5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzees trekking safari

5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzees trekking safari is a typical Uganda primate safari offering an encounter with the world’s endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, Uganda is a remarkable destination for primate safaris and it is a recognized habitat for primates which are protected in many Uganda’s best national parks such as Bwindi impenetrable national park and Kibale national park.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a famous Uganda safari destination found in the southwestern region of the country, this park is a home to the largest population of mountain gorillas remaining in the world (half of the world’s population). Bwindi impenetrable national park is recognized for offering amazing mountain gorilla trekking safari which is conducted in 13 habituated mountain gorilla families that are Mubare Gorilla Family, Habinyanja Gorilla Family, Rushegura Gorilla Family, Bitukura Gorilla Family, Oruzogo Gorilla Family, Nkuringo Gorilla Family, Nshongi Gorilla Family, Mishaya Gorilla Family,  Kahungye Gorilla Family, Bweza Gorilla Family- Rushaga, Busingye Gorilla Family, Kyaguriro Gorilla Family, Christmas and Katwe.

Kibale national park is another remarkable primate habitat in Uganda hosting 13 primate species with a large population of chimpanzees, Kibale national park is situated in the western region of Uganda. This park is dominated by tracts of tropical rainforests which are home to 13 primate species that are bush babies, L’Hoest’s monkey, red colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, blue monkey, Vervet monkeys and Potto.

5 days gorilla and chimpanzees trekking safari offers 5 days and 4 nights in Uganda, this safari begins from Kampala and ends in either Kampala or Entebbe.

Highlights of 5 days gorilla and chimpanzees trekking safari

  • Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kibale National Park
  • Day 2: chimpanzee tracking
  • Day 3: transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
  • Day 4: mountain gorilla trekking
  • Day 5: transfer back to Kampala and drop off

Detailed itinerary of the safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kibale national park

After early morning breakfast, you will be picked from your hotel by your safari driver who will give you a short briefing about the safari and set off on a drive to Kibale national park, on your way you will have a stopover in Hoima for lunch and another stopover will be in fortportal for pictures on the foothill of mountain Rwenzori. When you arrive in the park, you will check into your lodge and rest, in the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation is got from 

Luxury: Ndali Lodge

Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guest

Budget: Kibale Forest camp

Day 2: chimpanzee tracking

Early in the morning you will have breakfast at your lodge and head to the park’s headquarters from briefing in which the way of conduct in the presence of chimpanzee will be read to you, at exactly 8:00 am you will head in the forests of Kibale in search for chimpanzees and on your way expect to spot other primates such as L’Hoests monkeys, golden monkeys, Black and white colobus monkeys, grey checked Mangabey, red tailed monkeys, bush babies, many birds such as green breasted pitta, rumped tinker bird, yellow spotted Nicator and many plants. When you find the chimpanzees you will are to stay for a period of 1 hour in presence of chimpanzees observing their behavior as they pick fruits, groom their young one and take beautiful pictures. After the experience you will trek back to the park’s headquarters, meet your safari and head back to your lodge for lunch, in the afternoon you head to Bigodi Swamp Sanctuary for a walk. On Bigodi swamp walk you will spot animals like baboons, mongoose, otters, bush pigs, bush bucks and many birds such as Abyssinia, the African pitta, collared apalis, ground thrush, crowned eagle and many more. In the evening you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale

Day 3: transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

After early morning breakfast at your lodge, you will checkout and set off on a drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park with an en-route game drive in the ishasha sector where you will spot tree climbing lions. On your way you will have en-route lunch and when you arrive in the park you will check into your lodge and in the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight.

Accommodation is got from

Luxury: Buhoma lodge/Silverback Lodge/Mahogany Springs

Mid-range: Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge

Budget: Ruhija Gorilla friend’s camp/Buhoma Community Camp

Day 4: mountain gorilla trekking

After early morning breakfast at your lodge you will head to the park’s headquarters for briefing where dos and don’ts to follow while in presence of mountain gorillas will be read to you, you will assigned a gorilla group to trek and with a ranger and packed lunch you will head into the forests in search for mountain gorillas which takes about 2-3 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. When you locate the mountain gorillas you will spend one hour in presence of mountain gorillas enjoying the behavior of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and take amazing pictures. When taking pictures please make sure your flashlight is off as it irritates the mountain gorillas which may lead to accidents. After the experience you will head back to the park’s headquarter where you will meet your safari guide and  head to your lodge or go for an option community visit experience. In the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight at your lodge.

Day 5: transfer back to Kampala and drop off

After morning breakfast, you will checkout of your lodge and set off on a drive back to Kampala. On your way you will have a stopover in Mbarara for lunch and another one at the equator for monumental pictures. When you arrive in Kampala you will be dropped off at the airport for your departure flight or the residence hotel.

Safari inclusions

  • Airport Transfers on first and last day
  • Gorilla Permit
  • Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
  • Chimpanzee trekking permits
  • Transport in 4×4 safari vehicle
  • Services of an English speaking driver guide
  • All park entrance fees
  • Fuel for the entire trip
  • Drinking water during the trip

Safari exclusions

  • Tips and gratuity
  • Pre and post tour accommodation
  • International airfares
  • Uganda Visa
  • Items of personal nature such as alcoholic drinks and laundry
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