“Encounter primates in their natural habitats”
8 Day Chimps, Gorillas, and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Chimps, Gorillas, and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari in Uganda
Set off on a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the lush hills of Uganda, where you’ll have the opportunity to encounter great apes in the wild. On your expedition, you’ll search for chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and track mountain gorillas in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Not forgetting the adorable golden monkeys.
Key information
- Private safari
- Maximum group size: 10
- Starting point and ending point: Kampala
- Languages spoken: English
- Park fees included
Highlights
- Trekking: Chimpanzee, gorilla, and golden monkeys
- Game drives
- Boat ride on Kazinga channel
- Walking safaris
- 7 nights accommodation + meals
- ‘Services of a full time English-speaking driver/guide
- Drinking water while on safari
- Aiport transfers
Styles
8 activity days in English
The organizer also speaks: French, German, Spanish
Group size: Maximum of 12 participants
Airport transfer included:
Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
11:00
Check-out Time:
17:00
All accommodations used in this trip are mid-range and self-contained. Please note that the accommodation type can change based on your preference.
Program
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to hotel for overnight
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, a nation of stunning greenery, deep lakes, soaring mountains, and rich biodiversity. Transfer to your hotel for overnight.
- Accommodation at Cassia lodge or similar
- Meal plan: Bed and breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
This morning after your breakfast, you will embark on a scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park. This park is nicknamed “the primate capital of the world” with the stars being the chimpanzees but it also has other primates like the red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, l’host monkeys. For the birders, it is rich in birdlife with the breasted pitta being one of the highly sought-after birds on a bird-watching safari in Uganda.
You will have a hot lunch and later go for the Bigodi Swamp sanctuary walk, run by the community to support them. Expect to see butterflies, beautiful birds like the great blue turaco, and other small animals. There are about 200 bird species in this beautiful Bigodi Swamp. Return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
- Accommodation at Turaco treetops or similar
- Meal plan: Lunch, dinner, breakfast
Day 3: Chimp trekking and Crater Lakes hike
After your breakfast, your guide will drive you to the park headquarters for a briefing about your chimpanzee tracking experience. This guided trek through Kibale Forest provides an incredible opportunity to witness the daily life of these chimpanzees. The experience of watching them in their natural habitat is both thrilling and educational, offering insights into their complex social structures and behaviors. Kibale Forest is also home to a variety of other wildlife, including forest elephants, buffalo, and over 300 species of birds, making it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers alike.
Later, you will go for a Crater Lakes hike. Return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
- Accommodation at Turaco treetops or similar
- Meal plan: Lunch, dinner, breakfast
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a hearty breakfast, you will be driven to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo, and baboons. You will take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, 32 km long followed by a game drive. This water system has a very high concentration of hippos and you will get quite close to them. See also crocodiles, buffalos, and other game that drink from the channel, also marvel at the abundant ornitho-life that is supported here.
- Accommodation at Twinlakes Safari lodge or similar
- Meal plan: Lunch, dinner, breakfast
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
This day you will have breakfast and then be transferred to your accommodation in Bwindi Forest, home to over half of the world’s mountain gorillas. As you make your way through the picturesque landscapes, you'll get your first glimpse of the green, mountainous terrain that makes Bwindi a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Check in at the lodge, relax, and unwind as you prepare for the extraordinary experiences that await you in Bwindi.
- Accommodation at Gorilla Leisure lodge or similar
- Meal plan: Lunch, dinner, breakfast
Day 6: Gorilla trekking and Batwa (pygmies) cultural experience
In the morning you enter the rain tropical forest of Bwindi for the gorilla safari. The activity starts at 8 a.m. and you will follow the ranger guides in a group of a maximum of 8 people as you search for the habituated family of mountain gorillas, which was allocated according to the permits. Bwindi Forest in Uganda has a population of about 420 gorillas, which is half the world's population. It is not predictable the time you will spend to encounter the gorillas. You have one hour to observe the primates and their behaviors, while taking photographs. Ensure you take the packed lunch and water with you in the bag and for this, you might need the support of available porters.
Return to the lodge for relaxation. Later in the day, you will go for the Batwa (pygmies) cultural tour. While here, you will learn of their ancient ways of living. These people once shared the forest with the mountain gorillas. Return to the lodge for overnight.
- Accommodation at Gorilla Leisure lodge or similar
- Meal plan: Lunch, dinner, breakfast
Day 7: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After enjoying an early breakfast, depart to Mgahinga Gorillas National Park. After a briefing at the headquarters, you will set off to track the rare golden monkeys through the bamboo forests of the mountains. The monkeys travel in large groups and are as energetic as they are photogenic, often seen playing in the high branches or foraging on the ground for bamboo shoots. This park also has mountain gorillas. It is from this that this park gets it tagline, “where Gold meets Silver”.
The adventure continues as you spend one night at Lake Mburo National Park. The 371 sq km park is an extension of the Tanzanian Plains and has distinctly different fauna compared to other Ugandan parks. It is the best place in the country to see Eland Antelope, Zebra, Topi, Impala, and Acacia. The five lakes within the park attract hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of water birds while fringing swamps hide black and yellow papyrus gonalek. Have a game drive then return to the lodge.
- Accommodation at Rwakobo Rock lodge or similar
- Meal plan: Lunch, dinner, breakfast
Day 8: Walking safari then head to Entebbe for outbound flight
After breakfast, you will go for a walking safari in the park and then head to Entebbe. You will have lunch at a local restaurant and then the Uganda Equator line mark in Kayabwe for some memorable photos and maybe buy some art pieces of interest. Proceed with the journey arriving just in time for your flight check-in. They hope you enjoy your safari and thank you for choosing Katella Uganda Safaris.
Location
Kampala is the place where you will overnight after pick up from the airport in Entebbe. It is the capital city of Uganda and there is so much to enjoy while there.
Food
They cater to a variety of food preferences. It would be good if they are informed early enough about the dietary requirements so they can have it organized in time.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Organic
- Pescatarian
- Fruitarian
- Whole food
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Whilst on safari, you can go out to buy some souvenirs, visit the drum makers in Mpambire, or have an equator experience.
Spa treatments
Thete are some lodges that provide spa and massage treatment at a cost not included in the price.
What's included
- All meals and 7 nights accommodation as per the itinerary
- All ground transportation in a comfortable safari vehicle
- Park entrance fees and game drives
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey tracking permit
- Services of a full-time English speaking driver/guide
- Drinking water while on safari
- Airport transfers
What's not included
- Optional activities
- Phone calls and bar bills
- Any expenses of a personal nature
- Airfare and visa fees
- Driver's/guide’s gratuity
How to get there
Recommended Airports
EBB
Entebbe International Airport
33 km
Transfer included
Airport transfers are included. In case your transfers are different from the agreed times, they can have this arranged for you.
Airport: Entebbe International Airport
Airport transfer included: Entebbe International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 28% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 10 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookAllSafaris.com. All major credit cards supported.
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