5 Days Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Trekking Tour and Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari

Safari highlights

• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
• Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk for birds and primates
• Crater lake scenery between Fort Portal and Queen Elizabeth
• Game drives and Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Stops at the Equator and Lake Mburo area on the return journey

Itinerary route map

1. Kampala
2. Kibale National Park
3. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 01
   Day 1 Kampala / Entebbe to Kibale Forest

   After an early pick-up you set off west on the Fort Portal highway through Mpigi and Mubende. The road passes banana plantations, rolling hills and small trading towns. It is a comfortable drive of roughly five to six hours, with a lunch stop at a roadside restaurant to break the journey.

   As you approach Fort Portal, the scenery changes to neatly trimmed tea estates and views towards the Rwenzori Mountains on clear days. This area is known for its fertile soils, crater lakes and cool climate, and it is one of the prettiest parts of the country. Your guide points out landmarks and explains local life.

   You reach your lodge near Kibale National Park in the afternoon, with time to rest, take a short nature walk if you wish, and have dinner. Because tomorrow starts early with the chimpanzee briefing, your guide will talk through what to wear and bring, including long trousers, sturdy boots and a rain jacket.

2. 02
   Day 2 Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Wetland walk

   After breakfast you head to Kanyanchu for the morning briefing, where rangers outline the rules and divide visitors into small groups. Kibale holds one of the highest densities of primates in Africa, and the chimpanzee community you track has been habituated for years. Expect a walk of anywhere between one and four hours.

   Once the trackers find the chimpanzees, you may see them feeding on fruit in the trees, grooming each other or crossing the forest floor. You are allowed one hour with them, during which you can take photographs without flash. Along the trail you also have a good chance of spotting red colobus, black-and-white colobus and red-tailed monkeys.

   In the afternoon, you take a guided walk in the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run reserve known for birds and monkeys. The raised boardwalk crosses papyrus and forest edges, where you may see great blue turaco, grey-cheeked mangabeys and several kinds of kingfishers. The fees support local schools and community projects, adding meaning to the visit.

3. 03
   Day 3 Kibale to Queen Elizabeth via the crater lakes

   After a relaxed breakfast, you leave Kibale and drive south through the Fort Portal crater lake region. This is one of the most scenic parts of Uganda, with dozens of volcanic crater lakes surrounded by green hills and banana farms. Your guide stops at viewpoints so that you can take photographs.

   The route continues through Kamwenge and the Rwenzori foothills, and you may see tea plantations, small villages and distant mountain views. The drive takes about three hours, and lunch is taken at a roadside restaurant or your lodge. You can also stop at a local craft shop if you wish to buy souvenirs.

   You arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon and check in at your lodge. If time and energy allow, you can take an optional evening game drive to look for elephants, buffalo and antelope in the golden light, or simply relax and enjoy a hot dinner after the day's journey.

4. 04
   Day 4 Kasenyi game drive and Kazinga Channel cruise

   Wake early for a sunrise game drive on the Kasenyi Plains, one of the best places in the park for seeing lions. The open grassland attracts large herds of Uganda kob, which in turn draw predators. You may also see elephants, buffalo, warthogs and a variety of birds, including crowned cranes and martial eagles.

   After breakfast and a rest, you drive to Mweya Peninsula for the afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This 32-kilometre waterway links Lake George and Lake Edward and hosts one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa. The cruise lasts about two hours and is led by a guide who explains the wildlife.

   From the boat you often see elephants and buffalo at the water's edge, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks and numerous waterbirds such as pelicans, African spoonbills and fish eagles. It is relaxed and excellent for photography. You return to your lodge for dinner, tired and happy after a rich day of wildlife viewing.

5. 05
   Day 5 Queen Elizabeth to Kampala / Entebbe

   After breakfast you check out and, if time and conditions allow, take a last short game drive on the way out of the park. Early morning is a good time to catch elephants or buffalo near the road. Your guide then sets off on the long journey back to Kampala or Entebbe.

   The route retraces the road via Bushenyi, Mbarara and Masaka, with a lunch stop along the way. Another short stop at the Equator gives you a final chance for photographs or souvenirs. The drive takes roughly six to seven hours, so it is helpful to bring snacks and water for the road.

   You arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening, depending on traffic, and are dropped at your hotel or the airport. Your driver-guide helps with luggage and confirms any further plans. The safari ends here, with memories of Uganda's diverse savannah, waterways and wildlife. Thank you for choosing to explore Uganda with us, and we hope to see you again on another safari.