Overview
This 5 Day Chimp Habituation and Gorilla habituation experience safari is good for those who want to spend more time with the world’s great primates in the names of mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. This trip takes you to the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the Rushaga region for gorilla habituation experience and then to Kibale National Park for chimpanzee habituation experience. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the only park in the whole world offering gorilla habituation experience and as such, you will have an opportunity to spend four hours with mountain gorillas compared to one work of gorilla trekking. From Bwindi National Park, you will drive to Kibale National Park to spend 4 hours with the chimpanzees this is what is called chimpanzee habituation experience. Enjoy and compare these two experiences while in Uganda
Summary of our 5 Day chimpanzee Habituation and gorilla habituation experience safari
- Day 01: Our 5 day Chimp and Gorilla habituation experience safari starts from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Day 02: Spend 4 hours with gorillas during your gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 03: Drive back to Kibale Forest National Park for overnight.
- Day Four: Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park
- Day Five: Drive back to Entebbe International Airport marking the end of your 5 Day chimp and gorilla habituation experience safari.
Highlights
- You’ll go to Uganda
- This tour starts and ends in Entebbe (Uganda)
- You’ll visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale Forest National Park
- Activities: gorilla habituation, chimpanzee Habituation
- Getting around: open-sided 4×4 vehicle & pop-up roof 4×4 vehicle
- A transfer from and back to the airport (or hotel) is included
- Additional accommodation before the tour departs and on the last day can be arranged for extra cost
Things To Consider
- Accommodation is Inclusive
- Tour Can Depart any day
- Tour can be customized
- Solo travelers can do this tour
- Age Limit: 15 years and above for gorilla Habituation
- Age Limit: 12 years and above for Chimpanzee Habituation
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival
- You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
- Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost
DAY 1: Pick up and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Morning/Travel:
At 7am, your driver guide will pick from your Hotel in Entebbe/Kampala you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Your guide will make stopovers at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photography, a brief talk and some experiments
- Afternoon/Lunch
You will proceed to Mbarara town for lunch en-route at a local restaurant You will then drive past beautiful banana plantations, farms and the amazing Hills of Kigezi.
- Evening
You will arrive in the evening and check-in at the lodge for relaxation and overnight
Drivetime: 8-9 hours
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodations
Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge
Mid Range: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla Leisure Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge/ Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
DAY 2: Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Morning/Briefing
You will wake up early in the morning and head to the park headquarters to join other clients for briefing about dos and don’ts while with mountain gorillas on your habituation experience.
- Trek/Observation
After briefing, you will start your trek into the forest guided by researchers and guides. During your trek, you may encounter several birds, other animals and primates in the forest and once you have found the gorillas you will spend four hours with them and return back to the Lodge. You will have an opportunity to listen and observe researchers doing their work of habituating gorillas and if possible you will be called upon to participate by collecting samples, naming of group members, making calls and so much more.
- Evening
You will transfer to the lodge for relaxation followed by dinner and overnight
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
Accommodations
Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge
Mid Range: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla Leisure Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge/ Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
DAY 3: To Kibale National Park
- Morning/Transfer:
After breakfast we will drive to Kibale National Park for overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House. This journey will take you through Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will have chances of spotting some wild game as we drive through this Savannah dominated national park.
- Afternoon/Lunch:
You will also have another chance to cross the Equator at Kikolongo. You will also cross several Rivers that originate from Mountain Rwenzori as you go through Kasese district to Fort Portal. You will have a stop in Fort Portal town for lunch before proceeding.
- Evening:
Arrive at the Hotel in Kibale and check-in at the lodge, you will relax and Later have dinner and overnight.
Drive time: Approximately 6-7 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodations
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge/ Isunga Lodge/ Kibale forest Camp
Mid Range: Turaco Tree Tops Lodge
Luxury: Primate Lodge/ Tabebuia Spa and safari Resort/ Ndali Lodge
DAY 4: Chimp Habituation experience in Kibale National Park
- Morning/Briefing
After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park for briefing about the dos and don’ts while with a community or party of chimpanzees.
- Trek/Observation
After briefing, you will start your trek in the forest with chances of seeing other 11 primates in the forest. You will spend four hours with these chimpanzees in the forest with guides and researchers during your chimp habituation experience.
- Evening
You will later return to the Lodge for Dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
Accommodations
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge/ Isunga Lodge/ Kibale forest Camp
Mid Range: Turaco Tree Tops Lodge
Luxury: Primate Lodge/ Tabebuia Spa and safari Resort/ Ndali Lodge
DAY 5: End of your 5 day chimp and gorilla habituation experience safari
- Morning
After breakfast and depending on your departure flight details, you will drive 5-6 hours to Kampala/Entebbe marking the end of your 5 day gorilla habituation and chimpanzee Habituation safari in Uganda.
This is a private safari and can be booked by an individual or a group of people. Please contact our Safari consultants for a quote
Cost Includes
- Airport transfers on first and last day,
- Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Services of an English speaking driver guide
- Fuel for the whole trip
- Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
- All park entrance fees
- Drinking water while in the vehicle
Cost excludes
- Gorilla Habituation permit at USD1500.00 per person(we book it for you)
- Chimp habituation permit at USD300.00 per person per trek(we book it for you)
- Pre and post tour accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala
- International airfares
- Uganda Visa (USD50 which can be paid on arrival at the Airport
- Items of personal nature such as tips, drinks, and laundry
STANDARD: 4X4 SAFARI VAN
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari Vans customized for game viewing and photography. Each safari van comes with a professionally trained driver guide and fuel for the whole safari. Our Safari vans have viewing hatches and each client is entitled to a window seat. Our Vans can take up to eight people. We also have 4×4 Super Customs very comfortable and stable on the road. These carry up to 5 people with their luggage. We also have 4×4 RAV 4 for a group of two people
UPGRADE: 4X4 LUXURY SAFARI LANDCRUISER
We have luxury latest Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as your smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed of a window seat.
