Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari – 5-Day Tour

A thrilling 5-day gorilla trekking Uganda and chimpanzee trekking Uganda in Kibale Forest, home to the highest concentration of primates in Africa, and experience the awe of meeting the endangered mountain gorillas deep in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Scenic drives, breath-taking landscapes and an authentic cultural/local community encounters.

Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe or Kampala & Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

On the first day of your gorilla tours Uganda, you will be met and warmly received at your hotel in Entebbe or at Entebbe airport by your safari guide from Salt Holidays who will brief you and begin the scenic drive to Kibale National Park. The journey takes approximately 6hours, passing through lush countryside, tea plantations, and rural villages. You will have lunch enroute before arriving at your lodge in the afternoon. Depending on the time, you may choose to take a guided nature walk around the lodge to explore the beautiful surroundings.

Dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking or Optional Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

After breakfast at 7:00 am, you will be transferred to the chimpanzee tracking visitors centre for a briefing by park rangers. Kibale is a prime destination for chimpanzee tracking, often referred to as the “Primate Capital of the World.” During the trek, you will have the opportunity to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat at very close range. The experience is both thrilling and educational, as your lead guide provides insights into the behaviour and ecology of these fascinating primates. Trekking typically lasts 3-4 hours, including the time spent with the chimpanzees once you locate them. Lunch will be at the lodge especially if you’re doing normal tracking.

In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run project. This walk is slower and more relaxed, with chances to see more primates like black-and-white colobus monkeys, birds like the Great Blue Turaco, and interact with local community.

Chimpanzee Tracking Vs Chimpanzee Habituation Experience:

Unlike normal chimpanzee tracking that allows a maximum of 6 people per chimpanzee community to view a habituated chimpanzee community for up to 1 classic hour, Chimpanzee habituation is a scientific research process that allows visitors to take part in a research process that makes a wild chimpanzee community get used to the presence of tourists. In habituation, you spend up to 4 memorable hours with a chimpanzee community being habituated studying their day to day activities and individual chimp behaviour. However, it costs a little more for a chimpanzee habituation permit as you will see in our inclusions and exclusions, please let us know at the time of booking should you prefer to do chimpanzee habituation as opposed to normal tracking

Dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge

 Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After breakfast, you will embark on a scenic journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive takes approximately 6-7hours offering breath-taking views of rolling hills, crater lakes and the Virunga Mountains. You will stop for lunch enroute before continuing through small villages and tea plantations. Upon arrival at Bwindi, you will check into your lodge and relax in preparation for the next day’s gorilla trekking experience.

Overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla lodge or Buhoma Haven Lodge

Day 4: Gorilla Tracking Experience

After an early morning full breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the park’s visitor information office with your lunch pack for a briefing by a ranger guide on your day’s activity-the dos and don’ts during your gorilla trekking experience. After the briefing, you will be led by an experienced lead ranger-guide hiking deep into the forest. This may take a few hours to a full day depending on the location of the gorillas as well as your physical fitness/speed. Once you locate a gorilla family, your lead guide will give additional safety briefing offering you maximum safety and a lifetime experience with the gorillas. It is such a humbling experience standing just a few meters from the gentle giants in their natural habitat. After your life time encounter with the gorillas, you’ll return to the lodge for a deserved relaxation or optionally participate in Batwa community experience to learn more about these indigenous forest people also known as the Batwa pygmies who accepted to relocate from the forest to allow gorilla conservation.

Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or Buhoma Haven Lodge

Gorilla Tracking Vs Gorilla Habituation Experience:

Unlike normal gorilla tracking that allows a maximum of 8 people per group to view a habituated gorilla family for up to 1 classic hour, Gorilla habituation is a scientific research process that allows a maximum of 4 visitors to take part in a research process that makes wild gorillas get used to the presence of tourists. In Gorilla habituation, you spend up to 4 memorable hours with a gorilla family being habituated studying their day to day activities and individual gorilla behaviour. However, gorilla habituation permit costs a little more as you will see in our inclusions and exclusions, please let us know at the time of booking should you prefer to do gorilla habituation as opposed to normal gorilla tracking.

Day 5: Transfer Back to Kampala/Entebbe or Kigali

After breakfast, begin your journey departing the impenetrable home of the mountain gorillas.

If returning to Entebbe, expect a relatively longer drive broken down into coffee and scenic stopovers including a stop at the Equator for souvenirs and lunch.
If exiting via Kigali, the drive is shorter and smoother, crossing into Rwanda with views of terraced hills. However, we recommend you apply for an East African Tourist Visa from the first country of entry that allows you seamless entrance to Rwanda.

Your guide will drop you off at the airport or hotel, marking the end of your gorilla tours Uganda

End of the safari

 Safari cost per person in us dollars: $2,887.6

Please Note: This safari cost is based on a minimum of 2pax sharing 1double/twin room occupancy in value accommodations as indicated on the itinerary.

Please Note: This itinerary can be customised to suit your interest(s), time and budget

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