3 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari -Uganda Tours
Book our 3 Days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari from Kigali to enjoy the best of Bwindi mountain gorilla trek & Kyambura chimp trekking. This 3 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari are unique from rest the fact that it starts and ends in Kigali. It is an exceptional package any enthusiastic primate traveler should consider a must to book and he or she won’t regret in life.
It involves trekking to see the rare mountain gorillas in the lush jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge which is situated in the eastern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Bwindi National Park is shared by Kisoro, Kanungu, Kabale districts in southwestern Uganda and to get here, it takes you about 8 to 10 hours’ drive from Kampala and from Kigali, 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
This park was founded in 1991 and covers an area of about 331sq.km, featuring a vast rainforest where nearly half of all the world’s remaining mountain gorillas live as well as over 350 bird species, antelopes, chimpanzees, olive baboons, elephants to mention but a few.
Gorilla treks in this park always commence from any of its 4 (four) trailheads (Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija or Rushaga gorilla trekking region) depending on where your gorilla permit directs you.
Kyambura Gorge is in eastern Queen Elizabeth National Park, western Uganda. It is one of the significant places to trek chimpanzees in Uganda. It is home to not only chimpanzees but also other several primates including the red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons as well as diverse bird species like the papyrus gonoleks, lesser and greater flamingoes, African skimmer and many others. Your 3 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari will start and end in Kigali.
What to expect on your 3 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
• A magical encounter with both the massive mountain gorillas and chimpanzees
• Ground transportation in a comfortable 4×4 safari car
• Service of an experienced English speaking driver-guide, park ranger guide
• Astonishing encounter a variety of primate and bird species
Brief Itinerary of the 3 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
Day 1: Kigali city tour and transfer to Bwindi National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and return to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the 3 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari
Day 1: Kigali city tour and transfer to Bwindi National Park
Meet our professional driver guide after your breakfast at your hotel or area of residence Kigali or upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. You will have a quick briefing on what your 3 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari covers and after, you will have a rewarding city tour in Kigali.
On Kigali city tour, expect to explore what took place during the 1994 Rwanda genocide while at Kigali or Gisozi genocide memorial site; visit the nearby craft markets and many other cultural and historical sites.
After, you will have lunch at a hotel in Kigali then drive to southwestern Uganda via Katuna or Chanika border which is 3 to 4 hours’ drive. Arrive at Bwindi National Park early enough and check-in at your safari lodge of choice for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Travel time: 3-4 hours
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options
Chameleon Hills Lodge/Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)
Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange)
Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Gift of Nature Lodge/Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Get up early in the morning and have the best taste of Uganda’s tea or coffee at your preferred lodge and after, you will be expected at your preferred trekking region where you will have a briefing on the set guidelines for gorilla trekking.
Today, you are expected to be on your long-sleeved shirts or t-shirts, trousers, waterproof hiking boots and don’t forget a rain jacket or poncho.
You will be assigned to a group to track and only 8 people are accepted to trek one group each day. Later, you will kick off with your actual trek together with a park ranger guide, trackers and also be joined by porters.
A gorilla trek in Bwindi National Park starts at 8:00 am and may take you 2-6 hours although in most cases this depends on so many factors, for instance, your speed of hiking, nature of the habitat and where these large apes are found. Because it is a breathtaking adventure, you are expected to have adequate drinking water, snacks/some packed lunch and walking stick.
Once you have found a group of these creatures, you are given only an hour to strike your imaginations, take as many pictures as you can and learn about their behaviors.
You will also come across several primates, for instance, olive baboons and many forest bird species. After, you will return to the lodge to check out ready to embark on a 4-hour road trip to lush savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Travel time: 4 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation options
Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Jacana Safari Lodge (Luxury), Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget)
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and return to Kigali
After your breakfast at the lodge, you will gather for a briefing on the set safety measures for chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge. A chimpanzee trek in this site gets you close to chimpanzees with a chance for you to also strike your imaginations with other varied primate species including black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys as well as bird species.
You will have only an hour of magical encounter with chimpanzees, take as many photos as possible and explore their behaviors. After you will get back to have lunch and check out from the lodge ready to embark on the return journey to Kigali and this will mark the end of your 3 days Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari.
End of 3 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari from Kigali
3 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari includes
• Gorilla trekking permit ($800)
• Chimpanzee tracking permit ($50)
• Ground transportation in a comfortable 4×4 safari car
• Fulltime English speaking driver-guide
• Bottled water
• Relevant government taxes
• Accommodation and meals
• All activities in the travel plan apart from the optional ones
3 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari excludes
• Personal insurance
• Visa fees
• Personal expenses like tips, extra activities, hotel fees in Kigali, laundry services, cigarettes, telephone calls among others.
Guidelines for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking
• While with gorillas or chimpanzees, you have only an hour to strike your imaginations, take photos and learn about their behaviors.
• You are advised to keep a distance of about 7 meters away from chimpanzees or gorillas.
• No flashlight cameras are allowed while taking photos of chimpanzees
• In case of illness, you are not allowed to go for chimpanzee or gorilla trek and in case of cough; you are advised to cover your mouth and nose when sneezing.
• Only 8 visitors are allowed to track gorillas and only one group is assigned for them to trek.
What to carry on 3 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Camera with no flashlight and if your camera has a flashlight, you are advised to turn it off before you begin taking photos.
• Long-sleeved shirts/t-shirt
• Trousers, hat
• Rain jacket/poncho
• Insect repellent
• Water
• Energy giving snacks
• Sunscreen
Best time to go for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris in Uganda
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda can be done at any time of the year. However, the dry season is preferably the best time for you to for gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park and Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking.
The dry season which is also the peak/high season in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park starts in June, July, August, September and December, January and February.
Note that during this season, demand for gorilla and chimpanzee permits is very high and that is why you are encouraged to secure one at least 2 or 3 months before the actual trek.
Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking tours in Uganda can also be done during the wet season and this usually begins in March, April, May, and October, November.