5 Day Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Chimpanzee Safari
Track chimpanzees beneath Kibale's rainforest canopy, explore Bigodi Wetland and search for elephants, buffaloes and other savannah wildlife before cruising the Kazinga Channel.
Plan This Safari ↗5 Days · 4 Nights · Private Uganda Safari
Kibale / Chimpanzee Tracking
Queen Elizabeth / Savannah Wildlife
From chimpanzee country to the great savannah.
Two nights near Kibale Forest, followed by two nights in Queen Elizabeth National Park and a return to Kampala or Entebbe.
Kibale Forest
Two nights, chimpanzee tracking, rainforest primates and forest birdlife.
Bigodi Wetland
Community-guided wetland walk, birds, primates and local conservation.
Queen Elizabeth
Two nights, savannah game drives and diverse wildlife habitats.
Kazinga Channel
Wildlife boat cruise for hippos, elephants, buffaloes and waterbirds.
Kampala or Entebbe
Return through western Uganda with lunch en route.
Two very different sides of wild Uganda.
This 5 Day Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari takes you through two of western Uganda's most rewarding wildlife destinations, beginning in the dense tropical rainforest of Kibale National Park and continuing to the open savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park . Over five days, you will track chimpanzees, walk through a community-managed wetland, explore wildlife-rich grasslands and enjoy a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel.
Your first two nights are spent near Kibale Forest, giving you an unhurried introduction to Uganda's primate country. At Kanyanchu, join a ranger-guided chimpanzee tracking experience and follow the forest trails in search of a habituated community. Once the chimpanzees are located, spend one hour watching them feed, groom, call and move through the forest. The experience is complemented by a guided walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, where papyrus vegetation, forest edges and community trails support birds and several monkey species.
From Kibale, the journey continues south through the countryside of western Uganda towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, the atmosphere changes completely. Instead of searching the forest canopy, your guide explores the open plains for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs and other wildlife. Lions also inhabit the park, although predator sightings depend on where the animals are moving.
Your final major wildlife experience is a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. From the boat, watch hippos in the water, scan the shoreline for elephants and buffaloes and enjoy the abundant water-associated birdlife of western Uganda . The safari finishes with a road transfer to Kampala or Entebbe. It is a well-paced option for travellers who want chimpanzees, classic game viewing and a boat safari without adding more parks to a short itinerary.
Safari Highlights
Spend two nights close to Kibale National Park's chimpanzee tracking area.
Track a habituated chimpanzee community with an experienced ranger guide.
Enjoy one permitted hour observing chimpanzees in their natural forest habitat.
Explore Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary on a community-guided nature and birdwatching walk.
Discover the contrasting landscapes between Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Enjoy an afternoon game drive through Queen Elizabeth's open savannah.
Set out early for a morning wildlife drive while the plains are still cool.
Cruise the Kazinga Channel in search of hippos, elephants, crocodiles and waterbirds.
Travel privately with an English-speaking safari guide and four nights in selected lodges.
Western Uganda, day by day.
Two nights among Kibale's primates, followed by two nights exploring Queen Elizabeth's savannah and the Kazinga Channel.
Kampala or Entebbe to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, meet your BLS Safaris driver guide and begin the road journey west from Kampala or Entebbe to Kibale National Park . The drive takes you away from the city through Uganda's countryside, passing trading centres, farmland and small rural communities.
As you travel west, the scenery changes into greener hills and cultivated landscapes, with tea plantations and forested areas appearing as you approach the Fort Portal region.
Enjoy lunch along the way before continuing towards the Kibale Forest area. The journey normally takes much of the day, depending on your starting point, road conditions and stops.
Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon and check in. The remainder of the day is left free for relaxation after the road journey. You may enjoy the surrounding forest scenery or simply rest ahead of your chimpanzee tracking experience.
Your guide will confirm the next morning's departure to the Kanyanchu briefing area. Staying reasonably close to Kanyanchu makes the early start much easier.
Enjoy dinner and overnight near Kibale National Park.
Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
Wake early for breakfast before travelling to the Kanyanchu area for your chimpanzee tracking experience . On arrival, meet the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides and receive a briefing about the forest rules and tracking procedures.
Enter Kibale Forest with your ranger guide and begin searching for a habituated chimpanzee community. As you walk beneath the trees, listen for chimpanzee calls and watch for movement in the forest canopy.
The search may take several hours, depending on where the chimpanzees have moved. Along the trails, you may also encounter other primates and a variety of forest birds.
Once the chimpanzees are located, spend one hour observing their behaviour. Watch them feeding, grooming, calling, climbing or moving between the trees. The encounter gives you an opportunity to appreciate the chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest. This break is useful because the morning forest walk can be physically demanding.
In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk. Explore the wetland paths with a community guide, looking for birds, monkeys and other animals around the papyrus, forest edges and swamp vegetation.
Bigodi is also an important community conservation initiative. Your visit supports local tourism activities and creates an opportunity to learn about conservation work around Kibale.
After the walk, return to your lodge for dinner and your second overnight in the Kibale area.
Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, check out of your Kibale lodge and begin the journey south towards Queen Elizabeth National Park . The drive takes you through western Uganda's countryside, where forested landscapes gradually give way to more open savannah country.
Along the route, enjoy views of farming communities, hills and, when visibility allows, sections of the Rwenzori mountain landscape.
Arrive in the Queen Elizabeth area around lunchtime, depending on your departure time and lodge location. Check in, enjoy lunch and take a short rest before heading out for your afternoon game drive.
Your guide will introduce you to the park's savannah habitats, searching for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs and other wildlife along the game-viewing tracks.
The open plains create a very different safari experience from Kibale Forest. Instead of following chimpanzee calls beneath the canopy, you scan the grasslands and woodland for grazing animals and predators.
Continue exploring through the afternoon before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Queen Elizabeth Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start the day with an early breakfast before heading out with your guide for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park . The cooler hours can be rewarding for watching wildlife as animals move through the plains.
Explore suitable grassland and woodland tracks in search of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs and other species. Lions and leopards also occur in the park, but sightings depend on their movements.
Return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax before the afternoon boat excursion.
Later, travel to the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. Board the boat for a wildlife cruise along the channel, enjoying a different perspective from the morning game drive.
Watch hippos gathered in the water and look for Nile crocodiles along the banks. Elephants and buffaloes may also come down to drink or feed near the shoreline.
The Kazinga Channel is particularly rewarding for water-associated birds. African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, cormorants and pelicans are among the birds you may encounter.
The boat cruise provides a quieter way to observe animals along the water's edge. Your guide will help identify wildlife and explain what you are seeing as the boat follows the channel.
After the cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and your final overnight in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth to Kampala or Entebbe, End of Safari
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin the journey back towards Kampala or Entebbe. The road takes you through the countryside of western Uganda, leaving the savannah behind as you travel towards the central region.
Enjoy the changing scenery during the journey, passing farming communities, roadside trading centres and small towns along the route. Stop for lunch and refreshments before continuing.
Depending on your onward travel arrangements, your guide will drop you at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe International Airport.
This is a substantial transfer, so international departure arrangements should allow sufficient road travel time, including possible delays as you approach Kampala or Entebbe.
Your 5-day Kibale and Queen Elizabeth safari ends after memorable chimpanzee encounters, the community wetland experience at Bigodi, wildlife game drives and the Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle for the scheduled journey.
- Professional English-speaking safari driver guide.
- Kampala or Entebbe pickup and drop-off.
- Four nights of accommodation in the selected safari lodges.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner as indicated in the itinerary.
- Kibale National Park entry fees.
- One chimpanzee tracking permit per traveller.
- Guided chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest.
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary entry and guided nature walk.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park entrance fees.
- Scheduled afternoon and morning wildlife game drives.
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
- Bottled drinking water during the safari.
- Applicable taxes and service charges for the included services.
What's Not Included
- International flights to and from Uganda.
- Uganda visa fees.
- Personal travel and medical insurance.
- Personal expenses, shopping and souvenirs.
- Alcoholic and premium beverages.
- Laundry services.
- Tips and gratuities for the driver guide, ranger guides and lodge staff.
- Optional activities not specified in the itinerary.
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari.
- Any other service not specifically included in the confirmed package.
Hear the chimpanzees. Explore the plains. Cruise the Kazinga Channel.
Share your travel dates, number of travellers and preferred accommodation standard with BLS Safaris. Our team will help plan your private Kibale and Queen Elizabeth journey, with chimpanzee permits, Bigodi Wetland guiding, game drives and lodge arrangements taken care of.