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Uganda, gorilla trekking and chimps

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Stops

  1. 1

    Bwindi Impenetrable ForestUG · Western Uganda

    Gorilla permit, Buhoma sector

  2. 2

    Queen Elizabeth National ParkUG · Western Uganda

    Stopover, Ishasha tree-climbing lions

  3. 3

    Kibale ForestUG · Western Uganda

    Chimp tracking, Kibale Forest

  4. 4

    Lake BunyonyiUG · Western Uganda

    Lake decompress before the flight home

Notes

Permits booked four months out. Driver from Entebbe. Looking for the dry-season window with the best wildlife visibility.

Plan v1 · generated 23 May 2026

Window

When to go

June, July, August, September

The long dry season. Trails in Bwindi are passable rather than knee-deep mud, and gorilla viewing is at its best. December–February is also dry but books out earlier because it overlaps with the European Christmas window.

Tradeoffs: Permit availability is tightest in this window. Book four to six months ahead. Mornings can still be cold at the Bwindi trailhead (1500m+), so a fleece earns its space.

Duration

How long

8 days ideal, 7 minimum

You can do gorillas-only in 4 days with a rushed turnaround. Adding chimps in Kibale and a couple of nights at Lake Bunyonyi to decompress pushes it to 8, which is what makes the trip feel like a trip rather than a transaction.

Indicative budget

Per person, GBP

Flights
~£850
Check prices →
Accommodation
~£720
Check prices →
Activities
~£950
Check prices →
Ground transport
~£340
Food
~£180
Buffer
~£160
Total~£3,200

Mid-tier lodges throughout. Includes the gorilla permit (~£640) and chimp permit (~£180). LHR–EBB return economy in shoulder season. Doesn't include international travel insurance with medevac, which you want.

Estimate only. We don't see live prices.

Day by day

A skeleton

  1. 1

    Arrival

    • Land at Entebbe, transfer to a guesthouse on the lake

    • Early night, long drive tomorrow

    Sleeping in Entebbe (lake-side guesthouse)

  2. 2

    Drive west to Bwindi

    • Long road day via Mbarara

    • Arrive Buhoma late afternoon

    • Briefing at lodge, gorilla family allocation is at 0700 tomorrow

    Sleeping in Buhoma sector lodge

  3. 3

    Gorilla trek

    • Trek lengths vary 1–6 hours depending on the family

    • Hour with the gorillas once contact is made

    • Afternoon, village walk or rest

    Sleeping in Buhoma sector lodge

  4. 4

    Cross to Ishasha + Mweya

    • Drive north into Queen Elizabeth NP

    • Afternoon game drive in the Ishasha sector, tree-climbing lions

    Sleeping in Ishasha bush camp

  5. 5

    On to Kibale

    • Morning Kazinga Channel boat (optional but recommended)

    • Continue north to Fort Portal / Kibale

    Sleeping in Kibale Forest lodge

  6. 6

    Chimps

    • 0800 chimp trek from Kanyanchu Visitor Centre

    • Afternoon crater lakes drive, Lake Nyinambuga viewpoint

    Sleeping in Kibale Forest lodge

  7. 7

    Lake Bunyonyi

    • Drive south to Lake Bunyonyi

    • Slow afternoon, canoe, reading, hot lake-side dinner

    Sleeping in Lake Bunyonyi island lodge

  8. 8

    Return to Entebbe

    • Long drive back to Entebbe

    • Evening flight home

    Sleeping in Plane

Also consider

Adjacent

  • Add Murchison Falls

    If you're already adding two days to fit Lake Bunyonyi, three more lets you fly the Nile Special charter to Murchison and add big-five wildlife. Loses Bwindi-as-the-centre feel.

  • Habituation experience instead of standard permit

    Four hours with a family being habituated, smaller group, double the cost. For wildlife-first travellers; less worth it if you have the standard hour and a good guide.

Fits your style

How it lines up

This trip is for travellers who'd choose a homestay in Kerala over a Marriott. The lodges are good but rustic. Drives are long; the pay-off is real. Skip if you want infinity-pool downtime.

Practical

Before you go

Visa
Visitors from most Western passports need an East African e-Visa or Uganda single-entry visa, applied for online before travel. Allow two weeks.
Vaccines
Yellow fever certificate required at border. Anti-malarial prophylaxis advised, speak to a travel clinic 6 weeks before departure.
Safety
Long-distance road conditions are the main risk. Use a reputable operator with a trained driver. Trekking itself is well-managed and safe.
Money
Mid-tier lodges accept USD cash and sometimes card. Carry small denominations for tips and village stops. Mobile money (MTN) is widespread for incidentals.

Sort these out

Travel insurance, SafetyWing →eSIM data, Airalo →

Citations

Sources

  1. Gorilla permits sell out four to six months ahead in the high-season window.

  2. Allow a full day for the Buhoma → Kibale drive, break it with an Ishasha or Mweya overnight.

  3. Chimp tracking success rate in Kibale is above 90%.

  4. Ishasha tree-climbing lions can sometimes be spotted lounging in the big fig trees on the afternoon game drive.

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