10 Days Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking Safari
This Uganda tour includes a visit to Bwindi national park, chimpanzee trekking and habituation experience in Kibale forest national park, game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park. This Uganda Safari focuses on providing more time with the gorillas through a 4-hour gorilla habituation experience, offers opportunities to get closer to the lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and includes a chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale Forest National Park. You will do game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and end your safari with a day to relax at Lake Bunyonyi. The Uganda tour is private and can depart on any day from Entebbe/Kampala or Kigali.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Arrival – Kampala city
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi nature walk
Day 3: Chimpanzee habituation experience
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking—transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 5: Lion tracking/Game drive and Boat cruise
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking – Rushaga/Nkuringo sector
Day 8: Gorilla Habituation experience – Rushaga sector
Day 9: Free day relaxation Lake Bunyonyi
Day 10: Transfer back to Kampala/Departure
Detailed 10 Days Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking Safari itinerary
Day 1: Arrival – Kampala city
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will meet our company representative/guide, who will be waiting to receive you and transfer you to Kampala city, which is 37km away. You will be transferred to your hotel to check in and rest from the long flight. Depending on your time of arrival, you will explore Kampala city on a city tour. Some of the places to visit may include the Gadaffi mosque, the Bahai temple, King’s palace in Mengo and drive through the interesting places of Kampala city with the guidance of your driver. Before nightfall, return to your hotel to relax, have dinner and overnight stay at Sheraton Hotel for luxury or the Fairway Hotel for mid-range
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi nature walk
After breakfast, you will be picked up by your safari guide to start your safari with a transfer to Kibale national park- the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Arrive in the park in the afternoon for lunch in fort portal town, and then go for a 2-3 hour nature walk in Bigodi wetland before you proceed to your lodge in Kibale. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Guest house main house for mid-range/Chimpundu Lodge for luxury on a full board basis.
Day 3: Chimpanzee habituation experience
Have breakfast very early, then transfer to the park head office for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees. Afterward, enter the forest with a park ranger, bringing your tracking gear, packed water, and snacks. This trekking is a whole-day experience. On finding the primates, you will spend 4 hours viewing them while studying their behavior and taking pictures. After tracking, return to the lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight at as above
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking—transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast you will go for chimpanzee trekking with your packed food and water. Meet your guide at the head office, then enter the rainforest to start searching for the chimpanzee; this will take 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees. On seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures.
After tracking, you will refresh at the lodge and then proceed to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. This is a 3-hour drive from Fort portal with an en route visit to the crater lakes. Dinner and overnight at Parkview Safari lodge for mid-range/Kyambura Gorge lodge for luxury
Day 5: Lion tracking/Game drive and Boat cruise
Very early in the morning, meet your guide for the lion tracking experience, where you are guaranteed to see the lions; you will also spot a good number of wildlife, including Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes and all species of antelopes. You will enjoy a bush breakfast. Return to the lodge and have lunch.
After enjoying your lunch at the lodge, go for your boat trip along the Kazinga channel for yet another wildlife experience, including the hippos and crocodiles/bird watching, as you cruise on lake Edward/George. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast early in the morning, you drive to Bwindi national park via the Ishasha sector for chances of spotting the tree-climbing lions with lunch en route. It’s about a 6-7 hour drive to Kisoro. Upon arrival at the sector, connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge for luxury or Ichumbi Gorilla lodge for mid-range
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking – Rushaga/Nkuringo sector
Have an early morning breakfast and head to the park headquarters for a briefing by the ranger guides before embarking on your gorilla trek. Head into the forest and trek until you find the gorillas. Gorilla trekking can take 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. After finding the gorillas in Bwindi, you will be allowed only 1 hour and then return. Your driver/guide will drive you back to your lodge, check-out and connect to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Check-in for dinner and overnight stay at Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge for luxury/Ichumbi Gorilla lodge for mid-range
Day 8: Gorilla Habituation experience – Rushaga sector
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a briefing by the ranger guides and later head into the forest for your trek. Gorilla habituation in Bwindi involves visiting a semi-habituated gorilla family that is under the process of habituation. This activity takes a whole day and you are granted 4 hours to stay with the gorillas. After the habituation experience, meet your guide and drive back to your lodge to rest. Dinner and overnight at Lodge as above
Day 9: Free day relaxation Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, meet your safari driver and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, which is about a 2-3 hour drive. Connect for a canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi for about an hour, connect to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing at the hotel/lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Bunyonyi Arcadia Cottages/Bunyonyi BirdNest Lodge
Day 10: Transfer back to Kampala/Departure
Wake up early and enjoy your breakfast. Later meet with the guide/driver for your long day transfer back to Kampala. This journey takes 8-9 hours on the road, including en route for lunch. Arrive in Entebbe and proceed to the airport for your return flight back home.
End of 10 Days Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla tracking Safari
