7 Days Chimpanzee, Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Safari
7 Days Chimpanzee, Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Safari is one of the extraordinary adventures that will take you to Kibale national park also known as the primate capital in the western part of Uganda where you will be able to spend time with the chimpanzees during chimpanzee trekking. You will also visit the misty Bwindi impenetrable national park which in southwestern Uganda where you will engage in an adventurous gorilla trekking activity which gives you an opportunity to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. During the safari you will also be able to explore Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda that offers exciting activities like game drive/lion tracking experience and boat cruise on Kazinga channel.
Highlights of the 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale national park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 3: Crater lakes tour and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 4: Morning game drive anAd afternoon boat cruise
- Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park via Ishasha sector
- Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 7: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: arrival and transfer to Kibale national park, depending on your arrival time at Entebbe international airport on the first day of the 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Kibale national park in western Uganda. The journey takes about 6 to 7 hours drive and on your way you will have a stopover at the Equator where you will take photos, buy souvenirs and then continue the journey with another stopover at Igongo cultural centre for lunch. After lunch you will proceed to the park where you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp
Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about chimpanzee trekking rules and regulations. After the briefing you will be grouped into 6 people where each group will be allocated a habituated chimpanzee family to trek and an experienced park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park takes about 30 minutes to 4 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 see other primates like grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, view different birds, plant and tree species, animals like elephants, buffaloes among others. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their habits, behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, groom each other, play, rest, hunt, fight, take photos and record the moments. After the incredible moment with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Bigodi swamp walk, after lunch you will go for Bigodi swamp walk where you will have great views of primates species like red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, bird species like the great blue turaco, view beautiful butterflies, enjoy the cool breeze, take pictures among others. After the swamp walk you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Crater lakes tour and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Crater lakes tour, after breakfast on the third day of the 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a crater lakes tour which are located near Kibale national park. Upon arrival you will hike to the crater lakes where you will be able to have spectacular views of Kibale national park, Rwenzori mountain ranges, Lake Gorge, Kichwaba escarpments among others. After the crater lakes tour, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch and after lunch you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours drive passing via Fort Portal and upon arrival you will go for an evening game drive where you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, views of the sundowner among others. After the game drive you will drive to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Morning game drive/ lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive, after breakfast on the fourth day of the 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to Kasenyi plains for a morning game drive/ lion tracking experience. During the game drive you will have a chance to view animals like elephants, lions, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, Uganda kobs, leopards, bird species, have stunning views of the sunrise among others. After the morning game drive you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise, after lunch you will drive to the landing site near Mweya safari lodge for an exciting boat cruise on Kazinga channel a 40km long channel that connects lake Edward and lake gorge. During the boat cruise you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, antelopes along the shores, aquatic bird species like malachite kingfisher, pink backed pelican, saddle billed stork, view fishermen preparing their fishing gears for night fishing among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
On the fifth day of the 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari, you will have breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park in southwestern part of Uganda. It’s a 3 to 4 hour journey and on your way you will have a stopover at Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park where you will engage in a game drive to see the famous tree climbing lions which will be lying up in fig tree branches. You will also be able to see other animals like elephants, Uganda kobs, warthogs, different bird species among others and after you will have en-route lunch. After lunch you will proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the sixth day of the 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people, allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who will lead you in the forest during trekking. Trekking of the mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas slept the previous night, during trekking you will have spectacular views of plants, birds, animals, other primates among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which helps you to observe their behaviors, take great photos, record videos, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, playing, breastfeeding, resting among others. After the face to face encounter with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Departure to Kampala
On the last day of the 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla safari, you will have a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kampala. You will have en-route lunch in Mbarara town and after continue the journey to Kampala, upon arrival you will be dropped off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or dropped off at any place of convenience.
End of 7 days chimpanzee, wildlife and gorilla trekking safari
Tour includes
- Boat cruise fees
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Park entrance fees
- Crater lakes tour
- All mentioned activities
- Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled 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.
