Project Description
Overview
Trip Length
5 days
Trip Type
Trekking, Safari, Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Scenic
Trip Start/End
Lake Bunyonyi – Kampala
Nearest Airport
Entebbe International Airport
On this 5 days Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee safari track, discover and feel closer than ever before to our nearest relatives. Beginning at brilliantly bio-diverse Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, trek deep into the mist-shrouded forests that hug the Virunga Mountains to locate Uganda’s magnificent Mountain Gorillas.
Drive through the savannah-dominated Queen Elizabeth National Park and spot an extraordinary variety of wild game on your way to Kibale National Park. There, move through the montane forest in search of the chimpanzee families that call this home.
This a magical journey few can ever claim to have experienced.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Kibale Forest National Park | Queen Elizabeth National Park
Equator stop | Bwindi park drive | Gorilla trek | Queen Elizabeth park drive | Chimpanzee tracking |
Equator | Lake Bunyonyi | Mbarara village | Banana plantations | Kigezi | Mountain gorillas | Queen Elizabeth wildlife | Chimpanzees
5 days Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee safari
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be picked by our driver who will transfer you to the hotel. (Accommodation here is not included on the cost but it can be included if requested)
Day 1 – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After Breakfast, you drive to Lake Bunyonyi in Eastern Bwindi Impenetrable forest. Your guide will make stopovers at the Equator for photos and lunch in Mbarara town. You will then drive past banana plantations, farms and beautiful hills of Kigezi to your overnight stay.
Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 2 – Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you’ll be driven to Park headquarters for a briefing before gorilla trekking. The trek can take from 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of mountain gorillas. Once found, you will be around one hour of observation and photography before returning back to park headquarters for certificates and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 3: Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast we will drive to Kibale Forest National Park. This journey takes you through Queen Elizabeth National Park with good chances of spotting some wild game. You’ll have a chance to cross the equator again as well as several rivers that originate from Mountain Rwenzori. Enjoy lunch in Fort Portal town before checking in at the hotel.
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp
Day 4: Chimp trekking in Kibale and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, you drive to Kibale National Park headquarters for a briefing and then chimpanzee trekking. You will be split into groups of six people headed by one guide who will move with you to find one of the chimpanzee parties. Chimpanzees live in communities of 50-150 individuals but breakup into small parties during the day. You will spend an hour with the chimps before returning for lunch and then a wetland walk in the nearby Bigodi Village.
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp or Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Day 5: To Kampala/Entebbe or Airport
After breakfast, you will drive to Kampala/Entebbe for your post tour accommodation (not included) or to Entebbe International Airport for your international departure flight.
What’s included:
❭❭ Additional accommodation can be arranged for extra cost
❭❭ You’ll be dropped off at the airport (or hotel)
Transportation:
Standard: 4×4 Safari van
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari Vans customized for game viewing and photography. Each safari van comes with a professionally trained driver guide and fuel for the whole safari. Our Safari vans have viewing hatches and each client is entitled to a window seat. Our Vans can take up to eight people.
Standard: 4×4 Luxury Safari Landcruiser
We have luxury latest Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as your smart phones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed of a window seat.
Note: Each gorilla permit costs $600.00 and advance booking for as early as 2 months is recommended to secure availability. For more information please visit our Gorilla Information page.
Visa requirements for Uganda
With effect from July 1, 2015, visa fees for entry into Uganda were revised as follows:
❭❭ Single Entry Visa US$50
❭❭ Multiple Entry Visa US$100
❭❭ East Africa Tourist Visa US$100
❭❭ Government Officials No fee
❭❭ Diplomatic Visa No fee
Please note:
All visa applications must be submitted online. Paper applications will not be processed and may result in delays.
Visa applications for holders of passports:
- Submit an online application here.
- Your passport must have been valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel and for 6 months after your expected departure from Uganda.
- You will need to submit a money order for the correct visa from the list above.
- You will need to submit a letter of invitation/introduction if you are travelling for business.
- You are required to present an international inoculation certificate against yellow fever at the point of entry in Uganda.
- Please enclose a prepaid, self-addressed UPS, FEDEX, DHL,USPS Priority or Express return envelope with your application. Regular envelopes are not accepted.
Visa applications for holders of travel documents
Holders of travel documents (not passports) issued by the U.S. Immigration Department to refugees are required to submit the following in addition to the above requirements.
- An invitation from the host legally residing in Uganda.
- A letter obtained by the host from the local authorities (e.g. Local Council Chairman) confirming he/she resides in that locality.
- A copy of the host’s photo ID such as a drivers licence, national ID card or passport.