Chimps and Gorilla Trekking Uganda | 5 Days
From $1,046
2pax: per person sharing
Visiting: Kibale Forest, Bwindi impenetrable national park, lake Bunyonyi
What to Expect
- Walk to See chimps in the wild
- Trek to Encounter Gorillas in the jungle.
- Meet overwhelming species of monkeys
- Watching colourful birds
- Bigodi swamp walk & community tour
- Viewing spectacular landscapes
- Experience natural diversity and
- Travel private by 4WD vehicle
Route Map
Chimps & Gorilla Trekking Uganda – 5 days.
If you love watching chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys and probably have very few days off your schedule, this tour is for you; 13 impressive primate species live in Kibale forest including chimpanzees. Head out on a gorilla tracking expedition. You will walk to re connect with local people and experience how locals are maintaining nature to protect primates in swamp walk.
You’re Uganda journey heads to Bwindi impenetrable national park, to encounter mountain gorillas in the jungle. Uganda is much more than gorillas. After days in forests, you will transfer to Uganda’s most beautiful lake, Bunyonyi for relaxation.
TIP: We can customise this tour and can start any date. This tour involves driving long hours on first day ( +/-6 hours) and last day (+/-8 hours) as you experience overwhelming natural diversity in the countryside. You can opt to flying at extra cost. We can arrange internal flights on day 1 to Kasese airstrip and day 5 on your way back to Entebbe airport. Guests may choose to add an optional day to Mabamba Swamp to see the rare shoebill after the safari.
Things to Know:
Minimum gorilla tracking age is 15 years.
A maximum of 8 people are permitted to visit a family of gorillas at one time/daily, so it’s likely on the real trekking day, you will be joined to other guests to make group of 8. If you’re travelling as a group larger than 8. You will be split across different but equally amazing families.
Maximum time allowed with the gorilla family will NOT exceed One hour.
It is a requirement to have a gorilla permit before you are allowed on a Gorilla trek.
Gorilla tracking in this tour can be done either in Bwindi impenetrable national park and/or Mgahinga gorilla national park.
**Gorilla permits are 100% non-refundable.
Is this trip for you?
This is an adventure for people who love primates, want up-close encounters.
You should be comfortable with;
- Transfers involving driving long hours of the day on nicely paved highways and rural roads connecting to the parks, which are sometimes rough, bumpy & dusty.
- Having an armed park ranger with AK47 with you all times on the trekking.
- Walking/trekking on uneven terrain for 2 to 6 or even 8 hours roundtrip.
- Gorillas & chimpanzees can sometimes be moving frequently, forest vegetation can at times obstruct visibility, and hence taking photos of these creatures can be very challenging but… finding them in the wild is worth it.
- Some high-altitude hikes or more strenuous walks, but accessible to most averagely healthy travellers.
- All tour guides speak fluent English. In case a client requests a translator, who speaks a language of choice (like Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian, French etc..), we are able to arrange a translator at additional cost.
Activity level is moderate demanding: Gorilla trekking can be a physically strenuous activity. Trekking takes place at altitudes between 1160 to 2607m (3806 to 8553ft) above sea level. moderate physical fitness is required. The slowest member will be on the front and determines the groups’ speed. The pace will be moderate, with plenty stops to rest, ask questions, re-hydrate and enjoy the forest and views.
Chimps & Gorilla Trekking Uganda – 5 days : Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival at Entebbe
Arrival meet and great our representative & transfer to your hotel in Entebbe City. Choice of Hotel is subject to your flight arrival time.
Day 1: Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park via Fort Portal
Today our guide will pick you from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe, transfer early morning to Fortportal; you pass through traditional Ugandan villages where you see native people in their farmlands. The lush green rolling hills will end up into viewing Uganda’s expansive tea plantations offering you great photo opportunities. Check in at lodge.
Today afternoon you will be walk to explore Bigodi swamp & community in a village walk (2-3 hours). In the Swamp we search for other primates, bird species like the Great blue Turaco and many more. A chance to connect with people as you explore farm life experiences like basket weaving, Coffee roasting tour. Along the trail you can also opt to have some local cooking lessons. Your overnight accommodation is at edge of Kibale Forest National park.
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner Included
- Driving time: 5 hours
Day 2: Kibale Forest National Park
Tea harvesting tour experience and Chimp Tracking in Kibale Forest.
Today our guide will transfer you to a tea plantation to experience tea harvesting. Did you know that majority of Ugandans drink more tea in their homes than coffee? Fort portal and Kibale area produce some of Uganda’s finest tea. a half-day excursion to a tea farm where you will be received by a local site guide, tour the plantation, learn tea, planting, seeds, propagation, and local harvesting techniques, followed by the chance to pick your own tea leaves using traditional woven baskets. Local guide will show you the best parts of the leaf to pick. After the leaves are picked, they are transported to tea processing factory. There is plenty of tea leaves for you to take home as a souvenir or gift. You will have chance to sample at an on-site café. The experience allows tea lovers to get a deeper understanding of their favorite beverage. Activity Duration: 2 hours.
After lunch, we transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Kanyanchu gate. Kibale National park is an extension of the great rainforests of central Africa. It is inhabited by three large “communities” of chimps, with over 120 individuals. Only one community is allowed to be visited by tourists.
In Kibale, here you will find one of the largest populations of chimpanzees in Africa – about 1450 individuals. Today you will do Chimpanzee ‘tracking’. Chimpanzee walking time: 2 to 4 hours.
What to carry: In your backpack remember to carry bottled drinking water, rain gear, and walking/ hiking boots.
It will be perfect opportunity to listen to the chimps as the grumble and feed. Only one community is allowed to be visited by tourists. Along the trail, there are chances of seeing other primates namely; the Guereza colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, and olive baboons as well as the Red colobus monkey and…plentiful of forest bird life.
Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will stay with them for one unforgettable hour. It certainly is one unforgettable wildlife encounters.
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included
Day 3: Kibale Forest to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park/ Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Today you’ll transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park /Mgahinga national park. You will drive via Ishasha (2 hours approx.), which is in the southern sector of Queen Elisabeth National Park, Ishasha is famous for tree climbing lions. There are chances of finding lions in the trees by the roadside. Please note that lions are animals in the wild, there is no guarantee for close sighting but our guide will maximize all regular hot spots to increase chances of sighting.
We continue to Bwindi – home of the mountain gorillas. Bwindi is about 330sq Kms, with spectacular scenery, impressive forest views. The whole geographical scenery is basically hilly and mountainous. At an elevation between 1160 to 2607m (3806 to 8553ft) rains can shower anytime in Bwindi forest, it is recommended that visitors pack rain wear, waterproof clothing and appropriate hiking shoes to wear on during gorilla tracking or forest walks. Daytime temperatures range from 23°C/73°F at times dropping to as low as 11°C/52°F.
There are 23 gorilla families which have been habituated for gorilla viewing, all of which can be accessed from specific locations/sectors of the forest. Eight people are permitted to view a single family per day. To trek gorillas, you need a gorilla permit/license. Depending on the park gate of gorilla permits available at time of booking, we will proceed to one of the following three gates: Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Kisoro/Mgahinga gorilla gate.
From Ishasha, the driving time will be between 2 and 6 hours depending on the Bwindi section we are heading to. We arrive in time for dinner at your lodge. Please note the choice of lodging will be determined by location of gorilla family available at time of booking!
- Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking day; trekking duration range: 1 to 10 hours.
Today our guide will pick you from your lodge early morning, transfer to park gate for orientation. Pre-tracking orientation starts at 8:00am. Trekking through the thick jungle, traversing canopies of thick undergrowth can be tough, wet, strenuous but not impossible – the tracking can last from as little as one hour to as many as 10 hours. The activity depends on location of gorillas the previous day. Visitors are supposed to move along with packed/picnic lunch and water, and should be equipped with strong water-proof clothing and must be averagely healthy. You will discover that trekking to meet mountain gorillas is a life time experience well worth it.
After gorilla trekking, return to the lodge.
Day 5: Bwindi to Entebbe airport.
Today morning we transfer by road trip to back to Entebbe. Approximate drive time: 8-10 hours.
NOTE: You could choose to fly one way back from kihihi/kisoro airstrip to Entebbe airport ( Uganda) by domestic flight at extra cost. Flight departs at 8.45am and arrives 11.25am.
Alternatively, you could also choose to transfer by road to Kigali airport ( Rwanda), crossing land border at Kyanika or Katuna. Approximate transfer time: 4 hours
End of trip services:
Price Includes
- All Park Entrance fees
- Guides in the park
- Private Transportation: 4WD Toyota Safari vehicle
- English speaking driver guide.
- 1 Bigodi swamp & community walk
- 01 Chimpanzee tracking permit per person.
- Full Board meals (04 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 4 dinners) as on indicated on itinerary.
- Professional Safari driver/guide
- Transfers and ground transport by minivan while you stay with us
- Water in the safari van for your daily consumption while on tour
Accommodation in self-contained rooms;
- – 02 nights’ accommodation at Edge of Kibale Forest National park
- – 01-night accommodation at Edge of Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
- – 01-night accommodation at Lake Bunyonyi
Price Excludes
- Air ticket.
- Drinks
- Uganda Visa.
- Porters on trekking
- 1 Gorilla tracking permit per person (we arrange & purchase it for you)
- Tips to guides.
- All optional activities (paid locally to supplier)
- Any meals not indicated on itinerary
- Items of personal nature, such as Visa, gifts, entertainment or anything not included in itinerary.
- Any other optimal activity is not included
- Any other language speaking guide – at extra $100
- The first and last nights in hotels in Entebbe/ Kampala at Silverback guest house, single $60, and Double $90. Or Via Via Guesthouse Entebbe, Single $40, Double $60
1 night at Guinea Fowl, Entebbe.
2 Nights at Isunga Lodge, Kibale NP
2 Nights at Ride4woman, Bwindi NP
Meals-Full Board: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for extra cost!
Lodging mentioned depends on availability of rooms at the time of booking. Reservations will only be made after your confirmed booking with us.
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