5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
This 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience is an adventurous and extraordinary safari that will give you an opportunity to spend 4 hours with mountain gorillas and chimpanzees under habituation process. The safari will take you to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is the only national park in Africa that offers gorilla habituation experience, this process is however carried out in Rushaga sector southern part of the park and then Kibale national park also known as the primate capital because it harbors over 13 primate species. While in Kibale national park you will engage in an exciting chimpanzee habituation experience.
Highlights of the 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 2: Gorilla habituation experience
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park
Day 4: Chimpanzee habituation experience
Day 5: Bigodi swamp walk and departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience
Arrival and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park, depending on arrival time on the first day of the 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park. Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the most visited national parks in Uganda due to the fact that it harbors half of the world’s mountain gorilla population and it’s the only gorilla destination that offers gorilla habituation experience. It’s a whole day journey to Rushaga sector in the southern part of the park and on your way you will have a stopover at Igongo Cultural Centre for en-route lunch. After lunch you will proceed with the journey which will be filled with great views of the beautiful landscape, homesteads, smiling people, Kigezi hills, terraced farmlands among others. Upon arrival you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla habituation experience, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience you will carry packed lunch from the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for the briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla habituation. Gorilla habituation experience is only carried out in Rushaga sector, southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park and it’s done in a group of 4 people who will be allowed to visit one gorilla family daily. After the briefing you will start trekking in the jungle with park guides, researchers, gorilla doctors among others.
During trekking you will have spectacular views of other primates like l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, animals like bush pigs, forest elephants, buffaloes, plant species, colorful bird species like strange weaver, Rwenzori batis, Chapin’s fly catcher, handsome francolin among others. Once the gorillas under habituation are found you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, habits participate in naming every gorilla, watch them feed, play, take photos and record the moments to show people back home. After the breathtaking experience with the mountain gorillas you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park
After breakfast on the third day of your 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kibale national park. On your way you will pass via Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park where you will be able to view the tree climbing lions. The tree climbing lions will be viewed lying up in acacia, fig tree branches during the game drive and its believed that they climb trees due to various reasons such as to escape from ground heat, to have a clear view of the antelopes, to run away from biting insects among others. After the game drive in Ishasha sector, you will have lunch and then continue the journey via Fort Portal which will be filled with spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes, tea plantations among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight
Day 4: Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale national park
Chimpanzee habituation experience, after an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience you will 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 chimpanzee habituation. Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale national park allows a maximum of 4 people per chimpanzee family therefore after the briefing you will start trekking in the forest with a team of researchers and park guides.
Once the chimpanzees under habituation are found you will be allowed to spend 4 hours with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them breastfeeding, feeding, copulating, patrolling, hunting, resting, building new nests, learn about their lifestyle, behaviors, take photos and record the moments. After the exciting moment with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver to transfer back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Bigodi swamp walk and departure to Kampala
Bigodi swamp walk, after breakfast on the last day of the 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience your driver guide will pick you up to go for nature walk in Bigodi swamp. During the swamp walk you will have great views of different bird species like the great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, primates like the black and white colobus monkey, blue monkeys, red tailed monkey, plant and tree species, butterflies, enjoy the cool breeze, breath fresh air, listen to the sweet sounds of birds among others. After the Bigodi swamp walk, you will meet up with your driver guide and drive back to your lodge for an early lunch.
Departure to Kampala, after lunch you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kampala. On the way you will have a stopover at the equator where you will be able to take pictures, buy souvenirs and then proceed to Kampala. Upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe airport or at any place of convenience.
End of 5 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation experience
Tour includes
- Gorilla habituation permit
- Chimpanzee habituation permit
- Nature walk in Bigodi swamp
- An English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Park entrance fee
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
