Experience 5 days Uganda primate safari with gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking in the finest rainforest dominated parks. Visit Kibale National Park to begin your exhilarating chimpanzee tracking adventure and end it with mountain gorilla encounter in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Kibale National Park is a stunning rainforest game park lying in Kabarole district, Western Uganda. Created in 1993, Kibale’s land area covers up to 795sq.km inhabiting over 13 primate species which also share the same habitat with reptiles, 375 bird species, and several beautiful butterflies. Over 1500 chimpanzees exist in this park with more than 4 communities undergone full habituation.
Bwindi in the far Southwestern Uganda is a favorite gorilla trekking destination. This is an excellent spot to find the massive mountain gorillas in the wild. The park spans up to 331sq.km and supports about 459 mountain gorillas with about 21 habituated groups all open for trekking.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Road Transfer to Kibale
After breakfast, you will leave Kampala for Kibale National Park, half-day drive through Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal tourism city. En-route, expect to have lunch at Fort Portal and also enjoy scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains. Leave Fort Portal to check in at the lodge pre-booked for your chimpanzee trekking tour in Kibale.
Accommodation
- Ndali Lodge (Luxury)
- Primate Lodge (Midrange)
- Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking
Join the rest of the guests for briefing at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre. Meet the park official at the briefing room after you have been cleared clerks and get to learn about rules and regulations for chimpanzee tracking. Leave Kanyanchu for actual trekking with Kibale chimpanzees at 8:00am and this adventure will go for 2-4 hours. This includes an hour of observing chimps habits, body gestures and also use this period for taking pictures.
After the interaction with Kibale chimps, get back and you will have lunch at leisure at the lodge. You will be transferred to Bigodi wetland where you will end the day with a swamp walk. Here more primates and birds will be spotted then you will return to relax at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Ndali Lodge (Luxury)
- Primate Lodge (Midrange)
- Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 3: Kibale Forest to Bwindi National Park through Kasese-Ishasha
At leisure, begin your day with tasty cup of tea or coffee then check out from your lodge. Leave Kibale for Bwindi, driving via Ishasha –the Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth NP. Today’s road transfer journey includes a short game drive at Ishasha and expect to observe the tree climbing lions and topis, etc. Have lunch still in the wilderness and finally, proceed to Bwindi.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs –Luxury
- Engagi Lodge or Silverback Lodge –Midrange
- Bakiga Lodge/Buhoma Community Camp –Budget
Day 4: Long day gorilla trekking adventure with Bwindi NP guide
Depart from the lodge for briefing and today, assemble at any of the 4 sectors of Bwindi NP. The briefing exercise also includes allocation of gorilla groups and park guides then you will begin winding through the natural rainforest in search of mountain gorillas. It will be mesmerizing moment, especially during the one hour of observing how these apes behave in their natural habitat and taking pictures. After, return and enjoy some refreshment at the lodge till evening you may opt to visit the Batwa pygmies in their community.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs –Luxury
- Engagi Lodge or Silverback Lodge –Midrange
- Bakiga Lodge/Buhoma Community Camp –Budget
Day 5: Departure time
Get up early and have a leisurely break, then you will check out. After, begin your journey back to Entebbe or Kampala which marks the end of a special 5-day safari.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Gorilla permits
- Chimp permits (Kibale)
- Game drives
- Park entry fees
- Accommodation options and meals
- Ground travel for all the 5 days
- Services provided by guides or driver
Exclusions
- Tips
- Laundry services
- Passport fees
- Telephone expenses
- Travel Insurance fees
- Alcoholic drink costs
- Extra tour activities, etc.
