Experience Uganda’s best in five days: chimpanzees at Kibale Forest National Park and big-game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This compact wildlife safari blends up-close primate encounters, guided nature walks, a Kazinga Channel boat cruise, and Kasenyi Plains game drives perfect for adventurous travellers who want maximum wildlife in minimal time.
Quick highlights
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest (1-hour close encounter).
Bigodi Swamp Nature Walk with abundant primates and birds.
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with scenic Rwenzori and crater lake views.
Kasenyi Plains game drive and optional lion tracking.
Kazinga Channel boat cruise – hippos, crocodiles and huge birdlife.
Cultural stop at Lake Katwe salt miners, Igongo Cultural Centre lunch, and Equator (Kayabwe) stop.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup & transfer to Kibale
You’ll be met at Entebbe International Airport or your hotel and briefed by your English-speaking driver-guide. Then, drive 5–6 hours to Kibale via Mityana and Mubende, stopping for lunch in Fort Portal. Along the way, enjoy views of Rwenzori peaks, crater lakes, tea and banana plantations, and traditional homesteads. Finally, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi Swamp walk
After breakfast, head to the Kanyanchu Visitors Centre for the chimp trekking briefing. Next, you’ll be divided into groups of six and trek through the forest to locate habituated chimp families. Once found, you’ll have one hour to observe and photograph them – watching feeding, grooming, play and other behaviours. Afterwards, return to the lodge for lunch and then, in the afternoon, enjoy the Bigodi Swamp walk, where you may see bushbucks, sitatungas, wild pigs and primates such as grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervets, L’Hoest’s monkeys and red-tailed monkeys. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Check out after breakfast and drive to Queen Elizabeth NP. En route, relish more crater lake and Rwenzori scenery. Once arrived, check in and enjoy lunch. Then, in the late afternoon, go on a game drive to spot elephants, buffalo, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs and abundant birdlife. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 4: Kasenyi game drive, Lake Katwe & Kazinga boat cruise
Rise early for a Kasenyi Plains game drive or lion-tracking excursion where you can see elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, bushbucks and predators such as lions and leopards. Afterwards, visit Lake Katwe the salt-mining crater lake and meet local salt miners; notably, flamingos are often seen here in October. After lunch, depart by 14:00 for a scenic boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel near Mweya, viewing hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and many waterbirds up close. Then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Return to Kampala / Departure
After breakfast, check out and drive back toward Kampala. Stop for lunch at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara to sample organic local cuisine. Next, experience the Equator at Kayabwe and shop for souvenirs. Finally, continue to Kampala and be dropped at Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in the early evening.
What’s included
Chimpanzee trekking permit.
Lion tracking experience / Kasenyi game drive.
Boat cruise fee (Kazinga Channel).
Crater Lake (Lake Katwe) tour.
Bigodi nature walk.
Full-time English-speaking driver-guide.
Park entrance fees and game drives.
Full-board accommodation.
Ground transfers, pick-ups and drop-offs.
4×4 safari vehicle and fuel.
Bottled drinking water.
What’s excluded
International flights and visas.
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary.
Personal expenses (souvenirs, drinks, laundry, porters, tips, etc.).
Why book this safari?
First, it pairs Kibale’s world-class chimpanzee trekking with Queen Elizabeth’s rich savannah wildlife – therefore maximizing sightings in only five days. Second, it combines wildlife, culture and scenic drives, so you’ll gain a full Uganda experience. Finally, with an experienced English-speaking driver-guide, 4×4 transfers and full board included, you can relax and focus on the animals.