Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari

Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari

Explore the incredible national parks of Uganda on an 9-day journey. Begin your travels in the Mabamba Swamps searching for Shoebill Storks.  Visit the lush, evergreen rainforest of Kibale National Park , where you'll visit a community of wild chimpanzees in Uganda. Travel onward to Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot tree-climbing lion, pods of hippo and herds of elephant. Venture deep into the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to spend some time with a family of endangered mountain gorillas , a truly unforgettable experience.


Our small group safaris offer you the opportunity to explore Uganda while enjoying the company of an intimate group of like-minded safari enthusiasts.


Itinerary

  • Day 1: Entebbe Airport / Entebbe

    At Entebbe, you will be welcomed by our friendly safari team and transferred to your hotel.  Enjoy a 2-hour sunset cruise on Lake Victoria.

    Overnight: 

    Stay: 2 Friends Beach Hotel (Pool view room)

    Meals: Dinner & breakfast

  • Day 2: Entebbe / Mabamba Swamp

    After an early morning breakfast drive to Mabamba Swamps. Upon arrival in Mabamba Swamp, you’ll meet your local guide. The canoe trip through papyrus swamp will take you to the unscathed attractiveness of the wetlands, where you will have the highest chance of seeing Shoebill and other papyrus specialist birds like Saddle-billed Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana, and other swamp specialties. 

    Stay: 2 Friends Beach Hotel (Pool view room)

    Meals: Dinner, lunch & breakfast

  • Day 3: Entebbe / Kibale Forest National Park

    After a relaxing breakfast, we depart from Entebbe and head west to Fort Portal, with lunch en route at a local restaurant. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon” (Rwenzori mountains) and is famous for its many tea plantations. From this lovely town, we continue to Kibale Forest National Park.

    Stay: Turaco Treetops (cottage)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 4: Kibale Forest National Park - CHIMPANZEE TREKKING

    Today the forest opens its doors for an exhilarating chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda. Kibale Forest is known for having the greatest variety and the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkey, and many others. Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will spend an unforgettable hour with them as they go about their daily life - feeding, playing, grooming, taking care of their young, howling and screeching, all in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for lunch.  Enjoy an afternoon at leisure or visit one of the many wetlands in Uganda, the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, for a nature walk. The sanctuary features 8 primate species, numerous other interesting mammals, over 200 bird species, many reptiles, and uncounted varieties of trees, shrubs, and vines. 

    Stay: Turaco Treetops (cottage) 

    Meals: Lunch, dinner and breakfast

  • Day 5: Kibale Forest National Park / Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain range for most of the journey) and delight in an en-route game drive to the lodge where you will have lunch. Enjoy an afternoon game drive around the Mweya Peninsular and the Kasenyi, the mating ground of the Ugandan kobs. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, and other wild animals in their natural habitat, or simply relax around the pool.

    Stay: Mweya Safari Lodge (standard room)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park

    The day begins early as we start with a morning game drive. The park's diverse ecosystem of grassy plains, tropical forests, rivers, swamps, lakes, and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. Look out for buffaloes, lions, elephants, and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Join us for an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway between Lake Edward and Lake George. This promises to be one of the highlights of your safari as you will be spoiled with spectacular views of abundant birdlife, elephants, buffaloes, and hundreds of hippos cooling off at the shores. The boat cruise is followed by game drives in the Kasenyi Plains area where you will see Ugandan kobs, lions, elephants, buffaloes, and more.

    Stay: Mweya Safari Lodge (standard room)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park / Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

    After an early game drive, we head towards Bwindi, driving through the Ishasha Sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. While experiencing the verdant countryside, you will pass traditional homesteads and enjoy panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountains. We will reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home of the endangered mountain gorillas, in the afternoon. 

    Stay: Haven Lodge (standard room) 

    Meals: Lunch, dinner &breakfast

  • Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - GORILLA TREKKING

    Early morning departure from the lodge to the trailhead at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your mountain gorilla trekking experience. After a comprehensive briefing about the aspects of gorilla behaviour, details about the gorilla family you’ll be trekking, and safety precautions, your adventure will start! Gorilla trekking can be strenuous, and a certain level of fitness is required. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in Africa, if not the world. This is adequate time for photography and observing these great primates in their natural habitat. Afterward, you will return to the base where your driver will be waiting to transfer you to the lodge to enjoy leisure time or partake in the Batwa Experience (the cost will be for your account and is not included in your package). Known as the “Keepers of the forest” the enchanting Batwa pygmies of Bwindi are a hunter-gatherer tribe that has lived side-by-side with the wildlife of these parks for hundreds of years. The Batwa Experience is a hands-on historical and cultural encounter during which the Batwa demonstrate and describe their traditional way of life as hunter-gatherers.

    Stay: Haven Lodge (standard room)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park / Entebbe Airport

    Enjoy the morning at leisure, before your transfer to the Kihihi airstrip (about 1 hour from the lodge) for your flight to Entebbe Airport for your onward flight home.

    End of service

We also offer this as a private safari or can send you a tailor-made quotation similar to the above itinerary - one designed specifically for you, around your taste, budget, interests and more.

  • ALL transfers from Entebbe Airport with English speaking driver guide. 
  • 2-nights at 2 Friends Beach Hotel (Entebbe)
  • Pool view room
  • Dinner & Breakfast  
  • Entebbe activities included:
  • Sunset Cruise on Lake Victoria
  • Canoe trip in Mabamba Swamps for Shoebills
  • 2-nights at Turaco Treetops (Kibale Forest) 
  • Cottage
  • Lunch, dinner & breakfast  
  • Kibale Forest activities included:
  • Chimpanzee trekking
  • Visit the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary
  • 2-nights at Mweya Safari Lodge (Queen Elizabeth NP) 
  • Standard Room
  • Lunch, dinner & breakfast  
  • Queen Elizabeth activities included:
  • Afternoon game drive in the park
  • Boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel
  • On-route game drive through the Ishasha Sector
  • 2-nights at Haven Lodge (Bwindi) 
  • Standard Room
  • Lunch, dinner & breakfast  
  • Bwindi activities included:
  • X1 Gorilla trekking permit per person in the Bwindi National Park 
  • 4x4 stretched Land Cruiser safari vehicle (maximum 6 clients per vehicle)
  • Mini fridge you can use to stock with drinks (for your account)
  • Reference Books & Maps
  • Bottled water in vehicles
  • Flight by light aircraft from Kihihi airstrip (Bwindi) to Entebbe Airport (on the last day).
  • All National Park entrance fees & ranger fees.
  • Comprehensive support from our operational office in Uganda for the duration of the safari. 
  • Travel information pack.
  • Free postage of travel documents.

  • International Flights
  • Entry visa to Uganda (SA passport requires a visa for Uganda – cost is US$50 – obtain online).
  • Yellow Fever inoculation certificate or an exemption letter from your doctor – COMPULSORY!
  • Malaria – Uganda is a malaria area.
  • Travel Insurance (Highly recommended).
  • Meals and drinks not specified.  
  • Laundry services.
  • Gratuities to the driver/guide, trackers, hotel staff & porters – our recommendations:
  • Driver/guide – suggested at US$10 per person per day.
  • Gorilla trekking team – US$20 per client.
  • Chimp trekking team – US$20 per client.
  • Hotel staff – at your discretion.
  • Porters carrying suitcase/s – recommend US$1 per suitcase.
  • All expenses of personal nature.
  • Optional activities.

Dates & Prices

Dates:

SMALL GROUP DEPARTURE DATES:

This 09-Day Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Group Safaris depart on the following set departure dates. 


21 - 29 September 2024

Rates:

SA RESIDENTS: INTERNATIONAL:
Package price pp: R53,856 pp $2,230 pp
Gorilla permit x 1: R13,230 pp $700 pp
Chimpanzee permit x 1: R3,780 pp $200 pp
TOTAL price pp: R70,866 pp $3,131 pp
Air Uganda flights from JHB: R6,943 pp

 

  • Exchange rate used (bank selling rate): R18.90 to US$1.00
  • Price quoted is valid for residents and citizens of SA & SADC member states.
  • All rates are subject to increases beyond our control, including fuel price, government taxes and exchange rate fluctuations.
  • Prices are based on 4 to 6 persons traveling per vehicle. If less than 4 people travel per vehicle there might be an increase in transfer costs which will be divided between the total people travelling in the vehicle.
  • Children trekking restrictions:  No children younger than fifteen years old.

National Parks

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale National park lies in western Uganda, southeast of the Fort Portal town. With lush tropical rainforest and fascinating diversity of animals, Kibale National Park is one of the most beautiful forests in Uganda . Due to its location between the wet rainforests of the Congo basin and the drier East African forest, Kibale supports an unusually rich array of tropical plants and animals from both areas. One of the highest concentrations of monkeys and apes in the world and the highest in Uganda is found here, including the endangered chimpanzee and the red colobus monkeys . Kibale's varied altitude supports different types of habitat, ranging from a wet tropical forest on the Fort Portal plateau to woodland and savanna on the rift valley floor. With 351 tree species being recorded in the park, some rise to over 55m and are over 200 years old. The Kibale Forest is the best place to go on a chimpanzee safari in Uganda and Rwanda with a 90% chance of seeing them. The park contains the largest population of forest elephants found in Uganda, but they are rarely sighted. Kibale has the highest primate density of any area on earth , including the red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, chimpanzee, colobus (black, white and red) and white-cheeked mangabey . Other mammals found are bushbuck, red and blue duiker, Uganda kob, Scaly-tailed flying squirrel, tree pangolin, buffalo, waterbuck and hippo as well as a large number of birds.


Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is undoubtedly Uganda’s most visited park. Located in western Uganda, the park boasts one of the highest biodiversity location ratings in the world featuring tropical forests, volcanic craters, and grassy plains. Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains. The park’s diverse ecosystems make it the ideal habitat for the big game, ten primate species (including chimpanzees) and over 600 species of birds. Ishasha in the southern part of the park is home to the famous tree-climbing lions. One can be sure to spot many buffalo, giant forest hogs, warthogs, rare aquatic sitatunga antelope, horned Uganda kob, waterbuck, leopard, topi and elephant. A relaxing boat ride on the channel is a popular attraction and a great way to see the hippos! Also, the sunset over the water is spectacular.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Virunga mountain range dominates the National Park, and the landscape is dotted with waterfalls and lakes. With high annual rainfall, the rainforest is deserving of its name – impenetrable. Bwindi Forest is most famous for being the home to half of the world’s population of endangered Mountain Gorillas. The experience of encountering such animals is said to be one of the most emotional wildlife adventures you will ever have. The biodiversity in the forest is impeccable as it provides a home for over 310 species of butterfly, 200 trees, 88 months, 120 species of mammals including 10 species of primates and 51 reptiles. The various primates that can be found in the forest in addition to the mountain gorillas include the red-tailed and blue monkey, L’Hoest’s, chimpanzee, black and white colobus, and baboons. The Bwindi Forest also has over 350 species of birds. The area is also home to the Batwa Pygmies, who are the oldest inhabitants of the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. These hunter-gatherers have a rich, broad culture and history that they are happy to share. 

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