4 Days Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari: Chimps & Big Five Safari

The 4 Days Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari takes adventurers through two of Uganda’s premier wildlife destinations, making it one of the strongest short Uganda safaris for anyone who wants both serious chimp tracking in Uganda and classic Big Five game viewing in a single trip.

Start with a thrilling chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale National Park, home to over 1,000 chimpanzees, plus a Bigodi Swamp walk for birdwatching.

Then head to Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its diverse wildlife — elephants, buffaloes, and the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Sector — with a game drive and a serene Kazinga Channel boat cruise rounding out an unforgettable four days.

Trip Overview & Highlights

Quick facts:

Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Starting point: Entebbe International Airport or Kampala
Parks visited: Kibale National Park + Queen Elizabeth National Park
Core activities: Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi Swamp walk, game drives, Kazinga Channel boat cruise, Ishasha tree-climbing lions
Best for: Travelers wanting primates and Big Five safari in one efficient itinerary
Price range: From roughly $1,000 per person (budget, 5+ travelers) up to $3,000+ (solo luxury) — see the full cost table below

Tour highlights:

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park — one of the best chimp tracking experiences in Africa, in a forest home to over 1,000 chimpanzees.
Bigodi Swamp Walk — rich birdwatching and wetland biodiversity.
Game drives and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park — elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and prolific birdlife.
Ishasha Sector visit — a rare chance to see Uganda’s famous tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees.
Scenic landscapes and cultural encounters throughout — Rwenzori Mountain views, tea plantations, and rural Ugandan life.

4 Days Kibale & Queen Elizabeth Safari Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kibale National Park.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Swamp walk.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, afternoon game drive.
Day 4: Morning game drive, Kazinga Channel boat cruise, and departure.

Want just the chimps? See our 2 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking Safari. Want gorillas too? Check our 7 Days Uganda Primate Safari.

4 Days Kibale & Queen Elizabeth Safari

4 Days Kibale & Queen Elizabeth Safari Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Kibale National Park

Morning: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport or Kampala and meet your guide. Begin the journey to Kibale National Park, approximately a 5–6 hour drive from Kampala, passing through beautiful Ugandan landscapes including tea plantations and rolling hills.

Afternoon: Arrive at your lodge, check in, and enjoy lunch. Relax and refresh after your journey.

Evening: Leisure time to explore the surroundings, or a brief walk around the park’s entrance area before dinner. Overnight at your lodge near Kibale National Park.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk

Morning: After breakfast, head to Kibale Forest for your chimpanzee trekking experience. Accompanied by expert guides, trek through the forest tracking chimpanzees, observing their behavior and group interactions. Along the way, you may also encounter red-tailed monkeys and colobus monkeys.

Afternoon: After lunch, enjoy a scenic walk through Bigodi Swamp — rich in biodiversity, home to various bird species, monkeys, and reptiles, with genuine insight into local community life along the way.

Evening: Return to your accommodation, relax, and enjoy dinner. Overnight near Kibale National Park.

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Game Drive

Morning: After breakfast, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, about 2–3 hours south of Kibale, through scenic landscapes with views of the Rwenzori Mountains and local villages.

Afternoon: Arrive at your accommodation, check in, and have lunch. Embark on an afternoon game drive through the park, encountering elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and numerous antelope species.

Evening: Return to the lodge for dinner, with panoramic views over the park’s savannah.

Day 4: Morning Game Drive, Boat Cruise, and Departure

Morning: Start the day with an early game drive in the Ishasha Sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions — a rare and genuinely exciting sight, watching lions lounging in fig trees.

Late Morning: After the game drive, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George, with strong chances to see hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and a wide variety of birdlife.

Afternoon: After the cruise, lunch at the lodge before beginning your return journey to Entebbe or Kampala.

Evening: Arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the late afternoon/evening, where the tour ends.

End of 4 Days Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Chimpanzee Permit & Park Fees (2026/2027 UWA Tariffs)

Fee	Foreign Non-Resident	Foreign Resident
Chimpanzee permit (standard/high season)	$250	$200
Chimpanzee permit (low season: April, May, November)	$200	$150
Queen Elizabeth NP entrance (per day)	$40	$30
Kazinga Channel boat cruise	~$30	~$30

Permits are limited — book 3–6+ months ahead for standard-season dates. Uganda Wildlife Authority has discontinued the previous 7-day unpaid reservation hold: full payment is now required immediately to confirm your chimpanzee permit, so book promptly once your travel dates are set. Low-season permits offer genuine savings but are non-reschedulable once confirmed.

4 Days Kibale & Queen Elizabeth Safari Includes & Excludes;

Tour Inclusions:

Chimpanzee trekking permit
Accommodation (3 nights)
Meals (full board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Transportation (private safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide)
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Bigodi Swamp walk
Park entrance fees
Bottled water during the tour
Guide and driver fees

Tour Exclusions:

International flights
Travel insurance
Personal expenses (souvenirs, tips, etc.)
Alcoholic drinks
Visa fees
Extra activities not mentioned in the itinerary

Why Book This Safari

The 4 Days Kibale & Queen Elizabeth Safari is an ideal blend of primate trekking and wildlife viewing. Kibale offers one of the best chimpanzee trekking experiences in Africa, while Queen Elizabeth National Park delivers diverse wildlife, scenic beauty, and the chance to see tree-climbing lions and other fascinating species most visitors never encounter.

This tour offers an excellent mix of adventure, relaxation, and wildlife discovery — a perfect introduction to Uganda’s wildlife and landscapes, and a must-do for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

Other Tour Packages to Consider

2 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Safari — focuses solely on chimpanzee trekking and the Bigodi Swamp walk.
3 Days Kibale Primate Tour — a deeper Kibale-only itinerary with an added nature walk day.
4 Days Gorilla & Chimpanzee Tour — combines chimpanzee trekking with gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
7 Days Uganda Primate Safari — covers Kibale, Bwindi, and beyond for a complete primate adventure, chimps and gorillas both.
9 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari — a fuller itinerary spanning multiple parks for an all-around wildlife experience.

Each of these can be tailored to your travel needs and interests for a deeper exploration of Uganda’s wildlife and landscapes.

FAQs – 4 Days Kibale & Queen Elizabeth Safari

How much does the 4 Days Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari cost? Indicative pricing runs from around $1,000 per person (budget, group of 5+) up to $3,000+ for a solo luxury experience — see the full cost table above, and contact us for an exact quote based on your dates and group size.

How much is a chimpanzee trekking permit in 2026/2027? $250 per person in standard/high season for foreign non-residents, dropping to $200 during the low-season months of April, May, and November. Foreign residents pay $200 standard, $150 low season.

Can I see gorillas on this trip too? Not on this specific 4-day itinerary — for gorillas alongside Kibale chimps, see our 4 Days Gorilla & Chimpanzee Tour or the longer 7 Days Uganda Primate Safari.

What makes Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha Sector special? Ishasha is one of the few places in the world where lions regularly climb and rest in trees — a genuinely rare behavior that makes this sector a highlight of the trip.

Is this trip suitable for first-time Uganda visitors? Yes — it’s a strong introduction to Uganda’s wildlife, combining forest primate trekking with classic savanna game viewing in a compact, efficient four-day format.

Do I need to book the chimpanzee permit in advance? Yes — permits are limited, and Uganda Wildlife Authority now requires full payment immediately to confirm a booking. We recommend booking 3–6+ months ahead for standard-season travel.

What’s included in the tour price? Chimpanzee permit, 3 nights’ accommodation, full-board meals, private vehicle and driver-guide, all game drives, the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, Bigodi Swamp walk, park entrance fees, and bottled water — see the full inclusions list above.

Ready to combine chimpanzee trekking with Big Five game viewing? Contact us today to book your 4 Days Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Safari.