Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking
SAFARI SUMMARY
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and optional Kampala city tour
Day 2 : Road Transfer from Kampala to Kibale National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest national park
Day 4: Morning Game Drive-Afternoon launch Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 5: En’ route game drive via Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and optional Batwa community tour
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 7: Transfer back to Kampala / Entebbe – departure
Love Uganda Safaris presents to you an opportunity to venture into the wilderness of Uganda. The 7 days Chimp and gorilla safari in Uganda is a journey worth your time, money and commitment. It is an opportunity for you to see the human-like chimps who share 98% of their DNA with that of human beings. It also involves views of the less common tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. Of course not forgetting the magical Kazinga channel boat cruise and the spectacular gorilla trekking experience. Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in the forests of Bwindi which are a true reflection of the name of the park – Impenetrable.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and optional Kampala city tour
Upon arrival at Entebbe International airport, Love Uganda Safaris driver / guide will meet you as soon as possible. He or she will brief you about the 7 Days chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. You will then have lunch at any hotel in either Entebbe or Kampala.
If you are tired because of the journey, you will spend the rest of the day in your earlier booked hotel or lodge. There is also an optional Kampala city tour. This will take you to wonderful places with in Kampala city such as the Uganda Museum, Bahai temple, Old Kampala Mosque (for views of all the 7 hills of Kampala), Kasubi Royal tombs, Namugongo martyrs shrine, to mention but a few. You will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Serena Hotel or similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Cassia Lodge or similar
Budget / Basic: Dolphin Suites or similar
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Road Transfer from Kampala to Kibale National Park
After a delicious morning breakfast at your lodge / hotel in Kampala, check out and meet your driver. You will embark on the road to Kibale Forest national park via Kampala – Mubende – Fort Portal highway. You will have lunch en’ route and a stopover at the historical Nakayima tree in Mubende district. You will enjoy the views of the surrounding areas of Fort Portal – Uganda’s tourism city such as the Rwenzori Mountains.
Check in to the lodge for relaxation upon arrival. If time allows you, you will go for a guided nature walk for scenic views of the surrounding areas.
Main destination: Kibale Forest national park
Driving Distance: 358 kilometers
Driving time: Approximately 5 to 6 hours
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Papaya Lodge or similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Chimpanzee Forest guesthouse or similar
Budget / Basic: Kibale Forest Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After a morning breakfast, you will go to the visitor’s center for briefing about chimpanzee trekking. From there, you will enter the forests of Kibale and start on the search for these human-like chimps. Upon encountering them, you will have an hour in their presence whilst taking pictures. Return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation.
After lunch, check out of the lodge and drive to Queen Elizabeth national park. The journey is a blessing for you to see lush green vegetation cover, rolling hills and scenic views of crater lakes and the mighty Rwenzori Mountains.
Check in to the lodge, upon arrival, have dinner, relax and spend the night over.
Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth national park
Travel distance: Approximately 180.8 km
Travel time: 3 to 4 hours
Main activities: Chimpanzee trekking
Optional activities: Climbing to the top of the world, Bigodi swamp walk (birding)
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge or similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge or similar
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages or similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Morning game drive and afternoon Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
After a morning breakfast, you will go for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. The areas is a home to multiple species of both birds and animals. You will encounter animals such as elephants, buffaloes, zebras, to mention but a few. During the morning game drive, you will also see multiple tree and bird species among which include; yellow bill, Robin chat, read-throated wryneck, African emerald cuckoo, brown illadospis, lesser flamingos, papyrus gonolek, to mention but a few.
You will return to your lodge for lunch.
Later on, go to Mweya for a boat cruise at Kazinga channel. Here you will enjoy views of the surrounding areas while sailing the waters. You will see many animals converging at the channel to drink and several water animals such as hippos and crocodiles.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge or similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge or similar
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages or similar
Main activities
- Game drive in the Kasenyi plains
- Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Optional activities
- Visiting Lake Katwe salt mining area
- Birding
- Guided nature walks
- Community visits
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and supper
Day 5: En’ route game drive via Ishasha sector (tree climbing lions) and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After a morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and go for an en’ route game drive via Ishasha sector. Continue to Bwindi impenetrable national park – the home of mountain gorillas. It is a rough ride in the hills of Kabale and Kisoro.
Upon arrival check in to the lodge and relax.
In the evening, you can opt for a walk to the neighboring Batwa communities. You will feel their hospitality as they dance and enjoy traditional songs. You will also learn about their traditional ways of life such as hunting.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Travel distance: Approximately 180.8 km
Travel time: 3 to 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Main activities: Game drive in the Ishasha sector
Optional activities
- Batwa community walk
- Birding
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge and Four Gorillas Lodge or similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Buhoma Havens Lodge, Agandi Lodge and Icumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar
Budget / Basic: Ride for a Woman Lodge, Broadbill forest Camp and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
The day starts with an early morning breakfast at your lodge (about 6:30am). This is the day every gorilla lover is always waiting for!
Your driver / guide will meet you at your lodge and drive to the park headquarters for briefing. The briefing takes about 30 minutes and helps know about the dos and don’ts of the forthcoming activity. Once the briefing is done, you will be grouped into groups of not more than eight (8) people and the trekking begins. Each group follows a particular group of gorillas and chances of seeing these gorillas faster depends on where they spent the previous night as well as the physical fitness of trekkers.
Upon encountering the gorillas, you will have a full hour to spend in their presence as you take as many pictures as your camera can hold, however, you are not allowed to use flash light while using the camera since the gorillas are too sensitive to it. During the trek, not only will you see mountain gorillas but also golden monkeys, several tree species and birds, some of which are rift valley endemics.
You will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. Spend the remaining hours of the day in the compound of your lodge enjoying the breeze.
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge and Four Gorillas Lodge or similar
Mid-range / Moderate: Buhoma Havens Lodge, Agandi Lodge and Icumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar
Budget / Basic: Ride for a Woman Lodge, Broadbill forest Camp and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or similar
Day 7: Transfer back to Kampala / Entebbe international airport – departure
After a delicious breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet your driver and embark on your journey back to Kampala. You will use the same road which is an opportunity for you to see what you might have missed on the first day. You will have another stopover at Igongo Cultural Center for lunch as well as the Uganda Equator for pictures or grab something in the craft shop. This will always remind you of the 7 days Chimp and gorilla safari in Uganda.
You will have a lunch stopover at Igongo Cultural center from where you will learn about the legends of Ankole Kingdom. You have an option of hiking to the opposite eclipse monument for spectacular views of Mbarara city and the surrounding areas.
The second stopover will be at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe. It is here that you will take memorable pictures. It is good to buy something from the craft shop at the Equator. It is a way of giving back to conservationists as well as a reminder for your Uganda safari.
The driver will drop you at either a hotel of your choice in Kampala or Entebbe airport for your outbound flight. Thus the climax of your 7 days Chimp and gorilla safari in Uganda
Main Destination: Entebbe International airport
Travel time: Between 7 to 8 hours
Travel distance: 512 km
Accommodation: No accommodation
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Includes
- Bottled water for drinking
- Full time English speaking tour guide / driver
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- Wi-Fi on the safari vehicle
- Park entry fees
- Airport pickup
- Sight seeing
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Boat cruise and game drive fees
- Non-alcoholic drinks served with lunch and dinner only.
SPECIAL NOTE: Love Uganda would like to inform you that during your 7 days Chimp and gorilla safari in Uganda, you will be interacting with animals and birds in their natural setting. In other words, the animals are not in cages or a zoo. This implies that there are chances of not finding some of these animals at the expected places and in the estimated time. However, from our previous experiences and up to date information from Uganda Wildlife Authority, there are 90% chances of seeing these animals and birds in their respective places.
Excludes
- Laundry services
- Personal medical insurance
- Cigarettes
- Extra accommodation
- Alcoholic drinks
- Any other activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any activity mentioned as “Optional” in this itinerary
- Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) Penalty fees after violating national park rules and regulations
CHIMPANZEE TRACKING RULES
For your own safety and the protection of the Chimpanzees, you are required to follow a few rules along the forest trails.
- Chimpanzees can catch your diseases; you must not enter the forest if you are sick.
- Minimum Age for tracking is 12 years
- Do not leave litter in the forest
- If you need to urinate or defecate, do so off the trail. Bury your waste in a hole (30 cm deep) along with any toilet paper.
- Keep as quiet as possible in the forest, you will see more.
- Keep at least 8 meters (25 feet) from the chimpanzees at all times.
- Do not mimic Chimpanzees’ vocalization (you do not know what you might be saying!)
- Do not eat near the Chimpanzees.
- Do not chase the Chimpanzees.
- Do not use flash photography
GORILLA TRACKING RULES
-
Before You Set Out
- Ensure to carry with you payment receipts and permits
- Do not visit the gorillas if you have a cold or other infectious illness
- Minimum age for tracking is 15 years
- Human waste should be buried 30 cm (12) deep
- Maximum number of visitors is eight persons per gorilla group
-
When You Are With The Gorillas
- Maintain a 7m (21feet) distance from the gorilla
- Smoking, eating and drinking are not permitted on the tour
- If you must sneeze or cough cover your face and turn away from the gorillas, as they can catch coughs and colds from humans
- Visits are limited to one hour per gorilla group per day
- Do not use flash photography.
Safari Activities
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Gorilla trekking
- Pictorial moments at the Uganda Equator
- Optional Kampala city tour
- Optional Batwa Community tour
- Optional hike to the eclipse monument opp. Igongo cultural center
Safari Destinations
- Kibale forest national park: Famous for having multiple primate species majorly chimpanzees. It is also a reliable destination for bird lovers.
- Queen Elizabeth national park: named after the former queen of England – Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park in Uganda. The park attracts thousands of travelers from all parts of the world. Its major attraction is the mighty tree climbing lion found in Ishasha sector.
- Bwindi Impenetrable national park: This is also known as “The Ultimate Gorilla Experience.” Bwindi Impenetrable national park is a home to over 400 mountain gorillas. The park attracts many travelers who come to trek and habituate these gorillas. It also has one of the best community tours in East Africa that is the Batwa pygmies community tours full of traditional and African encounters.
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Important to Note!
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is fully refunded if the booking is cancelled up to 45 days before arrival.
- Balance should be paid 60 days before arrival.