Uganda: Gorillas, Chimps & Game Safari - 9 Days

Small Group Tour Gorilla Trekking, Game Viewing & Chimpanzee Tracking

It is hard to describe the rush of emotions when you see your first mountain gorilla face to face. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest protects just over 300 (half of the current population) of these magnificent animals who live in family groups amongst the lush backdrop of emerald green rainforest.

A good level of fitness is required to visit the gorillas. Your trek may be short, or long as you make your way through dense rainforest accompanied by expert guides and trackers to locate the family group allotted to your permits.

Success rates in locating the gorillas is over 95% and you will have up to 1 hour to observe them before returning to base. For those wanting to include a second trek this can be requested when you book your tour (all permits must be pre-booked and paid).

This small-group Uganda gorilla, chimpanzee and safari tour includes your domestic flights to avoid long travelling days. Beyond the Gorillas and Chimp Trekking in Chamburu (Kyambura Gorge) you will have ample opportunity to see some of the local culture and beautiful forests. You will enjoy multiple game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park with its amazing selection of wildlife, including the tree-climbing lions.

For those wishing to spend more time chimp trekking with the inclusion of Kibale, please enquire about our 10 day option.

Tour Code: UGGC09
Tour Name: Gorillas, Chimps & Game
Duration: 9 Days
Touring Style: Small Group
Grade: Accommodated - Comfort

Price From: from $9063 per person (twin share) + permits
Local Payment? None
Starts: Entebbe, Uganda
Ends: Entebbe, Uganda
Includes: Accommodation & Meals as per itinerary, Transport, Professional Guides

Highlights:
Chimp Trekking Kyambura Gorge, Gorilla Trekking - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Ishasha Community Project

ItineraryDates & PricesTour InfoGallery

Itinerary:

DAY 1 | ENTEBBE

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your lodge.

Entebbe is a small, quiet town located on the shores of Lake Victoria and is easy to explore on foot, boda bodas (local motorbikes) or taxis. Soak up the local markets filled with clothes and crafts, shop for souvenirs in curio shops, or explore the Botanical Gardens on Lake Victoria. Enjoy the wide variety of restaurants serving many different cuisines as well as several bars and clubs where you can sample the local beer, catch a game of football and chat with the local Ugandans, known for their open, friendly nature.

DAY 2 | ENTEBBE VIA KIHIHI TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Transfer from Boma to the domestic airport for your scheduled flight to Kihihi airstrip, which is located between Bwindi/Queen Elizabeth National parks.

The flight takes just over an hour. Transfer to Buhoma Lodge (or similar), Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive to the lodge is through local villages and mountain roads – lovely scenery and very interesting en route! There is time for an optional forest walk or cultural visit this afternoon.

Bwindi National Park, located in south western Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, is considered the most diverse forest in Uganda. Home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, and 160 species of trees, Bwindi is one of the richest ecosystems in East Africa. The park contains almost one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site.

DAY 3 | GORILLA TREK - BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Guests will have the opportunity for two days of gorilla tracking (pre-booking essential). Gorilla trekking may be done on day 3 or 4, depending on when permits are purchased. If you would like to trek twice, enquire at time of booking – additional permits will need to be pre-purchased. Optional community walk/forest walk/birding. Coming face to face with mountain gorillas is a rare wildlife encounter.

Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek into the dense rain forest on the mountain slopes. The opportunity to come within meters of these magnificent apes, sharing in their daily lives and experiencing their day-to-day activities, is an experience you won’t soon forget! Mountain gorillas are extremely rare with only an estimated 880 remaining in the wild. Please note that gorilla tracking may be fairly strenuous with treks ranging from 30 mins up to six hours or longer, at high altitudes. Also, mountain gorillas are wild animals and, as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, viewing success rates are over 95%.

DAY 4 | SECOND TREK (Permits pre-purchased) OR LOCAL ACTIVITIES- QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - ISHASHA

Those with pre-purchased permits will depart for a second gorilla tracking experience following breakfast at the lodge. Depending upon individual itinerary schedules, guests not tracking gorillas may wish to enjoy other activities available in the area such as a forest walk, a visit to a local school/orphanage/hospital, or Batwa pygmy village, and some local curio shopping. In the afternoon we drive (2-3 hours) to Ishasha in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.Time permitting, we may visit a Community Project enroute. Here the local people allow you to enjoy some time in their homesteads, as well as see some of the crops and curios they produce, and visit the local elephant trench project – which stops elephants coming into the village and raiding crops. Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp.

DAY 5 | QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - ISHASHA

Enjoy a day of game drives in the Ishasha area, looking for the huge herds of buffalo, elephant, Uganda kob and of course the famous tree-climbing lion typically found in the area. Overnight Inshasha Wilderness Camp

DAY 6 | QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park as we make our way to the ‘northern area’ of the park. Here we will enjoy a scheduled boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. Kazinga’s shores are a haven for numerous birds, including many migratory species as they make their way south to warmer climates. The cruise also provides a spectacular view of the beautiful Mweya Peninsula and life in local fishing villages set along the banks. Overnight at Elephant Plains or similar.

DAY 7 | KYAMBURA CHIMPANZEE TREKKING

This morning we will travel early to the Kyambura Gorge to enjoy Chimpanzee trekking. The forest is alive with noise – chimpanzees can be quite active and may move quickly through the forest canopy… or, if you are lucky, you may find them resting or eating near the forest floors. It’s an exhilarating walk, in beautiful scenery. Sightings cannot be guaranteed even though they are habituated to humans.

DAY 8 |QENP GAME DRIVE - FLY TO ENTEBBE

Morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Later, depart to airstrip for the flight to Entebbe and transfer to your lodge for the night . (There is an option to depart today BUT the flights would need to depart Entebbe at 19h00 or later)

DAY 9 |DEPART

Breakfast that the hotel. Later transfer to the airport to check in for your international flight

Pricing 2024:

(Prices valid 01 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2024

HIGH SEASON (Jan-Feb, Jun-Oct, Dec)

from NZD 10,173 per person twin share
from NZD 1,768 single supplement

LOW SEASON (Apr-May, Nov)

from NZD 9,063 per person twin share
from NZD 1,186 single supplement

Gorilla and Chimp Permits are not included in the above prices and must be paid for at the time of booking. Current prices are:

Gorilla Permits USD 700 per person per trek
Chimpanzee Permits USD 50 per person

Optional Activities

2nd Gorilla Permit including booking fee and transfers USD770 per person
Guided Forest Walk including Bwindi Park Fee USD 70 per person
Batwa (Pygmies) Community Visit USD 85 per person

Important Information

Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits are always 100% non-transferable and non-refundable
Please note the the return flight for EBB-KIHIHI is included in your tour price. The flight price is subject to change and we will advise of any change at the time of booking. Note there is a total weight limit of 15kg per person in soft bags. XL seats are available at an additional cost for those requiring additional luggage or space.
On our scheduled departures, we typically buy permits for Buhoma & Ruhija, which are accessible from the Buhoma area. Note that some of these families MAY require a road transfer to the start point. There will be an additional cost for this. Furthermore, your permit may be organised for day 3, or 4, of your safari. It will depend on availability at the time of purchase.
Should gorilla permits be booked at Ruhija, there is an additional shared vehicle transfer fee of USD 205 /vehicle return which is split between the travellers in the group.
Minimum age is 16 years.

Departure Dates 2024

Guaranteed with a minimum of two people and a maximum of 6 people

02 Jan 24 (note this follows the 2023 itinerary, please contact us for details)
11 Jan 24
05 Feb24
18 Mar 24
12 April 24
10 May 24
09 Jun 24
03 Jul 24
21 Aug 24
15 Sept 24
16 Oct 24
16 Nov 24
21 Dec 24

Inclusions:

MEALS
8 x breakfast, 7 x lunches, 6 x dinners. If staying at Buhoma Lodge & Ishasha Wilderness Camp local drinks are included, should a different lodge be used, the rate would NOT include drinks.

TRANSPORT
4WD Landcruiser, Plane

ACCOMMODATION
2 nights Lodge B&B, 6 nights Lodge Full Board

Uganda: Gorillas, Chimps & Game Safari – 9 Days

Small Group Tour Gorilla Trekking, Game Viewing & Chimpanzee Tracking

Itinerary:

Pricing 2024:

Departure Dates 2024

Inclusions:

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