5 Day Uganda Primate Tour to Kibale Forest & Bwindi Gorilla National Park
The 5 days primate adventure in Uganda takes you through Bwindi National Park southwestern Uganda for mountain gorilla watching and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale forest offers refuge to 13 primate species some of which include the blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, L’Hoests and many more as well as bird species that make up about 350. Your five day Uganda primate tour starts and ends in Kampala/Entebbe International Airport
Safari Overview
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Day 4: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 5: Return to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park
Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast in your respective hotel and after set off to Kibale Forest National Park west of Uganda about 5 to 6 hours’ drive. You will take off Kampala-Fort Portal route in your 4 wheel drive safari jeep, lunch in Fort Portal, dinner and overnight at Kyaninga Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Chimpanzee Guest House, Rweteera safari Park or Primates Lodge.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking or Habituation Experience
You will have breakfast early in the morning in your respective lodge and after join the rest of the visitors at Kanyanchu visitor center for morning briefing about Chimpanzee tracking experience. After you set off at 8:00am for the actual trek in the forest with park guides where you will spend about 3 hours and one hour is given you to have a face to face encounter with the apes, explore their social behavior and take their photos as many as you can. For this adventure, you will need to have light hiking boots and they should be waterproof, day-pack, bottled water to refresh your self, long sleeved shirts, jeans, rain jacket, hat and others.
Permits for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale cost $150 per person and they can be tracked in the morning, Mid morning and in the afternoon. After lunch, take a guided nature walk through Bigodi wetland where you will spot out most of primates like grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and L’Hoests as well as bird species like the great Turacos. Chimps habituation experience on the other hand takes full day in the jungle with chimps and permits today cost US$200 per person. All meals and overnight as on Day 1.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Following breakfast early in the morning, you embark on a journey to southwestern Uganda and stop at Ishasha sector-Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot out the rare tree climbing lions and other wildlife species and then set off to Bwindi National Park. Up on arrival, you will check in a lodge of your choice for dinner and night stay in Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Gorilla Mist Camp or Broadbill Forest Camp.
Day 4: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi National Park
Have breakfast early in the morning and after set off to the park headquarters for briefing at 7:30 am on dos and don’ts for gorilla trekking. You will be grouped into eight (8) visitors and you will be assigned to only one of the 10 habituated groups to track in Bwindi National Park. Only persons of above 15 years are allowed to track mountain gorillas and while on magical experience, you are expected to spend only an hour with the primates and a distance of 7 meters has to be kept at all times.
After your captivating experience, you return to the lodge for a rest and take a walk in the evening for a community visit to Batwa community. The Batwa pygmies are popular as the forest dwellers for a reason, they lived in Bwindi Forest harmoniously for over 500000 years and left without any negative impact on the environment but unfortunately, they are marginalized group around the park. A visit to their community offers you a chance to explore their lifestyles especially the ancient hunting and gathering techniques. After, you return to the lodge for dinner and night stay as on DAY 3.
Day 5: Return to Kampala
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast in your lodge and after set off to Kampala about 10 hours’ drive but a stopover at Mpigi village to visit the popular royal drum makes and then proceed to Kampala which will mark the end of your 5 Uganda Primate safari.
Safari inclusions
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permits
- Guided walk in Bwindi wetlands sanctuary
- Buganda royal drum maker visit
- Transport (4wheel safari car and driver guide)
- Bottle of water
- Full accommodation for 4 nights
- Park entry fees
Safari exclusions
- Laundry
- Alcoholic beverages and drinks
- Personal expenses-insurance
