Do you want to visit Uganda for gorillas, chimpanzees, and game animals from Kigali? This 7-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kibale Forest National Park for a primate and game experience. Below is a detailed itinerary for this Uganda safari trip.
This 7-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali requires you to already be in Kigali, Rwanda.
The guide will pick you up very early in the morning and transfer you to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ntungamo – Mirama Hills border.
This drive takes about 6 – 7 hours with one stopover for lunch. The package offers options for budget, mid-range, and luxury settings that you can request at the time of booking.
7-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 2: Game Viewing & Boat Cruise
- Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
- Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 6: Uganda Gorilla Experience
- Day 7: Transfer to Kigali & Departure
Detailed 7-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Depending on your location in Kigali, Rwanda, a tour guide from our tours and travel company will pick you up and transfer you to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.
Boasting high diversity, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular national park. It’s a haven for lions, elephants, buffaloes, and many more mammals.
As you drive to this park, you will have lunch on the way, explore Uganda’s countryside, and finally complete your drive to the park.
Day 2: Game Viewing & Boat Cruise
This day begins with a cup of coffee as you prepare for your morning game viewing drive. You will explore various trails during your game drive, including the Kasenyi trail, known for the best wildlife viewing in this park.
You will see animals like kobs, waterbucks, lions, buffaloes, elephants, along with several other species of mammals and birds.
After the game drive, return to your lodge for a full breakfast, relax, and later enjoy a relaxing afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
During this boat cruise, you will see several animals hydrating at the lake’s banks, as well as hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and other aquatic animals. After the boat ride, return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Wake up to an early morning breakfast and embark on another game drive to explore areas you didn’t visit the previous day.
After the game viewing drive, return to your lodge to freshen up and relax. After lunch, drive towards Kibale Forest National Park in Fort Portal.
Upon reaching the park, proceed to your lodge to relax as you prepare for your chimpanzee trekking expedition the following day.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
Have breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for a short briefing before heading into the forest for chimpanzee trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking is an incredible experience. Kibale Forest is known as the best place in the world to see chimpanzees. These primates are our closest cousins, sharing over 98.7% of DNA with humans.
They behave like us and share similar emotions. They are quite playful and often approach to bond with you. They are harmless, so there’s no need to be afraid. Instead, they enjoy bonding and making friends with visiting humans.
After your morning chimpanzee trekking experience, return to the lodge, freshen up, and await lunch. After lunch, head for a swamp walk at Bigodi, a paradise for birders. Here, you will see numerous birds and occasionally forest animals.
After this activity, return to your lodge to relax.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up to an early morning breakfast and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest harbors over half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas and is arguably the best place to see gorillas in the world.
This is a full-day drive with a few stops along the way. Upon reaching Bwindi, check in to your lodge and relax as you prepare for your mountain gorilla trekking adventure the following day.
Overnight at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (Luxury) and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Mid-Range and Budget).
Day 6: Uganda Gorilla Trekking Experience
This day is the highlight of the 7 days Uganda safari from Kigali. Wake up to an early morning breakfast and head to the park headquarters for a short briefing session before entering the forest to search for mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Uganda gorilla trekking can last from 2 to 8 hours depending on how long it takes to locate the gorillas.
This process has been simplified nowadays as park rangers locate the gorillas in advance and guide you to the right trail, minimizing the time spent searching for them.
When you meet the gorillas, you will spend an hour observing them while maintaining a distance of 6 – 8 meters.
During this magical hour, take as many photos and videos as possible and witness the true beauty of the gorillas.
Afterwards, return to the starting point to receive your gorilla trekking certificates and return to your lodge for an overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali & Departure
On the final day of your safari, spend your morning relaxing at the lodge. After lunch, drive back to Kigali where you will be dropped off at your chosen accommodation facility or at the airport for your departure.
This marks the end of your 7-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
