5-Day Queen Elizabeth & Kibale Safari: Chimps, Big Game & Boat Cruises

5-Day Queen Elizabeth & Kibale Safari: Chimps, Big Game & Boat Cruises

This five-day journey takes you deep into Uganda’s most thrilling wilderness areas—Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest. You’ll track wild chimpanzees, cruise alongside hippos, and search for Africa’s legendary big game. From savannah plains to dense rainforest, this safari has it all.

Trip Highlights:

  • Spot lions, elephants, and buffaloes on game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Take a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, home to hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife
  • Track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, one of the best places in Africa for primate encounters
  • Explore crater lakes, salt mines, and breathtaking landscapes

Tour Features

  • Private Tour: This safari is exclusively for you and won’t be shared with others.
  • Start Any Day: The tour can begin on any day, subject to availability.
  • Customizable: You can adjust accommodations and destinations to suit your preferences.
  • Age Limit: No age restrictions, though chimpanzee trekking requires participants to be at least 12 years old.

Things to Know Before You Book

  • Accommodation is included
  • Departures available any day
  • The itinerary is flexible and can be customized
  • Solo travelers are welcome

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up, and we’ll set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes us through Uganda’s scenic countryside, with a stop at the Equator for photos.

Arriving at the park, we’ll check in at the lodge and relax before heading out for an evening game drive at the Mweya Peninsula. Expect to see elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and antelopes roaming the plains. If you’re curious about local life, you can visit Lake Katwe to observe traditional salt mining. Afterward, return to the lodge for dinner and a well-earned rest.

Accommodation Options:

  • Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Elephant Hab Lodge
  • Budget: The Bush Lodge

Day 2: Safari & Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel

We’ll begin the day with an early morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, where lions are often spotted hunting Uganda kobs. Other wildlife includes waterbucks, buffaloes, and bushbucks, along with various bird species.

Jeep Safari Experience

Your guide will take you on a private unlimited game drive, ensuring you get the most out of the experience. Share your expectations, ask questions along the way, and be open to the surprises that nature has in store.

After lunch, we’ll switch from land to water with a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. For two to three hours, we’ll cruise between Lake Edward and Lake George, getting up close to hippos, crocodiles, and countless birds. As we glide across the water, your guide will share fascinating insights about the region’s wildlife and history. We’ll also pause at key spots for unbeatable photo opportunities.

Accommodation Options:

  • Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Elephant Hab Lodge
  • Budget: The Bush Lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest

After breakfast, we’ll drive to Kibale National Park, Uganda’s primate capital. This tropical rainforest is home to 13 species of primates, including the red colobus monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, and olive baboons.

Upon arrival, you’ll check in at your lodge and relax, taking in the peaceful sounds of the jungle as you prepare for the next day’s chimpanzee tracking adventure.

Accommodation Options:

  • Luxury: Ndali Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Primate Lodge
  • Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

This morning, we’ll head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing before setting off into the forest in search of chimpanzees. With the highest density of chimps in Uganda, Kibale offers one of the best primate encounters in Africa. You’ll observe them swinging through the trees, playing, and communicating in their natural habitat.

The trek can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on how far the chimps have moved. Along the way, you may also spot other primates like the black-and-white colobus monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, and red-tailed monkey.

After lunch, we’ll take a guided walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers. This swamp is home to the Great Blue Turaco, various monkeys, and an array of colorful butterflies.

Accommodation Options:

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
  • Mid-Range: Primate Lodge
  • Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Day 5: Return to Kampala or Entebbe

This is your final day, but the adventure doesn’t have to end here. If you’re heading home, we’ll drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, stopping for lunch en route.

Not ready to leave yet? We can easily extend your safari with a few extra days in the wild or add a trip to the shores of Lake Victoria for whitewater rafting, a relaxing island getaway, or more adrenaline-filled activities.

Book Safari

Low Season:  $2435 USD

High Season:  $28101 USD

* Indicative costs per person sharing, excluding international airline tickets

Included

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