Chimps & Gorillas of Uganda

Overview

Discover the emblematic wildlife of Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi

Uganda is renowned for its abundant wildlife. With landscapes ranging from savannah to lush forests, the animal count is high: more than 300 mammal species and over 1,000 bird types. This trip is a true adventure into the heart of Africa. Kibale Forest is possibly the best place in the world to track chimpanzees while Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to hippos, elephants, buffalo, leopards and elusive tree-climbing lions, plus a huge variety of birds. Continuing on our journey, we reach Bwindi where we have the option of tracking the gentle giants of the forests, mountain gorillas. Aldo Kane Collection: A hand-selected range of adventures by our Brand Ambassador: "Having been lucky enough in my lifetime to catch glimpses of both chimps and gorillas in their natural habitats, I would highly recommend this extraordinary experience. There's nothing quite like spotting a signature species in the wild, and spending an hour with these rare creatures in the misty peaks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is nothing short of incredible."

Highlights

Track chimpanzees and other primates in Kibale Forest
Search for the elusive tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Spend a magical hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Discover just how friendly and hospitable the Ugandan people are

Key Information

Nine nights in a mixture of hotels and lodges
Travel by specially designed 4×4 vehicles
Reasonable fitness required for chimpanzee and gorilla tracking
Part of the Aldo Kane collection

Included

All breakfasts, 10 lunches and nine dinners.
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
One chimp permit and one gorilla permit

Not included

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

Itinerary

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Day 1: Start Entebbe; drive to Kibale Forest
We gather as a group and drive to Kibale Forest – check the Joining Instructions for more information on where to meet the group. 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, L’Hoest’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 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale; visit Bigodi wetlands
Today we explore the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary in the Magombe wetland. The sanctuary is a major eco-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 3: Optional second chimpanzee trek; to Queen Elizabeth National Park
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 4: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park; boat safari on the Kazinga Channel
This morning, we explore QENP 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 5: Game drive in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park; to Buhoma
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 6: Mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
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 7: Optional second mountain gorilla trek
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 day’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 8: To Lake Mburo National Park
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 9: Game drive; optional game walk or boat safari
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 10: Drive to Entebbe; visit Mabamba Swamp en route to search for shoebill storks; end Entebbe
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. Our adventure ends in the afternoon in Entebbe.

Important Information

The trip destination

Nine nights in a mixture of hotels and lodges
Travel by specially designed 4×4 vehicles
Reasonable fitness required for chimpanzee and gorilla tracking
Part of the Aldo Kane collection

Food

All breakfasts, 10 lunches and nine dinners included. The service can be either à 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.

Weather

The wettest areas are concentrated along the shores of Lake Victoria and the western mountain districts. Although rains are normally more frequent during the two rainy seasons (April-May and October-November), wet spells can occur during the dry season, so please come prepared. Uganda can be visited at any time, the weather is pleasant for much of the year over most of the country and temperatures are never excessively high.

The temperatures are usually cooler at night and this depends more on the altitude than on the actual area of the country.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate) with a Safari Rating of 4.

The Moderate grade applies specifically to the gorilla and chimp treks, the rest of the itinerary is graded Leisurely.

Gorilla trek: Owing to the terrain and the need to explore to find gorillas, the trek doesn’t follow a path in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; instead, the guides cut a route through the undergrowth. Expect a minimum of three hours’ walking on rough terrain, with the possibility of climbing up to 8,553ft (2,607m); steep ascents and descents over muddy slopes are the norm. Strong footwear is essential and we recommend hiring a local porter to help you carry your bag/camera equipment and provide a steady, supportive hand (porters are arranged and paid for locally on the day).

This is a busy and active trip with some early starts as we explore as much as we can of this wonderful country. There are some long drives, sometimes on bad roads, but we use comfortable safari vehicles and the fantastic scenery does make time on the drives go by.

Booking conditions

At the time of booking, a £700 (or equivalent in booking currency) non-refundable deposit is required to cover the cost of chimpanzee and gorilla permits. If for any reason we are unable to secure the permits and have to cancel the trip, you receive a full refund.

If you would like a second gorilla or chimp trek, please request this at time of booking, an extra deposit is required. However, we only request the extra permits once the trip has been guaranteed as, otherwise, they have to be paid in full even if the trip doesn’t run. Once the extra gorilla or chimp permits have been requested, the deposits are non-refundable.

AVAILABLE DATES	PRICE (1 ADULT)	PRICE (1 CHILDREN)	Single room supplement	TRAVEL STATUS
Sun, 16 Jun 2024 / Tue, 25 Jun 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	Available
Sun, 14 Jul 2024 / Tue, 23 Jul 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	Available
Sun, 04 Aug 2024 / Tue, 13 Aug 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	Available
Sun, 25 Aug 2024 / Tue, 03 Sep 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	Available
Sun, 29 Sep 2024 / Tue, 08 Oct 2024	NOK 68 750	On request	NOK 7 565	Available
Sun, 03 Nov 2024 / Tue, 12 Nov 2024	NOK 68 750	On request	NOK 6 190	Available
Thu, 19 Dec 2024 / Sat, 28 Dec 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	Available

AVAILABLE DATES	PRICE (1 ADULT)	PRICE (1 CHILDREN)	SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT	TRAVEL STATUS
Sun, 16 Jun 2024 / Tue, 25 Jun 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	On request
Sun, 14 Jul 2024 / Tue, 23 Jul 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	On request
Sun, 04 Aug 2024 / Tue, 13 Aug 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	On request
Sun, 25 Aug 2024 / Tue, 03 Sep 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	On request
Sun, 29 Sep 2024 / Tue, 08 Oct 2024	NOK 68 750	On request	NOK 7 565	On request
Sun, 03 Nov 2024 / Tue, 12 Nov 2024	NOK 68 750	On request	NOK 6 190	On request
Thu, 19 Dec 2024 / Sat, 28 Dec 2024	NOK 70 125	On request	NOK 7 565	On request

Chimps & Gorillas of Uganda

Overview

Itinerary

Photos

Important Information

Prices / Dates