5 days Gorillas and Chimpanzee wildlife safari takes you to Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park (BIFNP) for the unforgettable experience of spending time with the highly endangered Mountain Gorillas and to Kibale National Park to encounter highly intelligent and social chimpanzees. BIFNP, found in south western Uganda next to the border of Uganda and Congo, is a UNESCO World heritage site and is home to half of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas. Experienced guides will lead you in small groups through the steep, vine-covered mountain trails and, once located, you will be allowed one hour with these endangered gentle giants. Before leaving this area, you will visit a traditional community of the Batwa, the first people to live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and learn how they continue to live in this densely forested mountainous landscape. You will then drive to Kibale National Park- home to 1,500 chimpanzees and over a dozen monkey species. The guides will lead you in small groups into the forest to look for habituated tribes of chimpanzees who, once found, will run around you excitedly scrambling up and down the trees vocalizing loudly with each other. Before leaving for Kampala, you will be guided on a 5 km walk along the boardwalk trails of the nearby Bigodi Swamp for an amazing birding and monkey experience.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
On this day, you will be picked up by our professional driver guide from Kampala or Entebbe
and start on your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in south western Uganda. You will go through some major towns like Masaka and Mbarara as you get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On arrival, you will check in at the lodge and relax as you enjoy the beautiful views of the forest and environment depending on your location.
Depending on your time of arrival, you may have a short-guided nature/ village walk, then return back to the lodge for dinner and relaxation as you prepare for the Gorilla trekking experience the next day.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation:
- Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.
- Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
- Gorilla closeup lodge.
Meal Arrangement: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Gorilla tracking and Batwa cultural experience
On this adventurous day, you wake up on an early morning breakfast and report to Bwindi Park headquarters for a short briefing with the leader tracker/ ranger guide before you start on your day activity. From here you will head into the montane forest for an encounter with the mountain gorillas.
Always watch out for their voices and listen to them grumble and the young as they swing from tree to tree, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback.
It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rain forest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. The beauty of this rainforest is spectacular and it offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape which is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists.
You will look for these endangered species and finding them will depending on the last nesting location of the previous night. The time taken to track the gorillas can be range from 4 to 7 hours or beyond. Once you locate a gorilla group, you will be allowed only one hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting and one in a life experience to be long savored.
Later, you will have a community visit to the Batwa group that are the first people to live in this forest and still reside there regardless of the many years of civilization. You will be amazed by their traditional dance, homes, dress-code and way of life. You will then return back to the lodge for dinner and rest till the following day.
Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation:
- Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.
- Buhoma Gorilla Camp
- Gorilla Mist Camp.
Meal Arrangement: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3. Transfer to Kibale National Park
On this day, you’ll have your breakfast and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park via Queen Elizabeth National Park. On your way, expect to see some amazing sceneries like the slopes of mountain Rwenzori.
You will have a stop over in fort portal town for lunch and then proceed to your lodge for rest in the evening.
On arrival in the evening at your lodge, relax as you wait for another adventure the following day. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Destination: Kibale National Park
Accommodation:
- Primate Lodge Kibale.
- Isunga Lodge
- Kibale Forest Camp.
Meal Arrangement: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk.
We shall have early morning breakfast and head straight the headquarters for the briefing from the guides as you start on the chimpanzee tracking expedition by 7:30 am. You will head into the forest and look for these intelligent creatures that share over 90% DNA with humans, which makes them very intelligent and behave almost like humans. Meeting these animals will depend on the last nesting location of the previous night. When you reach the chimpanzees, you will be limited to one hour with them and continue with the adventure as you discover more of the secrets of the park. You will also view other primates especially monkeys floating in the trees and several bird species.
Later you will head back to your lodge for lunch as you rest for the evening. In the evening, you will head to the southern part of Kibale national park for an amazing birding experience. Bigodi swamp is located just 6km from Kanyanchu visitors center and it is such a fascinating area where you can find over 200 bird species including the famous shoebill which may be seen during guided walks along the boardwalk trail and viewing other various primates. Bigodi Swamp Walk is a 5-km, three-hour tour through this protected forest on the outskirts of Bigodi Trading Center. Later you’ll head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Destination: Kibale National Park
Accommodation:
- Primate Lodge Kibale.
- Isunga Lodge
- Kibale Forest Camp.
Meal Arrangement: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala.
Wake up to a delicious breakfast at your lodge, check out and emback on your journey back to kampala through different towns like mubende and others. You will have a short stopover to visit the tea plantation fields and also have lunch on your way arriving in kampala in the evening.
We recommend a late evening flight that day, or if you wish, you can book for a flight for the next day.
End Of Your 5 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari