5 Day Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
Track chimpanzees in Kibale, explore Queen Elizabeth's savannah, search Ishasha for lions and trek Bwindi's mountain gorillas before a night beside Lake Bunyonyi.
Plan This Safari5 Days / 4 Nights / 2 Trekking Permits / Private Safari
From Kibale's treetops to Bwindi's forest floor.
Travel west to Kibale, south through Queen Elizabeth and Ishasha, then continue to Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi.
Kibale
one night near the forest and a morning chimpanzee trek.
Queen Elizabeth
one night, morning game viewing and an onward route through Ishasha.
Bwindi
one night near the confirmed sector and mountain gorilla trekking.
Lake Bunyonyi
A lakeside overnight before the return to Kampala or Entebbe.
2 great ape encounters, connected by Uganda's western safari route.
Chimpanzee calls carry through Kibale's canopy before the journey turns south towards open grassland and Bwindi's steep forest trails. Each stop changes the setting, bringing chimpanzees, savannah wildlife and mountain gorillas into a 5 day Uganda safari.
Begin in Kibale National Park , where rangers lead your morning chimpanzee tracking outing. Continue to Queen Elizabeth for a lodge night and game viewing, then travel through Ishasha on the way to Bwindi.
The route suits travellers whose main aim is to see both great apes within a short holiday. Expect early starts, several lodge changes and long road days. Your final night beside Lake Bunyonyi leaves the evening free after gorilla trekking and the onward drive.
For more time in the parks, our 7 day Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi safari includes Bigodi, a Kazinga Channel cruise and an Ishasha overnight. You can also compare the wider Uganda safari collection before deciding how much time to allow.
Safari Highlights
Track chimpanzees with ranger guides in Kibale Forest.
Explore Queen Elizabeth's savannah on an early game drive.
Search suitable areas in Ishasha for tree-climbing lions.
Trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi with the park ranger team.
Have one chimpanzee permit and one gorilla permit arranged per trekking guest.
Spend the final night beside Lake Bunyonyi after the forest trek.
Uganda's great apes, day by day.
1 night near Kibale, 1 in Queen Elizabeth, 1 near your Bwindi sector and 1 at Lake Bunyonyi.
Entebbe or Kampala to Kibale National Park
Meet your BLS Safaris driver guide early and leave for western Uganda. Travel towards Fort Portal through towns, farmland and tea-growing countryside, with lunch and comfort stops along the route.
Allow around 6 to 7 hours for the journey, with extra time possible for traffic, stops and your pickup point. The final approach brings you into the hills and forest country around Kibale .
Check into Chimpanzee Forest Lodge and keep the evening free. Your guide will confirm the morning departure, reporting arrangements and what to carry for the chimpanzee trek.
Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth
After an early breakfast, travel to Kanyanchu for registration and your ranger briefing. Follow the guide into the rainforest, listening for chimpanzee calls and watching for movement in the branches.
The chimpanzees move as they feed and interact, so the walking route changes with their location. When they are found, spend up to one hour observing them under your ranger's guidance.
Return from the forest and have lunch before continuing south to Queen Elizabeth National Park . The scenery opens into grassland and woodland as you approach the park.
Settle into Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge. If the trek finishes early and arrival time allows, your guide may include a short game-viewing drive before dinner.
Queen Elizabeth Game Viewing, Ishasha and Transfer to Bwindi
Begin early with a focused game drive in Queen Elizabeth. Look for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks and other wildlife across the savannah and woodland.
Continue south towards Ishasha. Your guide will check suitable trees and nearby grassland for lions as the day's route and conditions allow. Lions may rest in trees, remain on the ground or be hidden from view.
After the Ishasha search, continue towards Bwindi. Have lunch as arranged and leave enough time for the winding highland roads leading to your lodge.
For the listed Rushaga version, check into Gorilla Valley Lodge. Have dinner and prepare your daypack, packed lunch arrangements and trekking clothes for the morning.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Have breakfast early and collect your packed lunch. Travel to the reporting point named on your gorilla permit for registration and the park briefing.
Enter Bwindi with the ranger team and follow the route towards your allocated family. The trek may take several hours or much of the day, crossing steep slopes, forest paths and muddy ground.
Once the gorillas are found, enjoy up to one permitted hour watching their behaviour. Keep the required distance, avoid flash photography and follow your ranger's directions.
Return to the trailhead, meet your driver and continue through the highlands towards Lake Bunyonyi . Check into Bunyonyi Overland Resort and rest before dinner. The evening is left free.
Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala or Entebbe
Have breakfast, check out and begin the long return journey. Leave the lake's terraced hills behind and travel through southwestern Uganda towards the central region.
Stop for lunch and suitable comfort breaks along the route. An Equator photo stop at Kayabwe can be included when the day's timing allows.
Allow around 8 to 10 hours or more, depending on stops, traffic and your final drop-off. Continue to your agreed hotel in Kampala or Entebbe.
Airport drop-off can be arranged when the confirmed flight time leaves a generous margin. An overnight in Entebbe followed by a next-day flight leaves more room for road delays.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- one standard Kibale chimpanzee tracking permit per participating traveller.
- one standard Bwindi gorilla trekking permit per participating traveller.
- Park ranger services for the scheduled forest treks.
- 4 nights of accommodation in the confirmed lodges.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary and quotation.
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle and fuel.
- Professional English-speaking driver guide.
- Kampala or Entebbe pickup and drop-off as agreed.
- Applicable park entry fees for the scheduled activities.
- Scheduled Queen Elizabeth game viewing.
- Ishasha wildlife search within the transfer schedule.
- Bottled drinking water during road transfers and game drives.
- Applicable taxes included in the confirmed quotation.
What's Not Included
- International and domestic flights.
- Uganda visa fees.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Gorilla trekking porter hire.
- Tips for guides, rangers, porters and lodge staff.
- Alcoholic and premium drinks.
- Laundry and other personal expenses.
- Souvenirs and personal shopping.
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
- Batwa visits and other optional community experiences.
- Lake Bunyonyi boat trips and extra activities.
- Accommodation before or after the safari.
- Services outside the confirmed quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about both permits, lodge locations and the pace of this short western Uganda route.
1. Are both trekking permits included?
2. How much time do we spend with the chimpanzees and gorillas?
3. Which Bwindi sector will we use?
4. Is this a relaxed safari?
5. Are the Kazinga cruise, Bigodi walk and Batwa visit included?
6. Will we see tree-climbing lions in Ishasha?
7. What fitness and equipment do the forest treks require?
8. Can I fly from Entebbe on the final evening?
Follow the chimpanzees. Find the gorillas.
Share your travel dates, group size and preferred lodge standard. BLS Safaris will coordinate both trekking permits, accommodation and private road transfers.