Safari Overview:
The 5 days Uganda Gorilla Trek and Chimpanzee safari will start and end in Kampala. The Safari will take you through Kibale Forest National Park that is one of Uganda’s charming forested parks with the highest population of habituated chimpanzees. The 5 days Safari will offer you an opportunity to explore local community tours, Guided nature walks around the park plus birding at the Bigodi Birding Sanctuary. From Kibale, the safari will join you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the South Western Uganda where you will have the highlight of your safari to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural home of Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The gorilla trekking trails are very slippery, hilly and can involve scrambling through dense vegetation in search of picturesque mountain gorillas thus an offering amazing wildlife experience.
Safari Highlights:
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park, afternoon Fort Portal Crater Lake hike and visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves.
Day 2: Do morning Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon
Day 3: Transfer from Kibale Forest Park to Bwindi Impenetrable forest Park.
Day 4: Do gorilla trekking & an evening Cultural encounter with the Batwa Communities
Day 5: Transfer from Bwindi to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary for the Safari:
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park, afternoon Fort Portal Crater Lake hike and visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves.
Immdiately after early morning breakfast in your respective Kampala lodge, you will depart Kampala driving on the south western direction to Fort Portal 332km about 4-5 hours’ drive. The drive will take you through the impressive country side landscapes with rural setting and local populations. Arrive in Fort Portal town for lunch after which you will continue to do the Fort Portal Crater Lake Hike to gain impressive views of the Fort Portal explosion crater. You will also visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves with a magical Nyakasura River falling over them forming beautiful water fall. The caves have breast like features which the locals attach a great cultural connotation and are thought to date back to the Chwezi era. Retreat from the activity and get to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Mid-range/Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).
Day 2: Do morning Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon
As soon as you finish your early morning breakfast, you will be taken to Kanyanchu headquarters for early morning briefing about dos and don’ts of Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. Thereafter, you will walk through the forest with an experienced guide who will be enlightening you about both wildlife and plants life. Immediately you encounter the primates, you will be allowed one memorable hour to interact with the primates. The Chimpanzees will lure you in a state of amazement as they swing through the branches, make pant hooting calls, play with each other, and imitate your body language along with other features that will make your one full hour with them a memorable experience of its own. Retreat from the activity which tends to take 2 – 5 hours to embark on the transfer to Bigodi wetland. The Bigodi wetland, lies in close distance to the park thus connecting there is less hectic. The Bigodi wetland walk exposes you to typical eco –tourism encounter in Uganda. The impressive flora and fauna existing along with the local community is indeed rewarding to encounter. The sights of great blue turaco and the Sitatnga may not be missed. Retreat from the activity back to lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Mid-range/Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).
Day 3: Transfer from Kibale Forest Park to Bwindi Impenetrable forest Park.
After an early morning breakfast, you will embark on 280kilometres drive distance to Bwindi Impenetrable gorilla trekking sector. The drive journey will take you through the impressive Kigezi landscape with rural setting and local populations, On arrival to Bwindi‘s Buhoma sector, you will drive direct to your lodge for dinner, and overnight.
Accommodations: Buhoma Lodge (Luxury/Upmarket) Engage lodge (Mid-Range/Standard), Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget Lodges).
Day 4: Do gorilla trekking & an evening Cultural encounter with the Batwa Communities.
After an early morning breakfast, you will proceed to the Park headquarters for registration and join other trekkers in an early morning briefing about the etiquettes of Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Immediately after briefing, you will enter the jungle to trek through thick creepers and undergrowth with your guides to find the Gorillas, which can take between 2-8hours depending on the movement of the apes. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. Once up-close to the apes, you will be given one magical hour to View and interact with these stunning apes plus taking photographs. Retire back to the starting point after the one hour and proceed to your lodge for a late lunch and relaxation. Thereafter, embark on an evening community walk to visit the native Batwa community and have a cultural encounter. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodations: Buhoma Lodge (Luxury/Upmarket) Engage lodge (Mid-Range/Standard), Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget Lodges).
Day 5: Transfer from Bwindi to Kampala
On this day, you will embark on transfer drive from Bwindi to Kampala after breakfast. The long drive of 530 kilometers is tiresome but also very rewarding because it will take you through the rolling winding hills and terraced landscapes of Kigezi region. You will have stopover for thrilling traditional Lunch at Igongo Cultural Centre .On your way, you will by-pass Mpigi village, famous for the Royal Drums Makers and of course the Ugandan Equator, where you can take pictures and shop for a souvenir. You will arrive to Kampala late in the evening like at 7-8pm and the driver guide will drive you back to your Kampala hotel or Entebbe for your scheduled flight back home.