7 Days Chimps, Gorillas & Lions – Uganda

Journey time: 5 – 6 Hours

After an early breakfast, at 06:00AM start off your journey to Kibale National Park.
Make a stopover in Fort Portal to visit Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves located 5 KM West of Fort Portal; they are of a strong cultural significance to the people of Toro. Get here and explore caves, waterfall and the nearby Crater Lake. Lunch at a restaurant.

Continue to Kibale for Bigodi Cultural Tour – Get engaged in activities such as: Birding in Bigodi swamp, Bigodi coffee tasting, Taste banana beer and traditional vodka, purchase traditional arts and crafts, Cultural entertainment (songs and dances).

Proceed to the lodge thereafter, and check-in to refresh for dinner at leisure.

Kibale National Park; is home to the highest primate population in Africa. Although the highlight of the park is the habituated chimpanzees, the treetops are alive with all manner of monkeys including: red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked Mangabey, red colobus with colobus monkeys sighted here. When you’re not searching for monkeys there are over 300 bird species and an incredible 250 species of butterfly.

Overnight: Lodge Bella Vista – or similar   

Meal Plan: Half Board

Journey time: Approx. 2 Hours   

Early breakfast at the lodge and check-out. Be at the park’s Kanyanchu visitor office at 08:00am for registration and briefing before chimp trekking.

Kibale Chimpanzee tracking adventure: The most popular activity in Kibale is the Kanyanchu Primate Walk, with the most sought after on this trail being the chimpanzees. Kanyanchu’s chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent. Daily guided walks start at 08:00am and 02:0pm and last an average of one to two hours with chimps in their natural habitat. The habituated groups are accustomed to human presence; some have been observed for over 25 years, and the chances of locating them are at 90%. The time spent with the chimps is limited to one hour for a maximum of six visitors per session daily. Most prominent among Kibale’s primates is a large population of chimps (about 1,500 individuals). The biologically diversity of Kibale includes other 120 mammals, with several primates like baboons, Ugandan Mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, de brazza’s monkey, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys commonly spotted, with 370 bird species including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. Nahan’s francolin, Cassin’s spinetail, blue headed bee-eater and more.

After the trek; off to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge.

After lunch, go for Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise; this is the main activity after lunch where you will spot a number of birds like; the African fish eagle, pelicans, flamingos, Hammerkop, egrets, the African fin foot, pied kingfishers, marabou storks, vultures, kites and many more, together with animals like hippos, buffalos, warthogs, crocodiles, waterbucks and more as most of them visit to water and cool off.

Enjoy an evening game drive on your way to the lodge. Dinner included.

Overnight: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board

Journey time: 5 – 6 Hours

Early breakfast at the lodge, followed by a check-out at 06:00AM.

Start with Guided Game Drive: Go explore the highlights of this wonderful national park. Expect to sight a variety of flora and fauna. Enjoy a scenic view of several crater lakes like Nyamunuka – medicinal to the animals and Munyanyange – frequented by flamingos. The safari is crowned with cool views at sunrise. Proceed to Lake Katwe to mingle with the locals, learn about traditional salt mining as well as local lifestyle.  

After the game drive, travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Stopover en-route for lunch at a restaurant. On arrival check-in at the lodge and stay at leisure.

Overnight: Gorilla Valley Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board

After an early breakfast you will be handed a lunchbox and mineral water to put in your backpack and proceed to the visitor information centre. Upon completing park formalities, you will embark on a once in a life time experience of tracking the elusive mountain gorillas. Once you meet the gorillas on a tracking adventure, you are allowed between 1 to 2 hours watching and photographing the gentle apes including the silverback. This is perhaps one of the most breath-taking wildlife experience on earth!!! You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 700 living today, but you will get within meters with the gorillas and take your best pictures. Gorilla tracking may be fairly strenuous lasting an hour at a relatively high altitude. During the trek, your ranger guide will identify a safe and scenic spot for your picnic lunch after which you will proceed with the trek or back to the lodge (Subject to change). Come in hiking boots, trousers, and gloves for protection against stinging nettles as well as sufficient water as the rain forest gets hot and humid in daytime. 

Planned Activity: Batwa Cultural Trail – This 3 hour trail exhibits a mutual relationship between the Batwa and the jungle before their expulsion in the process of converting this forest into a protected reserve. In a bid to promote their unique heritage and traditions; the Batwa will walk you through their small pocket forests, showcasing a nomadic culture during their occupation of the rain forest. Approach the Batwa settlement and observe how the women go about cooking and serving a traditional meal. Continue to visit herbalists so as to explore the various herbs plus medicinal significance, and listening to ancient legends alongside traditional songs.

Return to the lodge in the evening and for dinner at leisure. 

Overnight: Gorilla Valley Lodge – or similar

Meal Plan: Full Board

Journey Time: 9 – 10 Hours

You will have an early breakfast followed by a check-out. Thereafter depart Bwindi at 07:00AM back to Kampala City. After several hours of driving, make a stopover at the Equator lunch with a photo opportunity. From the equator, continue with the journey straight to the hotel and check-in to stay at leisure.

Overnight: Gazelle Hospitality Guesthouse – or similar

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Journey Time: 01 Hour

Pick-up time: 08:30AM. Enjoy an energizing farewell breakfast and check-out. At the time indicated; go for a city tour before the airport (Depends on flight schedule).

Kampala City Tour: This city excursion takes you to cultural and historical land marks together with exploring the lifestyle of Ugandans, and shopping for souvenirs. The highlights include: Nakasero market: Established in 1895 moving to its current location in 1905. Temples such as Shree Swaminarayan Mandir. It continues to Kabaka’s (King’s) Palace; with Idd Amin torture chambers and sightseeing Buganda clan monuments. You will as well tour Gadhafi National Mosque for an insight into a Ugandan Islamic culture with a 360 degree birds’ eye view of Kampala City. Lastly at Uganda National Museum; oldest in East Africa, established by the British in 1908 to its current location in 1954.

Next after the tour is a transfer to Entebbe Airport; arrive and check-in for your onward flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast only

End of Safari

DISCLAIMER:

• The journey time(s) stated in the itinerary is an estimation and it is subject to variation depending on traffic and road conditions.


• Listed accommodation options are subject to availability at the time of booking. If not available, similar properties will be considered.


• Kindly note that we cannot determine which of the five sectors of Bwindi you will be allocated as this will be depend on availability at the time of booking.