5 Day Gorilla Tour, Chimpanzee Habituation in Uganda

Safari Highlights

The 5 Day Uganda safari package goes to Kibale National Park for Chimpanzee tracking or full day chimpanzee habituation experience, then connect to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for Mountain gorilla tracking adventure. Other activities include a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park in search of Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopard, and many antelope species, and a community tour to Batwa people (Pygmies) in Bwindi impenetrable forest.

Detailed Itinerary for 5 Day Uganda Primate Tour

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale national park

Meet at Entebbe International Airport on arrival or at your hotel in Kampala after breakfast and transfer to western Uganda via Mityana-Mubende highway, en-route stopover at Tanda village where it’s believed that “walumbe” brother to Nambi wife of Kintu a first Muganda lost his life, Nakayima tree to experience the historical legendary tale of this long-lived tree.

Drive to fort portal with a scenic view of green covers, lunch en-route, dinner, and overnight at Ndali lodge, Kyaninga lodge, Kibale primate lodge, Isunga Lodge, Chimpanzee guest house, or Kibale Safari Lodge among others. Meal plan: Half-Board

Day 2: Half Day Chimps Tracking OR Full Day Habituation Experience

chimpanzee-kibale-national-parkEarly morning breakfast, after for briefing from the park officials. Then enter into the forest block to trek the chimps in their leisure time swinging in the tree branches. This adventure not only exposes you to chimps but also to other primates, birds, butterflies, and plant species. Primate species like white and black Columbus, velvet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and mangabey can be spotted. Return to lodge for refreshment and lunch; evening walk in Bigodi wetland for animal and bird watching, they include the sitatungas, white and black Columbus, velvet and red-tailed monkeys, rare shoebills, warbler and much more, dinner and overnight stay at your lodge as on Day 1.

NOTE: Chimpanzee habituation experience takes a full day, starting at 6 AM before chimps wake-up up to 6 PM in the evening when chimpanzees go back to their nests to sleep. This means if you do Chimps habituation, you can not take a walk to Bigodi swamps on the same day.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi National Park Via Ishasha

Get up early for breakfast and drive to Bwindi National Park via Queen Elizabeth National Park, en-route game drive through the Ishasha sector famously for its tree-climbing lions and we shall use this opportunity to spot them resting in the branches of fig trees.

Expect an encounter with other animals such as elephants, Buffaloes, warthogs, primates like baboons among others, lunch en-route, arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by evening, dinner, and overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp, Buhoma community rest camp. Meal plan: Half-Board

Day 4: Mountain Gorilla tracking

mountain-gorilla-adventureHeavy breakfast and assemble to the park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking. After entering into the jungle to search the shy mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, when you encounter the great apes relax and experience them for one hour entitled to spend viewing their lifestyle.

The trek can be half or full day depending on the primates’ movement in this tropical forest. Carry yourself the hiking shoes/boots, hut, insect repellent, sunscreen, rain gears, packed lunch/snacks, mineral water, and other requirements that may be needed once in the tropical rain forest.

Porters are available at the park headquarters to carry your small bags, push and pull you where you get stuck, for only $10 to $15. Hiring a porter is a direct contribution towards the employment of the local communities surrounding the gorillas. Relax in the evening with entertainment from the Batwa people (Pygmies), or we can take a community walk to nearby Batwa communities.

Alternatively, we can drive to Lake Bunyonyi after gorilla tracking and stay at Bird Nest Resort or Arcadia cottages or Byona Amagala Island Resort.

Day 5: Reserved for Departure

Breakfast and embark on our safari truck and trail back to Kampala with our lunch en-route in Mbarara town, stopover at the equator to shop souvenirs and photographs. Arrive in Kampala late afternoon or early evening and our guide will transfer you to Entebbe airport for your scheduled departure flight.

Alternatively, instead of driving back to Kampala (about 8 hours drive), we can connect to Rwanda through Gatuna border (3hours drive) and fly out from Kigali International Airport.

End of the safari