5 Days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari

The 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari will take you to Kibale forest national park also known as the primate capital where you will be able to spend time with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat and also engage in Bigodi swamp tour where you will be able to view different primates, bird species, mammals among others. The 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari will also take you to the misty forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park which is famously known for harboring the highest number of mountain gorillas which are found in four sectors namely Rushaga sector in the south, Buhoma sector in the north, Nkuringo sector in the south and Ruhija sector in the east. During the safari, you will get an opportunity to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

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 national park

Day 5: Departure to Kampala

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale forest national park

On the first day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, our driver guide will pick you up from your location, brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Kibale forest national park. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive and on the way you will have a stopover in Fort Portal for lunch where after you will proceed to Kibale forest national park and upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Luxury accommodation: Primate Lodge, Chimpundu lodge

Midrange accommodation: Chimpanzee forest lodge, Turaco treetops

Budget accommodation: Isunga lodge, Kibale forest camp

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk

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 to transfer to Kanyachu visitors Centre for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzees with an experienced park guide which takes about 2 to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees 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 like the black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, birds among others and once the chimpanzees are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, play, mate, hunt, fight, rest, take photos and record videos.

After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will return to the lodge for lunch where after you will go for an interesting Bigodi swamp walk where you will be able to spot variety of bird species like the papyrus gonolek, great blue turaco, primates like vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, animals like sitatunga, bushbucks among others. After the swamp walk, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.

Meal plan: Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national parkk

After 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 our driver guide to start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park. On your way, you will have a stopover for lunch where after lunch you will proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park with stunning views of the Kigezi highlands, terraced farmlands, beautiful scenery among others and upon arrival, you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Luxury accommodation: Buhoma lodge, Four gorillas lodge, clouds mountain gorilla lodge

Super midrange accommodation: Mahogany lodge, Gorilla leisure lodge, Gorilla heights lodge

Midrange accommodation: Ichumbi lodge, Buhoma haven lodge, Gorilla mist camp

Budget accommodation: Buhoma community rest camp, Rushaga gorilla haven lodge, Ruhija community ret camp

Meal plan: Full boars (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

You will have an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, carry packed lunch and then meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a gorilla family to trek, park rangers and an experienced park guide. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 2 hours to 7 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 wildlife species and once the mountain gorillas are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos.

After the one hour with the gorillas, you will return to the starting point where you will be given a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and later go for an optional cultural tour where you will interact with the local people in the neighboring communities. After the cultural tour, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.

Meal plain: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Departure to Kampala

After a relaxed breakfast on the last 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 start the journey back to Kampala with en-route lunch on the way and a stopover at the Equator where you will buy souvenirs and take photos. Upon arrival in Kampala your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at your hotel in Kampala

End of 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari

5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari includes

• Chimpanzee trekking permit
• Gorilla trekking permit
• Bigodi swamp walk
• Experienced English speaking driver guide
• Full board accommodation
• All meals at the lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Ground transport in a 4WD safari vehicle
• Vehicle and fuel
• Bottled drinking water

5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari excludes

• International air flight tickets
• Visas
• Optional activities and accommodation not included in the itinerary
• Personal expenses like such as laundry services, buying souvenirs, crafts, Alcoholic drinks, hiring a porter, tipping among others.