8 Days wildlife chimpanzee and gorilla trekking
8 Days wildlife chimpanzee and gorilla trekking
Tour Overview
This 8 Days wildlife chimpanzee and gorilla trekking is a perfect Uganda safari package for tourists interested in wildlife and primates as it provides an opportunity to trek two primates that is chimpanzee and mountain gorillas, these primates have a lot of resemblance to human being character wise. On this safari you will encounter the rare mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park and chimpanzees in Kibale National park.
You will also visit Queen Elizabeth national park which is a host to abundant wildlife including 4 of the big 5 including lions, leopards, elephants and cape buffaloes and birdlife.
Tour highlights
Gorilla tracking experience – which is one of the popular tourist activities where you get a chance to trek one of the habituated gorilla families. You get a chance to trek into the dense rain forest on the mountain slopes. The journey through dense greenery and up steep climbs is abundantly rewarded with the lifetime experience of viewing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Cultural community experience offers a glimpse into this marginalized community’s historical lifestyles perspective of village life showcasing cultural norms.
Not forgetting the mind-blowing tourism photography sessions throughout the whole trip where we shall be capturing all the moments and the stunning views.
Game drives – through the savannah plains of the park while enjoying stunning views of nature and abundant wildlife living in the park such as buffaloes, lions, hyenas, leopards and various species of antelopes among others. Game drives are done using well-maintained game viewing tracks and the best time for game drives is in the morning hours before the scotching sunrise which forces animals to go into hiding and evening when the conditions are much cooler.
A serene boat cruise at the Kazinga Chanel; known for having the highest concentration of hippos in Uganda. Here you will get to see a number of other animal species while viewing the wondrous sceneries for a beautiful to experience
Chimpanzee trekking, you track the chimpanzees up to where they have settled in the forest. The trek itself is fun and in Kibale forest you get to see a few other animals and some other primates along the way. Kibale forest is home to about 12 other primates. When you finally find the chimps, you have one hour of viewing before you head back.
Day 1: Airport picks up and transfers to your hotel in Kampala
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed and greeted by our safari guide; he will help you with your luggage into the vehicle then drive to your hotel in Kampala, check in, have dinner and stay overnight
Accommodation Options: http://www.fairwayhotel.co.ug/ (Midrange) https://www.serenahotels.com/kampala (luxury)
Meal Plan: Half board basis (Dinner & Breakfast)
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After enjoying breakfast, you will depart for Bwindi impenetrable national park with stopovers along the way for the stretch and Kayabwe at the Equator, en-route lunch in Mbarara. Arrive in the park in time for lunch which you will enjoy after check – in, spending the rest of the day resting at the lodge as you prepare for mountain gorilla trekking experience the next day. Have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation options: http://ichumbigorillalodge.com/ (mid-range), https://fourgorillaslodge.com/ (luxury)
Meal plan: Full board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Have early breakfast and head to the park’s headquarters for a briefing session about the rules and regulations to be followed while in the presence of mountain gorillas and this activity. A senior ranger will group you in 8 people and be assigned a gorilla family to trek, head to the starting point and with armed ranger you will hike into the forests looking for mountain gorillas.
The trek takes approximately 4-6 hours or more depending on the movement of mountain gorillas and where they spent their previous night, when you locate the gorillas you will spend one hour in their presence while watching them go on with their lives. Take pictures and videos as long as your flashlight is off, then trek back to the park’s headquarters for your certificates, meet your guide and head back to your lodge. You will spend the rest of the day resting; alternatively you can go for a cultural visit to the Batwa people for a cultural experience and a deeper insight into their lifestyle. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: http://ichumbigorillalodge.com/ (mid-range), https://fourgorillaslodge.com/ (luxury)
Meal plan: Full board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy breakfast and depart for Queen Elizabeth national park with a stopover in Kabale for Lunch and a stretch. After Lunch, proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park. On arrival at the lodge check-in and rest (Late afternoon game drive – Optional). Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: https://www.twinlakesafarilodge.com/ (mid- range) https://mweyalodge.com/ (luxury)
Meal plan: Full board basis (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 5: Experiential game drive, Boat trip
Have early breakfast and head to the Kasenyi plains for a game viewing drive in search for lions, cape buffaloes, elephants, elands, bush pigs among other animals. You will head to your lodge for lunch as you have a short rest. In the late afternoon at 3pm you will go for a boat cruise on Kazinga channel where you will enjoy sight of the aquatic wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles and elephants drinking water along the banks of the channel. Return to the lode for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: https://www.twinlakesafarilodge.com/ (mid-range), https://mweyalodge.com/ (luxury)
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Have breakfast, meet your guide and depart for Kibale national park with lunch in Fort Portal – a tourism town and a center for the Tooro Kingdom. You will have lunch along the way; enjoy scenic views of green hills in Kibale and the local people as they go on with their daily activities. Proceed to Kibale Forest national park arriving in the evening, check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: https://www.turacotreetops.com/ (mid-range), https://chimpundulodge.com/ (luxury)
Meal plan: Full board basis (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 7: Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Swamp Tour
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park for chimpanzee trekking experience, you will have briefing at the park’s headquarters which is conducted by a senior ranger who will take you through the do’s and don’ts. You will then head to the forest and begin the search for chimpanzees, the time spent search for the chimpanzees depend on their movement and when you find them you will you will observe them carefully as they do their daily activities including feeding, playing and caring for their young ones. Take pictures and videos, you might also sight other primates such as managabeys, pottos, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will head to Bigodi swamp for a walk for sights of birdlife and other primates. Head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: https://www.turacotreetops.com/ (mid-range), https://chimpundulodge.com/ (luxury)
Meal plan: Full board basis (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 8: Depart For Kampala
Have breakfast at your leisure, meet your guide and depart for Kampala, along the way you will have en-route lunch and reach Kampala in the evening. You will be dropped off either at the hotel or at Entebbe airport for your departure flight back home.
End of the safari!!!!
Tour includes
- Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking permits
- All activities on itinerary & park entry fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Transport in Standard Safari vehicle
- Professional Tour Guide
- Flying doctors emergency service
Package Excludes
- International Flights
- Items of Personal Nature
- Tips and Gratuity
