7 Days Uganda Safari with Chimpanzee Trekking and Game Drives. Uganda — the Pearl of Africa — is one of the most rewarding wildlife destinations on the planet. Dense rainforests, open savannah plains, crater lakes, and rushing rivers create a mosaic of habitats that shelter an incredible diversity of life. This 7-day safari itinerary combines the magic of chimpanzee trekking with thrilling game drives across Uganda’s most celebrated national parks, giving you a front-row seat to some of East Africa’s finest wildlife encounters. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned safari-goer, this journey will leave you transformed.

Why Choose a 7-Day Uganda Safari?

Seven days is the sweet spot for exploring Uganda’s wildlife heartland without feeling rushed. You have just enough time to immerse yourself in the rhythm of the forest, wake up to dawn game drives, and sit quietly with primates as they go about their morning routines. Our carefully curated Uganda safari packages are designed to balance adventure with comfort, making sure every hour of your holiday counts. For travellers who want a deeper dive into East African wildlife, this itinerary pairs perfectly with our gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which can be added as an extension.

Day 1 — Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you will depart Kampala or Entebbe and travel south towards the iconic Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most biodiverse protected areas. The journey itself is scenic.  En route, stop for a photographic moment at the equator crossing on the Kampala-masaka highway, where you can witness the famous water drainage experiment.

You will arrive at your lodge in time for an afternoon game drive across the Kasenyi plains, a prime area for spotting large herds of Uganda kob, buffalo, elephants, and lions at dusk. The park is celebrated for having one of the highest concentrations of hippos in the world. Explore our full range of Uganda wildlife tours to see how this destination fits into a broader East African adventure.

Day 2 — Game Drives and the Famous Kazinga Channel Cruise

Queen Elizabeth rewards those who spend more than a single day within its boundaries. Start the morning with a game drive through the Ishasha sector in the south of the park — this is one of the only places in the world where lions have developed the extraordinary habit of climbing fig trees. Spotting a pride draped lazily across the branches of a giant fig tree is one of Uganda’s most iconic wildlife sightings.

In the afternoon, board a boat for the world-famous Kazinga Channel cruise, a 40-kilometre natural channel that links Lake George and Lake Edward. The banks are alive with hippos rolling in the shallows, enormous Nile crocodiles sunbathing on mudflats, and vast flocks of African fish eagles, pelicans, and kingfishers. According to Uganda Tourism Board, Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts over 600 bird species, making it an unmissable destination for birdwatchers. This afternoon cruise is one of the most memorable moments of any Uganda safari.

Day 3 — Transfer to Kibale Forest

Your day 3 begins now. After breakfast transfer you comfortably to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive to Kibale takes you through rolling tea estates, fantastic view of the Rwenzori mountains, and small trading towns that offer a wonderful introduction to Ugandan rural life. You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon with time to settle in, enjoy a warm welcome drink, and watch the African sunset paint the Rwenzori foothills in shades of amber and gold. Tonight is all about rest — tomorrow, the forest calls.

Day 4 — Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is globally renowned as the primate capital of the world, sheltering thirteen species of primates including the largest population of habituated chimpanzees in East Africa. After an early breakfast, you will head into the forest with an expert Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger and begin tracking a chimpanzee community through its natural habitat. You will hear them before you see them — the pant-hoots and branch-crashing that echo through the canopy signal you are getting close.

Once you locate the group, you are permitted one magical hour in their company, watching them groom, play, feed on wild figs, and sometimes charge with breathtaking speed and force. The chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale is widely regarded as the most reliable in Africa, thanks to decades of habituation work carried out under the guidance of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. In the afternoon, take a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary to spot red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and over 200 species of birds.

Day 5 — Travel to Murchison Falls National Park

Today you embark on one of the most dramatic cross-country drives in East Africa, heading north towards Murchison Falls National Park — Uganda’s largest protected area and home to the world’s most powerful waterfall. En route, you will cross the Albertine Rift Valley, a biodiversity hotspot recognised by scientists worldwide as one of the richest ecosystems in Africa. The landscape shifts dramatically from lush forest to wide, golden savannah scattered with borassus palms.

Arrive at your lodge by early evening and enjoy sundowners on the Nile — a truly cinematic way to end the day.

Day 6 — Game Drives and Boat Trip to the Falls

Murchison Falls National Park delivers classic African safari action. Rise before dawn for a sunrise game drive through the northern bank of the park, where elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, lions, leopards, and large herds of buffalo roam freely. This is one of the best parks in Uganda for seeing big game in open grassland, and our expert guides will position you perfectly for incredible photographs and wildlife encounters.

In the afternoon, a boat trip along the Victoria Nile is unmissable. You will cruise upstream past hippo pods and crocodiles to reach the base of Murchison Falls itself — where the entire force of the Nile River squeezes through a seven-metre-wide gorge and plunges 43 metres in a roar of white water and mist. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s official park guide, Murchison Falls is considered the most powerful waterfall on earth by flow rate. It is an experience that defies description. View our full 7-day safari package details for accommodation options and pricing at this destination.

Day 7 — Return to Entebbe and Departure

Your final morning offers one last optional game drive before beginning the drive back to Entebbe. The journey south takes you through the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — a worthwhile stop where Uganda’s only wild white rhinos roam a protected conservancy managed in partnership with Rhino Fund Uganda. Meeting a 2,000-kilogram white rhino on foot with an armed ranger is the perfect finale to a week of extraordinary wildlife encounters.

You will arrive at Entebbe in the early evening with time for a final dinner overlooking Lake Victoria before your overnight flight departs. Our team can arrange comfortable accommodation in Entebbe if you prefer a relaxed last night before flying home.

What Is Included in This Safari?

When you book through Kenlink Tours, your 7-day itinerary includes all park entry fees, chimpanzee trekking permits, accommodation on a full-board basis, game drive vehicles with pop-up roofs, boat cruises, and the services of an experienced English-speaking guide-driver. We offer both budget safari options and luxury safari packages to suit a wide range of travellers, from backpackers seeking authentic adventure to discerning guests who want premium lodge experiences.

Ready to Book Your Uganda Safari?

Uganda’s wildlife is waiting. From the pant-hoots of chimpanzees in Kibale Forest to the thunder of Murchison Falls echoing across the Nile, this 7-day itinerary offers the kind of transformative moments that travel is made for. Contact our team today to tailor this itinerary to your travel dates, group size, and budget. We are passionate about Uganda and we would love to share it with you.

Kenlink Tours — Connecting You to the Pearl of Africa. Send us an email for inquiries: info@kenlinktours.com