5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour – 5 Days Uganda Primates Safari

The 5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour is a perfect primate viewing package focusing on gorilla trekking and chimpanzee, 2 of the World’s most popular primate species found in the tropical rainforests of Uganda-the Mountain gorillas of Bwindi National Park and the Chimpanzees of Kibale National Park.

Like most Uganda safaris/tours, the 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour starts and ends from the Ugandan Capital (Kampala) or Entebbe. It leads to two primate tracking Parks that include Kibale and Bwindi National Parks. The latter is found in the south-west of Uganda, covers a total area of 33100 hectares and is a haven to almost half of the World’s population of Mountain gorillas while the former is located in western Uganda and features one of the greatest rainforests in the African Continent. It is home to over 1500 of the total 5000 total Chimpanzees in the country.

Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzee

Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking may be the main activities on the 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour but it is also the best package for birding enthusiasts because the Bwindi and Kibale Forests are endowed with numerous species of birds not easily spotted in other places in the country.

Highlights of the 5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour

60 minutes with a habituated gorilla family.
One hour with a habituated Chimpanzee community.
Forest and the Albertine endemic bird species are a must-see.
A number of mammals including other primate species, elephants, buffaloes, and duikers are likely to be encountered during gorilla and chimp trekking.
Reptiles especially snakes, chameleons, and geckoes are a must-see during trekking in Bwindi or Kibale Forest.
A comfortable ride from Kampala to different destinations.
Tour of Lake Bunyonyi.
Tour of the Crater Lakes.

Summarized itinerary of the 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour

Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and walk at Bigodi wetland Sanctuary.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 5: Departure.

Detailed itinerary of the 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour

Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park

Early morning breakfast at your place of stay in Kampala or Entebbe will be followed by a meet and greet/or pick up by our driver. Leave Kampala and be driven to Kibale National Park via Mityana, Mubende, Kyenjojo and Fort portal Towns.

Upon arriving Mubende, be driven to the Nakayima Ancestral Tree, where locals worship, pay homage and seek blessings from Nakayima-the goddess of blessings. Proceed with the journey while capturing views of the tea plantations, kopjes, and hillside and arrive Fort Portal for a lunch break.

The many women and men harvesting tea is a wonderful photographic scene but the verdant scenery of vast tea plantation will welcome you to the beautiful Fort Portal Town. Head straight for a tour of the Crater Lakes and continue to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options;

Budget: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and walk at Bigodi wetland Sanctuary

Breakfast for day 2 of the 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour will be served early at the chosen place of stay after-which you move to the visitor Center for briefing and the actual Chimpanzee trek begins at 8 am. This fascinating Chimp trek lasts between one and three hours but interestingly involves hiking through the thickly forested landscape while encountering other inhabitants of the forest.

You will have one hour with then after-which head back to the Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon leave the Lodge and be driven to Bigodi wetland Sanctuary for a nature walk where you will expect to see abundant bird species including the Ross turaco, papyrus gonolek, great blue turaco and many others as well as primates especially vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and L’Hoests monkeys among others. Back to the Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Accommodation options;

Budget: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After your sumptuous breakfast at the Lodge, leave for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. To make the journey more exciting, you will be driven through the countryside of Kasese where locals will be seen tending to their gardens, Kilembe copper and cobalt Mines and Queen Elizabeth National Park where if lucky you will see the tree climbing lions as well as the elephants and buffaloes.

Have en-route lunch at Savannah Resort and arrive at Bwindi in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options;

Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
Midrange: Engagi Lodge.
Luxury: Mahogany Springs Camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 4 of the 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour is when you will be undertaking the highly anticipated gorilla trek. Make Sure to have had breakfast by 7 am for the first step of an adventurous gorilla trek. In case you didn’t know, gorilla trekking doesn’t start from the jungles but with an important and a must-attend briefing at the Park Headquarters.

Lake Bunyonyi

With your backpack, drinking water and walking stick start the trek in the company of other trekkers, a ranger guide, armed rangers and porters through the forest.

The trek in undeniably long and tough lasting 1-4 hours but the moment you set your eyes into the great giants of Bwindi, you will forget the distance and toughness of the trek.

After the one hour allocated, return to the Lodge for lunch and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Head for a canoe ride upon arrival at Lake Bunyonyi.

Accommodation options;

Budget: Bushara Island Camp.
Midrange: Arcadia Cottages.
Luxury: Birdnest@Lake Bunyonyi Resort.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 5: Departure

Have breakfast then go for a morning nature walk before checking-out of the Lodge and returning to Kampala.
End of your 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour

The 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour package includes;

Gorilla permit.
Chimpanzee permit.
Smooth ride with our customized 4WD vehicle.
A full-time English speaking guide.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Meals including en-route.
Canoe ride in Lake Bunyonyi.
Relevant Government taxes.
4 nights’ accommodation in Luxury, midrange or budget accommodation facility.
Bottled water.
Stopovers and other destinations added on the itinerary.

Your 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour package excludes;

Domestic and International Airfares.
Ugandan Visa.
Personal expenses such as tips, souvenirs, beverages, laundry fees and telephone bills.
Optional activities not included on the itinerary.

Gorilla and Chimp trekking guidelines

Avoid visiting the primates when you have flue/cold, cough or any other infectious disease.
Maintain a distance of 7 meters and 8 meters when viewing the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees respectively.
Both gorilla and chimp trekkers have to be 15 years and above.
Tourists are allowed to spend only one hour with the mountain gorillas or Chimpanzees.
Do not eat, drink or smoke during the trek or in the presence of the mentioned primates.
Flash photography is prohibited.
Avoid open coughing or sneezing while in the presence of the apes but if you are to do so, use a handkerchief and turn your mouth away.
Do not litter the Park during trekking.
Avoid making noise while trekking or when in the presence of the primates.

What to carry for your 5 days Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Tour

Travel documents such as Passport, visa, and air ticket.
Gorilla permit.
Chimpanzee permit.
Safari pants.
Long and short-sleeved shirts.
Wide-brimmed hat.
Rain Jacket.
Gardening gloves.
Strong waterproof hiking boots.
First aid box.
Waterproof backpack.
Swimsuit.
Non-flash camera.
Pair of binoculars.
Insect repellants.
Energy giving snacks.
Cotton socks.
Sunglasses.
Toiletries such as hair gel, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair combs and lip balm among others.

Other tourist activities undertaken in Bwindi National Park

Nature walks/hiking.
Bird watching.
Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Cycling.
Cultural tours.

Other tourist activities in Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee habituation Experience.
Nature walks/hiking.
Birding.
Cultural tours.
Visit the Amabere Caves.

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