4 DAYS UGANDA GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEE SAFARI

4 DAYS CHIMPANZEE AND GORILLA TRACKING SAFARI

Safari Overview

This safari begins and ends in Kampala or Entebbe, Uganda, and includes all necessary permits for primate tracking. The itinerary focuses on two key national parks known for their exceptional biodiversity and primate encounters.

Kibale Forest National Park, located in western Uganda, is one of Africa’s most renowned tropical rainforests. It is especially famous for its large chimpanzee population and other primate species. Visitors track habituated chimpanzee groups and are given one hour to observe their natural behavior, such as feeding, grooming, and caring for their young. The forest is also rich in birdlife and flora, making it a prime destination for nature lovers.

The journey continues to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site established for tourism in 1993. It spans 331 square kilometers and is home to 12 habituated gorilla families, including the Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushengura, and Nkuringo groups. In addition to mountain gorillas, Bwindi supports a vast range of biodiversity, including hundreds of bird species, mammals, amphibians, and plant life.

This safari offers an immersive experience into Uganda’s unique ecosystems, with unforgettable encounters with both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park & Afternoon Chimpanzee Tracking

After an early breakfast, check out and begin your drive to Kibale National Park — a scenic journey of about 5 to 6 hours, passing through rolling hills, tea plantations, and rural villages. Arrive in Fort Portal in time for lunch, then continue to the park headquarters for your afternoon chimpanzee tracking experience.

After a short briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, you’ll head into the forest to search for a habituated chimpanzee group. Kibale is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees, and sightings are common. Along the way, you may also spot red colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and various bird species. The tracking usually takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on the location of the chimps. After the trek, transfer to your lodge to relax. Enjoy dinner and overnight near Kibale National Park.

Accommodation Options

Chimpanzee Forest Lodge/Kibale Forest camp (Budget)

Isunga Lodge/Turaco Treetops Lodge (Moderate),

Tabebuia Spa and Resort/Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury)

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, check out and begin the scenic drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The journey takes approximately 5 to 6 hours, depending on your lodge location, with lunch and photo stops along the way.

Arrive in the late afternoon, check in to your lodge, and relax ahead of your gorilla trek. Dinner and overnight near Bwindi.

Accommodation Options

Ride 4 a Woman/Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge (Budget)

Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Bwindi Haven Lodge (Moderate),

Mahogany Springs/4 Gorillas Lodge (Luxury)

Day 3: Gorilla Tracking & Community Visit

After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing and gorilla tracking experience. You’ll be assigned to a group and set off into the forest with guides and trackers in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek can take 2 to 6 hours, depending on their location. Once found, you’ll spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas in their natural habitat.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some rest. In the afternoon, take a community visit to a nearby Batwa or local village to learn about traditional life in the region. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near Bwindi.

Accommodation Options

Ride 4 a Woman/Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge (Budget)

Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Bwindi Haven Lodge(Moderate),

Mahogany Springs/4 Gorillas Lodge (Luxury)

Day 4: Transfer Back to Entebbe

After breakfast, check out and begin the return journey to Entebbe. This is a long but scenic drive (approx. 8 to 10 hours) with a stop for lunch en route. Arrive in Entebbe in the late evening and check in to your hotel (or connect directly to a late-night departure, if applicable).

End of safari!