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7 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary – Gorillas, Chimps & Big 5

Discover the best of Uganda in just one week with this 7-day Uganda safari itinerary. Track endangered Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi, meet chimps in Kibale Forest, and explore the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth & Lake Mburo National Parks. This itinerary offers an unbeatable mix of wildlife, landscapes and memorable moments.

Over the course of one thrilling week, you’ll explore Uganda’s most iconic National Parks. Start with a search for the rare and prehistoric-looking Shoebill Stork in the Mabamba Swamp. Next we head into Kibale Forest for an up-close meeting with our lively cousins, the chimpanzees. Continue to the vast savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, teeming with hippos, buffalo, and birdlife. In the southern sector of the park, keep your eyes peeled for the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.

Next, you venture into the dense rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the unforgettable experience of tracking mountain gorillas. As you can imagine this is an encounter that will stay with you for life. To round off the safari, enjoy a peaceful stay in Lake Mburo National Park, where zebras, impalas and eland roam freely. Here a nature walk offer a chance to experience the bush on foot.

This western Uganda safari is perfect for anyone wanting to see the country’s diverse highlights in a compact yet immersive itinerary. Whether it’s your first time in Africa or a return journey, this adventure promises a rich and rewarding experience.

We are happy to adjust the 7 days Uganda tour itinerary to fit your wishes.

Itinerary ref: MS24

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7 days Uganda safari

OUR 7 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI INCLUDES:

  • Mabamba Swamp for Great Shoebill Stork
  • Kibale Forest National Park for Chimps trekking
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park for boat-cruise
  • Ishasha for tree-climbing lions
  • Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Mountain Gorilla trekking
  • Lake Mburo National Park for game-drive & safari walk

Learn more about Uganda’s national parks, Safaris to Uganda or Gorilla trekking.

Day by day itinerary for our 7 days Uganda safari

Get ready for an unforgettable journey through Uganda’s most iconic landscapes. From misty mountain jungles to vast savannahs, each day of this 7-day Uganda safari offers new wildlife encounters, breathtaking views, and rich cultural moments. Here’s how your adventure unfolds—day by exciting day.

DAY 1: Arrival in Uganda – Welcome to Your 7-Day Safari Adventure

We meet our tour guide for the 7 days Western Uganda wildlife safari at Entebbe airport (depending on flight time) and transfer to the lodge by Entebbe to relax after the flight and be ready for tomorrows adventures.
Overnight in Tilapia Lodge

 

DAY 2: Shoebill Stork search & transfer to Kiable Forest

In the morning we head over to Mabamba Swamp to look for the pre-historic looking Great Shoebill Stork. Here you go with a specialized guide in a boat on the channels of the swamp as you look for the Great Shoebill Stork. We then start the journey to Kibale Forest where we will spend the night.
Overnight Isunga Lodge

 

DAY 3: Chimps trekking in Kiable Forest & BOAT-CRUISE ON KAZINGA CHANNEL in Queen Eilzabeth NP

After breakfast we drive over to the chimps trekking starting point. Kibale Forest National Park is nicknamed “the primate city of Uganda” and home to 13 different primates. Here you are briefed about the rules of the trek and then head in to the jungle in a group with a guide to trek the chimpanzees. One of the great highlights of this 7 day Uganda itinerary. After the trek your guide picks you and we drive southwards to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Reach Queen Elizabeth NP and head straight for the afternoon boat-cruise on Kazinga channel, a 36kms channel linking Lake George to Lake Edward. From the boat you can spot hippos, Nile Crocodile, Warthog (Pumba of the award winning Lion King!), buffalo, birds and more. After the boat-cruise your guide takes you to the lodge for some rest.
Overnight Pumba safari cottages

 

DAY 4: GAME-DRIVE IN ISHASHA & transfer to Bwindi Mountains

In the morning we drive down to Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth NP, via the exciting road that goes through the park. When we reach Ishasha we go for a game-drive in search for tree-climbing lions that this sector is famous for. During the game-drive you also have chance to see elephant, topi, buffalo and more. After the game-drive we have lunch and then continue on to Bwindi Mountains, the home of the Mountain Gorillas.
Overnight Buhoma Community Rest Camp 

 

DAY 5: GORILLA TREKKING DAY- BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Have an early breakfast surrounded by Bwindi Impenetrable Forest the home to the forest giants that are cousins to human beings, the Mountain Gorillas. We have reached a highlight of the 7 days Uganda tour as you this day will go gorilla trekking in a group with a specialized guide, walk through the fascinating jungle and spend one hour with the Mountain Gorillas. This Impenetrable Forest is full of birds, butterflies and plant species plus forest hog, forest Elephants, Statungas and Dikers. After the gorilla trek we transfer to the lodge at the edge of the Ishasha sector for scenic views and a relaxed evening. This way we cut the distance to drive next day.
Overnight Topi Lodge

 

DAY 6: TRANSFER TO LAKE MBURO; THE ‘ZEBRA MAGNET’, GAME-DRIVE

We leave the lodge after breakfast and start the drive towards Lake Mburo national park. We reach the park in time for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon we head out on a game drive to spot zebras, topis, warthogs, cape buffaloes and Impalas.
Overnight in Rwakobo rock

 

DAY 7: EARLY MORNING SAFARI WALK IN LAKE MBURO NP AND TRANSFER TO ENTEBBE

Start the day early with a safari walk getting you close to nature. Visit the hyenas den, chance to see Leopards, zebras, waterbucks, birds and buffaloes in their day break jungle life. After the safari walk you have breakfast at the lodge before setting of for Entebbe as we have reached the end of the 7 days Uganda safari. We reach Entebbe in the afternoon and you can arrange for an evening flight or add a night in Entebbe to fly the next day.

 

‘IN CONSERVATION WE TRUST- DISCOVER YOUR TRAVEL DREAMS’

Map showing the route

COME FOR A 7 days Uganda SAFARI WITH US

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Useful Information

Reviews: See what our visitors think on TripAdvisorSafaribookings

Tailor-made safaris: We work with private safaris that can be tailor-made to fit your wishes. Contact us and we adjust the itinerary to your preferences.

Price: The price depends on number of people and accommodation level. Contact us with your inquiry to get the best price for your safari.

Included: Accommodation, meals, safari car, fuel, guide, park entries, gorilla permits (if applicable) and activities mentioned in the itinerary. Plus water in the car and a couple of fruits along the way.

Excluded: International flights, visas, drinks, tips and personal expenses.

Accommodation: In general accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is good places on budget to mid-range level (with the exception of luxury safaris). The accommodation can be adapted to your price range of budget, mid-range or luxury. Of-course a mix is also possible. Take a look on the website’s of the lodges we regularly work with: Good accommodation in Uganda.

Payment options: We accept international bank transfer, card payment through PesaPal (adds 3,5% charge) and cash payment if you are in Uganda.

 

For more info see our terms & conditions.

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FAQ’S ABOUT 7 days western uganda wildlife safari

Is this the best 7-day Uganda safari itinerary for gorilla trekking??

Yes, 7 days is enough if your goal is to experience the top highlights of Uganda. During a 7 day Uganda itinerary we then recommend that you focus on the Western part of Uganda. This way you can trek chimpanzees and Mountain Gorillas which for many is the top highlights of a visit to Uganda. Besides this you have enough time to search the savannahs for big cats and other interesting animals.

If you have a bit more time you can chose to experience more of beautiful Uganda. During for example a 10 day Uganda safari you can see primates and have the chance to see “the Big 5”. Or come for a 16 day Uganda safari taking you from North to South in Uganda.

 

What wildlife can I see in 7 days?

In the forests

Kibale Forest National Park offers the highlight of seeing chimpanzees but there are also other monkeys in the area like black & white colobus, red tailed monkey and vervet monkey. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highlight of Mountain Gorillas. Here you can also see blue monkey, forest elephant (not common to see) and L’Hoest’s monkey.

On the savannah

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a savannah park. In this park you can see elephants, Cape buffalo, hippos, topi, waterbucks, hyena, baboon, warthog, forest hog, leopard and lion. A special attraction in the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the tree-climbing lions.

Lake Mburo National Park offers zebra, impala, warthog, giraffe, eland, topi, buffalo, oribi, hippo, hyena and leopard. At Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary you will see rhinos during a trek on foot in the sanctuary.

In wetlands

Mabamba Swamp gives the chance to see the prehistoric looking Shoebill Stork as well as other birds.

 

 Is birdwatching included in this Uganda safari?

Yes, if you have a moderate interest in birds you can see many beautiful birds during this 7 day Uganda safari itinerary. We recommend though that you book for a birding Uganda safari if you are a serious birder. On a specialized birding safari you travel with a birding guide and visit top IBA’s in Uganda.

Itinerary tip: 7 days birding in Uganda

 

WHY COME WITH MAMALAND SAFARIS FOR YOUR 7 DAY UGANDA SAFARI?

At Mamaland Safaris we are experts in safaris to Uganda. Our long experience and local knowledge will benefit you with a well planned itinerary and professional operations of the safari. You can trust us to arrange an unforgettable experience for you. Offering our visitors an easy planning and booking process that then continues with a hassle free safari is our ultimate goal. Relax as we handle all!

We like to take our visitors on a journey through Uganda. By this we mean that you are not just taken from activity to activity, additionally you will go home having a feeling that you have actually experienced Uganda as well. When time allows we encourage stops in villages, scenic locations and markets along the way as well as trying of local food. Read more: About Mamaland Safaris

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