7-Day Chimpanzee and Gorilla Fly-In Safari

Touching down at Entebbe International Airport, you are greeted by warm air scented with tropical flora.

Your guide transfers you to your lodge, where the comfort of your room meets traditional Ugandan design.

If time allows, explore the calm streets of Entebbe, perhaps sampling fresh fruits at a market or enjoying the shoreline of Lake Victoria as the sun dips low. Dinner at the lodge sets the tone for the week ahead.

Accommodation Options:
- Silver: Papyrus Guest House
- Gold: Victoria Rock Resort
- Platinum: Protea by Marriott

A short morning flight carries you westward over Uganda’s patchwork of farmland and forests. Descending near Kasese, you are whisked to your eco-lodge nestled on the edge of Kibale Forest.

After lunch, embark on your first chimpanzee trek. Moving quietly through the dense forest, you listen for the distinctive pant-hoots and crackling branches that signal chimp activity.

Spot them in small groups, grooming, foraging, or leaping between lianas. Return to your lodge as evening settles, the forest alive with insect calls.

Accommodation Options:
- Silver / Gold: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
- Gold: Kibale Forest Camp
- Platinum: Primates Lodge / Papaya Lodge

Begin the day with another guided chimpanzee trek, each encounter revealing different group dynamics and behaviors.

In the afternoon, choose from a guided nature walk, birdwatching, or quiet reflection in the lodge’s gardens. The forest’s layered green canopy filters the light, revealing orchids, ferns, and small primates.

Evenings are for lingering at your lodge, with meals highlighting regional ingredients and spices.

A brief scenic flight delivers you to Kihihi Airstrip, with views of mist-shrouded mountains and terraced hillsides below.

Transfer to your lodge in Bwindi, where forested slopes rise sharply around your accommodation.

The rest of the day is for relaxation and acclimatization, preparing both mind and body for the gorilla trek ahead. Listen to the distant calls of the forest as night falls.

Accommodation Options:
- Silver: Broadbill Camp
- Gold: Gorilla Mist Camp / Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
- Platinum: Chameleon Hill Lodge

Set out early after breakfast for the pinnacle of the safari. A guide briefs you on etiquette, safety, and gorilla behavior.

Trek through fern-laden trails and mossy undergrowth, following trackers who know the families intimately. Hours may pass before the forest opens on your first sighting. Gorillas move deliberately, young ones exploring, mothers caring, silverbacks vigilant.

Spend an hour in silent observation, capturing the subtle expressions and interactions that define these social groups.

Return to the lodge in the late afternoon, carrying the quiet weight of the encounter with you.

Balance the intensity of gorilla trekking with immersion in the local culture. Visit a nearby village, meet artisans, and share meals while learning traditional crafts and customs.

Afternoon options include a couple’s spa treatment, a gentle forest walk, or simply soaking in panoramic views from your lodge.

The day is intentionally unhurried, letting the forest’s rhythms resonate after the previous day’s adventure.

After breakfast, transfer to Kihihi Airstrip for your flight back to Entebbe.

From the air, reflect on the landscapes traversed: misty mountains, rolling forested hills, and the hidden rivers threading their way through remote valleys.

Arrival in Entebbe marks the end of the safari, leaving you with lasting impressions of Uganda’s wildlife and people.