The 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee safari goes to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale National Park. Purely, these are two special parks as far as safaris are concerned in Uganda, East Africa and Africa at large. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is world’s mountain gorilla capital hosting half of the world’s remaining population, and Kibale National Park is considered to be primate capital with 13 recorded primate species, and hosting about 1,500 chimpanzees. This trip starts from Kampala goes to Bwindi to trek gorillas and turns to Kibale and goes back to Kampala. The trip will go via southern Queen Elizabeth National Park at Ishasha and track the rare tree climbing lions. It’s an all-inclusive tour.
The means of transportation is road using the land cruiser 4×4 safari vehicle and the accommodation is midrange lodges/hotels. Every day of the trip starts with breakfast, has lunch en-route and ends as planned in the detailed itinerary.
Trip Summary
- Day1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day2: Gorilla Trekking &Batwa
- Day3: Transfer to Kibale & en-route at Ishasha
- Day4: Track chimpanzees & Visit Bigodi community
- Day5: Visit Amabere Caves & Transfer back to Kampala
Major activities
- gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, Batwa community visits, game drive at Ishasha, Bigodi visit and Amabere cave visit
Destinations;
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ishasha sector, Kibale National Park, and Amabere cave
Accommodation;
- midrange
Transportation;
- 4×4 Land Cruiser
Detailed Trip
Day1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today with a lead of our experienced drive guide, transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park southwestern Uganda. It’s a long day of driving depart from Kampala early morning on a drive which takes about 9 to 10 hours. There are two en-routes at Kayabwe Equator point for photographs and at Mbarara city for lunch. Reaching Bwindi in the evening hours will enter Bwindi via Buhoma sector, however, this depends on the availability of the trekking permits. Check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge (half board)
Day2: Gorilla Trekking &Batwa
Early morning will hurry driving to Buhoma starting point for the trekking etiquette briefed which starts at 7:30am. Get arranged in groups of 8 trekkers assigned trekking a single habituated family alongside an armed and experienced driver guide. Gorilla trekking time is unpredictable but can take about 30 minutes to about 4 hours to meet these amazing apes. Gorilla trekking is walking through moist thick jungle, hikes and slopes, hills and valleys until you encounter the gorillas which is a lifetime experiences. On finding the gorillas, one has a full one hour before their presence watching and silently following the gorillas, as the juveniles keep entertaining you with jumps.
Afterwards, will have lunch and take a drive to the Batwa community for the entertaining Batwa cultural moments. On this cultural tour will be entertained with traditional songs and dances, tales and learning about their lifestyle.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge (full-board)
Day3: Transfer to Kibale & en-route at Ishasha
This morning will have an hurried breakfast, and depart for a drive to Kibale National Park. On this drive consider an en-route to Ishasha sector south of Queen Eliabeth National Park for wildlife viewing on a short game drive and tracking tree climbing lions. This en-route also caters for lunch provision from one of the lodges located at the sector. A game drive here rewards with savannah hostages like herds of elephants, antelopes, lions, leopards, buffalos, among so many.
Then proceed with a drive for about 3 to 4 hours reaching Kibale by evening hours, check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge (half-boar)
Day4: Track chimpanzees & Visit Bigodi community
This morning will drive Kanyachu center, it’s the tracking starting point, and at 7:30am will be briefed on the tracking etiquette. Get grouped 8 trackers to track a single habituated chimpanzee community, at 8am under the lead of an armed ranger guide will roll into the forest to search for the apes. The track can last between 30 minutes to 3 hours to find the tracked community, and on finding the chimpanzees there is an hour in their presence. This moment is like nowhere in the jungle, to find yourself in the midst of these human closest relatives. After an hour in their presence, will walk back to the starting point, find your driver and drive back to your lodge to relax and refresh.
After lunch refreshments, drive to Bigodi community which is 6km from the park. This is less a cultural tour, but a community visit, this is a model community showing how the locals are benefiting from chimpanzee conservation. It’s great idea you support their initiatives one way to support their conservation programs where they make variety of craft souvenirs among which you can also buy. Then, drive and check-in at your lodge, refresh, and rest for the next day.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge (full-boar)
Day5: Visit Amabere Caves &Transfer back to Kampala
The last morning of the trip, will take an early and relaxed morning to Amabere cave which is an historical site for the legendary bachwezi dynasty. Visiting the caves, it’s an ambiance leading you into a waterfalls under caves and walk within the fumes of thundering waterfalls with legendary tales about the culture of the sites. .
Afterwards, will take a drive back to Kampala with lunch en-route at Mubende. Will reach Kampala in the late evening hours, and drop of will be at your hotel/lodge in Kampala/ Entebbe or at Entebbe International Airport for your next flight back home.
Trip inclusive;
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- All trip fuel
- All meals and soft drinks
- All Park entrances and activities
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permits
- Accommodation
- Driver guide
Exclusive;
- Visa and air ticket
- Laundry
- All hard drinks
- Souvenirs
- Tips
- All international flights