6 Days Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
Our Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari is a safari that takes you to three of Uganda’s amazing national parks. Let’s you trek chimpanzees, see animals of the savanna and go trekking Mountain Gorillas. Trek chimps in Kibale Forest National Park, see animals of the savanna on game-drive and boat-cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park and trek Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park during this unforgettable adventure.
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
Start the Kibale, Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi safari with transfer to Kibale Forest National Park in the morning with the target to have lunch in Fort portal. (If you arrive from abroad the day before a night at a hotel in Kampala can be added.) A punctuation of stopovers in the far country side offer us chances of stretching in villages and around tea plantations along the drive as we check in late evening. Have a night in a beautiful area bordering Kibale Forest.
Location: Kibale Forest National Park.
Dinner and Overnight, Accommodation Options
Budget: Rweteera Forest Safari Park
Mid-Range: Chimpanzee Guest House
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drinking Water throughout
Day 2: Chimp trekking experience and bigodi swamp walk
Kibale forest national park is a rainy forest and a home to over 1500 Chimpanzees. During your morning chimps trekking you will see them close and capture shots of our closest cousins in the Jungle in their frenzy exciting moods grooming! Besides the chimps, 9 different species of monkeys are found in this forest, for example, red colobus, red-tailed monkey and bush babies. In the forest canopy colored aviation creatures-butterflies and various bird species like the native Great blue Turaco, joyful greenbul, olive long-tailed cuckoo and the superb black beef eater can be spotted. After the trek, we continue our Kibale, Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi safari with the transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. Drive further southwards with the Rwenzori ranges (Longest in Africa) in view or drive through the crater lakes in the hills through to sample out the surprising diversity of Savannah trees and wildlife! Reach the lodge and enjoy the impressive view over Queen Elizabeth national park as we sigh and reset Fatigue and stress, to point zero.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Dinner and Overnight, Accommodation
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Mid-Range: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drinking Water throughout
Day 3: Game-drive and boat-cruise in Queen Elizabeth NP
Discover Queen Elizabeth National Park in the cool morning as the second park on our Kibale, Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi safari. We go for an early game drive that exposes us to diverse animals, Big 5 members Elephants, Buffalos, big cats- Lions, Leopards more times in the evening, warthogs- Hunchback carnivals like Hyenas and many more species that are residents to this park are spotted along the Circuits as we drive along. There is a rich bird life especially our version of storks in the wetland spots as we reach the Flamingoes in the salt lakes. After lunch in the afternoon it is time for the 3pm boat-cruise on Kazinga channel, lasts 2 hours. Here you have the chance to spot hippos, buffaloes, crocodiles and more along the banks of the channel.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Dinner and Overnight, Accommodation Options
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Mid-Range: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drinking Water throughout
Day 4: Tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and transfer to Bwindi
Transfer through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park on the way to Bwindi, this area is known for its tree-climbing lions. In Ishasha we will drive off in this adventurous vast savannah area with topis and the southern version of Elephants to hopefully get the Lions high in the fig tree branches. Continue the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP. Here you will experience a change in the landscape from flat savanna, via cultivated hills to jungle-covered mountains. (If we reach early, we can do a walk and mix with the locals, Dinner and Overnight.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Dinner and Overnight, Accommodation Options
Budget: Bakiga Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drinking Water throughout
Day 5: Gorilla trekking, Batwa Community Visit and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Have an early breakfast and get ready for the big highlight of this Kibale, Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi safari. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the home to the forest giants, the mountain gorillas, and on this day, you get to meet them. You will set off into the forest with a specialized guide, Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari: trek through beautiful nature and finally get to spend one hour in the area where the mountain gorillas are. Besides the gorillas this Impenetrable Forest is full of birds, butterflies and plant species plus forest hog, forest Elephants, Statungas and Dikers. After the trekking transfer to beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Dinner and Overnight
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Dinner and Overnight, Accommodation Options
Budget: Hawks Eye Lodge
Midrange: Arcadia Lodges Lake Bunyonyi
Luxury: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi resort
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drinking Water throughout
Day 6: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
Have an early morning breakfast and embark on the drive back to Kampala with a stopover at equator and lunch in Masaka. Drive back through to Kampala/Entebbe where your guide drops you as we have reached the end of our Kibale, Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi safari. (If leaving Uganda straight away you can either have a late evening flight or add a night to fly out the next day.) Thank you so much for choosing Mwanzo Tours Uganda, we hope to see you again!!!
Location: Kampala/Entebbe
Accommodation: No Accommodation
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Things Included
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permit
Park entrance and ranger fees.
Transport with our 4 WD vehicle and fuel
Bottled water throughout the safari
Full-board accommodation for four days
Boat cruise fees
Full-board accommodation for five days
Meals including the en-route ones as per the meal plan
Airport transfer as long as your flight is on the same day the safari ends
Relevant Government taxes
Full-time English-speaking driver
All activities on the itinerary
Things Excluded
International flights
Personal expenses like tips, laundry fees, and beverages, personal insurance
Extra activities not included on the itinerary
Visa fees
Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali except if arranged in advance
Guides of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking has become the most attracting activity in Africa especially in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many tourists prefer going to the deep tropical rainforests searching for these endangered gorillas and some even end up doing three times tracking after their experience.
In these three countries, trekking is now the leading tourist attraction bringing in visitors from different countries all over the world.
Uganda is known for its unsurpassed biodiversity but gorilla trekking safaris are the most popular and are the prime reason many tourists visit Uganda.
Mountain gorillas are scientifically known as Gorilla beringei beringei and in Uganda occupy the thick Tropical rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks found in the south-western corner of the country.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a one-of-a kind activity that leads enthusiastic primate lovers to the dense jungles to meet one of the 21 habituated gorilla families that call Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks home.
With more than half the World’s population of surviving mountain gorillas calling these Park’s home, Uganda is definitely the best gorilla trekking destination.
Mgahinga is a home to only one habituated gorilla family known as Nyakagyezi while Bwindi Impenetrable offers shelter to 20 habituated gorilla families found within the four sectors of the Park thus 160 permits are available per day. Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
The habituated groups you will trek when you visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking safaris are Habinyanja, Mubare, Rushegura, Katwe, Nkuringo, Christmas, Bushaho, Bikingi, Mucunguzi, Kutu, Rwigi, Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye, Nshongi, Mishaya, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguliro and Mukiza.
With a valid gorilla permit costing only $600, you will be able to trek the mentioned gorilla families and spend one hour with them.
Cost of gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda
Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are relatively cheaper than in Rwanda and the cost depends on a number of factors that include the transport means chosen, the accommodation facility (whether its budget, midrange or luxury) and the time of the year (wet months are generally low seasons where most safari lodges/hotels offer discounts).
However, some costs especially for gorilla permits remain constant at $600 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and Shs 250,000 for East African Community Residents.
What you need to carry for Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda
Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are incomplete without a number of essential things that include a gorilla permit which you need to put first in your bag, gardening gloves that will protect your hands from getting hurt as you hold on tree branches, rain jacket.
strong hiking boots with enough grip, toiletries, cameras with extra batteries and enough memory, long sleeved shirt/top, insect repellant, rainproof backpack, energy giving snacks, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, pair of binoculars, long trousers, long cotton socks and finally you will need to hire a porter on the day of trekking.
Best Time for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda
Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are done all year round but gorilla permits are usually on high demand during the dry months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December because most tourists prefer trekking during the dry season when trails are drier and less muddy or slippery.
This however doesn’t mean that the Gorilla trekking destinations are avoided during the wet season but surprisingly,
The months of March, April, May, October and November offer easier and faster trekking conditions given the fact that food for the mountain gorillas is in plenty and these primates don’t move to far places. Enjoy your trip Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
