7 Days Uganda Safari - One week tour
DESCRIPTION
This 7-day itinerary is the classic one-week introduction to Uganda, covering the country’s three most iconic wildlife experiences: chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, Big Five game drives and a boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. It’s a tight but complete loop for travelers who have exactly one week to give Uganda.
Trip Overview
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
| Starting Point | Entebbe |
| Ending Point | Entebbe |
| Route | Entebbe → Kibale → Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi → Entebbe |
| Activities | Chimpanzee tracking, game drives, Kazinga Channel boat cruise, gorilla trekking |
| Best Time to Visit | June – September & mid-December – mid-February (dry season) |
| Accommodation | Budget, mid-range, or luxury (your choice) |
TRAVEL PLAN
Day 1: Entebbe – Kibale Forest National Park
After meeting your driver-guide at Entebbe International Airport or your hotel, set off west towards Kibale Forest, a journey of around 6 to 7 hours. The drive crosses the equator at Kayabwe, where a roadside monument marks the spot for photos, before continuing through Mubende to Fort Portal. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near Kibale.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
Head to Kanyanchu park headquarters for an early briefing before setting out on foot through Kibale’s dense forest in search of one of the park’s habituated chimpanzee communities. Kibale holds the highest density of primates in East Africa, so expect sightings of red colobus and grey-cheeked mangabeys along the trail as well. In the afternoon, take a guided nature walk around the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run reserve known for its birdlife and the chance of spotting the great blue turaco. Dinner and overnight near Kibale.
Day 3: Kibale – Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, around 2 hours through scenic crater lake country. Check in at your lodge, then head out for an afternoon game drive on the Kasenyi Plains, known for large herds of Uganda kob, buffalo, and elephant, with good chances of lion. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in the park.
Day 4: Full Day in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Start with a morning game drive, taking advantage of the cooler hours for the best wildlife activity. In the afternoon, board a boat for a Kazinga Channel cruise, the park’s signature activity, drifting along the 40-kilometre waterway linking Lakes Edward and George past dense pods of hippos, basking crocodiles, and elephants drinking at the shore. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Depart Queen Elizabeth and head south towards Bwindi, around 4 to 5 hours depending on your trekking sector. The route passes through the park’s Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees during the heat of the day, a worthwhile stop if timing allows. Continue on to Bwindi, arriving in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near the park.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Rise early for the briefing at park headquarters, where you’ll be grouped with a maximum of eight trekkers and assigned a habituated gorilla family for the day. The trek through Bwindi’s steep, dense rainforest can take anywhere from two to seven hours depending on where the family is feeding, but the reward is the same: a full hour in the presence of a wild mountain gorilla family. Return to your lodge in the afternoon to rest. Dinner and overnight near Bwindi.
Day 7: Bwindi – Departure from Entebbe
After an early breakfast, begin the long drive back to Entebbe, around 8 to 9 hours depending on the route and road conditions. Arrive in time for your departing flight, bringing your week in Uganda to a close. Travelers with more flexible schedules may prefer to fly back from a nearby airstrip to save the drive — ask us about this option when booking.
COST INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
What’s Included
- Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- Kibale chimpanzee tracking permit
- Queen Elizabeth National Park entrance fees and Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Bwindi gorilla trekking permit
- 6 nights’ accommodation (budget, mid-range, or luxury — based on your preference)
- Meals as specified (full board while in the parks)
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
What’s Not Included
- International flights and Uganda visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities for guides, trackers, and lodge staff
- Porter fees during gorilla and chimpanzee trekking (optional, typically USD 15–20)
- Personal expenses and items of a personal nature
Permit Costs to Know
A Uganda gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi is set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority at USD 800 per person, the largest single cost on this trip, and is included in this package. The Kibale chimpanzee tracking permit is considerably more affordable and is also included, along with park entrance fees and the Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth. Gorilla permits in particular are limited and sell out months in advance during peak season, so early booking matters more on this itinerary than most.
When to Go
The dry seasons (June–September and mid-December–mid-February) offer the most comfortable trekking conditions, with drier trails for both gorilla and chimpanzee tracking and easier wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth. The wetter months bring lush scenery and quieter parks, though a 4×4 remains essential and trekking becomes muddier. For more detail on each stop, see our destination guides for Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi.
Shorten or Extend Your Trip
If a week feels tight, our 4 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari or 3 Days Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park cover a smaller slice of the same route. If you have more time and want to add Murchison Falls and the Nile to the loop, see our 10 Days Uganda Primates and Wildlife itinerary, or browse our full Uganda Rwanda safaris and destinations pages to build your own route.
Useful Official Resources
- Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) — the official body managing Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi, with current park fees and gorilla/chimp permit information
Ready to Book?
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are limited and book out months in advance, especially in peak season, so early planning matters on this itinerary. Contact our travel experts to secure your dates and customize this 7-day Uganda safari, or browse our full range of safaris for shorter or longer alternatives.