Day-by-day itinerary
4 Days Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari
Pricing
Price per person
Rates below are for this 4-day itinerary and scale with your group size. Every safari is private and tailor-made — final pricing is confirmed with your dates and chosen lodges.
How many travellers?
Your price
On request
Route map
Where you'll travel
Tap any stop to jump to that day in the itinerary.
Trip highlights
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
- Guided nature walk through tropical rainforest
- Exciting game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- Opportunity to spot lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, and numerous antelope species
- Excellent birdwatching with over 600 recorded bird species
Day 1
Transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Kibale National Park →Your safari begins with an early morning pick-up from Kampala or Entebbe. Drive west through Uganda's beautiful countryside, passing traditional villages, rolling hills, tea plantations, and lush forests. Enjoy lunch en route before continuing to Kibale National Park, renowned for having the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Arrive at your lodge in the evening, check in, and relax while enjoying the peaceful forest surroundings. Dinner and overnight stay at your selected lodge.
Full day details →Day 2
Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park →Today the forest opens its doors for an exhilarating chimpanzee tracking experience. Kibale Forest is reputable for having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkey and many others. Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will spend an unforgettable hour with them as they go about their daily life – feeding, playing, grooming, taking care of their young, howling and screeching, in their natural habitat. We’ll get back in our safari vehicle around 3pm and will drive to Queen Elizabeth Nat Park via Fort Portal Crater Lakes, perhaps Uganda’s most iconic sight. These volcanic craters formed some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago and they provide an idyllic backdrop to the extensive hiking trail network in the area. Here, you will be able to enjoy the amazing views of western Uganda’s tea farmlands and plantations. If the weather is good, you’ll get a chance to spot the Rwenzori Mountain Escarpment in the distance. After a day full of spectacular views, you’ll check in to the lodge and relax in preparation for the following day’s game drives.
Full day details →Day 3
Kasenyi Plains Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Launch Cruise →Once again, you’ll start your morning with a game drive where you can expect to spot wildlife species such as elephants, buffaloes, side-striped jackals, hyena, leopards, lions, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and giant forest hogs. What a way to start your day! After lunch, you’ll take a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel where you will continue your wildlife spotting, this time you will see hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, bathing elephants, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be another highlight of your tour.
Full day details →Day 4
Departure to Kampala or Entebbe →After breakfast, check out and begin your return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. Enjoy scenic views of western Uganda's rolling hills, tea estates, and rural landscapes, with a lunch stop along the way. Arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the late afternoon or evening, marking the end of your memorable 4-day Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari.
Full day details →
From the trail
Moments from this safari
Before you book
What to know about travelling in Uganda
Visas, permits, health requirements, seasons, money and tipping — everything specific to this destination.
Before you book · Uganda
Travelling in Uganda
- Visas & entry
- Apply online in advance at the Uganda e-visa portal (USD 50 single entry) — approval letters are checked on arrival. Yellow fever certificate is a legal entry requirement. The East Africa Tourist Visa (USD 100) covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
- Arrival gateway
- Entebbe International Airport (EBB), 40 km from Kampala on Lake Victoria.
- Permits
- Gorilla permits cost USD 800 per person and chimpanzee permits USD 250 (Kibale). Permits are date- and sector-specific, limited to 8 trekkers per gorilla family per day, non-refundable once issued, and must be secured months ahead for peak season.
- Best time to travel
- June–September and December–February are the drier trekking months with firmer forest trails. March–May and October–November bring rain but greener forests, fewer people and lower lodge rates.
- Health & vaccinations
- Yellow fever vaccination mandatory. Malaria prophylaxis essential. Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking requires you to be free of flu or other transmissible illness on the day — a cold can mean you're turned back to protect the apes.
- Money & payments
- Ugandan Shilling (UGX). USD widely accepted for permits and lodges (notes 2009 or newer, unmarked). ATMs in Kampala, Entebbe, Fort Portal and Kabale; carry cash for the south-west.
- Weather & climate
- Equatorial and mild: 24–28°C by day, cool and often wet at Bwindi altitude (1,500–2,600 m) with nights around 12°C.
- Connectivity
- Good 4G along the Kampala–Fort Portal–Kabale corridor; forest lodges rely on satellite or solar Wi-Fi that can be slow.
- Tipping guideline
- Gorilla trekking: USD 15–20 per guest for the ranger team, USD 15–20 per porter (hiring one is strongly encouraged — it supports local families). Driver-guide USD 15–20 per day.
- What to pack
- Long sleeves and trousers for nettles, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support, gardening gloves, rain jacket, gaiters, insect repellent, 30–35 L daypack with a rain cover, and a dry bag for camera gear.
- Local etiquette
- Keep 7 m from gorillas, no flash photography, and a maximum of one hour with a family. Ask before photographing people or Batwa community members.
Requirements and fees change. We reconfirm current visa, permit and health rules in writing before you pay any balance.