
9 Days Ultimate Gorilla and Primate Safari
A 9-day Uganda gorilla safari through Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable
Overview
9-day Uganda gorilla safari
Uganda's primates and savannah come together on this 9-day Uganda gorilla safari, from Kibale's chimpanzees to Bwindi's mountain gorillas.
9 Days Ultimate Gorilla and Primate Safari is a tour for exploration of the prime attractions in Uganda. You will get to witness wildlife up-close. Learn about these animals, as well as the culture and the real Uganda in this trip where you will also get to visit communities.
Travel logistics
Start / Finish
Start
- Kampala
- EBBEntebbe International Airport
Finish
- Kampala
- EBBEntebbe International Airport
Highlights
What Makes This Safari Special
Trek to mountain gorillas
Chimpanzee tracking in the forest
Wildlife viewing by boat
Authentic cultural encounters
Explore Kampala
Explore Kibale National Park
Day by Day
9-day Uganda gorilla safari itinerary
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a member of our team will be there to welcome you and drive you to your pre-arranged hotel in Kampala City. Once you have checked in, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure, settling into your room and resting after your flight.
Your safari begins in earnest tomorrow, when you leave the city early in the morning after breakfast and travel towards Kibale National Park, passing through Mubende and Fort Portal. Breakfast is included at the hotel today, so you can start the day at your own pace before the drive. Take the evening to unpack, relax and prepare for the days ahead in western Uganda.
Early in the morning after breakfast, start your journey to Kibale National Park past Mubende and Fort Portal. This journey has scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, large green tea estates, the Toro Palace and the people of Fort Portal in Western Uganda and many more attractions to suit your interest.
Arrive at your lodge in Kibale National Park and stay at leisure so as to rejuvenate from the long journey; while at leisure you might decide to take a sundowner walk.
At 795 sq.km, this is home to over 351 tree species some over 200 years old, famous for 13 primate species including Chimpanzees, 70 mammal species & over 375 bird species. In the morning, the start of the day with breakfast and get ready for the day’s exciting activities.
First thing, you will go for chimpanzee tracking combined with an all green forest walk where you will see various bird species (great blue turaco), and more primates like the black and white colobus monkey, you will also view more animals to include bushbucks and mongoose.
Right after this activity, return to your lodge for refreshment and stay at leisure while enjoying your lunch. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Community where you will be interacting freely with the locals. Then proceed to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a nice spot for birds; to include; African hobby, great blue turaco, Black kite, Swamp flycatcher, Scarlet-chested bird, Grey-crowned crane, Herons, Weaver birds and many more. Later on, in the evening, you will return to your lodge and enjoy your evening.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for diverse ecosystems which include sprawling savannah, shady humid forests, sparkling lakes, wetlands, and amazing craters. Ideal for the big game, primate species to include Chimps and over 600 bird species. It has superb scenic views of Kazinga Channel, the Rwenzori Mountains and crater lakes which are home to a wide variety of birds.
After your breakfast enjoy a leisurely morning, and later on start off your journey to ‘’a medley of wonders’’. On arrival after a stopover at the equator, you will check into your lodge for lunch, refreshment and leisure.
In the evening go for a Dusk Game Drive; experience the various animals towards the night time to include bushbucks, elephants, warthogs, hippos and more. Thereafter, return to your lodge for a dinner under and after, you may join a campfire and storytelling.
Start off the day with a tasty breakfast and then get deeper into the highlights of this amazing park.
Dawn Game Drive: explore the park’s flora and fauna to include elusive bird species and a wide variety of animals like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, impalas, waterbucks, Kobs, warthogs and many more. Don’t miss out the scenic views of the crater lakes like Nyamunuka which is medicinal to the animals.
Katwe Community: discover the people and their culture where you will learn about salt mining by the local means from Lake Katwe and interact with the local people and share cultural experiences. After here, return to your lodge for lunch and leisure in preparations for the afternoon activities.
Launch cruise: this is the main activity after lunch where you will spot a number of birds like; the African fish eagle, pelicans, flamingos, Hammerkop, egrets, the African finfoot, pied kingfishers, marabou storks, vultures, kites and many more, together with animals like hippos, buffalos, warthogs, crocodiles, waterbucks and more as most of them visit to water and cool off. This boat cruise is spiced up with stunning views of the Mweya peninsular and a local fishing village along the lake shores. Visit Mweya Museum; after the boat cruise, with this visit, you will learn more about the parks history, animals, physical features (crater lakes formation) together with the parks future prospects. After the day’s activities, you will return to your lodge and enjoy sundowner leisure.
After breakfast and a leisurely morning, you will have a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Southerly Ishasha Sector, this will offer you a chance to see the tree climbing lions as this is the only place where can be found. On arrival, check into your lodge and recuperate from the journey.
At 331 sq.km, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to half the world’s mountain gorillas, over 346 bird species, 202 butterfly species, 400 plant species, 63 tree species, 120 mammal species & 27 frog species. Here is the chance to meet and interact with the shortest people (Batwa) of the mountains.
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for briefing at exactly 8:00 am and the tracking will commence in the next 30 minutes after registration and briefing by the ranger guides.
Gorilla tracking is a very captivating and unforgettable experience which more than repays the effort needed to reach Bwindi. This starts at 8:30 am and can last a few hours to a whole day depending on where the gorillas were left the previous day. After gorilla tracking, return to your lodge and have your lunch.
In the evening you may opt for a community tour where you will meet and interact with the shortest people (Batwa) of the mountains; learn about their way of life such as; hunting skills, medicinal knowledge, child upbringing, cuisines, art and crafts, and many more interesting aspects.
After an early breakfast, depart Bwindi for Kampala. You will have lunch stop-over in Mbarara, then proceed to Masaka and your next stopover will be at the equator; for a photo opportunity. After this equator moment, proceed to Kampala city and upon arrival check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
After breakfast, you set out on a half-day tour of Kampala, Uganda's capital, which brings your safari to a close. Your guide leads you through the city, sharing its history and everyday life, before you stop for souvenir shopping, a chance to pick up a reminder of your time in Uganda.
When the tour ends, you are transferred to the airport for your outbound flight home. The morning's pace is gentle, so you have time to take in the city before your departure, and your guide sees you through the transfer in good time for your flight.
Gallery
Photographs
Where You Stay
Handpicked
Retreats
Every lodge and camp is chosen for its location, character and comfort, so the place you rest is as memorable as the adventure itself.
What's Included
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Park fees
- Gorilla Permit
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Not Included
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcoholic drinks
- Services not mentioned in the program
- Travel insurance and medical repatriation
- Items of a personal nature
Questions
Frequently Asked
The price covers park fees; gorilla Permit; all activities (unless labeled as optional); all accommodation as stated in the itinerary; a professional driver/guide. Budget separately for tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day); personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.); government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees. Your personalized quote confirms the full breakdown line by line.
The prime months for this itinerary are January, February, June, July, August and December. That said, Uganda rewards visitors in every season. Tell us your travel dates and we'll advise exactly what to expect.
This is a private, tailor-made safari for your own party of 2 to 12 guests. You won't be grouped with strangers. The itinerary, vehicle and guide are yours alone.
You'll stay at Fairway Hotel Kampala, Kibale Forest Camp, Buffalo Safari Lodge / Bush Lodge and Silverback Lodge / Mahogany Springs Lodge, as laid out in the day-by-day itinerary. If availability requires it, we substitute properties of a similar or better standard and always confirm before you travel.
Send an inquiry through the form on this page and our safari experts will come back with a personalized quote within 24 hours, free and with no obligation. Once the plan feels right, we lock in your dates and lodges.
Absolutely. Treat the 9-day program as a starting point. We can adjust the pace, upgrade or change lodges, add days, or combine it with other destinations. Tell us what your ideal trip looks like and we'll shape it around you.
Ready?
Start Your
Safari Journey
Fill out the form and our safari experts will craft a personalized quote within 24 hours. Free, no obligation.
Want different lodges, more days, or another route?
Opens the trip planner with this itinerary loaded, day by day.
Explore More
Continue Your
Adventure
Each safari tells a different story. Discover journeys that share the same spirit: new landscapes, fresh encounters, and the thrill of the wild waiting just beyond the horizon.










