Cookie Settings

By clicking ‘Accept’ you agree that we use Analytical cookies for gathering information about how our website is used, as well as Advertising and social media cookies (including cookies from trusted partners) to personalize our advertising campaigns and to allow you to share on social media. About our use of cookies

Manage Cookie Settings

Please select which cookies you would like to keep switched on. Open a list of all cookies

Below you can decide which type of cookies you would like to keep switched on. Open a list of all cookies


Functional cookies

Functional cookies are essential to using our website and cannot be switched off. These cookies do not contain personal information and are not used for analytical or advertising purposes. Show Hide description

Analytical cookies (anonymous)

Analytical cookies gather anonymous information about how our website is used. The information collected does not contain personal information, cannot be traced back to you, and is not used for advertising purposes. Show Hide description

Advertising and social media cookies

Advertising and social media cookies (including cookies from trusted partners) enable us to personalize our advertising campaigns, and enable you to share on social media. Show Hide description

Filter Options

Your Safari

Where To
Start Date
Start Date
2 Adults
Age at the end of the tour
Travelers

Tour Length

Rates in USD $ Change Currency

Per person, excl. international flights

Comfort Level

Private or Shared Tour

Safari Type

Operator Rating

Specialized Tours

+ Show more

Other Tour Features

Filter by Operator

Filter by Accommodation

Operators From

+ Show more

7-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

4.3/5  –  319 Uganda Reviews

Uganda is Africa's most varied safari destination. Here, in the space of a few days, you can track mountain gorillas in the misty highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, watch chimpanzees frolic in any of half a dozen different forests, track rhinos on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and embark on wildlife drives and boat trips into classic safari terrain inhabited by the rest of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino). And when it comes to the visibility and variety of its monkeys and birds, no other country in eastern or southern Africa rivals Uganda. Best of all, since most of Uganda’s top wildlife attractions can be found in the compact southwest, a well-organized 7-day safari provides a superb introduction to the country’s rich variety of animals.

Selected filters:
Clear All Filters
1-20 of 69 7-day gorilla & safari trips, holidays, vacations and packages to Uganda

7 Questions About 7-Day Uganda Tours

 
 

7 Questions About 7-Day Uganda Tours

Answered by Philip Briggs

Where should I go on a 1-week Uganda trip?

“By far the most popular 7-day itinerary focuses on Uganda’s southwestern cluster of national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale. This southwestern loop is easily the recommended option if this is your first visit to Uganda and seeing gorillas and chimps is a priority. A variant itinerary that excludes gorilla trekking would focus on Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park and Kibale National Park. For those who prefer to head seriously off the beaten track, a recommended alternative is an eastern loop that includes Ziwa, the fabulously remote but very rewarding Kidepo Valley National Park, a cultural tour in the remote Karamoja region, and a visit to lush Sipi Falls on the slopes of Mt Elgon.”

1

Is 7 days a good length for a tour in Uganda?

“One week is a good length for a Uganda safari and enough time to take in the main southwestern highlights. These include gorilla trekking in Bwindi, chimp trekking in Kibale, a boat trip on Queen Elizabeth NP’s Kazinga Channel, and a game drive in search of tree-climbing lions in the same park’s Ishasha sector. If possible, however, there’s a lot to be said for looking at a slightly longer safari. Many tours slot in an overnight stop at Lake Mburo National Park to break up the drive between Entebbe International Airport and the southwest, in which case we would recommend making it an 8-day safari. And if you want your itinerary to extend northwest to Murchison Falls and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary without omitting any of the southwestern highlights, best pump up the total duration to 10 days.”

2

What animals can I expect to see?

“You’ll encounter a huge diversity of animals on a 7-day Uganda safari. If you follow the southwestern circuit incorporating Bwindi Impenetrable, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale National Parks, and do all the popular activities there, you’re all but certain to see mountain gorilla, elephant, buffalo, hippo and a bewildering variety of monkeys and birds. Less certain but also very likely are chimpanzee and lion, possibly even leopard and giant forest hog. Lake Mburo National Park is the only park in the southwest to support giraffe, zebra and impala. Elsewhere, for Big Five aficionados, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks both support lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, as does Queen Elizabeth NP. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos.”

3

What kind of accommodation can I expect?

“Accommodation in Uganda caters to all tastes and budgets, and the kind of places you’ll stay on any given safari will depend on what you have paid. Most major attractions are serviced by at least one exclusive luxury lodge or camp comparable in quality to the finest elsewhere in Africa. There's also a good selection of mid-range and upmarket lodges, as well as budget-friendly guesthouses and simple but well-equipped campsites.”

4

What is the best time of the year for a 7-day Uganda safari?

“The best time for a Uganda safari is during the Dry seasons (June to August and December to February). These months offer the best climatic conditions for gorilla and chimp trekking and are also good for game drives in savannah reserves such as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls. September and October are also quite good. March, May and November are rather less good, and we would urge against April, which is the wettest month in most of the country.”

5

How much will this safari cost?

“Budget to mid-range 7-day safaris that focus on the southwest and include gorilla trekking and chimp trekking typically cost US$2,300 to US$3,000 per person. This rate should include transport, accommodation, meals, park fees and permits relating to scheduled activities, as well as the services of a professional driver-guide. Cheaper camping tours are available, but if you book one of these, check carefully what is and isn't included in the price. Luxury tours using more exclusive accommodation generally cost upwards of US$4,000 per person.”

6

What beach extensions could be added to a 7-day Uganda safari?

“Uganda has no ocean frontage, so for a conventional post-safari beach experience, you’re best heading to the likes of Mombasa (Kenya) or Zanzibar (Tanzania). From Entebbe, there are no direct flights to either of these beach destinations, but it is straightforward enough to route through Nairobi for Mombasa, or through Nairobi or Kilimanjaro International Airport for Zanzibar. For a waterside experience within Uganda, bilharzia-free Lake Bunyonyi is a popular chill-out venue, thanks to its pretty highland setting, scattering of pleasant accommodation, and proximity to Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks (the country’s two gorilla-trekking destinations). Because Lake Bunyonyi lies in the far southwest, around nine to 10 hours’ drive from Kampala or Entebbe, it makes more sense to tag a visit directly onto a safari to Bwindi or Mgahinga than to make a separate trip there. For a more active experience about two hours’ drive east of Kampala or Entebbe, the Nile immediately downriver of its source near Jinja offers superb white-water rafting as well as kayaking, bungee jumping and quad biking.”

7

Uganda Reviews

4.3/5 319 Reviews
Expert
Lizzie Williams  –  
South Africa ZA

Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Mountain gorillas, chimps and birds in lush, well-watered and incredibly green hills and valleys
4/5

Most of the superlative descriptions you read about Uganda are totally true, and it really is a place of shimmering lakes, lofty mountains and mysterious forests. Best known as the place to see mountain gorillas, no safari to the country...

Full Review

Expert
Mark Eveleigh  –  
United Kingdom UK

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

Fantastic wildlife and some of the friendliest people in Africa make Uganda unbeatable
5/5

I spent a month travelling around Uganda with a self-drive, expedition-prepared Landcruiser and visited almost every national park in the country. Uganda was a revelation! I had not expected such a richness of wildlife or such great...

Full Review

Kelly Eldridge  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Sep 24, 2023
Unforgettable
5/5

Our 7 days highlight tour with Speke Uganda Holidays was truly unforgettable. They made us feel safe the whole time and we got to see so much - volcanic craters, local towns with banana, tea and coffee plantations, the big 5, chimpanzees...

Full Review

Mrs. Lutamba  –  
Sweden SE
Reviewed: Sep 24, 2023
Uganda is Indeed the Pearl of Africa
5/5

I was born & raised in Uganda. Though living abroad for many years, had forget how beutiful my country is. Wild life is breathtaking if you are lucky to see all the CATS. We managed to see a leopard within100m it was the best experience...

Full Review

Jeremy  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Sep 6, 2023
Must visit place for truly unforgettable experiences.
5/5

We’ve been to Tanzania (and associated islands) and Kenya a number of times and Uganda offers something different - abundant primates! We spent 10 days on a driven loop on a private tour by Crystal Safaris. Some long drives but well worth...

Full Review

Katarina & Alen  –  
Slovenia SI
Reviewed: Aug 28, 2023
Unspoiled by mass tourism
5/5

Uganda is one of the countries where you can still experience the true meaning of exploring. There are not many tourists even in the height of peak season and for this reason it is still very unspoiled. We firstly visited Lake Mburo NP-...

Full Review