8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Group Safari

Price: [PRICE TO BE CONFIRMED] per person sharing (based on a group of 4-12 travellers)

Upcoming departure dates:

• 12th – 19th October 2026
• 6th – 13th December 2026
• 10th – 17th January 2027
• 7th – 14th February 2027
• 13th – 20th June 2027
• 4th – 11th July 2027

Don’t see a date that works? This same itinerary is also available as a private departure on any date you choose — see our private 6-Day Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari for a similar route on your own schedule.

This fixed-date group departure combines Uganda’s two signature wildlife experiences, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, with classic savannah game viewing, travelling with a small group of 4 to 12 like-minded travellers rather than as a private booking. Over eight days you’ll track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, watch for the region’s famous tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha sector, cruise the wildlife-rich Kazinga Channel, and spend an unforgettable hour with a mountain gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Group departures run on fixed dates throughout the year, timed around Uganda’s dry seasons for the best trekking conditions, and are a good option for solo travellers who would rather share the cost and company of a small group than book privately.

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe / Kampala

Meet the group at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your hotel. An evening welcome briefing introduces you to your driver-guide, fellow group members, and the week ahead.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Depart Kampala for Kibale Forest, Africa’s primate capital, through the scenic crater lakes region of western Uganda. Arrive in time for dinner and a briefing ahead of tomorrow’s chimp trek.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning chimpanzee tracking through Kibale’s forest trails with experienced ranger-guides, followed by the drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise and Game Drive

Morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, followed by an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa’s most productive wildlife-viewing waterways for hippos, buffaloes and water birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Ishasha Sector and Transfer to Bwindi

Drive south through the Ishasha sector in search of Uganda’s famous tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees, before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

After a briefing at park headquarters, trek through Bwindi’s forest in search of a habituated gorilla family, spending a full hour in their company once found.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Travel north-east to Lake Mburo, Uganda’s smallest savannah park, for a relaxed final full day with an afternoon game walk or boat ride.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Departure

Drive back to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of the group safari.

Meals: Breakfast

Your Destinations in Depth

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale holds the highest primate density of any park in Africa, with thirteen species recorded including around 1,500 chimpanzees. Ranger-guides here specialise in habituation work, meaning they read chimp behaviour well enough to bring your group safely close for a genuinely memorable encounter rather than a distant glimpse through the canopy.

Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Ishasha Sector

Queen Elizabeth links craters, lakes and open savannah across Uganda’s western Rift Valley. Its Ishasha sector is one of only two places in the world where lions regularly climb trees, a behaviour still not fully explained by researchers, while the Kazinga Channel connecting Lakes Edward and George supports one of Africa’s densest hippo populations.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bwindi’s 331 square kilometres of ancient rainforest hold roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Trekking here directly funds the ranger patrols and veterinary monitoring that pulled the species back from the brink of extinction over the past three decades.

Wildlife Beyond the Headliners

While chimps and gorillas draw most travellers to this itinerary, Queen Elizabeth’s savannah supports elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and over 600 recorded bird species, one of the highest counts of any African park. The Kazinga Channel boat cruise in particular often produces closer, calmer sightings of elephants and hippos than a standard game drive, since the animals are relaxed around the slow-moving boats that pass daily.

A Trip Built Around Two Different Kinds of Encounter

Chimpanzee tracking and gorilla trekking are often lumped together as “primate trekking,” but the two experiences feel quite different on the ground. Chimpanzees are fast, vocal and constantly on the move through the canopy, so a Kibale trek often becomes an exercise in following sound and movement as much as sight. Gorillas, by contrast, spend much of the day feeding and resting at ground level, which is why the hour with a habituated family tends to feel slower and more intimate. Experiencing both on the same trip, as this itinerary does, gives a fuller picture of Uganda’s primate diversity than either alone.

How is a group departure different from booking privately?

You travel alongside 4 to 12 other travellers on a fixed date rather than setting your own schedule, which typically works out more affordable per person than a private safari of the same length, while still including the same permits, lodges and activities.

What if the minimum group size isn’t reached?

If a departure doesn’t reach the minimum group size, we will contact everyone booked to offer an alternative date, a switch to a private departure at the private rate, or a full refund.

Can I book a single room on a group departure?

Solo travellers are paired with a same-gender roommate by default to avoid a single supplement, though a private room can usually be arranged for an additional fee, subject to availability.

Are gorilla and chimp permits included in the price?

Yes, both permits are included in the per-person price along with all park fees, accommodation, meals as listed, and a professional driver-guide for the full 8 days.

How much deposit is required to book?

A deposit secures your place on a fixed departure, with the balance due closer to travel. This is standard for group trips since gorilla and chimp permits must be purchased and confirmed with the relevant wildlife authorities well ahead of the departure date, and permit costs are non-refundable once booked on your behalf.

Is there a trip leader with the group throughout?

Yes, one dedicated driver-guide stays with your group for all 8 days, from the Entebbe pickup through to the departure transfer, handling logistics, briefings and day-to-day support rather than switching guides at each park boundary.

What is the typical age range and fitness level of group travellers?

Our Uganda group departures typically draw travellers from their late twenties through their seventies. The itinerary is manageable for most reasonably fit adults, and the two treks, chimpanzee tracking and gorilla trekking, are the only sections requiring sustained walking over uneven forest terrain.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation terms scale with how close to departure you cancel, reflecting the non-refundable nature of permits and lodge bookings once confirmed. Full terms are provided at the time of booking, and we recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation for exactly this reason.

Why We Scheduled These Departure Dates

Our fixed departure dates cluster around Uganda’s two dry seasons, June to September and December to February, when forest trails in Kibale and Bwindi are firmest and trekking conditions are most predictable for a group travelling together. The October departure sits at the tail end of the short dry spell and often has the advantage of a quieter park before the December rush. Outside these windows, trekking still runs normally since both parks are rainforest by nature, but a private departure gives more flexibility if you need a date outside this fixed schedule.

Trekking Rules and Etiquette

Uganda Wildlife Authority enforces rules designed to protect both visitors and the animals: groups are capped at eight trekkers per gorilla family, your encounter is limited to one hour, and a minimum distance of seven metres must be kept at all times, though gorillas themselves sometimes choose to approach closer. Flash photography, eating and smoking near the animals are prohibited, and anyone with a cold, flu or other communicable illness is asked to sit that day’s trek out, since both gorillas and chimpanzees are highly susceptible to human respiratory illnesses.

Fitness and What to Pack

Chimpanzee tracking involves one to three hours of forest walking, while gorilla trekking can take anywhere from under an hour to five or six hours round trip depending on where the gorillas are feeding that day. Porters are available at both parks to carry bags and help on steeper sections.

• Sturdy, ankle-supporting hiking boots
• Long-sleeved shirts and trousers in neutral colours for the forest treks
• A light rain jacket, even in the dry season
• Gardening gloves for gripping vegetation
• Insect repellent and sun protection
• Binoculars for game drives and birdwatching

Conservation Impact

Every permit on this trip funds real conservation work. Bwindi’s gorilla permits fund Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger patrols and veterinary monitoring of habituated families, while Kibale’s chimp permits support similar protection for one of Africa’s most significant primate populations. Travelling as a group does not reduce this contribution — each traveller’s permit fee goes toward conservation exactly as it would on a private trip.

Why Book This as a Group Trip

All in Africa Safaris runs both private and group departures, and this itinerary is priced specifically to reward travelling with others: the same permits, lodges and driver-guide as our private 6-Day Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari, spread across a shared vehicle and group rate. It particularly suits solo travellers who want the company of a small group, and anyone who would rather join a confirmed departure date than coordinate a private trip’s logistics themselves.

What to Expect Travelling With a Group

Groups on this departure typically range from four to twelve travellers, small enough that everyone gets a window seat rotation on game drives and personal attention during the treks, rather than the anonymous, oversized-bus feeling some travellers associate with “group tour.” Meals are shared at the lodge, and evenings often turn into informal conversation about the day’s sightings, which many of our repeat group travellers say becomes part of the experience itself.

Photography Notes

Forest light in Kibale and Bwindi is dim and constantly shifting under the canopy, so a camera that performs well at higher ISO settings matters more than raw zoom range, since most chimp and gorilla encounters happen within a few metres. On the Kazinga Channel, a polarising filter cuts glare off the water and brings out richer tones in elephant and hippo skin. Carry spare batteries, since humid forest conditions drain them faster than expected.

Health and Travel Documents

Comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, medical evacuation and adventure activities is strongly recommended for any gorilla or chimp trekking trip. Uganda requires a yellow fever certificate for entry, and most nationalities can apply for a Uganda e-visa online before travel. We recommend consulting a travel health clinic about malaria prevention as well.

Extend Your Group Safari

Travellers who want more time before or after this departure can add a few nights in Kampala for a city tour, or extend independently to Rwanda for a second gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park. Ask your booking consultant about combining this fixed departure with private extension days on either end.

Why Travel With All in Africa Safaris

We are a Uganda-based operator, and our driver-guides run this exact route regularly, which means the pacing, lodge choices and activity order on this page reflect real operational experience rather than a generic template. Running both private and group departures under one company means the group rate doesn’t come at the cost of lower-quality lodges, vehicles or guiding compared to our private trips, only a shared cost across more travellers.

What happens if I need to change my departure date after booking?

We understand plans change. Date transfers to another confirmed departure are generally possible with enough notice, subject to availability and any non-refundable costs already committed, such as permits already purchased for your original date.

Do I need to know the other people in my group beforehand?

No, most travellers on our group departures are meeting each other for the first time on Day 1. Our driver-guides are experienced at helping a new group settle in quickly during the first day’s briefing and drive.

Is airport pickup included if I arrive early or leave late?

Standard airport transfers are included on the official Day 1 and Day 8 dates. If your personal flights fall outside these dates, we can arrange additional transfers and extra hotel nights in Entebbe or Kampala for a small extra cost.

Currency and Costs on the Ground

Beyond the trip price, budget for tips, souvenirs and any drinks not included with meals. US dollars printed after 2009 are widely accepted for tips and small purchases at lodges, while Uganda shillings are more practical in local markets and towns. Most lodges on this route accept card payments for incidentals, though carrying some cash is worthwhile for smaller stops.

A Trip Report From the Road

Driver-guides who run this circuit regularly note that groups tend to bond fastest on the Kazinga Channel cruise, somewhere between the first elephant sighting and the shared relief of the Ishasha lions actually being visible in their trees that day. By the time the group reaches Bwindi on Day 5, most travellers already know each other’s names and are comparing notes on trekking gear, which tends to make the final gorilla trek feel like a shared achievement rather than an individual bucket-list tick.