5 Days Chimpanzee Trek & Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Our 5 Days Chimpanzee Trek & Gorilla Trekking in Uganda gives you the opportunity to explore the greatest apes on earth. The safari takes you to Kibale National Park located in western Uganda, the park is famous for chimpanzees and many other primate species. Later you will embark in southwestern Uganda for gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park where you’re given one hour to spend with this primate and get a chance to observe how they feed, play, care for the young ones, and as they jump from one tree to another.

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park: (Travel Time +6 hours)

Leave Kampala after breakfast for the fascinating drive through papyrus swamps and the thick jungle of the Nile Delta to Kibale National Park just under the Rwenzori Mountains. Afternoon guided walk in the crater lakes area of the park for an outstanding cultural visit and having the Tea Estate Walk.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge/ Chimpanzee Forest Guest/Kibale Forest camp

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland swamp

Early in the morning after taking breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about chimpanzee trekking. By 8:00 am, you will be starting your search for the chimpanzees within the park. These primates are the closest relatives to human beings and they share 98% of their DNA with that of human beings. There are also many other primate species that will be seen along with the chimpanzees and these include; the L’Hoest monkeys, golden monkeys, Black and white colobus monkeys, grey checked Mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, the bush babies, and many bird species which include; green breasted pitta, rumped tinker bird, yellow spotted nicator, and the green breasted pitta, this park is one of the great rain forests in Africa and it has the largest community of chimpanzees whereby each community has 1 -100 individuals and each community has a complicated social structure.

In the group, the adult males dominate the group and provide protection to the territory against the rest of the males from other territories. The chimps are located by simply listening for their pant hooting calls, and then head to the place from which they replied. Here you can observe them as they feed, play as well as socialize with each other.

Later in the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi swamp which is also good for watching primates and birds. It’s mainly maintained by the local people and they earn a living from there. You will enjoy many bird species here including; the great blue Turaco, and many more, the other primate species to view here include; the baboons, mongoose, otters, bush pigs as well as bushbucks.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge/ Chimpanzee Forest Guest/Kibale Forest camp

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi National Park (Travel Time + 3 hours)

Early in the morning after breakfast, drive directly to Bwindi via the Ishasha sector where you will view many tree-climbing lions. This is the only place in Africa where you will view tree-climbing lions. You will also view many animals including; monkeys, birds, Kobs, antelopes, etc. Arrive at the park in the afternoon and enjoy a nature walk where you will many animals including monkeys, elephants, birds, etc.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge/Silverback Lodge/ Buhoma Community Camp

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park

Have early morning breakfast, and after proceed to the park headquarters to have a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The rangers will then accompany you to the rain forest to start your search for the gentle giants. This walk can sometimes be tough and it needs someone so strong. Trekkers are always advised to carry their raincoats and boots because the weather there is always unpredictable. There are also some potters who always help with the carrying of the luggage on behalf of the visitors but at a small cost. On sighting the gorillas, the rangers will guide you on handling them, especially by giving them a 6-meter distance as you enjoy them playing around. It’s always not easy to predict how long gorilla tracking will take and this also depends on the location of some families since some of them are far from the park headquarters. However, it always takes 2 to 8 hours to come into contact with them and the rangers will always be there to guide you. Trackers are also advisable to be physically fit before going for tracking. After your trek, return to the lodge for your lunch and in the afternoon, you may opt to visit the Batwa community to enjoy some cultural performances before retiring at your lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge/Silverback Lodge/ Buhoma Community Camp

Day 5: Departure back to Kampala (Travel Time +8 hours)

Have breakfast at the hotel and after the start, transfer to Kampala, have lunch at Mbarara town, and have another stopover at the equator to have some photos and experiments. After, proceed to Kampala arriving in the late afternoon.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

End of 5 Days Chimpanzee Trek & Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Safari inclusions

Chimpanzee & Gorilla trekking permits

Full board accommodation,

Full-time English speaking professional driver/guide,

All tour activities as detailed in the itinerary,

Bottled water while on safari

Bigodi nature walk

Community walk

5 Days Chimpanzee Trek & Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Exclusions

However, the package excludes expenses of personal nature like Visa, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, and tobacco.