7-Day Best of Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife

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Our 7 day Uganda gorilla safari combines mountain gorillas with classic savannah wildlife in one week. You look for chimpanzees in a hidden gorge, cruise the Kazinga Channel and search for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha. Then you trek gorillas in Bwindi, unwind at beautiful Lake Bunyonyi and finish with zebras and impalas at Lake Mburo. As a result, it is one of the most complete short safaris you can take in Uganda.

Trip overview

The safari starts and ends in Kampala or Entebbe. First, you drive west to Queen Elizabeth National Park for two nights of game drives, chimps and boat trips. Next, you travel through the Ishasha sector to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla trek. After that, you rest at Lake Bunyonyi. Finally, you stop at Lake Mburo on the way back to Entebbe.

Because each stop is only a day’s drive from the next, the pace stays comfortable. In addition, the route shows you savannah, rainforest, crater country and terraced hills in just seven days.

Highlights of this 7 day Uganda gorilla safari

Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, a sunken forest in Queen Elizabeth.
A Kazinga Channel boat cruise past hippos, crocodiles and water birds.
Tree-climbing lions on the open plains of Ishasha.
A relaxing stay at Lake Bunyonyi, with its islands and terraced hills.
A game drive in Lake Mburo for zebras, impalas and eland.
A stop at the equator for photos and souvenirs.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Your 7 day Uganda gorilla safari begins after an early breakfast. First, your Roots Tours and Travel driver and guide briefs you on the week ahead. Then you set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park. On the way, the road passes through green countryside and large tea plantations. Along the route, you stop for lunch and a photo at the equator. Depending on your arrival time, you may also enjoy an evening game drive.

Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s most popular park, and it is easy to see why. Its mix of savannah, humid forest, lakes and wetlands supports classic big game and ten primate species, including chimpanzees. In addition, more than 600 bird species have been recorded here.

Accommodation: The Bush Lodge.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Kazinga Channel boat ride

After breakfast, you head to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee trekking. This sunken tropical forest is about 100 metres deep and forms part of the Queen Elizabeth conservation area. It is also home to many birds and primates. Afterwards, you return to the lodge in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, you take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This natural channel is 32 kilometres long and links Lake George with Lake Edward. As a result, it attracts a wide range of animals and birds. Then you enjoy another late afternoon game drive on the way back to the lodge.

Most of the park is open grassland and savannah. Thorny acacia trees dominate, while candelabra trees, a type of cactus-like euphorbia, grow along the channel and on the Kasenyi plains.

Accommodation: The Bush Lodge.

Day 3: Ishasha tree-climbing lions and drive to Bwindi

After breakfast, you drive to the Ishasha sector in the south of the park. Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which rest in the fig trees above herds of Uganda kob. After lunch, you continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home of the mountain gorillas.

Eventually, you arrive at your lodge in the evening and relax. Bwindi lies in south-western Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its misty hills are covered by one of Uganda’s oldest and richest rainforests. In fact, the forest is over 25,000 years old and holds almost 400 plant species. Most famously, it protects about half of the world’s mountain gorillas.

Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi

After breakfast, you head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the park and the gorilla trek. Then you set off on what may be the most memorable walk of your life. The trek can take as little as two hours or as long as seven. Once you find the gorilla family, you can spend up to one hour with them.

Besides gorillas, Bwindi shelters about 120 other mammals. These include primates such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. The forest also hosts around 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. Moreover, at least 200 butterfly species and many reptiles live here.

Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge.

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, you transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest lakes in Africa. Here, you can enjoy a quiet, relaxing evening on the lakeshore. It is the perfect place to rest after a long safari, especially after your gorilla trek.

The lake is dotted with at least 20 small islands. Around it rise steep terraced hills, with rural villages and the Virunga volcanoes in the distance. In short, few places in south-western Uganda feel this peaceful.

Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Resort.

Day 6: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, you drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Although it is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah parks, it is full of life. It also sits on ancient rocks that are more than 500 million years old. The park is home to 350 bird species, as well as zebras, impalas, eland, buffalo, oribi, defassa waterbuck, leopards, hippos, hyenas, topi and reedbuck. In the afternoon, you enjoy a game drive. Then you return to the lodge for dinner and the night.

Accommodation: Eagle’s Nest.

Day 7: Morning game drive and return to Kampala or Entebbe

After breakfast, you head out on a final morning game drive. Afterwards, you begin the journey back to Entebbe, either to the airport or to your hotel. The road winds through the green hills of western Uganda. Along the way, you stop for lunch and at the equator for souvenir shopping and a last photo. This marks the end of your 7 day Uganda gorilla safari.

Who this safari suits

This trip is ideal if you have about a week and want both gorillas and big game. In particular, it suits first-time visitors to Uganda, couples and small groups of friends. Since the gorilla trek can be steep and muddy, you need a reasonable level of fitness. However, porters are usually available at the trailhead to carry your bag and help you on the slopes.

Keep in mind that the Uganda Wildlife Authority only allows travellers aged 15 and over to trek gorillas. Gorilla permits are limited, and their prices are set by the authority and change from time to time. So, book early, and we will confirm the current rate when you enquire.

Best time to go

You can enjoy this safari at any time of year. Even so, the drier months from June to September and December to February are the most popular. At that time, trails in Bwindi are less slippery, and animals on the savannah are easier to find. On the other hand, the wetter months bring green hills, fewer visitors and excellent birding.

Tips for your gorilla trek

Wear sturdy hiking boots. Forest trails can be steep and slippery.
Pack a rain jacket. Showers are possible in Bwindi in any month.
Bring garden gloves. They protect your hands from thorns and nettles.
Carry water and snacks. Some treks last several hours.
Turn off your flash. Flash photography is not allowed near the gorillas.
Listen at the briefing. Your ranger will explain how to behave near the gorillas.

For a full list, read our guide on what to pack for your gorilla trek.

Extend or combine your trip

This route is easy to adapt. For example, you can add a few days in the north with our 3 day Murchison Falls safari. Alternatively, you can learn more about gorilla trekking in Uganda and compare the different sectors of Bwindi before you book.

Best of all, every trip with Roots Tours & Travel is tailor-made. Just tell us your dates, group size and interests. Then, we will send you a clear itinerary for free.

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