7 Days Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari, 2025/2026

Seven days focused on what Uganda does best: primate encounters. This safari is designed for travelers who want deep, meaningful connections with our closest evolutionary relatives, gorillas and chimpanzees, while also experiencing classic East African wildlife viewing. It's the perfect duration for a focused primate experience without feeling rushed.

Your journey takes you through three of Uganda's most spectacular national parks. In Kibale Forest, you'll track chimpanzees through dense canopy where they feed, play, and socialize in troops. Queen Elizabeth National Park adds classic safari experiences, game drives searching for lions and elephants, boat cruises past hippos and crocodiles, and the unique sight of tree-climbing lions in Ishasha. The grand finale? An hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi's misty rainforest, watching silverbacks keep watch while youngsters tumble and play.

Why This Safari Works

This 7-day itinerary strikes an ideal balance between primate tracking and wildlife viewing, with comfortable pacing that lets you absorb each experience. You're not spending excessive time driving; the route flows naturally from Kibale through Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi. Each park offers distinctly different ecosystems and wildlife, preventing the "safari fatigue" that can come from too many similar experiences.

The safari is most efficient when starting from Entebbe or Kampala and flowing west through Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi. Travelers arriving through Kigali can still use this experience, but we reverse the route so Bwindi comes first and unnecessary cross-country driving is avoided. We include cultural experiences like the Batwa community visit, adding depth beyond wildlife viewing and supporting local communities directly.

Best Time to Go

The dry seasons (June-September and December-February) offer the best trekking conditions with drier trails and clearer weather. However, Uganda's primates are active year-round, and the wet seasons (March-May, October-November) bring lush forests, fewer tourists, and often lower prices. Gorilla and chimpanzee sightings remain excellent throughout the year.