4 Days Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Trekking and Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari

Safari highlights

• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
• Scenic drive past crater lakes between Kibale and Queen Elizabeth
• Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Kazinga Channel boat cruise with hippos, elephants and birds
• Variety of primates, birds and large mammals in a single trip

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 transfer to Queen Elizabeth

   Start with an early breakfast and head to the Kanyanchu briefing for chimpanzee tracking. Rangers divide visitors into small groups and describe the rules for observing the animals. The forest is rich in primates, and the chimpanzee community has been habituated over many years, giving you good chances of a close sighting.

   The trek lasts from one to four hours depending on where the chimpanzees are. Once located, you spend up to one hour with them, watching them feed, play and communicate. Along the trail you may see red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus and colourful birds, including the great blue turaco. Guides also share fascinating facts about chimpanzee behaviour, diet and social structure.

   After lunch you drive south towards Queen Elizabeth National Park via Kamwenge or Fort Portal, passing crater lakes, tea estates and views of the Rwenzori Mountains on clear days. The journey takes about two to three hours. You arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon and enjoy dinner after a day of travelling and tracking.

3. 03
   Day 3 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.

4. 04
   Day 4 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.