6 Days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari
The 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari is an amazing safari that starts and ends in Kampala. The safari will take you to the misty forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in south western part of Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable national park is the only gorilla destination that offers gorilla habituation experience where you will get an opportunity to spend four hours with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari will also take you to Queen Elizabeth national park where you be able to view different animal like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, lions, leopards, waterbucks among others and Kibale forest national park where you will be able to spend one hour with the chimpanzees.
Highlights of the 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari
Day 1: Fly to Kibale forest national park-Bigodi swamp walk
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 4: Fly to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 5: Gorilla habituation in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 6: Fly to Entebbe airport
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and fly to Kibale forest national park-Bigodi swamp walk
Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe international airport on the first day of the 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will connect for your domestic flight to Kasese airstrip. Upon arrival, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kibale forest national park where you will check into the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go for an amazing swamp walk in Bigodi sanctuary where you will be able to view different primates, tree species, mammals, spot variety of bird species among others. After the swamp walk, you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Chimpanzee trekking
After an early breakfast on the second day of the safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kanyachu Visitors Centre for chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest which takes about 2 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 spot other primates such as grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, some bird species, plants among others. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which helps you to learn more about their behaviours, watch them feed, breastfeed, fight, hunt, enjoy the juveniles playing up in the trees, take photos and record the moments.
After the face to face encounter with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide to return to the lodge for lunch where after you will check out and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. Upon arrival, you will connect to your lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Morning game drive/ lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive,
After an early breakfast on the third day of the 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive or lion tracking experience in Kasenyi plains where you will have great views of the sunrise, big four mammals which are lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, other animals like waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, views of different bird species among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise,
After lunch you will drive to the landing site near Mweya safari lodge for an incredible boat cruise along Kazinga channel which is a 40km long channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the boat trip which lasts for about 2-3 hours you, will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view buffaloes, elephants, warthogs drinking water along the banks, view water birds among others. You will also be able to see the fishermen along the shores preparing their fishing gears for night fishing, take beautiful pictures among others. After the boat cruise you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Fly to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast on the fourth day of the 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kasese airstrip for your domestic flight to Kisoro airstrip. Upon arrival, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Rushaga sector in Bwindi impenetrable national park which takes about 2 hours drive and upon arrival, you will connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla habituation,
After an early breakfast on the fifth day of the 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will carry packed lunch and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the jungle with a team of researchers, park guide, park rangers among others which takes a whole day. During trekking you will have views other primates, different bird species among others. Once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, monitor and observe their behaviours, take great photos and record videos. After the encounter with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla habituation experience, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Fly to Entebbe airport
After an early breakfast on the last day of the 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kisoro airstrip for your domestic flight to Entebbe airport.
End of 6 days luxury gorilla habituation and chimpanzee trekking safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla habituation permit @ $1,500 pp
- Chimpanzee trekking permit @ $250pp
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Park entrance fees/game drives
- Boat cruise
- Domestic flights fee
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off in a 4WD vehicle
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking 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.
