5 Days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari
This 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari is an adventurous safari that starts and ends in Kampala. The safari will take you to Bwindi impenetrable national park and Kibale forest national park where you will be able to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
Highlights of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale forest national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to transfer to Kibale national park
Depending on your location on the first day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will be picked by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the safari to Kibale national park in western Uganda. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive and on the way you will have en-route lunch in Fort Portal and enjoy stunning views of the traditional homesteads, local people, beautiful scenery, views of the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes, tea plantations among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Chimpanzee trekking,
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be grouped into 6 people, allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who will lead you into the forest during trekking. Chimpanzee trekking is an interesting activity that starts at 8:00am and takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food especially during the dry season. During trekking you will be able to see other primates like red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, view some bird species, mammals, plants species among others. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be able spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, play, fight, hunt, mate, take photos and record the moments. After the one hour with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide and return back to the lodge for lunch.
Bigodi swamp walk
After lunch you will go for an exciting nature walk in Bigodi swamp where you will be able to view mammals like bushbucks, sitatungas, otters, different primate species such as black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, different bird species including hornbills, kingfishers, parrots, grey crowned cranes, turacos, colorful butterflies, different plant and tree species among others. After the nature walk you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park in south western Uganda. On the way you will have en-route lunch and then continue the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Upon arrival you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking,
After an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people, allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is knowledgeable about the mountain gorillas and also conversant with trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park starts at around 8:00am and takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas slept the previous night. During trekking you will have views of bird species, other primates like chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, different plant and tree species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their environment where you will be able to watch them feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, play, observe their behaviors, take photos and record the breathtaking moments. After the face to face encounter with the mountain gorillas you will trek back to the starting point where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide to return back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kampala. On the way you will have great views of the Kigezi hills, terraced farmlands, traditional homesteads and en-route lunch in Mbarara town. After lunch you will proceed the journey to Kampala with another stopover at the Equator in Kayabwe to take photos and buy souvenirs. Upon arrival in Kampala your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- International Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
