5 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking safari tour to Uganda, 5 days gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking Uganda safari tour

5 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking safari in Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was opened to tourists in 1993 and it covers an area of 331 square meters of lowland forests and montane forests. The park has four habituated groups which include; Mubare, Habinyanja, Rusengura and Nkuringo gorilla group. In addition, the safari park has 12 gorilla families which are open to the tourists on a daily basis.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park

On Day 1 of the 5 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking safari in Bwindi, Early in the morning after breakfast, leave Murchison National Park and proceed to Kibale National park. You will pass via the Lake Albert escarpments as you enjoy the good views of the lake. You will stopover in Hoima for your lunch and after proceed driving towards the park. You will also pass through the traditional villages and you enjoy the vegetation cover here which is evergreen. Have a good time and also take some photos, approach fort portal and enjoy the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains and then continue to Kibale National Park.

On you arrival at the park, you will visit the scenic crater lakes region and get chance to check out the terraced tea states. Later on, proceed back to the lodge to relax for the evening and enjoy your dinner.

Accommodation Options

Luxury: Primate Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge

Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guest

Budget: Kibale Forest camp

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland swamp

Early in the morning, By 8:00.a.m. you will be starting your search for the chimpanzees within the park. These primates are the closest relatives to the human being and they share 98% of their DNA with that of the human beings. There are also many other primate species which 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 socializing with each other.

Later in the afternoon, you will visit 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 the bushbucks.

Accommodation Options

Luxury: Ndali Lodge/Primate Lodge/Kyaninga lodge

Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guest

Budget: Kibale Forest camp

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park

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; the monkeys, birds, kobs, antelopes, etc. Arrive to the park in the afternoon and enjoy a nature walk were you will many animals including the monkeys, elephants, birds, etc.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Buhoma lodge/Silverback Lodge/Mahogany Springs

Mid-range: Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge

Budget: Ruhija Gorilla friend’s camp/Buhoma Community Camp

Upgrade: Gorilla Forest Camp/Clouds Lodge

Day 4: Gorilla trekking

Have an 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 rain coats 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 handle them, especially by giving them a 6 meter distance as you enjoy them play 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.

Accommodation Options

Luxury: Buhoma lodge/Silveback Lodge/

Mid-range: Bakiga Lodge

Budget: Ruhija Gorilla friend’s camp/Buhoma Community Camp

Upgrade: Gorilla Forest Camp

Day 5: Departure back to Kampala

Have breakfast at the hotel and after start your 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.

END OF SAFARI

Tour inclusions

• photography and touring,
• 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,
• Transport

Tour Exclusions

• Kampala hotel fees( the eve of the safari and the night after the safari),
• Tips,
• Laundry services,
• Beverages/ drinks,
• international flights,
• Visas,
• Items of a personal nature,
• optional activities and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary