5 Days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali

This 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali is an incredible adventure that will take you to Kibale forest national park also known as the primate capital located in western part of Uganda where you will be able to spend time with the chimpanzees in their environment and Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will have a face to face encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat while on a Uganda Safari.

Highlights of the 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Kibale national park

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 5: Departure to Kigali

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali international airport and transfer to Kibale forest national park,

Depending on your arrival time on the first day of the 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali, our driver guide will pick you up, brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Kibale forest national park passing via Katuna border in Kabale. On the way you will have en-route lunch and enjoy great views of the beautiful scenery, landscape, countryside, tea and banana plantations, crater lakes, Rwenzori mountain peaks among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk

Chimpanzee trekking,

After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kanyachu visitors centre for a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will be subdivided into groups of people where each group will be allocated a habituated chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Trekking of chimpanzees in Kibale national park takes about 30 minutes 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 view other primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, l’ hoest monkeys, view variety of bird species, different plant and tree species among others.

Once the chimpanzees are located you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to take photos, record videos, learn about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, hunt, fight, play, rest, mate among others. After the one hour encounter with chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to return back to the lodge for lunch.

Bigodi swamp walk

After lunch you will go for an interesting nature walk in Bigodi swamp where you will be able to view different wildlife species including animals like bushbucks, sitatungas, primates like grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, different bird species like the great blue turaco, African paradise flycatcher among others. After the nature walk you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in southwestern part of Uganda. On the way you will have en-route lunch and enjoy great views of the Kigezi hills, terraced farmlands, traditional homesteads among others. Upon arrival in the Bwindi impenetrable national park, you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Gorilla trekking,

After an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali, you will carry your packed lunch from the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide. Allocation of gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park is done depending of various factors such as age, physical fitness and personal preference therefore in case you are not physically fit you are advised to communicate with your driver guide. 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 one place to another in search of food.

During Gorilla trekking in Bwindi you will be able to view other primate species such as l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, different plant species, birds 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 observe their habits, behaviors, watch gorillas feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, take photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people back home after the Uganda safari. After the one hour encounter with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be rewarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking.

Day 5: Departure to Kigali

On the last day of the 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali, you will enjoy a relaxed breakfast check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kigali. On the way you will enjoy great views of the countryside, Kigezi hills, plantations beautiful scenery, rolling hills among others. Upon arrival in Kigali you will have lunch where after you will go for an optional city tour in Kigali where you will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial centre, Kimironko market among others, after the city tour you will transfer to Kigali international airport for your departure flight or transfer to a lodge in Kigali depending on your schedule.

End of 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari from Kigali

Tour includes

Gorilla trekking permit
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Bigodi swamp walk
Kigali city tour
Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
Full board accommodation
Pick up and drop off
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.