing opportunities. After this experience, drive to Bwindi and arrive in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Today is gorilla trekking day! Wake up early and prepare for this unforgettable jungle experience. Transfer from the lodge to the Ruhija starting point. Join other visitors for a pre-trek briefing and start the expedition around 8:30 am.
Trek through the impenetrable jungles of Bwindi until you find a gorilla family. Spend up to one hour with them, photographing, learning about them, and observing them up close.
After the trek, return to the starting point and immediately transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district. Lake Bunyonyi is a remarkable lake formed by ancient volcanic movements, known to be the deepest in Uganda and the second deepest in Africa after Lake Tanganyika.
Spend the evening on a dugout canoe exploring the numerous islands on Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 6: Return to Kigali
Today, return via Katuna border to Kigali city, where this trip concludes late in the afternoon. If time permits, explore the town and sample local cuisine.
Depending on your flight time, be dropped off at Kigali airport for your departure flight.
End of 6-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
