Overview.
Your 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari also takes you to explore Uganda for its most popular great apes. You will trek the critically endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will also trek the endangered common chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. Both destinations are found in the western region of Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable NP covers 321 square kilometers while Kibale NP covers 776 square kilometers.
At Kibale National Park you will also explore the Bigodi village for a cultural encounter with the humble locals. Meanwhile you will also encounter the Batwa Pygmies just adjacent to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The thrilling 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari begins and ends in Kampala/Entebbe. Transport, accommodation, drinking water and meals are part of your itinerary.
You will be driven on a 4X4 safari vehicle by a knowledgeable guide from Monteero Safaris. We have other vehicle options if you would like. These include drones, saloon cars and minivans among others.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park and crater lakes tour
Our driver guide will collect you from your hotel, or pick you from Entebbe International Airport. After briefing you about the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park. This is a 300 kilometers scenic trip from Entebbe International Airport. You will pause at Fort Portal Tourism City for lunch. You will then go to explore the epic crater lakes. This is a chance to have a nature walk and take photos.
Then you will be driven to Kibale forest, where you will check in in your booked lodge. You will relax and also get acclimatized to the cool surroundings. You will then have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trek and Bigodi community tour
Wake up to an early morning breakfast. Your driver will bring you to the Kanyancu Visitor Center at around 7:00 AM. You will gather for briefing that will be effectively done by the park ranger. You will learn more about the dos and don’t to follow while trekking a habituated chimpanzee group. Into the forest, you will be led by an experienced ranger guide with an armed ranger for protection. You will encounter the highly vocal chimpanzee group.
For an hour, you will observe the chimpanzees play in the trees and the forest floor. Spend part of this time taking photographs of them expressing various behaviors in the wild. The time taken to do a chimpanzee trek ranges between 2 to 4 hours or even more depending on their location. Then you will return to the starting point. Your driver will take you back to the lodge to freshen up and have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go to explore the Bigodi community. This is an opportunity to interact with the local community that comprises of Batooro and Bakiiga. You will be entertained by great traditional music and dancing. You will also learn some words in the local languages. There are locally made items including crafts in the gift shops. Purchase some of these to take home as souvenirs. You will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up and take your early morning breakfast. Your guide will meet you after checking out of your lodge. You will start your 368.6 kilometers scenic journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There will be a pause for an enroute lunch. You will arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Check in at your lodge and freshen up. Spend some time acclimatizing to the forest. Have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Gorilla trek and Community tour
After your goodnight sleep, you will take an early morning breakfast. Pack lunch from the lodge. Your guide will drive you to the trailhead at around 7:00 AM. You will meet a park guide who will educate you about how to make the perfect gorilla trek. This involves adhering to some rules and regulations. You will know the habituated gorilla family to track. With a ranger guide and armed guide leading you, you will start to track the gorillas at around 8:00 AM.
Depending on where the gorilla group is located in the forest, you will find them. You have a guaranteed 1 hour to watch the gorillas at close range. The opportunity to take photos is also there and you need to utilize it. Return to where you started to be awarded a certificate of hiking in the forest to encounter the mountain gorillas. The entire gorilla trek takes between 2 to 6 hours or even more if the gorilla groups moved quite deep into the forest.
Your guide will drive you back to your lodge to freshen up. Then you will be taken for a community tour among the Batwa and the Bakiiga. This is an opportunity to get insight about the Batwa who used to live in the forest. You will be amused by their music and dances. They will also demonstrate to you how they cook food and heal their illnesses with herbs. Folktales surrounding the land will be told by elders who are the source of wisdom in the community.
Day 5: Return to Kampala/Entebbe
At your lodge you will wake up and consume a delicious breakfast. Check out of the lodge afterwards. Your driver guide will take you back to Kampala. This is a 509.1 kilometers journey through Kabale, Mbarara, Masaka and Kampala.
There will be a pause in Mbarara for lunch. You will then continue to Kampala where you will arrive in the evening. You will be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport upon your request. This will be the end of your 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari.
