Journey to Kibale Forest – Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary Jungle Swamp

Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary - The 5-Day Gorilla-Chimpanzee Trekking Safari kicks off early. Depart from your hotel in Kampala at 6:30 am heading to Kibale Forest. This journey takes over 5 hours from Kampala and 6 hours from Entebbe.
Traveling westward towards Fort Portal, you’ll enter 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 Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary. This trek through a Jungle Swamp is mostly on boardwalks above the swamp. Your knowledgeable guide is a local community member who has preserved the Wetlands for many years, attracting thousands of visitors annually.
During the afternoon, you may encounter Chimpanzees, Colobus Monkeys, and baboons. The area is famous for its birdlife, with the Blue Turaco being a highlight. Among mammals, you might see otters, bush pigs, mongoose, and the elusive Sitatunga Antelope.

Chimpanzee Trek in Kibale Forest

Kibale Forest National Park - Alternatively, participate in the all-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, starting early morning and ending late afternoon. Note that Chimpanzees are active and foraging, so this may not suit everyone.
The standard 3½-hour Chimpanzee Trekking begins with an orientation at 8 am, followed by a guided forest trek to locate the chimpanzee group. Pre-trackers set out at dawn to find the group. Kibale Forest is home to nearly 1,500 chimpanzees, primarily fruit eaters. They also use sticks to eat ants and have significantly reduced the red-tailed monkey population by hunting them in groups.
Chimpanzee communities can exceed 100 members, with a social structure focused on relationships, featuring male alphas and female family groups. Their hooting calls are often heard in the wild, and observing their behavior offers insights into their daily lives.

Kibale National Park - After lunch, enjoy the Top of the World Hike, passing three crater lakes, villages, tea, and vanilla plantations. At the hilltop, enjoy breathtaking views of Crater Lakes, the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon, Queen Elizabeth Park, and beyond.
The hike lasts about three hours and requires moderate fitness. The stunning views of the Crater Lakes, Kibale Forest, the Rwenzori Mountains, and Queen Elizabeth Park make it a rewarding experience.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Drive

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - After an early breakfast, depart for the Ruhija region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, passing through Queen Elizabeth Park.
This six-hour drive includes a lunch stop, arriving mid-afternoon at Lake Mulehe Lodge, where you can relax or enjoy a boat ride or paddle a dugout canoe on Lake Mulehe.
The lodge, formerly Bwindi Jungle Lodge, was renamed to reflect Lake Mulehe. If you choose the Gorilla Habituation Experience, Rushaga is the exclusive location for this activity.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - After breakfast, collect your packed lunch. Detailed attire instructions are available here.
Following a meeting at park headquarters and assignment to a gorilla family, embark on the trek into the Impenetrable Forest. Hiring a porter is recommended to ease your journey.
The trek can last 3 to 5 hours or more, depending on the gorilla family’s location. Spend one hour with them, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Observe their lifestyle, diet, and emotions from within 6 meters.
Capture photos and cherish the time spent observing the gorillas, creating lasting memories.
Gorilla Trekking is a worthwhile investment of time and money to be with the Gentle Giants of the Forest in Bwindi.

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

Lake Victoria - Lake Bunyonyi offers a tranquil setting to unwind and enjoy the serene atmosphere. The lake’s surface is smooth and reflective due to minimal wave action. The lush, terraced hills surrounding Bunyonyi protect it from strong winds. With over 200 bird species, it is a paradise for bird enthusiasts. Even non-birders will enjoy watching the diverse bird activities.
Lake Bunyonyi is more than a tourist spot. Towns like Kyevu and Muko line its shores, with boats frequently transporting villagers across the lake.
A 3-hour guided boat tour allows you to explore some of Bunyonyi’s 29 islands and observe local life. Surprisingly, a few zebras from Lake Mburo National Park reside on privately-owned Kyahugye Island.

Return to Kampala or Entebbe

Uganda Equator - After breakfast, return to Kampala, traveling through Uganda’s lush countryside. Stop for lunch and photos at the Equator. Arrive in Kampala/Entebbe by late afternoon.
Option: Extend the safari by a day to visit Lake Mburo National Park, reducing travel time to Kampala or Entebbe. Lake Mburo Park is ideal for viewing Zebras, large Eland Antelopes, and offers biking opportunities.
The 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.