5-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking trip

Name: 5-Day Mountain Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking trip
Brand: 5-Day Mountain Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking trip
SKU: 101572
Price: 2845 $
Availability: InStock
Rating: 0 (0 reviews)

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US $2845 Per Person

Tour Overview

Your 5 Day journey begins in Entebbe and ends in Kigali. From Entebbe, travel west to Kibale Forest National Park, the best places for chimpanzee trekking in Africa. You will also enjoy a cultural walk-in nearby Bigodi Village, where you can meet local people and experience everyday life in the community.

Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive before travelling southwest to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Here, meet one of the most endangered species on Earth – the noble mountain gorilla. Encounter Uganda’s frogs, birdlife, and butterflies while hiking through the thick rainforest jungle with an experienced local tracker in search of these amazing creatures. The first glimpses of mountain gorillas will be sure to capture your heart – a just reward for a challenging trek. The accommodations have been carefully selected based on location, small scale, and atmosphere. For example, you can choose to stay at the beautifully situated Turaco Treetops. From your veranda, you look out over the ancient rainforest of Kibale Forest National Park.

Highlights

Trek to see gorillas in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Trek in search of chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park and spend an hour observing how they play, feed and communicate with each other.
Admire the beauty of Uganda’s natural wonders – the rolling hills of Bwindi, the savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the green forests of Kibale.

Itinerary IN dETAIL

Discover your route below. This itinerary is the starting point, tailor your adventure with the specific experiences.

Day 1 | Travel to Kibale Forest National Park & Do Bigodi Cultural Village Walk

Today, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala, or from Entebbe International Airport, depending on your arrival arrangements. After a short safari briefing, you will begin your journey west towards Kibale Forest National Park.

Before you set off, you can try a rolex, one of Uganda’s most popular street foods. It is made by rolling an egg omelette, usually with vegetables, inside a chapati. It is simple, filling, and a great way to start your journey.

You will then drive about 326 kilometres west to Kibale Forest National Park. The journey takes around 5 to 6 hours, depending on the road and stops along the way.

Kibale is a tropical rainforest and one of the best places in East Africa to see primates. The forest is home to 13 species, including chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, diademed monkeys, black-mantled mangabeys, and galagos.

The forest lies at an average altitude of around 1,300 metres. Tea plantations surround it to the north, while papyrus swamps stretch to the south. The forest and nearby Bigodi Wetland are also home to many bird species.

On arrival, you will check in at your lodge, have lunch, and have some time to relax. Later in the afternoon, you will head out for a Bigodi Cultural Village Walk. This community-based experience gives you a glimpse into everyday life around Kibale. You can meet local people, visit small coffee farms, and learn how traditional products are made. It is a wonderful way to meet the local community and experience the culture around Kibale before returning to your lodge for the evening.

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Main House

Midrange: Turaco Treetops – Standard Cottage

Semi-Luxury: Turaco Treetops – Luxury Cottage

Luxury: Primate Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 | Chimpanzee Trekking & Relaxation

After an early breakfast, you will head into Kibale National Park for your chimpanzee trekking experience. With an experienced ranger guide, you will walk through the rainforest as you listen for the calls of chimpanzees in the trees.

The trek usually takes around 2 to 4 hours. Once you find the chimpanzees, you will spend one hour observing them in their natural habitat. You may see them feeding, grooming, playing, or moving through the forest canopy. Seeing these intelligent primates in the wild is an experience you will remember.

Kibale is also home to many other species. Along the way, you may see different monkeys, colourful birds, butterflies, and a variety of tropical plants. There is always something to look out for as you walk through the forest.

After the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch and some time to relax. You can enjoy the peaceful surroundings or simply take the afternoon at your own pace.

If you still have some energy later in the day, you can explore some of the beautiful crater lakes around Kibale or visit Fort Portal town before returning to the lodge.

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Main House

Midrange: Turaco Treetops – Standard Cottage

Semi-Luxury: Turaco Treetops – Luxury Cottage

Luxury: Primate Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 | Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park & Transfer to Bwindi

Today is a long but beautiful day on the road. After breakfast, you will head south through Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your journey will take around 6 to 7 hours, including stops.

You will begin with a game drive through the park, where you may see elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, and, with some luck, leopards and the famous tree-climbing lions. Queen Elizabeth is also home to more than 600 bird species, making it a great place for bird lovers.

After the game drive, continue south towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The journey takes you through some of Uganda’s most beautiful scenery, including rolling green hills, tea plantations, crater lakes, and small villages.

Along the way, you can stop for lunch and coffee in a local village. If you are interested, we can also arrange an optional village visit where you can meet members of the Batooro or Bakiga communities and learn a little more about their way of life. Continue to Bwindi and settle into your lodge. Take some time to relax and prepare for tomorrow’s gorilla trekking experience, one of the highlights of your Uganda safari.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is one of the world’s most important places for mountain gorilla conservation and trekking. The ancient rainforest is home to almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. But gorillas are not the only reason Bwindi is special. The forest is also home to around 120 species of mammals and more than 350 species of birds, making it one of Uganda’s richest forests for wildlife and biodiversity.

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Ride 4 A Woman Guest House

Midrange: Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

Semi-Luxury: Mahogany Springs – Superior Room

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 | Gorilla Trekking & Relaxation – Optional Batwa Cultural Experience

Today is one of the highlights of your Uganda safari: gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

After an early breakfast, you will take a short drive to the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Buhoma. Your lodge will prepare a packed lunch for the day. At the park headquarters, you will register and attend a briefing where the rangers explain the trekking guidelines and what to expect in the forest.

After the briefing, you will set off with experienced ranger guides in search of one of Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families. The trek takes you deep into the rainforest, through thick vegetation, valleys, and sometimes muddy or uneven ground. How long you walk depends on where the gorillas are that day. We will request a shorter and easier trek for you, ideally around 1 to 2 hours, but the final duration cannot be guaranteed.

Once you find the gorillas, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. You may see young gorillas playing, mothers caring for their babies, or a silverback keeping watch over the family. There is also time to take photographs and simply enjoy being close to these remarkable animals.

After the trek, you will enjoy your packed lunch before returning to the park headquarters. You will also receive your gorilla trekking certificate before heading back to the lodge.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax. If you still have time and energy, you can take a community walk with your guide and learn more about the Batwa people, who have a long history and deep cultural connection with the forests of this region.

Accommodation Options:

Budget: Ride 4 A Woman Guest House

Midrange: Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

Semi-Luxury: Mahogany Springs – Superior Room

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Day 5 | Travel to Kigali for your departure flight.

After breakfast, your guide will drive you to the Uganda–Rwanda border at Katuna. The journey takes around three hours. Our team will assist you with the border crossing before you continue to Kigali. From the border, the drive to Kigali takes another three hours. Along the way, you will enjoy views of Rwanda’s green hills and countryside.

You should arrive in Kigali with enough time for your departure flight. We recommend booking a flight that departs no earlier than 6:00 pm. This allows enough time for the border crossing and the journey to Kigali. If your flight departs earlier, we recommend spending the night in Kigali instead. We can arrange accommodation for you at an additional cost.

Accommodation: Not included – End of tour

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch