5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Safari, Bwindi and Kibale
A 5 day gorilla and chimp safari in Uganda is designed for travellers who want the country’s two leading primate experiences in one efficient itinerary. This safari combines mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park. The trip starts and ends in Entebbe, with private road transfers and an optional domestic flight to reduce travel time. In Bwindi, you trek with Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and spend one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family once they are located. In Kibale, you track chimpanzees from Kanyanchu Visitor Centre and spend one hour observing them in the forest. The route also includes a Bigodi Wetland walk and a scenic transfer through the Queen Elizabeth area. This safari is suitable for travellers with limited time who want a focused Uganda primate safari without adding many extra wildlife parks.
Safari Highlights
- 5-day Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari
- One hour with gorillas once the family is located
- One hour with chimpanzees once they are found
- Optional gorilla habituation upgrade in Rushaga sector
- Optional chimpanzee habituation upgrade in Kibale Forest
- Bigodi Wetland guided walk with monkeys, birds and community life
- Private safari logistics starting and ending in Entebbe
- Optional domestic flight to reduce road travel time
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits arranged in advance
Detailed itinerary
Day 1, Transfer from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Your driver guide will meet you in Entebbe and brief you before departure to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. If travelling by road, you leave early and drive southwest through Masaka and Mbarara, with a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Centre or another suitable stop along the route. The journey continues into the Kigezi highlands, where terraced hills, cool air and rural landscapes lead towards Bwindi. The road transfer usually takes about 8 to 10 hours, depending on stops and road conditions. If choosing the flight option, you take a scheduled domestic flight from Entebbe to Kihihi Airstrip. On arrival, a vehicle transfers you to your lodge near the forest. This option reduces road time and works well for travellers who want to arrive rested before gorilla trekking. Check in at your lodge, have dinner and prepare for the gorilla trekking briefing the next morning. Accommodation options: Luxury option Mahogany Springs Lodge, Mid-range option Buhoma Community Haven Lodge
Day 2, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Bwindi park office for the gorilla trekking briefing. You should arrive by about 7:30 am. Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers will check permits, explain trekking rules, allocate groups and brief you on how to behave near the gorillas. You then enter the forest with rangers and trackers to search for your assigned gorilla family. The trek can take a few hours depending on where the gorillas moved the previous night, terrain and weather conditions. Trails may be steep, muddy and covered with thick vegetation, so good hiking shoes, long trousers and a rain jacket are recommended. Hiring a porter is also useful, especially for travellers who want support on steep sections. Once the gorillas are located, you spend one hour observing them. You may see a silverback, mothers with infants, young gorillas playing and family members feeding or resting. Flash photography is not allowed, and visitors must follow the distance guidance given by the rangers. After the trek, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Optional Upgrade, Gorilla Habituation Experience
Travellers who want more time with gorillas can choose the Gorilla Habituation Experience in the Rushaga sector. This experience allows up to four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family and is conducted with rangers, trackers and researchers. This permit costs USD 1,500 per person under the Uganda Wildlife Authority 2024 to 2026 tariff period. It is limited and should be requested atleast 6 months in advance.
Day 3, Transfer from Bwindi to Kibale Forest via Queen Elizabeth Area
After breakfast, leave Bwindi and begin the transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. The journey usually takes about 6 to 8 hours, depending on your Bwindi sector, road conditions and stops. The route may pass through Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha sector if it fits your routing. This transfer is mainly designed to connect the two primate destinations, so it is not treated as a full Queen Elizabeth game drive. However, depending on the route and timing, you may see savannah landscapes, local communities, tea fields and, with luck, some wildlife along the way. Continue towards Fort Portal and the Kibale region, known for forest scenery, tea plantations and crater lake landscapes. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon or evening, check in and rest before the chimpanzee tracking day. Accommodation options: Luxury option Chimpundu Lodge, Mid-range option Turaco Treetops
Day 4, Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for the chimpanzee trekking briefing. The morning briefing usually starts around 8:00 am. Rangers explain the forest rules, group allocation and how to behave around chimpanzees. You then enter the forest with guides and trackers to search for a habituated chimpanzee community. The trek can take 2 to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are feeding or moving. Once they are found, you spend one hour observing them. You may see chimpanzees feeding, calling, grooming, climbing, resting or moving through the forest. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature and community walk. Bigodi is known for birds, monkeys and community-based conservation. During the walk, you may see red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, swamp vegetation and bird species such as the great blue turaco. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Optional Upgrade, Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
Kibale also offers the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience for travellers who want a longer primate activity. This starts earlier than standard chimpanzee tracking and allows more time with a chimpanzee community under the guidance of researchers and rangers. This upgrade should be requested at the time of booking because spaces are limited.
Day 5, Return to Entebbe or Optional Flight from Kasese
After breakfast, begin the return journey to Entebbe. The drive from Kibale to Entebbe usually takes about 5 to 7 hours, depending on traffic, road conditions and stops. You will pass through central Uganda with views of towns, farms, roadside markets and local trading centres. Lunch is arranged along the route. Arrival in Entebbe is expected in the late afternoon or evening. Travellers who prefer to reduce road time can choose an optional domestic flight from Kasese Airstrip to Entebbe, subject to flight schedule and availability. For same-day international flights, choose a late evening or night departure to allow enough time for the transfer.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included
- Pickup and drop-off in Entebbe
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
- English-speaking driver guide
- 4 nights accommodation
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- Bwindi gorilla trekking permit
- Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit
- Park entrance fees linked to included activities
- Bigodi Wetland guided walk
- Bottled drinking water during transfers
Excluded
- International flights
- Uganda visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Optional domestic flights
- Optional gorilla habituation permit upgrade
- Optional chimpanzee habituation permit upgrade
- Tips for driver guide, rangers, porters and lodge staff
- Porter fees during gorilla trekking
- Alcoholic and premium drinks
- Personal expenses such as laundry, calls and souvenirs
- Extra accommodation before or after the safari
