23 Dec 2026
Twin share
£2,410pp
Escorted tour
Essential Uganda: Chimpanzees & Gorilla Trek – 9 Days
Jinja, chimpanzees in Kibale, Queen Elizabeth National Park, a Bwindi gorilla trek and Lake Mburo, for 18–35s.
9 days
From £2,210
Tour overview
This 9-day adventure is designed for travellers aged 18 to 35 who want to meet Uganda's great apes, tracking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with time for adventure at the source of the Nile. Groups have up to 16 travellers, with a local leader and driver-guides in six-seater 4WD vehicles. You stay eight nights on a twin-share basis: one in a guesthouse, two in permanent tents with shared facilities, two in cottages and three in lodges. Both the chimpanzee and gorilla permits are included, along with breakfasts on most days and several lunches and dinners.
Your adventure begins in Entebbe, on the shores of Lake Victoria. You drive to Jinja, a riverside retreat at the source of the Nile and Uganda's adventure capital, for two nights. A free day lets you go whitewater rafting, cycle, take a boat trip on the Nile or browse the farmers' market. Heading west after a breakfast of rolex, Uganda's favourite street food, you reach Kibale Forest National Park, home to 13 species of primate, more than anywhere else in East Africa.
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With expert trackers you set off into the rainforest to find chimpanzees, watching them feed, play and call to one another high in the trees. In the afternoon a guided walk through the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary looks for monkeys, butterflies and the great blue turaco. A game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to elephants and buffalo, leads south past tea plantations and crater lakes to Bwindi.
The highlight is a trek through the steep, dense forest of Bwindi with a local guide and trackers to find a habituated family of mountain gorillas, then a magical hour watching them eat, groom and play under the watchful eye of a silverback, followed by a picnic lunch in the forest. The journey ends with game drives in Lake Mburo, Uganda's smallest savannah park, where zebras, hippos, buffalo and impalas roam, before returning to Entebbe.
The physical rating is high, as the treks can be long, muddy and strenuous. This trip suits active young travellers who want an authentic primate adventure at a great price.
Trip highlights
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The source of the Nile in Jinja (Days 2–3)
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Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale (Day 5)
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The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (Day 5)
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Queen Elizabeth National Park (Day 6)
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A mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi (Day 7)
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Game drives in Lake Mburo (Days 8–9)
Your route
7 stops from Entebbe to Entebbe
- Entebbe Day 1
- Jinja Days 2–3
- Kibale Forest Days 4–5
- Queen Elizabeth Day 6
- Rushaga Days 6–7
- Lake Mburo Day 8
- Entebbe Day 9
Why choose this tour
Chimpanzee and gorilla permits included. Designed for travellers aged 18 to 35.
Best suited to
- Travellers aged 18 to 35
- Wildlife lovers
- Active travellers
- Solo travellers looking for a social group
Day-by-day itinerary
9 days from Entebbe, Uganda to Entebbe, Uganda
-
Day 1 · Entebbe Entebbe
A welcome meeting by Lake Victoria.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
-
Day 2 · Jinja Jinja
To the source of the Nile.
- Hotel
- Permanent tent, shared facilities
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 3 · River Nile Jinja
A free day for rafting or a river cruise.
- Hotel
- Permanent tent, shared facilities
-
Day 4 · Kibale Forest National Park Kibale Forest
West to the primate capital.
- Hotel
- Cottage
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 5 · Kibale Forest, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Chimpanzees
Chimp tracking and a wetland walk.
- Hotel
- Cottage
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Bwindi
A game drive, then to the forest.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla trek
An hour with mountain gorillas.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Lake Mburo National Park Lake Mburo
A savannah park.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Lake Mburo, Entebbe Entebbe
A game drive, then back to Entebbe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Entebbe (1 night) Guesthouse
- Jinja (2 nights) Permanent tent, shared facilities
- Kibale Forest (2 nights) Cottage
- Bwindi (2 nights) Lodge
- Lake Mburo (1 night) Lodge
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 8 nights in a guesthouse, tents, cottages and lodges
- Meals 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners
- Private 4WD vehicles with driver-guides
- Chimpanzee tracking permit in Kibale
- Mountain gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi
- Bigodi Wetland walk and game drives
- Local leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 1 breakfast, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
- Optional activities such as rafting
- Porters on the gorilla trek
- Visa, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You are outside the 18–35 age range
- You can't manage a strenuous forest trek
- You dislike shared bathrooms
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2 and 4–9 · Lunch: Days 5–8 · Dinner: Days 4–8
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Uganda
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £2,210 per person, twin share, tour only. 19 upcoming departures.
04 Feb 2027
Twin share
£2,210pp
03 Jun 2027
Twin share
£2,390pp
01 Jul 2027
Twin share
£2,390pp
05 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,390pp
19 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,390pp
09 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,390pp
07 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,390pp
04 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,390pp
02 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,390pp
03 Feb 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
01 Jun 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
29 Jun 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
03 Aug 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
17 Aug 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
07 Sep 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
05 Oct 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
02 Nov 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
30 Nov 2028
Twin share
£2,510pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Who is this trip for?
Travellers aged 18 to 35.
Are the permits included?
Yes, both the chimpanzee tracking and gorilla trekking permits are included.
How hard is the gorilla trek?
It can be wet, muddy and strenuous. A walking stick is provided and porters can be hired.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors need a visa for Uganda, which can be applied for online. Check the latest advice before travel.
Do I need a face mask?
Yes, a mask is required near the gorillas to protect them from disease.
How many people travel together?
Up to 16 travellers, with a local leader and driver-guides.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary