Drive to Kibale Forest – Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary Jungle Swamp

Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary - The 5-Day Gorilla-Chimpanzee Trekking Safari kicks off early. Depart your hotel in Kampala at 6:30 am for Kibale Forest. This journey takes over 5 hours from Kampala and about 6 hours from Entebbe.
We head west towards Fort Portal and Uganda’s renowned Explosion Crater Lakes region. Kibale Forest is where the jungles of West and Central Africa converge with East Africa.
In the afternoon, embark on a guided 3-hour hike through the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary. This hike takes you through a jungle swamp, much of it on boardwalks above the swamp. Your knowledgeable guide is from the local community that has preserved the wetlands for many years, attracting thousands of visitors annually.
During the hike, you might spot chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and baboons. The area is also famous for birdwatching, with the Blue Turaco being a major highlight.
In terms of mammals, you can see otters, bush pigs, mongoose, and the rare Sitatunga antelope, among others.

Chimpanzee Trek in Kibale Forest

Kibale Forest National Park - Alternatively, you can opt for the all-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, which starts early in the morning and lasts until late afternoon. Note that chimpanzees are often on the move foraging for food, so this experience may not be suitable for everyone.
The regular 3½-hour Chimpanzee Trekking begins with an orientation at 8 am. Afterward, you are led into the forest to find the chimpanzee group, located by pre-trackers who start their search at dawn. Kibale Forest is home to nearly 1,500 chimpanzees, primarily fruit-eaters who also use sticks to eat ants and hunt red-tailed monkeys in packs.
Chimpanzee communities can have over 100 members, with a social structure centered on relationships, featuring alpha males and family groups of females. Hearing their hooting calls is common, and observing their behavior offers insights into their daily lives.

Kibale National Park - After lunch, we take the Top of the World Hike, passing by three crater lakes, villages, tea plantations, and vanilla plantations.
At the top of the hill, you are rewarded with stunning views of the crater lakes, the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon, Queen Elizabeth Park, and beyond.
The hike lasts about three hours and requires a moderate fitness level. The breathtaking views of the scenic crater lakes, Kibale Forest, the Rwenzori Mountains, and even Queen Elizabeth Park make it well worth the effort.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Drive

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - After an early breakfast, we depart for the Ruhija region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, passing through Queen Elizabeth Park.
This six-hour drive includes a stop for lunch. We arrive in the mid-afternoon at Lake Mulehe Lodge, where you can relax, take a boat ride, or paddle a dugout canoe on Lake Mulehe.
The lodge was formerly known as Bwindi Jungle Lodge but was renamed to reflect its location by Lake Mulehe.
If you have chosen the Gorilla Habituation Experience, Rushaga is the only place to participate in this activity.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - After breakfast, pick up your packed lunch. Detailed instructions on what to wear can be found here.
Following a meeting at the park headquarters and assignment to a gorilla family, you set off into the Impenetrable Forest. Hiring a porter is recommended to ease your trek.
The trek can last between 3 to 5 hours or longer, depending on the location of the gorilla family that day. You will spend one hour with them, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most. You will be within 6 meters of a gorilla family, observing their lifestyle, diet, and emotions.
After capturing your photos and spending time with the gorillas, the memories of this experience will stay with you long after you return home.
Gorilla Trekking is a worthwhile investment of time and money to be with the Gentle Giants of the Forest in Bwindi.

After the trek, we head to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation and exploration.

Lake Bunyonyi - Lake Bunyonyi is an ideal place to unwind and enjoy the tranquil, serene atmosphere. The lake’s surface is smooth and reflective, with little to no wave action. The lush, green terraced hills surrounding Bunyonyi protect the lake from strong winds. Over 200 bird species have been identified here, making it a paradise for bird enthusiasts. Even if you aren’t a birder, you will enjoy watching the activities of both small and large birds.
Lake Bunyonyi is not just a tourist destination. Towns on its shores, such as Kyevu and Muko, see boats frequently ferrying villagers across the lake.
If you have three hours to spare, you can take a guided boat tour to explore some of Bunyonyi’s 29 islands and get a glimpse of local life. Interestingly, a few zebras from Lake Mburo National Park can be found on privately-owned Kyahugye Island.

Return to Kampala or Entebbe

Uganda Equator - After breakfast, we return to Kampala, driving through Uganda’s evergreen countryside. We stop for lunch and take photos at the Equator. We reach Kampala/Entebbe in the late afternoon.
Option: Extend your safari by an additional day to visit Lake Mburo National Park, which reduces the drive time to Kampala or Entebbe. Lake Mburo Park is the best place in Uganda to see zebras, large eland antelopes, and enjoy biking in the park.
Our 5-Day Primate Safari concludes here.

• Private transportation
• The Bigodi Wetlands Swamp Trail near Kibale Park and Top of the World Hike
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• 4 nights of lodging and all meals, even those served outside the lodge during the tour
• Services of committed English-speaking driver/guide

• Gorilla trekking Permit @ 700 USD
• Chimpanzee Tracking Permit @ 200 USD
• Gratuities
• Fizzy and alcoholic drinks
• Visa
• Laundry
• Personal & Travel insurance
• Activities not mentioned in the itinerary

This Intermediate 5-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Safari offers a combination of the best Primate Tours in Eastern Africa. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a location for Gorilla Tracking, was recognized by CNN in 2019 as the most picturesque location on the globe. Moreover, Chimpanzee Tracking is available in the finest primate park in Eastern Africa, Kibale Forest, which houses 13 primate species.
The Safari starts and finishes either in Entebbe or Kampala. However, you have the option to end the Safari in Kigali, Rwanda, thereby saving yourself from enduring a lengthy return drive to Entebbe. The driving time from Southern Bwindi Forest to Kigali is approximately four hours. Alternatively, the driving time from the same place to Entebbe is around 9-10 hours. You can lessen this extensive journey by booking an additional day in Lake Mburo National Park, situated about midway to Entebbe or Kampala.
An alternative to Gorilla Tracking is the Gorilla Habituation Experience, an all-day Trek with a Gorilla Family in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which lasts for four hours.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.