Country: Uganda
Destinations: Entebbe, Kibale National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Bunyonyi
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrive Entebbe
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation at Kibale National Park
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Habituation at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 6: Canoe ride and leisure at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7: Return to Entebbe
Day 8: Departure
Trip Overview
Your 8 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation safari will give a total wild habituation experience in the thick impenetrable forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is one of the hot spot to trek the gorillas, known for harboring half of the word famous mountain gorillas and Kibale National Park, which home to over 1500 chimpanzee, thus making it crown the primate capita, with over 13 primate species. This is the only place in the world where gorilla habituation and chimpanzee habituation exercises are done. You will enjoy an incredible experience of primate habituation exercise, having enough time to share a moment with these incredible primates. Both activities only allow 4 trekkers per day, an early permit booking is advised and recommended, so as to get the permits in advance. You will as well visit Lake Bunyonyi, for relaxation and canoe ride. At the end of the tour, you can opt to fly out in the morning, or take on an optional activity in Entebbe as listed on the itinerary.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla habituation
- Chimpanzee habituation
- Countryside experience
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Optional activities in Entebbe
- Road drive experience
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport and passing through the immigration process, you will be welcomed by our safari driver who will, brief you shortly and transfer you to the booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay
Overnight at: Entebbe Forest Lodge (Luxury) or Karibu Guest House (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park. Travel time + 5hrs
Day Itinerary
After early morning breakfast, you meet your guide and drive off heading to Kibale Forest National Park; you will drive through a scenic lush green countryside. On arrival at Kibale forest; you will enter a completely different world… some serious monkey business. The forest is home to at least 12 Primate Species including: The Red-Tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Black and White Colobus plus Blue Monkeys. The bird life in the forest is also prolific and includes the beautiful Great Blue Turaco. If you are very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the meandering herd of Forest Elephants.
In the late afternoon, transfer to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay at: Kyaninga Lodge (luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience at Kibale National Park.
Day Itinerary
Have an early breakfast by 5:30 am, grab your picnic lunch boxes and drive to the park tourism headquarters’ at Kanyanchu visitor’s center, where you will meet the ranger guides and researchers, who will be joining you for the chimpanzee habituation experience exercise. You will later head to the forest, and on a lucky day, spot a number of other primates and bird species along the way. You have a full day with the chimpanzee, following them up as you know more about their behaviors and reactions towards human presence. You will enjoy an informative time under the company of the ranger guides and the researchers who are trying to habituate the chimpanzees. Later in the evening, you will return from the jungle and drive to your lodge, for refreshment, dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Kyaninga Lodge (luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi: Travel time +4 hrs
Day Itinerary
Today after taking your early morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the magnificent route to your booked accommodation to catch up with the late lunch and later spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and preparing for the next day’s Gorilla habituation exercise.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Uganda. It’s known for its diverse flora and fauna, with over 350 bird species and over 400 gorillas. Bwindi offers a unique birding experience for bird enthusiasts, as well as gorilla trekking for wildlife enthusiasts. The park’s thick forest makes for an exciting and immersive adventure, attracting tourists from all over the world. It’s best to visit during the dry season for optimal bird watching and gorilla trekking experiences.
Overnight stay at: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Habituation Experience at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day Itinerary
Early morning cup of coffee, have your packed picnic lunch and at 6:30 am, set off for the briefing from the Uganda wildlife officials and thereafter enter drive to the trekking starting point and later head into the jungle to start of your gorilla habituation experience exercise and enjoy their life style in their real home. The gorilla habituation is only done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and this is the only place in the world where gorilla habituation experience is done.
Unlike the gorilla trekking experience, where the clients are allowed an hour with the gorillas, the gorilla habituation experience the clients go with both the trekkers and researchers, and the guests will be allowed a maximum of up to 4 hours with the gorillas. The researchers, and ranger guides, will be able to explain to you the entire process of gorilla habituation, learn more about the gorillas, and get to experience some of the methods used. You will later return in the late afternoon and drive back to your lodge, for refreshment and later dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for boat ride and leisure.
Day Itinerary
After your relaxed morning breakfast, you will jump into your jeep, and head for a canoe ride adventure, to explore some of the great hot spots of Lake Bunyonyi, a beautiful lake hidden within the great valleys of Kisoro. The lake has a number of beautiful islands that have become home to numerous bird species. You will later transfer to your lodge, have lunch and retire in the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight stay at: Bird Nest Resort Bunyonyi (Luxury) or Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Drive back to Entebbe. Travel time + 8hrs
Day Itinerary
Early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and jump into your jeep, find your way back to Entebbe, which is roughly an 8 hour’s drive back, depending on traffic jams along the way. You will enjoy an en route lunch along the way. You will reach in the afternoon, and transfer to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Entebbe Forest Lodge (Luxury) or Karibu Guest House (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Note: You can as well opt to exit via Kigali or add on Rwanda tour. You can as well as opt to return to Entebbe by a local domestic flight, which takes roughly 2 hours.
Day 8: Airport transfer
Have a relaxed early morning breakfast, and depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to Entebbe airport for your early morning flight or opt for Mabamba swamp shoebill excursion, or fishing excursion on Lake Victoria, or Entebbe zoo visit or visit to Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary or just relax at leisure at the lodge at leisure. When flight time reaches, you will be transferred to the airport to catch up with your flight back home. End of service!
Meal Plan: Breakfast only.
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4 x 4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- 1 Gorilla Habituation Permit ($ 1500), per person
- En-route lunches
- Chimpanzee habituation experience
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Services of an English speaking driver/ guide.
- Unlimited mineral water per day per person during safari
- Fun and other excursions as mentioned in the itinerary.
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Tips for guides
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations & tests
- Health test requirements
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can change or upgrade the lodge options. Write to us with more details about your safari.