Day 1: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, depart Kampala and travel west to Fort Portal. This Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Safari will last around 4-5 hours, including a lunch break in Fort Portal Town. You will then go to Kibale Forest National Park, where you will check in at the lodge of your choice for a short break before departing for either a community walk in the Bigodi wetland or a visit to the spectacular Crater Lakes region. Dinner and overnight will be at your reserved lodge.
√ Luxury: Ndali lodge/Primate lodge/Kibale forest/Kyaninga lodge
√ Moderate: Mountains of the moon/Kibale forest camp
√ Budget: Rwenzori travelers/Kibale forest camp/Chimpanzee forest guest house
√ Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 2: Chimp tracking and nature walk in Kibale Forest
After breakfast, you will report to the Kanyanchu Tourist Centre (Park Headquarters) at 08.00 am for a briefing on the rules for tracking the chimpanzees. Kibale Forest National Park has the most incredible variety and the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. The most famous of its 13 species is the Chimpanzee known to be a delightful ape. The trek takes 2-3 hours and it will provide you with the opportunity also to see a variety of other primates & animals as well as birds.
You will return to your booked Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Safari lodge for lunch and a short rest after which you will go for a guided nature walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary or visit the beautiful Crater lakes region for a picturesque view of the breathtaking scenery. The sanctuary offers great birding opportunities and nature walks. Bigodi is also a rich cultural heritage site where you can mix with the local people to learn about their traditional activities and lifestyles.
You’ll be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving late in the evening and checking into your booked lodge.
Luxury Lodge: Mweya Safari Lodge: Katara Lodge/ Jacana Lodge
Moderate: Bush Lodge (in rooms) / Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget facility: Kazinga Channel View Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp in tents/ Bush Lodge in tents
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
After your morning breakfast, you will have an early morning Safari Game drive where you will see the lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephant, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, topi, and bushbuck among others. You will return to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon go for a 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
It is a 42kms channel that joins Lake Edward and Lake George. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful, with well over 550 resident species.
Dinner and overnight will be spent at your reserved lodge.
Luxury Lodge: Mweya Safari Lodge: Katara Lodge/ Jacana Lodge
Moderate: Bush Lodge (in rooms) / Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget facility: Kazinga Channel View Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp in tents/ Bush Lodge in tents
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 4: Game Drive in Ishasha Sector then transfer to Bwindi
You will after breakfast move to the Ishasha sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for the tree-climbing lions lounging in the tree branches while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda kob, their favorite prey. It is also home to many buffaloes, elephants as well as rare shoebills.
You will have lunch at one of the Best of Uganda Wildlife Safari lodges in this part of the park and drive south to Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park. Enroute you will see the great countryside, bamboo forest, and have great views of the scenic landscape characteristic of the western rift valley. You will arrive in the late afternoon and retire to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight.
Lower Budget: Buhoma community Rest camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Travellers Rest Hotel Kisolo / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Moderate: Gorilla Resort Bwindi /Gorilla Safari Lodge / Silver Back Lodge / Lake Kitandara Camp / Chameleon Hill Lodge / Lake Mutanda Resort.
Up market: Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Rushanga Gorilla Satari Lodge.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Batwa Experience
You will enjoy an early morning Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Safari breakfast before heading to the Park headquarters for an orientation on gorilla trekking guidelines at 7:45 a.m. You will then begin the 1-8 hour hike through dense creepers and vegetation with your guides to discover the gorillas. The heavily wooded area is quite thick, although it is crisscrossed by numerous animal pathways that enable people access. Once you've been seen, you'll spend an hour with the gorillas, viewing them at close range as they feed, play, communicate, and connect with their young.
Go for a guided community walk to experience the livelihoods of the local communities on the Batwa trail in Bwindi. You will visit a traditional herbalist to see how he prepares native medicine to treat a wide array of human sicknesses, see a blacksmith manufacturing local tools used in everyday life and see how local beer is brewed using local methods. You will also be entertained by the traditional dances offered by the community.
Dinner and overnight will be at the gorilla safari lodge of your booking.
Lower Budget: Buhoma community Rest camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Travellers Rest Hotel Kisolo / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Moderate: Gorilla Resort Bwindi /Gorilla Safari Lodge / Silver Back Lodge / Lake Kitandara Camp / Chameleon Hill Lodge / Lake Mutanda Resort.
Up market: Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Rushanga Gorilla Satari Lodge.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6: Transfer Back to Kampala
Set off for Kampala with a detour at the Equator, where you may stand in both hemispheres at the same time and snap photographs.
You will arrive in Kampala in the late afternoon and either be transferred to the airport for your departure flight or to the hotel of your booking.
