6 Days Uganda Chimpanzee and Queen Elizabeth Safari
This 6 days Uganda chimpanzee and Queen Elizabeth safari combines forest trekking in Kibale National Park with game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The proposed route starts with an arrival night in Entebbe, allowing time to settle in before travelling west, and finishes with a return transfer to Entebbe on Day 6.
Your 6 days Uganda chimpanzee and Queen Elizabeth safari at a glance
This itinerary suits travellers who want both primates and savannah wildlife without adding a gorilla-trekking destination or changing accommodation every night. Two nights near Kibale and two near Queen Elizabeth give each park a distinct place in the journey.
- Kibale National Park: a guided chimpanzee-tracking outing through tropical forest.
- Bigodi option: a separate guided wetland visit if your tracking schedule and energy allow.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park: wildlife drives through savannah habitats.
- Kazinga Channel: a boat-based perspective on waterside wildlife and birdlife.
- Arrival buffer: an Entebbe overnight before the first substantial road transfer.
Chimpanzee permits, accommodation and boat arrangements must be checked for your dates before the itinerary is confirmed. Wildlife encounters remain unpredictable, even in well-known viewing areas.
Route and overnight planning
| Day | Route or base | Main plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entebbe | Arrival and rest | Entebbe |
| 2 | Entebbe to the Kibale area | Road transfer and preparation for tracking | Near Kibale National Park |
| 3 | Kibale National Park | Chimpanzee tracking; optional Bigodi visit | Near Kibale National Park |
| 4 | Kibale area to Queen Elizabeth | Transfer; wildlife drive if the schedule permits | Near Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| 5 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | Game drive and Kazinga Channel boat safari | Near Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| 6 | Queen Elizabeth to Entebbe | Return road transfer | Not included in the six-day outline |
Day-by-day safari itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your agreed accommodation. Keep the remainder of the day unstructured, particularly after an overnight flight.
Your safari briefing should cover the route, luggage arrangements, dietary requirements and the practical demands of chimpanzee tracking. An arrival night avoids combining an international flight with the journey to western Uganda.
Day 2: Travel west to the Kibale area
Leave Entebbe for the Kibale area, travelling towards Fort Portal in western Uganda. Treat this primarily as a transfer day, with suitable breaks agreed with your guide rather than a packed sightseeing programme.
On arrival, settle into your accommodation and prepare for the forest outing. Keep your walking footwear, rain protection, drinking water and any documents requested for permit checks accessible. Your confirmed tracking session determines the following day’s departure arrangements.
Day 3: Track chimpanzees in Kibale National Park
Travel to the designated briefing point for your booked chimpanzee-tracking session. After the ranger briefing, enter the forest with the assigned guiding team and follow their instructions throughout the activity.
Chimpanzees move freely, so the walking effort and encounter conditions vary. The forest also rewards attention to sounds, vegetation and other primates, rather than concentrating only on photographs. Wear footwear with good grip and be prepared for uneven or slippery ground.
A guided Bigodi wetland visit can be considered separately if the tracking schedule leaves enough time and you feel comfortable adding more walking. It is not an automatic inclusion: keeping the afternoon free may be the better choice after a demanding forest outing.
Day 4: Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, leave the Kibale area and continue south towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The change from forest surroundings to more open wildlife habitats gives this short safari its variety.
Depending on arrival arrangements and park-entry coverage, a wildlife drive may be possible later in the day. Otherwise, settle into your accommodation and leave the main viewing programme for Day 5. Avoid treating transfer-day activities as guaranteed additions.
This route focuses on the park’s northern area and the Kazinga Channel rather than adding an Ishasha detour. That keeps the two-night stay centred on the planned game drive and boat excursion.
Day 5: Game drive and Kazinga Channel boat safari
Head out for a game drive, with the route chosen by your guide according to local conditions and the day’s wildlife information. Queen Elizabeth offers opportunities to look for animals such as elephants, buffalo and antelope, although no particular sighting can be promised.
Take a Kazinga Channel boat safari at the confirmed departure time. Viewing from the water complements the road-based outing, with opportunities to observe hippos, waterbirds and animals using the shoreline.
The order of these activities may change to fit the boat booking. Carry binoculars, sun protection and a protective cover for camera equipment, and follow the crew’s safety instructions while aboard.
Day 6: Return to Entebbe
Begin the road journey back to Entebbe, allowing for rest stops and the variability of overland travel. Keep this day dedicated to the transfer rather than promising another substantial wildlife activity.
Do not book an onward flight on the assumption that arrival will be at a fixed time. Share your proposed flight details before committing; an additional Entebbe night may be the more comfortable arrangement and would extend this itinerary beyond six days.
Proposed inclusions and exclusions
The following provides a basis for a tailored quotation, not confirmation of a fixed package. Your written booking documents should specify every included service, activity and meal.
Inclusions to specify in your quotation
- Arrival transfer in Entebbe and road transport along the agreed route.
- Services of a safari driver-guide for the overland itinerary.
- Five nights’ accommodation: one in Entebbe, two near Kibale and two near Queen Elizabeth.
- Meals according to the accommodation plan stated in the quotation.
- One standard chimpanzee-tracking permit per participant, subject to availability and eligibility.
- Park entry covering the scheduled Queen Elizabeth activities.
- Scheduled game drives and one Kazinga Channel boat safari.
Exclusions unless expressly added
- International flights, visas and travel insurance.
- Bigodi wetland visits and other optional activities.
- Meals and drinks not listed in the confirmed meal plan.
- Gratuities, laundry and personal purchases.
- Additional accommodation before or after the itinerary.
Before choosing your dates
Check chimpanzee-permit availability before fixing the rest of the route. Accommodation should be selected around the confirmed tracking meeting point and practical access to the Queen Elizabeth activities, rather than room style alone.
Forest walking and vehicle-based wildlife viewing involve different demands. Tell Pillars of Africa Safaris about mobility concerns, children’s ages and any preference for a lighter schedule before requesting a quotation. Pack walking shoes, long trousers, lightweight layers and rain protection for the forest, plus sun protection for game drives and the boat outing.
Frequently asked questions
Does this safari include gorilla trekking?
No. It combines Kibale chimpanzee tracking with Queen Elizabeth wildlife viewing. Adding gorilla trekking requires a different route, additional planning and a separate permit.
Is the Bigodi wetland visit included?
Not in this outline. It is an optional addition that needs its own arrangements and enough time around your confirmed chimpanzee-tracking session.
Can children join every activity?
Do not assume that they can. Chimpanzee tracking has age restrictions, and the applicable requirements should be checked before booking. Provide each child’s age when enquiring so the whole itinerary can be assessed.
Are chimpanzee and lion sightings guaranteed?
No. Chimpanzees and other wildlife are free-ranging. Permits and guided activities provide access to the experience, not a guarantee of seeing a particular animal.
To tailor this route, send Pillars of Africa Safaris your travel dates, group size, children’s ages where relevant, preferred accommodation level and onward flight plans. These details help shape a quotation around suitable permits, overnight locations and a realistic final-day transfer.