How Many Days Do I Need on Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Game Safari in Uganda

The least number of days on gorilla, wildlife and game safari in Uganda is atleast 7 days considering the tour transfer time too as most of these National parks are some distance apart. You can also do 8 day gorilla trekking, 9 day gorilla habituation, 10 day gorilla and chimpanzee safaris and much more on Uganda safari depending on additional Uganda safari activities combined with. The flow of this Uganda safari needs to be well tailored to make a working itinerary that suits your needs and interests without backtracking.

During the gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari in Uganda some of the notable destinations you can add to your itinerary include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience. Queen Elizabeth National Park for game safari and chimpanzee trekking. Kibale National Park for extensive chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience.

You need to book accommodation within or closer to the Uganda safari destination you choose. This is to prevent you from panicking to catch up with either of these Uganda safari activities, gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience start early morning about 0730 hours but you need to be at the ranger station earlier for persona document and permit verification.

Although chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National park has two sessions that is morning or afternoon, it is best to spend the night before closer or within this park. Briefing before the chimpanzee safari in Kibale National Park is a must for every respective tourist each session. Missing briefing may be one reason to disqualify you from this chimpanzee safari adventure.

Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park are best enjoyed early morning or late afternoon. The early mornings most animals are  still in the night mood and have not picked momentum to move very fast and so is the late afternoon as they return to there night hideouts.

Summary of 7 day gorilla, chimpanzee and Game safari in Uganda

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 4 Game Drive and launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5 Drive to Kibale National Park

Day 6 chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park

Day 7 departure day from Uganda safari

Detailed 7 day gorilla, chimpanzee and game safari in Uganda

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, our driver guide picks you from your lodge to drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The voyage may take about 8 to 9 hours but very scenic. You may make optional stop to enroute spots like the Equator for a memorable photoshoot standing on both sides of the earth at the same time that is the northern and southern hemisphere.

Have lunch break too enroute but as you drive towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park you feel a drop in altitude so if you are affected by this do carry the required medicated pills to stabilize you.

Even the vegetation cover along the way is stunning and evergreen. The roads are quite rough that is why you need a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition in order not to get stuck by the roadside.

Bwindi accommodation: Clouds Lodge, Gorilla safari Lodge, Gorilla forest Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi view Bandas, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Carry your gorilla trekking gears in your backpack to the Ranger station for briefing. Donot for get to wear a mask and a clean spare one to use when you finally locate the mountain gorillas. After briefing, all tourists are allocated gorilla families but the criteria used is hard to determine as sometimes it is about interests, age brackets, physical capability and much more.

The ranger guide in your company leads the way following the trail leading where the mountain gorilla family was last seen the previous day. Before finding the gorilla family, lookout for other forest dwellers like the blue monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and others. Bwindi forest hosts over 350 bird species and you may get the opportunity to identify over 100 bird species on the walk in the jungle.

When you finally find the mountain gorillas only one hour is allowed with them during gorilla trekking adventure. This is to minimize the effects of humans presence to the mountain gorillas as humans disrupt the running of the day activities of these primates.

After one hour of viewing the mountain gorillas, get away from them without causing any suspension.

Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Head to Queen Elizabeth National park which is about 4 to 5 hours away from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. from Bwindi Impenetrable National park the Buhoma area, Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 64 kilometers via Ishasha sector home to the tree climbing lions and 160 kilometers to Mweya Peninsular the headquarters of this park.

Enjoy enroute game drive where you may visit the Edward flats where you may have chance to spot the shoebill stork, tree climbing lions, topis and others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is scenically placed on the floor of the Albertine rift valley with Rwenzori  ranges as its backdrop that run thirty miles to the North. This park seats on the rift valley floor siring 480 meters from the 910 meters above Kazinga channel. Lush green escarpments of the rift valley mark the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

 While driving through Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot animals like herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, waterbucks and so much more

Queen Elizabeth National park accommodation: Bush Lodge, Jacana Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plain Lodge, Simba safari Camp

Day 4 Game Drive and launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up early for a game drive through various tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park plains. During the game drive, you may spot animals like lions, elephants, topis, waterbucks, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, Uganda Kobs. The Kasenyi track opens more chances for you to witness wild drama as lions love prowling this area while sneaking on Uganda Kobs that love spending there day time in this part of the park.

The afternoon 3 hours return boat ride on Kazinga channel is relaxing and stunning. While at the launch trip, you may have the opportunity to spot a wide range of wild animals that grace the banks to quench thirst and take a bath. Hippos and crocodiles are the masters of this channel and can be spotted. The best view of the features on the floor of the rift valley can be spotted while on a Launch trip.

Get back to the lodge to relax.

Day 5 Drive to Kibale National Park

Drive to Kibale National Park which is about one hours drive away. Kibale National Park is home to a population of about 1500 chimpanzees from the about 5000 chimpanzees living in Uganda. you can do chimpanzee trekking where one hour is allowed with a fully habituated chimpanzee troop. During chimpanzee habituation experience  four hours are allowed with a semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

This tropical rain forest is home to more 12 primates species including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, bush babies , L’Hoest’s and others more that 325 bird species are recorded as residents of Kibale national park including about 6 that are endemic to the Albertine rift region. More than mammal living in Kibale forest include elephants, leopards, Buffaloes, duikers, bush pigs, amphibians and others.

 Kibale national park accommodations: Primates Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Chimpanzees Guest House, CVK

Day 6 Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale National Park

Carry your chimpanzee trekking gears to the ranger station in Kanyanchu visitor center or the secondary station in Sebitoli. After briefing, you may hire a porter to assist you carry your bags so that you are nots weighed back by there weight.

Start searching for the chimpanzees following the trails constructed by daily visitors to Kibale forest. The chimpanzee trekking adventure in Kibale National park may take about 2 to 3 hours.

 Before finding the chimpanzees, look out for others forest dwellers like blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, potto, red tailed monkeys and others. you may get the opportunity to spot birds like blue headed sunbird, puple-breasted sunbird, blue-breasted kingfisher, crowned eagle, black bee eater, African pitta, Dusky’s crimsonwing and others.

 Upon finding the chimpanzees, one hour is allowed with them during chimpanzee trekking adventure. The presence of humans disrupts the running of the day today life of the chimpanzees like grooming, feeding, procreation and much more. Do follow the rules of chimpanzee trekking to get the best experience with the chimpanzees in Kibale National Park.

Children below 12 years have special activities they can engage in with the children’s ranger guide while parents go chimpanzee trekking. They engage in eco-friendly activities like batik making, cyanotype, photography, pond dipping to familialise they with the ecosystem and its relevancy.

Get back to the lodge or engage in an optional visit to the Bigodi sanctuary for more primate and birding experience in case you are not so tired.

Day 7 departure day from Uganda safari

After the gorilla, chimpanzee and game safari for 7 days in Uganda, drive back to Entebbe airport to catch up with your home bound flight.

What are the requirements for a gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari in Uganda?

Book gorilla ad chimpanzee trekking permits

To confirm a gorilla ad chimpanzee safari in Uganda, you must secure the permits first. The supply of gorilla and chimpanzee permits is restricted to reduce on the effects of mass tourism to these primates and there environment where they depend.

At the moment, the cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permit is $800 and chimpanzee trekking permit cost for Kibale National park is $200 per person per trek

Note gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are booked according to the four areas under which the park is subdivided that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo

It is best to book the Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee permits in advance to avoid last minute disappointment especially during the peak season. Both gorilla and chimpanzee permits sell out due to overwhelming demand for them.

Secure accommodation to use during Uganda safari

Where you spent your night during Uganda safaris is important, most travelers want to have a home away from home facility that will keep their memories of this African safari unforgettable.

 When booking accommodation for the gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi, you must consider the area where your gorilla permits is booked. It is best to secure accommodation within or closer to the area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where your gorilla permits is booked. This is to avoid having to rise up in the night to drive and catch up with briefing in another area.

Secure accommodation in Kibale National park to used during chimpanzee safari and Queen Elizabeth National park. Accommodation in these parks are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and basic facilities

Book transport to used during this Uganda safari

You can use road transport during the Uganda safari or air transport where daily domestic flights are available for booking or charter flight arrangement. For Road transport, consider booking a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in god condition driven by a professional and experienced drive guide.

Park the right Uganda safari gears

Look out on the list of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking gears before packing for this Uganda safari. Consider the season expected to be experienced in Uganda during your Uganda tour so that you donot end up disappointed by weather while on holiday.

Donot have to over pack for this gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari in Uganda but carry what is necessary. You may pack safari attire, safari boots, camera, pair of binoculars , sunglasses, sunscreen, treats, rain proof gears and others.

Apply for Uganda tourist visa in advance

To save time after disembarking from the long flight, it is best to apply for the Uganda visa from the consular in your country or using online platform. In case travel to Uganda, people from your country must have a visa. Although the visa can be obtained at immigration on arrival, there is bureaucracy that may delay you especially if your Uganda safari is commencing on arrival.

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