Popular Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Tours.

Uganda packs two of Africa’s greatest wildlife encounters into one country: face-to-face time with endangered mountain gorillas in the misty forests of the southwest, and thrilling chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, the “primate capital of Africa.” Whether you have a long weekend or three weeks to spare, there’s a primate itinerary built around your schedule and budget.

Below is our roundup of the most popular gorilla and chimpanzee tracking tours booked through Kenlink Tours, each one designed and led by our own Uganda-based guides and fully backed by permits secured through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

3-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari

For travelers short on time but not on ambition, our 3-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari is our most booked short break. It takes you straight to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for a single, unforgettable gorilla trekking day, bookended by comfortable lodge stays and scenic drives through Uganda’s southwestern hills. It’s the perfect add-on if you’re already visiting East Africa and want to tick mountain gorillas off your list without committing to a full two-week itinerary.

3-Day Chimpanzee Tracking Safari to Kibale National Park

If chimpanzees are your priority, our 3-Day Chimpanzee Tracking Safari to Kibale National Park is built specifically around Kibale’s forest trails, home to over a dozen habituated chimpanzee communities and some of the highest sighting success rates in Africa. This short itinerary usually includes a guided forest walk, a visit to the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for birding, and the option to upgrade to the full-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience for a deeper, research-style encounter.

5-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Tour

Our 5-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Tour is consistently one of our best-selling itineraries because it strikes the right balance: enough time to comfortably combine both primate treks without the longer commitment of a two-week safari. Guests typically start with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, then transfer south through the Ishasha plains toward Bwindi for a full day of mountain gorilla trekking. Along the way, there’s usually a stop for a cultural encounter with local communities, giving the trip depth beyond wildlife alone.

5-Day Uganda Primate Safari Experience

Similar in length but slightly different in routing, our 5-Day Uganda Primate Safari Experience is designed for travelers who want a more relaxed pace between activities, with extra time built in for photography, forest walks, and lodge downtime between the gorilla and chimpanzee treks. It’s a great choice for honeymooners and photography-focused travelers who don’t want to feel rushed from one park to the next.

7-Day Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzees Safari

For travelers who want primates and classic savannah game viewing in one trip, the 7-Day Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzees Safari adds Queen Elizabeth National Park to the mix. Expect game drives in search of lions, elephants, and buffalo, a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, and treks for both chimpanzees in Kibale and gorillas in Bwindi. This is our go-to recommendation for first-time visitors to Uganda who want a genuinely complete introduction to the country’s wildlife.

7 Days Gorillas, Chimps and Golden Monkeys Safari

For a rarer primate combination, our 7 Days Gorillas, Chimps and Golden Monkeys Safari adds a third primate species to the mix, endangered golden monkeys, tracked in the bamboo forests of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park near the Rwanda and Congo borders. It’s an excellent choice for dedicated wildlife enthusiasts and repeat visitors who have already done a standard gorilla-and-chimp trip and want to go further.

8-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari

Our 8-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari extends the classic combination with additional time for cultural visits, an extra game drive day, and a more relaxed overall pace. It’s particularly popular with families and small groups who want the flexibility of an extra day or two without changing the core itinerary of primates plus savannah wildlife.

4-Day Rwanda-Uganda Golden Monkey and Gorilla Trekking

For travelers arriving through Kigali rather than Entebbe, our 4-Day Rwanda-Uganda Golden Monkey and Gorilla Trekking tour crosses the border to combine Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park with Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Because Kigali International Airport sits closer to the gorilla parks than Entebbe does, this cross-border route has become a favorite shortcut for travelers who want to minimize drive time while still trekking gorillas on the Uganda side, where permits are considerably more affordable than in Rwanda.

6-Day Rwanda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Adventure, Lake Kivu

Our 6-Day Rwanda Adventures: Great Apes and Lake Kivu tour is for travelers who want to experience both countries in a single, well-paced primate journey. It combines gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, and a restful stretch along the shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes. It’s a beautiful option if you’d like your safari to end with a few days of scenery and relaxation rather than another early wake-up call.

How to Choose the Right Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tour

With so many primate itineraries to choose from, a few questions can help narrow things down:

• How much time do you have? Three days is enough for a single primate trek, five days comfortably fits both gorillas and chimps, and seven days or more allows you to add savannah game drives or a second country.
• Which primates matter most to you? If gorillas are the priority, start with our 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari. If you’d rather combine both apes, the 5-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Tour is the sweet spot.
• Are you flying into Entebbe or Kigali? Travelers arriving via Rwanda often save time by starting their trek from the Uganda-Rwanda border rather than driving the full distance from Entebbe.
• Do you want wildlife beyond primates? If big game and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise appeal to you, look at our 7-day and 8-day combined itineraries that add Queen Elizabeth National Park.

All of our primate tours can also be tailored: extend a trek by a day, add a golden monkey excursion, upgrade to a habituation experience, or swap lodges for a different comfort level. Every itinerary listed above is a starting template, not a fixed package.

Why Book Your Primate Safari with Kenlink Tours

As a fully licensed member of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Uganda Tourism Board, and TUGATA, Kenlink Tours secures your gorilla and chimpanzee permits directly, so there’s no risk of losing your booking to permit shortages or unlicensed agents. We’ve been running tailor-made safaris across Uganda and Rwanda since 2010, and 30% of our profits go directly to supporting local communities and orphaned children in the Kisoro district near Bwindi, so your trip also gives back to the people who live alongside the gorillas.

Ready to pick your primate adventure? Browse our full collection of gorilla trekking adventures, or contact our safari experts for a free, tailor-made quote. Tell us your travel dates and how many primates you’d like to meet, and we’ll build the perfect Uganda itinerary around you.