5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimps Safari starting from Rwanda

DESTINATION

Uganda: Bwindi & Kibale Parks

DURATION

5 Days | 4 Nights

COST

From $2,400 Per Person

DESCRIPTION

For travelers landing in Kigali who want to experience the very best of Uganda’s primates without retracing their steps back to Rwanda, this 5-day safari is built around two of Africa’s most extraordinary forest encounters: tracking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and following wild chimpanzees through the rainforest canopy of Kibale Forest National Park. The journey begins with a scenic cross-border drive from Kigali into southwestern Uganda, moves through the open savannah and crater lakes of western Uganda, and ends with a comfortable transfer to Entebbe, ready for your onward flight.

This itinerary is ideal for travelers who want a complete primate experience — gorillas and chimpanzees — combined into a single, well-paced safari that starts in Rwanda and finishes near Uganda’s main international airport. With Pick and Transfer Safaris, every leg of the journey is handled by our experienced driver-guides in a comfortable 4×4 vehicle, with permits, accommodation, and border logistics arranged in advance so you can focus on the experience itself. If you are still deciding how much time to spend in Uganda, this 5-day package sits naturally alongside our other Uganda Rwanda Safaris and our shorter gorilla safaris starting from Kigali.

Tour Overview

The route follows a logical loop through Uganda’s primate heartland: from Kigali into Bwindi for gorilla trekking, then north through Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest for chimpanzee tracking, and finally east to Entebbe. Along the way, you’ll cross from Rwanda’s terraced hills into Uganda’s dense montane forest, pass through the open plains and crater lake country of the southwest, and end your trip in the rolling tea-growing highlands near Fort Portal before the final drive to the airport. The package includes private road transport throughout, one gorilla trekking permit, one chimpanzee trekking permit, accommodation for four nights in your chosen category, meals as specified, and an experienced English-speaking driver-guide from start to finish.

TRAVEL PLAN

Day 1: Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Your safari begins early in the morning with pickup from your hotel in Kigali. From there, your driver-guide takes you on a scenic drive through Rwanda’s famous “thousand hills,” past terraced farmland and small roadside markets, toward the border with Uganda. Depending on the gorilla trekking sector assigned to your permit, the crossing will be either at Cyanika (for Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors) or Katuna (for Buhoma and Ruhija sectors). Border formalities are usually straightforward, and your guide will assist with the process on both sides.

Once in Uganda, the drive continues into the hills of southwestern Uganda toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The total driving time from Kigali to Bwindi is typically four to five hours, depending on the sector and road conditions. You’ll stop along the way for lunch, taking in views over the Virunga foothills and terraced valleys that define this part of the continent. On arrival, check in to your lodge and use the remainder of the afternoon to relax, settle in, and enjoy the forest views, perhaps with an optional short nature walk around the lodge grounds. Dinner and an early night follow, as the next morning begins with an early start for gorilla trekking.

Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

This is the heart of your safari. After an early breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for your assigned sector for a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, who explain trekking etiquette, safety guidelines, and introduce you to the gorilla family you’ve been allocated to visit that day. Groups of up to eight visitors then set off into the forest accompanied by ranger guides and trackers, who use radio updates from trackers already in the field to pinpoint the gorilla family’s location.

The trek itself can vary enormously, from a relatively gentle walk of an hour or two to a more demanding hike of several hours through dense vegetation and steep, muddy terrain, depending on where the gorillas have moved overnight. Once your group locates the family, you’ll spend up to one hour observing them at close range as they feed, rest, groom, and interact, an encounter that consistently ranks among the most profound wildlife experiences in Africa. Afterward, you’ll return to the lodge for a late lunch. The afternoon is free to relax, with optional activities such as a visit to a local Batwa community to learn about the indigenous forest-dwelling people of the region, or a guided nature walk along one of Bwindi’s forest trails. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Bwindi.

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park via Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, check out and begin the journey north toward Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of Uganda. This is the longest driving day of the safari, covering roughly 280 to 350 kilometers depending on your starting sector, with a journey time of around six to seven hours including stops.

The route typically passes through Queen Elizabeth National Park, and many travelers choose to break up the drive with a short game drive or a stop in the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, or along the Kazinga Channel, where elephants, buffalo, and hippos are often seen near the water’s edge. From there, the drive continues north through the open savannah toward Kasese, with the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains visible on clear days, before climbing into the cooler highlands around Fort Portal, an area known for its rolling tea plantations and volcanic crater lakes. You’ll arrive at your lodge near Kibale Forest in the late afternoon, in time to relax before dinner and an early night ahead of the next day’s chimpanzee tracking.

Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Walk

After an early breakfast, head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before setting off into Kibale’s towering rainforest in search of one of the park’s habituated chimpanzee communities. Trackers who have followed the chimpanzees from their overnight nesting sites guide the group through the forest, and the search can take anywhere from thirty minutes to a few hours. Once located, you’ll spend up to one hour in the company of the chimpanzees as they feed, groom, and move through the canopy, often accompanied by the calls and pant-hoots of the wider community.

In the afternoon, most travelers head to the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided community-run walk along a boardwalk through papyrus swamp, where red colobus monkeys, the elusive African finfoot, and a wide variety of birdlife can be spotted. This is also a wonderful opportunity to learn about community-led conservation efforts around Kibale. Return to your lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay in the Kibale area.

Day 5: Kibale to Entebbe

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin the final leg of your safari: the drive from Kibale Forest to Entebbe. This journey typically takes around five to six hours, covering approximately 300 kilometers via Fort Portal, Mubende, and Kampala. The route passes through changing landscapes, from the highland tea estates around Fort Portal to the rolling countryside of central Uganda, before reaching the outskirts of Kampala and continuing on to Entebbe.

Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for a short stop along the way for lunch or last-minute shopping for souvenirs and crafts. On arrival in Entebbe, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel or transferred directly to Entebbe International Airport for your onward or homeward flight, bringing this 5-day primate adventure to a close.

COST INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS

- - Cost Inclusions
    - Private transport throughout in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle
    - Services of an experienced, English-speaking driver-guide for the full trip
    - One gorilla trekking permit (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park)
    - One chimpanzee trekking permit (Kibale Forest National Park)
    - Four nights of accommodation in your chosen category (budget, mid-range, or luxury)
    - Meals as specified in the itinerary (full board while on safari)
    - Bottled drinking water during transit
    - All park entrance fees and border crossing assistance between Rwanda and Uganda
    - Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary guided walk
    Cost Exclusions
    - International flights to Kigali and from Entebbe
    - Visa fees for Rwanda and Uganda
    - Travel insurance
    - Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and porters
    - Alcoholic and bottled beverages outside of included meals
    - Optional activities not listed above, such as the Gorilla Habituation Experience, Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, or Batwa cultural visits, unless arranged in advance
    - Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, and souvenirs
    Permits and Visa Requirements
    Gorilla and chimpanzee permits in Uganda are issued and regulated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and gorilla permits in particular are strictly limited to eight visitors per habituated family per day. Because of this, booking well in advance is essential, especially for travel during the June-to-September and December-to-February peak seasons. Our team handles permit bookings directly on your behalf as part of this package.
    Travelers will need valid visas for both Rwanda and Uganda. Uganda’s e-visa, including the East Africa Tourist Visa where applicable, can be applied for through the official Uganda e-Visa portal, while entry requirements and visa information for Rwanda can be checked through the Visit Rwanda website. We recommend confirming both visa and permit details several months ahead of your travel dates to avoid any last-minute issues, particularly during high season.
    Best Time to Do This Safari
    This itinerary can be enjoyed year-round, but the dry seasons, from June to September and from December to February, offer the most comfortable trekking conditions in both Bwindi and Kibale, with drier trails making the steep terrain easier to navigate. The wetter months, from March to May and October to November, bring lush, vibrant forest scenery and excellent birdwatching, along with quieter trails and slightly better permit availability, in exchange for a higher chance of rain during treks.
    What to Pack
    A few essentials make a significant difference on this safari: sturdy, broken-in hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts and trousers for forest walking, a lightweight rain jacket, gardening gloves for gripping vegetation on steep trails, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, and a camera without flash for capturing your gorilla and chimpanzee encounters. Binoculars are also useful for birdwatching at Bigodi and along the Kazinga Channel.
    Why Book This Safari with Pick and Transfer Safaris
    At Pick and Transfer Safaris, we built this 5-day itinerary specifically for travelers who land in Kigali and want a complete Uganda primate experience that ends conveniently near Entebbe International Airport, without doubling back across the border. Our driver-guides know the Cyanika and Katuna crossings well, our permit bookings are handled directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to avoid delays, and our lodge partners are chosen for their proximity to the trekking trailheads in both Bwindi and Kibale, so you spend less time traveling and more time in the forest.
    If you would prefer a shorter introduction to gorilla trekking before deciding on a longer trip, take a look at our 3-Day Uganda Gorilla Safari Starting from Rwanda. If you’re starting your trip from Entebbe instead of Kigali, our 5-Day Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari follows a similar route in the opposite direction. You can also browse our full collection of Uganda primate safaris or explore more of Uganda and Rwanda’s national parks on our destinations page.
    To check availability, confirm permit dates, and get an accurate quote for your group size and preferred accommodation category, get in touch through our contact page and our team will take care of the rest.