5 Days Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Tour

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park (6 hours drive)

Drive to Kibale National Park. It is a habitat for more than 1,500 chimpanzees and other 12 species of primate. The park has the great counts of primates on the continent of Africa and it is known worldwide as the primate capital of the world. Kibale National Park has great numbers of habituated chimpanzees which has made it famous for the chimpanzee tracking experience in Uganda. The evening will be spent on a crater walk including the top of the world visit.  It offers a beautiful view of the craters lakes while at this point and surrounding areas. It is also good point for photography. You will also study and learn the lifestyle of the local people while walking on this path. All in all, the top of the world hike combines scenic views with culture and tradition of the local communities.

Overnight at Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury) or Turaco treetops (High end)

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

The experience allows you to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Be briefed about the dos and don’ts of the trek from the park headquarters including the history of the park. Walk into the forest with ranger guides in search of the chimpanzees and upon finding them, you are entitled to one hour to go about chimpanzee lives in the forest. Watch them play, communicate, swing and couple. This is also an opportunity to view other primate species at no extra cost including Red-tailed monkey, Mantled guerez, Olive baboon, L’Hoest’s monkey, Blue monkey, Uganda mangabey, vervet monkey, Ugandan red colobus, Grey-cheeked mangabey, white and black colobus monkey among other animals. When you return from the forest, pick you’re tracking certificate upon a successful completion of the chimpanzee trek. Have lunch and proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park and the evening will be spent on the Kazinga Channel boar cruise. The Channel leads the water flow from Lake George to Lake Edward. It’s a habitat for Hippos, Crocodiles, and many water birds like Pelicans, Storks, Herons, and Kingfishers among other birds.

Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (Luxury) or Buffalo Safari Lodge (High end)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Game drive and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Leave your accommodation in the morning. Drive through the vast savannah, and look for your favorite animals, with a help of experienced park ranger. Enjoy observing the animals live in vast savannah at the foot of Rwenzori Mountains and expect to meet animals like Elephants, buffalo, Ugandan kobs, hippos, waterbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs,  leopards, spotted hyenas, lions, side-striped jackals, bush bucks, defassa’s waterbucks, warthogs, sitatunga, oribis, and Ugandan kobs. Later in the afternoon drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is known for its endangered animal species called “the Mountain Gorilla” and it is UNESCO site because of its international ecological importance.

Overnight at Mahogany springs (Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Gorilla tracking experience

A while after your breakfast at the lodge, you will proceed to the park offices for a briefing from the rangers on the rules and regulations of the trek. Enjoy the cultural performance few minutes after or before the briefing then you will be grouped into a group of 8 people entitled to track each gorilla family. This experience takes between 2 -6 hours depending on the location of the Gorillas on the day of tracking and throughout the trek, you will be escorted by knowledgeable guides and trackers who will offer relevant information about the endangered mountain gorillas. Once you have found the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour observing them from a distance. The thrill of your encounter will erase the difficulties of the potentially strenuous trek. Each encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngster’s frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully playful display. After tracking, you will be rewarded with a certificate for your successful Gorilla tracking. Drive back to your lodge and the evening will be spent at leisure and relaxation or on an optional foot safari within the Batwa communities to experience their local lifestyle.

Overnight at Mahogany springs (Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Fly to Entebbe International airport

Breakfast at the lodge then the guide will lead you to the nearby airstrip (Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip) so that you can take your local flight from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Entebbe airport. It takes 2 hours on air and it is best journey on the pearl of Africa as you experience the aerial view of the lush vegetation, lakes, rivers and the local homestead in Uganda. Upon arrival wait at the lobby for your connecting flight to the next destination.

Flight schedules:
From Kisoro to Entebbe Departing 0910 arriving 1125
From Kihihi to Entebbe Departing 0945 arriving 1125
OR with an afternoon flight Departing 1405 arriving 1555

• Transportation by a 4wd safari vehicle.
• Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
• Gorilla permit to be paid and secured in advance ($800 per person is included).
• Park entrance fees.
• Crater walk.
• Chimpanzee tracking.
• Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
• Game drive.
• Meet and greet service.
• Batwa community visits.
• Flight from Bwindi to Entebbe airport.

However, the Safari excludes:

Airfares, Visas or Insurance, Tips to local guides, Porterage or Laundry, Soft or alcoholic, drinks or mineral water (excl. water in the vehicles), Items of a personal nature, any meals not indicated above, any tours not mentioned from the itinerary above.