11 days tour

Chimps & Gorillas Of Uganda

$ 7,800 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $7,800.00

Chimps & Gorillas Of Uganda

This tour includes:

Others

1 chimp permit 1 gorilla permit

Transport

We use comfortable 4ร—4 vehicles throughout the trip, normally Toyota Landcruisers or similar, with open roof hatches for optimised game viewing. Some of the drives can be quite long and some of the roads are not in the best condition, especially after the rains.

Guide

Tour leader throughout

Accommodation

The accommodation on this trip has been chosen to maximise your animal-watching opportunities and minimise travel time. Listed below are the properties we usually use. Entebbe: 2 Friends Beach Hotel, Papyrus Guest House or Boma Hotel (night 1) Our first night is spent at one of three hotels: 2 Friends Beach Hotel, Papyrus Guest House or Boma Hotel (above), depending on availability. All are within a 15 to 25-minute drive from the airport. The start hotel for your trip will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions or if you require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent. Near Kibale Forest National Park: Turaco Treetops (nights 2-3) Within 12 acres (5ha) of rainforest bordering Kibale Forest National Park, this three-star hotel is the ideal base to explore the park and trek with chimpanzees. The lodge is powered by solar power, ensuring it operates in harmony with the surroundings. The hotel has a spacious pool, lounge and restaurant plus comfortable rooms with balconies. Near Queen Elizabeth National Park: Simba Safari Camp (nights 4-5) This two-star camp is on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The location is outstanding and there is a small pool that provides a perfect spot to chill in the afternoon heat. The rooms are simple but clean with private bathrooms and the hotel is renowned for having friendly staff. Buhoma: Haven Lodge Buhoma (nights 6-8) This community-owned lodge is perfectly located close to the meeting point for the gorilla treks. There are amazing rainforest views from the terraces, and the comfortable rooms are made with local materials to blend into the surroundings. Near Lake Mburo National Park: Rwakobo Rock (nights 9-10) This three-star lodge is just 0.6mi (1km) from the gate of Lake Mburo National Park and each cottage is set apart to offer privacy and uninterrupted views of the park. There is a water hole beneath the dining areas so you can watch the wildlife come to drink while you enjoy dinner.

Meals

All breakfasts, 10 lunches and nine dinners included. The service can be either ร  la carte or buffet, depending on the lodge. For early game drives, and to maximise the time spent in the parks, a packed breakfast or lunch may be provided in some instances. The food provided is a mix of good local and international food throughout. It is possible to cater for vegetarians or those with special requirements; however, please make sure you advise your sales representative at time of booking. Please note: The availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets (eg gluten-free or dairy-free) is minimal or non-existent in Uganda and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home.

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

โ€” Travel insurance โ€” Single accommodation (available on request) โ€” Visas or vaccinations โ€” Optional second chimp and optional second gorilla permit

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Chimps & Gorillas Of Uganda

  • Day 1 Day 1: Arrive Entebbe
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Arrive Entebbe

      Our adventure begins in Entebbe, a city on the north shore of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. Today is all about settling in after your journey, so head to the hotel and relax for the evening. Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel, Papyrus Guest House or Boma Hotel (or similar)

  • Day 2 Day 2: Drive To Kibale Forest (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Drive To Kibale Forest (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      This morning, we have breakfast and your leader will run a welcome brief before we leave Entebbe. The drive time depends, in large part, on traffic in Kampala but should take approximately seven hours. Upon arrival, we can relax at our lakeside lodge. Kibale Forest National Park is home to 13 primate species: there are nine diurnal primates, including vervet, red-tailed, Lโ€™Hoestโ€™s, red colobus, black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys, plus grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and, the most famous of all, chimpanzees. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, the odds of encountering them are very good. Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (or similar)

  • Day 3 Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking In Kibale; Visit Bigodi Wetlands (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking In Kibale; Visit Bigodi Wetlands (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Today we explore the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary in the Magombe wetland. The sanctuary is a major tourist attraction in the Kibale Forest area and is operated by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED), a local community-based organisation. We also go on a forest walk in search of primates. While trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, we are surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least five or six types of primate, most probably grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys and, of course, chimpanzees. The walking is fairly easy with well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. The order in which we do these activities may vary. Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (or similar)

  • Day 4 Day 4: Optional Second Chimpanzee Trek; To Queen Elizabeth National Park (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Optional Second Chimpanzee Trek; To Queen Elizabeth National Park (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      There is the option of doing a second chimp trek this morning to increase the probability of seeing them (due to limited permit availability, we recommend you prebook the second chimp trek). In the afternoon, we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). The drive goes south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains, where we can see the glaciated peaks, weather permitting. We gently descend into the Great Rift Valley and QENP. The park resides in a fertile, equatorial area and has beautiful scenery. It is the most popular and accessible savannah reserve in Uganda, with a total area of 764sqmi (1,978sqkm). It is primarily associated with grassy savannah plains, but this impressive park also includes leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 bird species. Accommodation: Simba Safari Camp (or similar)

  • Day 5 Day 5: Game Drive In Queen Elizabeth National Park; Boat Safari On The Kazinga Channel (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Game Drive In Queen Elizabeth National Park; Boat Safari On The Kazinga Channel (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      This morning, we explore Queen Elizabeth National Park on a game drive in search of wildlife, including elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, hyenas, jackals, topis, kobs and bush bucks. In the afternoon, we have a boat trip (about two hours) along the Kazinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippos in the world (reported to be about 30,000) and other animals with excellent birding. Accommodation: Simba Safari Camp (or similar)

  • Day 6 Day 6: Game Drive In The Ishasha Region Of Queen Elizabeth National Park; To Buhoma (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Game Drive In The Ishasha Region Of Queen Elizabeth National Park; To Buhoma (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Today we drive through the park to the Ishasha region. We game drive in search of tree-climbing lions and other wildlife. This afternoon, we head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, a World Heritage site, passing through the scenic area known as the Switzerland of East Africa. The driving today is about 5hr 30min (not including game drives). Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)

  • Day 7 Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Tracking In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Tracking In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      For many, observing a wild mountain gorilla is one of the most emotional wildlife experiences possible. Tracking these gentle giants can take anything from under an hour to more than six, depending on where the family is located. The number of permits allocated daily are limited so we recommend early booking. If the permits for gorilla families close to where we stay are unavailable, there are more permits for another area of the park, though this will mean a long drive to the trek start point. The trek itself can be along steep, slippery trails and through the bush so you should be in reasonable physical condition, but the rewards of spending an hour with our close cousins more than makes up for the effort of getting to them. Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)

  • Day 8 Day 8: Optional Second Mountain Gorilla Trek (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Optional Second Mountain Gorilla Trek (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Today is a free day and there is the option of getting a second gorilla permit for this day, though due to the limited number of permits, this should be obtained at time of booking. For those who choose not to go on a second gorilla trek, there are other walks you can do nearby or you can relax at our lodge, reminiscing about the previous dayโ€™s encounters. On some departures, due to the availability of permits, we may have to swap these two days over with the free day (and optional second gorilla trek) on Day 6 and the included gorilla trek on Day 7 or we may have to split the group to trek with gorillas across both days. Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)

  • Day 9 Day 9: To Lake Mburo National Park (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: To Lake Mburo National Park (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Leaving the forests, we head towards Lake Mburo National Park. En route, we stop in Kabale near the Rwandan border for lunch. The drive should be about five hours (not including stops). Lake Mburo is the only place in southern Uganda where you can see zebras, giraffes and impala and is a great place to try to see leopards. It is also home to more than 300 bird species and offers the possibility of game walks and game drives. Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock (or similar)

  • Day 10 Day 10: Game Drive; Optional Game Walk Or Boat Safari (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Game Drive; Optional Game Walk Or Boat Safari (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Today we go on a final game drive looking for plains wildlife. The park has a network of game tracks in the eastern part of the park passing a variety of landscapes: acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rocky outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors. The early morning and late afternoon are the best times to roam the park in search of wildlife. There is also the option of tracking game on foot through the savannah and going on a boat excursion, particularly good for birdlife. You also have the option of going on an early morning game walk. Accompanied by a ranger guide, you walk to a salt lick where many animals are attracted to the salty rocks. At this time of day, you may encounter hyenas returning to their dens and hippos retreating to the lake. The lake itself is rich with a diversity of animals and plants, and these can be viewed clearly on a boat trip. These include crocodiles, hippos and birds, such as pelicans, black crakes, herons, cormorants and fish eagles, but you may also see the rare shoebill stork if you are lucky. Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock (or similar)

  • Day 11 Day 11: Drive To Entebbe; Trip Ends (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Drive To Entebbe; Trip Ends (Breakfast,Lunch)

      Today is our final day and we return to Entebbe and the shores of Lake Victoria. The driving time will depend on the amount of traffic in Kampala, but we make regular stops to break up the journey. En route back to Entebbe, we visit Mabamba Swamp (Mabamba Bay Wetland System), which lies about 25mi (40km) from Entebbe. The swamp, said to support more than 190,000 birds, is the perfect spot in Uganda for watching the globally threatened shoebill stork and the papyrus yellow warbler. We arrive into Entebbe in the early evening, if time permits, you guide will take you for dinner (own expense) before dropping you at the airport.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 16 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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