5 Days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari : This 5 days’ gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari is an interesting primate adventure that will take you to Kibale forest national park where you will be able to spend one hour with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat during chimpanzee trekking. The safari will also take you to Bwindi impenetrable national park in south western Uganda where you will have a face to face interaction with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment.
Highlights of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale forest national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itineraries
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale forest national park
Depending on your location on the first day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Kibale forest national park. The journey to the park takes about 5 to 6 hours and on the way you will have en-route lunch in Fort Portal and enjoy stunning views of the crater lakes, Rwenzori mountain peaks, tea and banana plantations among others. Upon arrival in the park, you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Chimpanzee trekking
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest with an experienced park guide who is well conversant with chimpanzee trekking trails. During chimpanzee trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours, you will be able to view different bird species, other primates, plant species among others. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviours, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, playing, breastfeeding, resting, take photos and record the breath-taking moments.
After the one hour encounter with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and drive to the lodge for lunch where after you will go for a guided nature walk in Bigodi swamp where you will be able to spot different primate species, birds, view plant and tree species, listen to sweet sounds of bird species in trees, take beautiful pictures among others. After the swamp walk, you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After an early breakfast on the third day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park. On the way, you will have en-route lunch and then proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park and upon arrival in the park, you will connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking
On the fourth day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will have breakfast, carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the jungle with an experienced park guide. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 2 hours to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species, birds, plants and once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviours, habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, take photos and record the moments to show people back home after the safari.
After the one hour with the gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and later meet up with your driver guide and either return to the lodge for relaxation or go for an optional Batwa cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the batwa people, learn about their way of living, enjoy their traditional entertainment among others. After the cultural tour, you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
On the last day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will enjoy a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to Kampala. On the way you will have en-route lunch in Mbarara town where after you will continue the journey with a stopover at the Equator to take photos and buy souvenirs. From the Equator you will proceed to Kampala arriving early evening and upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight.
End of 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Full-time English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
