5 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Kibale Chimpanzee Safari : This is a 5 days Best of Uganda primates safari to Bwindi National Park and Kibale national park to track gorillas and chimpanzees.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park,
After an early breakfast on the first day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari, our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel, brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park. It’s a whole day journey and on the way you will have a stopover at the Equator in Kayabwe to take photos, buy souvenirs and then proceed the journey with en-route lunch. After lunch you will continue to Bwindi impenetrable national park with great views of the rolling hills, Kigezi hills, traditional homesteads, beautiful landscape among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma lodge or Mahogany springs-luxury/ Buhoma haven lodge-midrange or Buhoma community rest camp-budget.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari you will carry packed lunch and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters to join others for the briefing about the rules and regulations of trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the jungle which takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on their location.
During trekking you will be able to view other primates like l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, view bird species, different plants among others and once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, playing, take photos and record the moments.
After the one hour with the gentle giants you will trek back to the starting point where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking in Bwindi and later meet up with your driver guide to go for an optional cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the batwa, learn about their culture, way of living, visit their homesteads, enjoy their cultural performances among others. After the cultural tour, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park
After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kibale national park in western Uganda. The journey will take you through Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park where you will get a chance to view the tree climbing lions which will be lying up in fig tree branches. Tree climbing lions will be viewed alongside other animals like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs among others during the game drive. After the game drive in Ishasha sector you will have lunch and then proceed to Kibale national park with stunning views of Rwenzori mountain ranges, crater lakes and tea plantations. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Chimpundu lodge-luxury/ Chimpanzee guest house-midrange or Isunga lodge-budget.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
After an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to Kanyachu visitors Centre for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on their location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primates, view bird species, plants among others. once the chimpanzees are spotted you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which helps you to learn about their behaviors, take photos, watch them play, feed, breastfeed, fight, mate, rest, record the moments among others. After the face to face interaction with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch you will go for an interesting nature walk in Bigodi sanctuary where you will have spectacular views of different plants, beautiful butterflies, bird species like the great blue turaco, primates like l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked magabey, black and white colobus monkeys among others. After the swamp walk you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kampala. On the way you will have en-route lunch where after you will proceed the journey to Kampala where you will reach early evening. Upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at the hotel depending on your schedule.
End of 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari.
includes
- Gorilla trekking permit @ $800pp
- Chimpanzee trekking permit @ $200pp
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Park entrance fee
- Fulltime English speaking driver guide
- Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals at the lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Pick up and drop off in Entebbe
- 4WD safari van and fuel
- Bottled drinking water during the trip
excludes
- Air flight tickets and Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips among others.
