This 7 Days Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Habituation and Wildlife Safaris will consider three major tourist destinations/ parks of Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park respectively. With major activities of the safari being taking a chimpanzee habituation at Kibale, wildlife experiences at Queen Elizabeth and Gorilla trekking at Bwindi. This safari starts right from Kampala goes first to Kibale, then Queen and Bwindi and then return to Kampala. And is one of the most rewarding safari packages with a plus of seeing the rare tree climbing lions.
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 Kibale National Park
- Day2: Chimpanzee Habituation
- Day3: Bigodi Community Visit and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day4: Game Drive and Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
- Day5: Drive to Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day6: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Visits
- Day7: Transfer back to Kampala
Major activities
- Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee habituation, Bigodi Community visit, Game Drives, Boat cruise at Kazinga channel, and Batwa community visit
Destinations;
- Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation;
- Midrange
Transportation;
- 4×4 Land Cruiser
Detailed Trip
Day1: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Entale African Safaris experienced driver guide will be readily with a 4wd safari customized vehicle to pick you and transfer to Kibale National Park. You arrival at Entebbe should not exceed noon hours, and the transfer can take around 6 hours depending on the traffic flow with a lunch en-route depending on the time of travel. Reaching Fort Portal in the evening hours, relax within this amazing city before driving to Kibale which is 30km from the city. Reaching the park, check-in at your lodge then relax for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Isunga Lodge (half-board)
Day2: Chimpanzee Habituation
It’s a full day of tracking and following the chimpanzees, chimpanzee habituation takes a full day. The adventure starts at 6am, with experienced guides, and researcher who lead in the walking. Habituation is about following chimpanzee daily for a period of not beyond 2years until they are used to human presence. Upon finding the chimpanzee, there are 4 hours in their presence following the apes wherever they are going.
Accommodation: Isunga Lodge (full-board)
Day3: Bigodi Community Visit and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning shall take a morning drive to Bigodi community which is 6km from the park. The Bigodi community visit is less a cultural tour, rather a model community showing how 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-out of your lodge for a drive and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is about 3hours drive, upon reaching the park will take a drive to Lake Katwe, the salty lake in Uganda where salt mining is the major emphasis. Then after will drive, check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (half-board)
Day4: Game Drive and Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
It’s an amazing day of going out to watch amazing wild animals, birds and certain specific features like crater lakes. This game drive will be done at Kasenyi which is the best section of watching a rich wild biodiversity. On this game drive expect to watch some of the big fives like lions, leopards, elephants and herds of buffalos, also expect to watch herds of antelopes, warthogs, wild dogs, hippos, so many bird species among others. The game drive through various driving tracks, will last for about 3 hours. The take a drive to Lake Katwe to encounters locals in salt mining afterwards return to your lodge for lunch.
In afternoon, a boat launch at Kazing Channel one of the amazing adventures done on safari to Uganda. This boat launch is done on Kazing channel which is conduit of two small lakes Lake Edward and Lake Gorge. This boat launch is very amazing like there no other with a lot of pursuit including wild animals seen at the bank of the channel feeding, relaxing, and drawing water, a lot of aquatic life including hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards and a number of bird species. For those interested in butterflies it’s a common adventure here. After for about 2 to 3 hours return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (full-board)
Day5: Drive to Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This morning with packed breakfast, check-out of your lodge and drive Ishasha sector south of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive to the sector is about 2hours, alongside your delicious breakfast in the wilderness take a game drive through the sector with intension of tracking tree climbing lions. A game drive here rewards with savannah hostages like herds of elephants, antelopes, lions, leopards, buffalos, among so many. And there a bigger chance of finding lions lousily relaxed under tree branches, though this is not a common practice but Ishasha has kept this mystery always revealed here.
After with lunch en-route will take a driver straight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is about 5 hours of driving. Reach the park, consider Buhoma sector, check-in at your lodge relax, have your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Bwindi Lodge (full-board)
Day6: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Visits
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: Bwindi Lodge (full-board)
Day7: Transfer back to Kampala
This morning enjoy a relaxed picnic breakfast, and embark on a drive back to Kampala. On the drive there is an en-route at Igongo Cultural Center in Mbarara for lunch and can use an hour to visit the Museum for tales about the western Uganda culture and traditional. Also stopover at Kayabwe equator point, shall reach Kampala by late evening hours and your drop off will be either at Entebbe International airport or to your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe.
Trip inclusive;
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- All trip fuel
- All meals and soft drinks
- Park entrances
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee habituation permit
- All trip activities
- Accommodation
- Driver guide
Exclusive;
- Visa and air ticket
- Laundry
- All hard drinks
- Souvenirs
- Tips