The 8 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari is a magnificent safari itinerary to Uganda, starting from Entebbe and ending in Kigali for your departure flight. This trip allows you to engage in different amazing activities such as birding, game drives, boat cruises, chimpanzee trekking, walking safaris, Gorilla habituation experiences among others. Get started booking now.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Mabamba Swamp for Birding
Depending on your location on the first day of the safari, you will be welcomed by our professional driver guide who will brief you about the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari, and then transfer to Mabamba wetlands at around 8 am. Mabamba swamp lies around the shores of Lake Victoria and marks one of the best birding sites in Uganda that offers visitors a perfect birding experience. This birding site sounds among the few places in Uganda where there are higher chances to encounter the unique shoebill stork. You will take a canoe ride at Mabamba where you will get closer to different notable bird species that reside here. You will also be able to watch the rare shoebill stork and other bird species. After the birding excursion, you will return back to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan: Half-Board
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park via Ziwa rhino sanctuary
On the second day of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari, you will check out of the lodge, after breakfast and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Uganda’s oldest and largest national park. You will set off on a journey that takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive and on the way you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking and then proceed the journey to Masindi town for picnic lunch. After lunch, you will continue to Murchison Falls National Park. Arrive in the park and drive directly to the top of the falls where you will enjoy beautiful views of the thundering waterfall, water splashes many others. From the top of the falls, you will be driven to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
After an early breakfast on the third day of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive where you expect to see animals like buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Oribi, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffes many others. They will be grazing in the open plains, predators like hyenas, lions, leopards, different bird species many more. After a great adventure, return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch you will go for an impressive boat cruise to the bottom of the falls where you will be able to watch large herds of hippos in water, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, view other animals like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs drinking water along the shores, view water birds and others. After the boat ride, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
On the fourth day of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari, have breakfast check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to head to Kibale Forest National Park a renowned primate capital safari destination. On the way you will have en-route lunch, stopovers to enjoy picture taking, stretch your legs, and enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful scenery, Rwenzori mountain ranges, Lake George, crater lakes, tea plantations many others. Arrive in Kibale National Park, and check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and Bigodi swamp walk
After an early breakfast on the fifth day of the safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to drive to the Kanyachu Visitors Centre for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will walk into the forest in search of the chimpanzees which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on their movement.
On finding the chimpanzees, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their lifestyle, and behaviors, watch them feed, play, hunt, fight, take photos and capture videos for your future remembrance. After an hour’s encounter with the chimpanzees, trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go for an interesting nature walk experience in Bigodi swamp area where you will be able to view different primate species, birds, mammals, plant and tree species more others. After the swamp walk, return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast on the sixth day of the safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to embark on another safari location- Bwindi impenetrable national park. On the way you have an en-route lunch and enjoy impressive views of the Rwenzori peaks, beautiful scenery, terraced farmlands, Kigezi hills, traditional homesteads many others. Upon arrival in Bwindi impenetrable national park, you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 7: Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park
After an early breakfast on the seventh day of the safari, you will carry packed lunch from the lodge and meet up with your driver guide for a briefing about the rules to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will join a team of researchers, scientist, park guides many more and start trekking. Gorilla habituation experience is a whole day activity and during trekking, you will be able to view other wildlife species including other primate species, different trees many more.
Once the fully habituated gorillas are located you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their natural habitat which gives you high opportunity to learn and monitor their habits, and behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, engage in the naming process, take photos many more. After the face-to-face interaction with these magnificent creatures, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver guide and return back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 8: Departure to Kigali
On the last day of the safari, you will enjoy your breakfast, check out of the lodge, and meet up with your guide to transfer to Kigali. On the way, you will have an en-route lunch and enjoy thrilling views of the rolling hills, beautiful scenery, and landscape among others.
Upon arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport for your onward flight or drop you off at any place of advice.
End of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
Quotation includes
- Gorilla habituation permit @ $1,500 pp
- Chimpanzee trekking permit@ $250 pp
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Park Entrance fee/game drive
- Rhino tracking
- Boat cruise
- Birding at Mabamba swamp
- Fulltime English-speaking driver guide
- Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals at the lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- 4WD safari van and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Quotation excludes
- International air flight tickets and Visas
- Optional activities not included in the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Tipping
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter among others.
