Want to see gorillas, chimpanzees, and other wildlife in Uganda from Kigali? This 7-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali takes you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a mix of primate trekking and game viewing.
This trip requires you to already be in Kigali, Rwanda. Your guide will pick you up early in the morning and transfer you to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ntungamo-Mirama Hills border, a drive of about 6 to 7 hours with one stop for lunch. Budget, mid-range, and luxury options are available on request at the time of booking.
7-Day Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Pickup and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 2: Game viewing and boat cruise
- Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 6: Uganda gorilla experience
- Day 7: Transfer to Kigali and departure
Detailed 7-Day Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Your guide will pick you up from your location in Kigali and transfer you to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited park, home to a wide range of wildlife, including lions, elephants, and buffalo.
Along the way, stop for lunch and take in Uganda’s countryside before completing the drive to the park.
Day 2: Game Viewing and Boat Cruise
Start the day with coffee ahead of a morning game drive, covering trails including the Kasenyi Trail, known for the park’s best wildlife viewing.
Look for kob, waterbuck, lions, buffalo, elephants, and other mammals and birds along the way.
After the drive, return to the lodge for a full breakfast and rest, then take an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
The cruise brings sightings of animals drinking along the shore, along with hippos, crocodiles, and other aquatic species. Return to the lodge for dinner afterward.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Have an early breakfast, then take another game drive to cover areas you didn’t see the previous day.
Return to the lodge to rest, then after lunch, drive to Kibale Forest National Park in Fort Portal.
On arrival, check in to your lodge and rest ahead of the chimpanzee trek the next day.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Have breakfast, then drive to park headquarters for a short briefing before heading into the forest for the chimpanzee trek.
Kibale Forest is widely regarded as one of the best places in the world to see chimpanzees, humans’ closest living relatives, sharing over 98% of our DNA.
Chimpanzees are generally calm around visitors and often show curiosity rather than aggression.
After the trek, return to the lodge to rest ahead of lunch. In the afternoon, take a swamp walk at Bigodi, known for strong bird life and occasional sightings of forest mammals.
Afterward, return to your lodge to rest.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have an early breakfast, then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi holds more than half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and ranks among the best places in the world to see them.
This is a full-day drive with a few stops along the way. On arrival at Bwindi, check in to your lodge and rest ahead of the gorilla trek the next day.
Overnight stay at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (luxury) or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (mid-range and budget).
Day 6: Uganda Gorilla Trekking Experience
This is the highlight of the 7-day Uganda safari from Kigali. Have an early breakfast, then head to park headquarters for a short briefing before entering the forest to search for the gorillas.
Trekking time can run 2 to 8 hours, depending on how long it takes to locate the gorillas.
Rangers typically locate the gorillas in advance and guide trekkers along the right trail, which cuts down search time considerably.
Once you find the gorillas, you spend an hour observing them at a distance of 6 to 8 meters.
Take photos and video during this hour and take in the experience up close.
Afterward, return to the starting point to receive your gorilla trekking certificate, then head back to your lodge for the overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali and Departure
On your final day, spend the morning resting at the lodge. After lunch, drive back to Kigali, where you’ll be dropped at your chosen accommodation or at the airport for departure.
End of your 7-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
