4 Days Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari & Chimpanzee Trekking Tour

Safari highlights

• Chimpanzee tracking in the dramatic Kyambura Gorge
• Game drives on the Kasenyi Plains and in the park's other sectors
• Kazinga Channel boat cruise
• Views over the Mweya Peninsula and Lake Edward
• Excellent bird watching in forest, savannah and wetland habitats

Itinerary route map

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

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 01
   Day 1 Kampala / Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park

   Your journey begins early with a drive south-west on the highway through Mpigi and Masaka. A short distance beyond Masaka you cross the Equator at Kayabwe, where there is a famous monument for photographs and a row of craft shops. The drive then continues through Mbarara, the largest town in western Uganda.

   Lunch is taken in Mbarara or along the road, and you then continue through Bushenyi and Ishaka towards the park. The scenery becomes more dramatic as you approach the Rift Valley, with rolling hills and glimpses of the Rwenzori Mountains on clear days. The total drive takes about six to seven hours.

   You arrive at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the late afternoon. If time allows, you can start with a short sunset drive or simply relax with a view over the plains. Dinner is served at the lodge, and you rest before an early start tomorrow for a game drive.

2. 02
   Day 2 Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee tracking and Kazinga Channel cruise

   Begin early with chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, often called the Valley of Apes. A ranger briefing is followed by a descent into the green forest that fills the gorge, which is cut deep into the savannah. The small community of chimpanzees living here is habituated, though sightings are not guaranteed.

   The trek can be steep and humid, so wear sturdy boots and bring water. Even if the chimpanzees remain hidden, you see other primates such as red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus and baboons, along with forest birds and butterflies. When you find the chimpanzees, you may spend up to one hour with them.

   After lunch, you take the launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel from Mweya Peninsula. The cruise lasts about two hours, passing large groups of hippos, buffalo and elephants drinking at the shore, as well as crocodiles and many waterbirds. The relaxed pace and close views make it a highlight of the safari.

3. 03
   Day 3 Game drive and park exploration

   Start the morning with an early game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, the best place in the park to see lions and large herds of Uganda kob. Your guide follows tracks and radio information from other drivers, and you may see elephants, buffalo, warthogs and a range of birds, including raptors and crowned cranes.

   Later, you explore other areas of the park, which has a wonderful mix of habitats. The Katwe Explosion Craters offer dramatic views over crater lakes, while the Katwe salt lake has been mined for salt by local people for generations. A stop at the craters is worthwhile for photographs and a sense of the landscape.

   In the afternoon, you can return to the lodge for a rest or join an optional activity such as a visit to a local community project. Dinner is served at the lodge, and you can enjoy a quiet evening listening to the sounds of the savannah before your final night in the park.

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.