This 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari to Bwindi and Kibale forest begins and ends in Kampala Uganda and it includes 200 USD for chimpanzee tracking per person and 700 USD for a gorilla permit per person. The safari takes you to Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee tracking and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for gorilla trekking. Kibale national park is found in western Uganda and is one of Africa’s greatest rain forests. The park is famous for chimpanzee trekking and other 12 primate species. Bwindi forest national park covers an area of 331 sq. km and was gazetted in 1993 in southwestern Uganda. The park has 4 sectors and these are Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo. In addition, the gorilla park has 19 habituated gorilla families. The park is home to 120 mammals, 350 bird species, 220 butterflies, and 163 tree species.

5 days gorilla and chimpanzee Safari highlights

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland swamp

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 4: Gorilla trekking

Day 5: Departure back to Kampala

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast early in the morning, your driver-guide will pick you up, brief you about the safari, and drive you to Kibale forest national park. As you drive to Kibale you will enjoy the beautiful landscapes, traditional homes, smiling people, and catch glimpses of different bird species. You will have an en-route lunch in Fort Portal town and enjoy the foothills of mountain Rwenzori and then proceed to Kibale forest national park. The forest was gazetted in 1993 to protect animals and vegetation as of today it’s home to 13 primates, 325 birds, 60 mammals, and 250 tree species. On arrival at the park, you will take a visit to the crater lakes region. Later check in your lodge for evening relaxation. Dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Ndali crater lodge – luxury, Isunga lodge – mid range, Kitojo Guest Cottages – budget

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland swamp

Very early in the morning after breakfast, you will get your packed lunch and meet your driver for a transfer to the park headquarters where you will have a briefing about chimpanzee trekking. You will be grouped and each group will be led by a ranger guide to the forest to search for these giant primates within the park. These chimpanzees are close relatives to human beings sharing 98% of human DNA. While tracking chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park you will come across other primates of the park like the red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’hoest’s monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, small mammals, and different bird species. When you meet the chimpanzees, you can observe them as they feed, young ones play, the males protect the territory as well as socializing with each other. After the trekking, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, you will have a guided walk to Bigodi swamp which is best for primate watching and birding. The place is maintained by local people who earn a living from it. During your visit to Bigodi, you will see primates like mongoose, baboons, bush pigs, bushbucks, and birds like the great blue turaco.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Ndali crater lodge – luxury, Isunga lodge – mid range, Kitojo Guest Cottages – budget

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Have early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge, meet your driver and drive out of the park through the Ishasha sector where you will have an opportunity to see tree climbing lions and other park animals like the kobs, antelopes, monkeys as well as birds. The is one of the two places where you can find tree-climbing lions in Africa. You will have an en-route lunch and arrive in Bwindi in the afternoon, check-in your lodge and in the evening, you can go for a guided nature walk where you will meet some of the park animals. Dinner and overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge – luxury, Buhoma Haven Lodge – mid-range and Buhoma Community Rest Camp – budget

Day 4: Gorilla trekking

Today is the main highlight of your 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee safari! Have early morning breakfast and meet your driver to transfer you to the park headquarters where you will have a short briefing about mountain gorilla trekking. After the briefing, the rangers will accompany you to the forest to start your search for these giant apes. the trekking is sometimes tough and it needs someone fit. Trekkers are advised to carry their jackets since the weather is unpredictable. In case of heavy luggage, the porters are always available at a small fee. On meeting gorillas, the ranger will give you one hour to be around them, learn about their behaviors, watch them do daily activities like breastfeeding, hunting, and many others. Predicting the time gorilla trekking will take is not easy cause this depends on their movements since they move from one place to another looking for food. After gorilla trekking, drive back to the lodge for lunch.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge – luxury, Buhoma Haven Lodge – mid-range and Buhoma Community Rest Camp – budget

Day 5: Departure back to Kampala

Have a morning breakfast at your hotel and after meet your driver for a transfer back to Kampala city. You will have the first stopover at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara and the second one at the equator for photos and experiments. After proceed to Kampala for a drop off at your hotel or international to end your 5 days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch