7 Days Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari

7 Days Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari

Duration
7 Days, 6 Nights
Price from
$8,839 per person
Routing
Entebbe, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi, Entebbe, Depart

7 Days Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari - Safari Overview

Our popular 7-Day gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda takes you to Bwindi Lodge in the highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek the majestic mountain gorillas, on game drives to see the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, a wildlife boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, and finally to search for the ‘Lost Chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge.


Trip Itinerary

Day 1 Entebbe airport – Fly to Kasese - Queen Elizabeth National Park - Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Arrive at Entebbe airport where a staff representative will assist you with the transfer to your domestic flight to Kasese. Once in Kasese you will be welcomed by your expert Volcanoes Safaris guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your journey. Drive though Queen Elizabeth National Park on the way to Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails on the veranda overlooking the savannah plains with the magnificent Rwenzori Mountains in the distance. Flying time between 1 to 1.5 hours, driving time 2 hours Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Meal Plan: (lunch, dinner)

Staying at Kyambura Gorge Lodge |  Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Day 2 Queen Elizabeth National Park - Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Enjoy an early breakfast and set out for a morning game drive for the best wildlife viewings in the park. Depending on the season the wildlife seen varies. The Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Uganda kob. The Mweya peninsula is one of the best places to look for leopard, which live in the dense, scrubby thickets. You can visit and participate in the Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism Project, run by Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT). Try roasting coffee with the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative, go birding in the Kyambura reclaimed wetlands, and plant a tree seedling in the wildlife buffer zone. Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Meal Plan: (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Staying at Kyambura Gorge Lodge |  Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Day 3 Queen Elizabeth National Park - Kyambura Gorge Lodge

After breakfast walk from the lodge directly down into Kyambura Gorge, to search for the ‘Lost Chimpanzees of Kyambura’. The gorge is an extraordinary natural environment and forms a stark contrast to the surrounding grasslands. Here you can track one of our closest animal relatives: the chimpanzee. This group of isolated chimps are quite mobile and viewing can be unpredictable but the walk itself is exciting and enchanting. In the afternoon take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which flows between Lakes Edward and George. Kazinga is home to one of the greatest concentration of hippo in Africa and herds of elephant, buffalo and other animals come to drink at the waters edge. The channel is a magnet for waterbirds, with great flocks of pelicans and others birds on the shore, and a great spot to see African fish eagle. After your boat cruise harvest honey with the Kyambura bee-keeping cooperative, see a performance from the Omumushaka Dance Group, and go on a gorge walk to see birds, monkeys and other wildlife around Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Meal Plan: (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Staying at Kyambura Gorge Lodge |  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Day 4 Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Bwindi Lodge

After breakfast at the lodge your safari now continues to the primeval Bwindi forest. Driving through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park who can look for the famous tree-climbing lions. The fascinating journey through the rapidly changing landscape takes you up in the highlands to Bwindi Lodge situated on the edge of the impenetrable forest. Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails on the veranda overlooking the dramatic Bwindi Forest with the calls of more than 150 bird species echoing in the distance. Approximate driving time 5-6 hours. Overnight at Bwindi Lodge. Meal Plan: (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Staying at Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge |  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge
Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge

Day 5 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Bwindi Lodge

After enjoying an early breakfast, you set off gorilla tracking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest can be steep and requires stamina as some gorilla families can be more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially if it is wet and muddy. Visit the award-winning Bwindi Bar on the way back to the lodge after your gorilla trek and celebrate with the signature Gorillini cocktail! Bwindi Bar provides hospitality training to young disadvantaged youth from the neighbouring communities. Approximate driving time up to 2 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla groups. Overnight at Bwindi Lodge. Meal Plan: (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Staying at Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge |  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge
Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge

Day 6 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Bwindi Lodge

Either go for a second gorilla trek (additional permits required, upon payment of supplement and subject to availability), choose from one of the following community and conservation activities:

  • Take a guided walk in the rainforest to a beautiful waterfall.
  • Visit a local village and learn about community life.
  • Visit the Bwindi Community Hospital.
  • Visit Conservation Through Public Health to learn about their gorilla conservation programs.
  • Enjoy a demonstration of our local tea processing cooperation at Bwindi Lodge.
  • Enjoy a guided birding walk along the Munyanga River Trail
Overnight at Bwindi Lodge. Meal Plan: (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Staying at Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge |  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge
Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge

Day 7 Bwindi fly back to Entebbe

Transfer from Bwindi lodge to Kihihi airstrip for your morning or afternoon return flight to Entebbe and connect in time for your international flight. Approximate Travel Times: Flying 1 to 2 hours; Driving 2 hours Please book international flights departing after 8pm. Meal Plan: (Breakfast at the lodge)

Meals: Breakfast

7 Days Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari - Price Overview


Rates Per Person (Season & Dates) Single Room Double Room Sharing
High Season:
1 Jun – 30 Sep & 15 Dec – 28 Feb 2026
(Minimum 2 people)
$15,433 $12,268
Low Season:
1 Oct – 14 Dec & 1 Mar – 31 May 2026
(Minimum 2 people)
$10,257 $8,839

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The Wildebeest Migration

A simple snapshot of the famous migration phenomenon.

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

January

The herds are moving into the southern plains of the Serengeti, around Ndutu, Kusini, and Naabi. The short grasses here are rich in nutrients, preparing the females for calving.

February

This is the peak calving month. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves are born, often within a few weeks of each other. This spectacle attracts a high concentration of predators, making it an excellent time for predator-prey sightings.

March

The calves are a few weeks old and growing quickly. The herds begin to spread out as they continue to graze on the southern plains, preparing for the long journey north.

April

The long rains begin, prompting the herds to start their movement northwest. They form long columns as they begin their trek through the central Serengeti.

May

The migration gathers momentum, with vast columns of wildebeest stretching for miles. The herds congregate in the Western Corridor, and the mating season, or "the rut," begins.

June

The dry season starts, and the wildebeest face their first major challenge: the Grumeti River. Thousands of animals must cross this crocodile-infested river, creating dramatic and intense encounters.

July

The herds continue their journey north, with many arriving in the northern Serengeti. The Grumeti River crossings are in full swing, and some of the first herds may begin to cross the even more treacherous Mara River.

August

This is one of the best months to witness the famous Mara River crossings. The herds are spread out across the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, making multiple crossings back and forth over the river in search of greener pastures.

September

The river crossings continue, though the intensity may decrease. Large numbers of wildebeest are now grazing in the fertile plains of the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

October

As the dry season approaches its climax, the wildebeest start to slowly move back into the Serengeti from the Maasai Mara, heading east and south.

November

The short rains begin, signaling the herds to make a decisive move south towards the replenished plains of the eastern Serengeti. They make their way through the Lobo and Loliondo areas.

December

The wildebeest arrive back on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. They are widely dispersed, feeding on the fresh grass and getting ready for the next calving season.

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