5 DAYS KIBALE AND BWINDI SAFARI
This 5 Days Uganda primate adventure introduces you to the 2 premier tropical forest parks- Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This primate expedition begins with a visit to Kibale Forest National Park –the home to 13 species of primates with 1500 chimpanzees, 375 bird species, butterflies, and flora.
After observing chimpanzees in the wild, continue to Bwindi where mountain gorilla trekking will be done. Over 459 mountain gorillas live within the 4 sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest –these include Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. The gorilla trekking tour includes a cultural visit to the Batwa pygmies’ community.
Safari Highlights of 5 Days Kibale and Bwindi
Pick up & travel to Kibale National Park through Mubende-Fort Portal city
Chimpanzee trekking & visit Bigodi wetland
Travel to Bwindi for a mountain gorilla adventure
Gorilla trekking safari experience
Depart for Kampala/Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up & travel to Kibale National Park through Mubende-Fort Portal city
Pick up at your respective place of residence or hotel and transfer to Kibale National Park located in Western Uganda. This is a 5 to 6 hours’ drive road trip in our classic 4×4 tourist vehicle with an experienced driver guide. Set off from Kampala along Mubende to Fort Portal tourism city while viewing the stunning landscape and sceneries of the countryside. Crater Lakes, the spectacular Rwenzori Mountain peaks at the backdrop at Fort portal, tea plantations, etc will make your road trip incredible.
Arrive early in Kibale Forest Park and check in at the lodge for relaxation. A leisurely dinner and overnight stay will be had at the pre-booked safari lodge inside or outside the park.
Accommodation
- Luxury/High-end: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali/Papaya Lake Lodge
- Moderate/Standard: Turaco Treetops/Primate Lodge
- Basic/Budget: Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Isunga Lodge
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking & visit Bigodi wetland
A hefty breakfast followed by a briefing at the Kanyanchu tourist center located in the heart of Kibale Forest. The park ranger guides will lead you into the forest to look out for chimpanzees and other primates will be encountered. This will be a 2-4 hours’ trek in the forest and includes one hour of a close encounter and taking photos.
The other primates to expect to see on the Kibale chimp trek include the red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys.
After tracking Kibale chimpanzees, have a relaxed lunch at the lodge, and in the afternoon, visit the nearby Bigodi Wetland/Swamp. The Bigodi Swamp walk comes with primate sightings of red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, baboons plus birds like the Great Blue Turacos.
Accommodation
- Luxury/High-end: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali/Papaya Lake Lodge
- Moderate/Standard: Turaco Treetops/Primate Lodge
- Basic/Budget: Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Isunga Lodge
Day 3: Travel to Bwindi for a mountain gorilla adventure
Depart Kibale for Bwindi Impenetrable NP about 6 hours’ drive in our 4×4 safari vehicle. Drive through Queen Elizabeth NP with a chance to get up close with the tree climbing lions and other big game at the Ishasha sector. 5 Days Uganda Primates Adventure, Get to the Savanna Resort for lunch and continue to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs/Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
- Moderate: Engagi Lodge/Silverback Lodge/Bwindi Haven Lodge
- Basic: Buhoma Rest Camp/Bwindi View Bandas/Nshongi Camp
Day 4: Gorilla trekking safari experience
Have a pack of lunch and bottled water, then proceed to Bwindi Forest Park offices for briefing and to be assigned a gorilla family. In a group of 8 guests, the park ranger guide will accompany you into the dense Bwindi Forest to view the family of gorillas allocated to you. A trek through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to see mountain gorillas takes 2-6 hours inclusive of one hour of observing their behaviors and taking pictures.
Bwindi is a bio-diverse protected area and while on a trek, there are other species to be encountered. When you return, you will have a gorilla trekking certificate and continue to the lodge for relaxation. You will be visiting the Batwa community later in the evening and the Batwa pygmies will entertain you with their unique dances and cultural music performance.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs/Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
- Moderate: Engagi Lodge/Silverback Lodge/Bwindi Haven Lodge
- Basic: Buhoma Rest Camp/Bwindi View Bandas/Nshongi Camp
Day 5: Depart for Kampala/Entebbe
You will be picked up by your driver guide after having breakfast and check out of the lodge. From Bwindi, drive back via the Kabale-Mbarara-Masaka route and expect to have lunch along the way and photo taking at the Equator crossing. From Kayabwe, proceed to Kampala or Entebbe and today marks the end of the 5 Days Kibale and Bwindi safari. Thus end of the 5 Days Uganda Primates Adventure.
End of safari
Safari includes
- Gorilla & chimp permits
- Transport
- An English-speaking guide
- Bigodi swamp walking tour
- Bottled drinking water
- Accommodation
Safari exclusions
- Visa fees
- Airfares
- Insurance
- Laundry services
- Tipping
- Shopping
- Telephone
- Hiring a porter services
