7 Days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari
This 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari is an incredible adventure that will take you to Kibale forest national park where you will engage in an interesting chimpanzee trekking and the misty forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park in southwestern Uganda where you will get an opportunity to have a face to face interaction with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. During the 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will visit Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest lake in East Africa.
Highlights of the 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to a hotel in Kampala.
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale forest national park
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kampala,
Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe international airport on the first day of the 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi Safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to a hotel in Kampala for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale forest national park
After breakfast on the second day of the 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the hotel in Kampala and then start the journey to Kibale forest national park also known as the primate capital. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours drive and on the way you will have en-route lunch in Fort Portal and after continue the journey to the park with stunning views of the beautiful scenery, Rwenzori mountain ranges, Lake George, crater lakes, tea plantations among others. Upon arrival in Kibale national park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Chimpanzee trekking
After an early breakfast on the third day of the 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kanyachu visitors centre for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be sub divided into groups of 6 people and start trekking in the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzee family. During the trekking you will be able to view different wildlife species including mammals like forest elephants, buffaloes, other primate species like red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, grey checked baboon, view different bird species, tree species among others. Once the chimpanzees under habituation are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, hunt, play, fight, mate, rest, take photos and record the moments to show people back home after the safari. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide and return back to the lodge for lunch.
Bigodi swamp walk
after lunch you will go for an amazing nature walk in Bigodi swamp where you will be able to view variety of bird species like the great blue turaco, view mammals like bush bucks, sitatunga, primates like l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, view different plant and tree species, enjoy the cool breeze among others. After the Bigodi swamp walk you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast on the fourth day of the 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will check out of the lodge and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park. You will have a stopover at Ishasha sector where you will engage in a game drive where you will be able to view the tree climbing lions which will be lying up in acacia/ fig tree branches. During the game drive you will also be able to view other animals like buffaloes, Uganda kobs, elephants, hippos and different bird species. After the game drive you will have en-route lunch and then proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park and upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking,
After an early breakfast on the fifth day of the 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi Safari, you will carry packed lunch and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will be sub divided in groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from place to place in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species like l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, view variety of forest birds, different plant species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, playing, observe their behaviors, habits, take photos and record the breathtaking moments. After the one hour with the gorillas you will return back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
On the sixth day of the 7 days gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will have breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive. Upon arrival you will go for an interesting boat cruise/ canoeing where you will be able to explore some of the 29 islands, view some bird species among others.
After the boat cruise, you will go for lunch where after you will relax at the lodge or engage in optional activities like cultural tour, nature walk or zip lining and in the evening you will have dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 7: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to Kampala. On the way you will have a stopover in Mbarara town for lunch and another stopover at the Equator to take photos and buy souvenirs. From the Equator you will proceed to Kampala arriving in the evening and upon arrival you will be dropped off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 7 days Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and Lake Bunyonyi safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
- Full time English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off to Kampala
- 4WD pop up safari vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Life insurance
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
