7 Days Uganda Safari Holiday
Uganda · Chimps, gorillas & Queen Elizabeth
Tour overview
7 Days Uganda Safari Holiday, a full-week Uganda safari holiday covering Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi gorillas and Lake Bunyonyi relaxation — the itinerary we recommend to first-time visitors who want one booking to see the country properly.
Places you visit
Key stops along this itinerary — customise dates and lodges when you enquire.
- Entebbe (Start, End)
Day-by-day itinerary
Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
Drive north via Masindi (approx. 5–6 hours) to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit the top of the falls viewpoint. Check in at Paraa-area lodge.
Evening at leisure overlooking the Victoria Nile.
Murchison is the first park on the clockwise northern circuit — Ziwa rhinos can be added as a Day 1 morning stop if routing from Entebbe (add 3 hours). Standard routing begins Kampala–Murchison direct.
Drive time: Approx. 5–6 hours
Meals: Lunch & dinner
Day 1 | AccommodationMurchison Falls — game drive & Nile boat cruise
Pre-dawn game drive on the Buligi circuit — elephant, buffalo, Rothschild's giraffe and Uganda kob; lion and leopard at first light.
Afternoon Nile launch cruise toward the falls base.
Murchison's chimp tracking in Budongo Forest (Kaniyo Pabidi) can substitute for Kibale on compressed routes — this 7-day version uses Kibale on Day 3/4 instead.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Same Murchison lodge
Safari activity | Nile boat cruise to Murchison Falls
Afternoon launch on the Victoria Nile toward the base of the falls — hippos, crocodiles, elephant at the water's edge.Murchison to Kibale — chimpanzee trekking
Drive southwest (approx. 7–8 hours) to Kibale National Park. If routing allows, chimp trek is early Day 4 — otherwise afternoon briefing at Kanyanchu.
Overnight near Kibale. Optional crater-lake viewpoint near Fort Portal on arrival.
Drive time: Approx. 7–8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3 | AccommodationChimpanzee trekking & crater lakes — Queen Elizabeth
Morning chimpanzee trekking at Kanyanchu — 2–4 hours typical with one hour on contact.
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx. 2–3 hours). Afternoon crater-lakes drive near Katwe or Kazinga Channel boat safari.
Queen Elizabeth activities combine Kasenyi plains drive with Kazinga boat or Kyambura Gorge chimps (separate permit). Crater lakes near Katwe offer volcanic viewpoints between activities.
Trek duration: 2–4 hours typical
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Safari activity | Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale
Track a habituated chimp community through mature rainforest with UWA rangers — one hour with the group once located.Day 4 | AccommodationQueen Elizabeth — Ishasha — Bwindi transfer
Dawn game drive on the Kasenyi Plains, then drive south through Ishasha (tree-climbing lion stop) to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (approx. 6–8 hours total).
Arrive at your Bwindi sector lodge by evening. Tomorrow is gorilla day.
Bwindi gorilla lodge night is mandatory before trekking — no same-day drives from Kampala are possible. Sector gate opens 07:30; briefing is 07:45 sharp.
Drive time: Approx. 6–8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5 | AccommodationGorilla trekking — Lake Bunyonyi recovery
Full mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi — 2–8 hours round trip, one hour on contact.
Afternoon drive to Lake Bunyonyi (approx. 1–2 hours) for recovery. Optional dugout canoe among the islands.
Lake Bunyonyi (1,950 m) is bilharzia-free and safe for swimming — rare at this elevation in Uganda. Twenty-nine islands dot the lake; punishment Island holds historical significance in local Bakiga culture.
Lake Bunyonyi at 1,950 m is malaria-free — a genuine rest day after gorilla trekking. Canoe trips visit Punishment Island and Bacuruka community craft workshops.
Trek duration: 2–8 hours round trip
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch & dinner
Safari activity | Mountain gorilla trekking
Track a habituated gorilla family through Bwindi's montane forest — one hour with the group on contact, then your gorilla trekking certificate on return.Day 6 | AccommodationLake Bunyonyi — return to Entebbe
Breakfast overlooking the lake, then return journey to Entebbe (approx. 8–9 hours) via Mbarara and the Equator. Alternatively, fly from Kisoro airstrip to Entebbe (approx. 1 hour) if booked.
Airport drop-off for evening flights, or overnight in Entebbe.
Kisoro airstrip (near Bwindi and Bunyonyi) has scheduled flights to Entebbe on select days — 1 hour flight versus 8–9 hours driving. Book domestic legs at package confirmation.
Mbarara lunch stop on the Bunyonyi–Entebbe return is standard — local restaurants serve roasted goat and matoke. Allow 8–9 hours total driving time.
Drive time: Approx. 8–9 hours
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
What's included
- Gorilla and chimp permits
- 6 nights, all fees, 4×4, guide
What's not included
- Visa, tips, optional flights
Accommodation & comfort level
Mid-range to luxury mix across parks.
Request Pricing & booking information
Request Quote: Fill in the contact form below.
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