12 Day Gorilla, Wildlife And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari In Uganda

12 Day Gorilla, Wildlife And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari In Uganda

The 12 days gorilla trekking, game safari and chimpanzee habituation experience safari in Uganda necessitate reserving the relevant permits as soon as possible. The gorilla trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience permits have limited supply even though demand is over the top every year. Contact Us

During the 12 day gorilla trekking, game tour and chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda, tourists need to also reserve the necessary logistics that support this adventure in advance including accommodations, transport and others. In the peak tourism season in Uganda, the demand for these safari amenities is overwhelming which creates competition for them.

This Uganda safari includes a tour of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park Kibale Forest National Park in the western part of Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Overview Of The 12 Day Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife And Chimpanzee Habituation Safari

Day1 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 Game Drive and Nature walks in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6 Drive to Kibale National Park

Day 7 Chimpanzee habituation Experience in Kibale National Park

Day 8 Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

Day 9 Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park

Day 10 Chimpanzee Trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi Forest

Day 11 Drive to Entebbe or Kampala

Day 12 Visit Ngamba Island and Departure

Note that if you are departing immediately the safari ends, ensure to book departure flights in the evening so that you can get to the airport before check-in time.

Inclusions and Exclusions in a 12 day gorilla trekking, Game Safari and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

Inclusions

Park entrance fees

Accommodations

Meals during the safari

Airport pick up and drop off

4×4 wheel drive Transport to and from the safari destinations

Drinking Water en route

English Speaking guide

Permits gorilla, chimpanzee trekking and habituation experience permits

Excludes Tips, personal expenses, optional safari activities other than those in the itinerary and others

Full Details of 12 day Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife and Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Safari

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early morning, our driver guide picks you from your overnight hotel and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The distance from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 530 kilometers with drive time is about 8 to 9 hours excluding stopovers.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a pristine forest which is believed to have over 25000 years which is one reason for the lengthy list of species that it has accumulated. Bwindi forest is home to over 200 natural tree species, 88 months, 51 reptiles, 310 butterfly species, 350 bird species, 10 primates and others. As you get closer to Bwindi forest, you get to see the serried dense canopy on the slopes of the highlands that form part of the topography of this park

Check into your accommodation

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Accommodation Clouds lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi View Bandas, Nshongi Camp, Chameleon Hill lodge, Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Safari Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla lodge

Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Take breakfast early and carry your packed lunch with your gorilla safari gears to the ranger station where your documents are verified and briefing done too. After briefing, your ranger guide leads the way following the tracks that have been constructed by regular visitors in Bwindi forest.

On the way, you may get the chance to spot other residents primates including olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, wild chimpanzees and others. Even though the ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker, donot delay the rest because you are not sure of the time of finding the mountain gorillas. Ornithologists have so much to enjoy while on safari in Bwindi forest especially if you go gorilla trekking in the Ruhija area which is the birders’ haven in Bwindi Forest.

Finally when you locate the mountain gorillas, ensure to wear a clean mask a practice adopted to prevent chances of passing an infection to the mountain gorillas and other vulnerable forest dwellers. Take as many photos as you can to keep as memories of your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. Only one hour is accepted with the mountain gorillas as a conservation measure.

Get back to your lodge

Day 2 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is at a distance of about 64 kilometers via Ishasha sector and 160 kilometers to Mweya area. On the way, enjoy the various landforms that make up the Kigezi sub area as you drive on winding roads. Enjoy a game drive as you enter the park where you may get the chance to spot some wild animals including herds of elephants, waterbucks and others.

Queen Elizabeth National is situated on the floor of the rift Valley and is a biosphere reserve.  Number of animals, birds, varied vegetation and others compose the flora and fauna of this park. The blue Rwenzori massif explodes from the plains for 60 mile long and 40 miles wide creating a remarkable backdrop for the park.

Several wild animals find comfort in spending time in the park including several herbivores and carnivores.

Check onto your accommodation

Queen Elizabeth National Park Accommodation Mweya safari lodge, Katara lodge, Bush lodge, Elephant plain lodge, Simba safari Camp, Jacana lodge

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

Wake early and start on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The most notable trails in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Kasenyi trail where numerous Uganda kobs that enjoy spending time here while this is the point where you may get the chance to spot prowling prides of lions that prey on them.

The northern Kazinga area is the prime game viewing area where you may get the chance to spot a number of animals that normally makes there way to quench thirst from this channel. Go through the crater lakes are of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you may get the chance to see both dry and wet craters but some of the most significant are Lake Nyamunuka with a putrid smell, the blue copper lake, Lake Katwe salt lake one of the oldest mining industries in Uganda.

By taking game drive in Ishasha sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may get the chance to spot the tree-climbing lions that love taking off time in the braches of the fig trees in this park. From the Edward flats in the southern sector of Bwindi forest, you may get the chance to spot the rare shoebill that love spending time in this swampy point in the park, topis and others   

After the lunch break, embark on a launch cruise on the 40 kilometers long Kazinga channel which goes as far as Lake Edward. On the shoreline, you get the chance to spot animals including hippos, crocodiles that are permanent residents of the channels. A number of other animals from the rift valley plains also find there way to the banks of the channels to quench thirst or take a bath. Multitudes of birds often flock the Kazinga channel as it is a magnet to several of them including foreign migrants.

Return to the main land or dinner and relax.

Day 5 Game Drive and Nature walks in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Rise up earlier to do another game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park to the areas you may have missed the previous day. You may get the chance to spot herds of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, leopards and others.

After lunch enjoy a guided Nature walk in Maramagambo forest where you may get the chance to spot a number of primates including black and white colobus, velvet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and others. Watch out for a number of forest birds that are residents of Maramagambo forest.

During the walk in Maramagambo forest, you may get to the famous bat cave where multiple bats roost during the day and emerge out as nighttime breaks in. The trail that heads to Lake Nyamusingire opens better opportunities of spotting a wide range of wildlife. The blue copper lake is mesmerizing to get to while on a walk exploring Maramagambo forest.

Day 6 Drive To Kibale National Park

After breakfast, drive to Kibale National Park which is about 2 hours drive away. Kibale National Park is a tropical rain forest which is a primary primates haven in Uganda with more than 1500 chimpanzees. Kibale National Park is open for activities including chimpanzee trekking, chimpanzee habituation experience, birding and much more.

As you get into Kibale National Park, you feel the cool environment conditioned by the natural trees that thrive in this forest. The main headquarters of the park are at Kanyanchu and a secondary tourism center at Sebitoli Forest Camp.

Check into your accommodation

Kibale National Park accommodations include Primates lodge, Ndali lodge, Chimpanzees Guest house, Chimps nest, Kyaninga lodge

Day 7 Chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) in Kibale National Park

After breakfast, head to the ranger station for briefing where the ranger guides with explain in details the dos and don’t of chimpanzees safaris. Chimpanzee habituation experience is an adventure where maximum 4 tourists accompany a team of Researchers and Habituators in the wilderness to have follow a semi-habituated chimpanzee community for four hours. These chimpanzees are not yet used to the presence of humans so donot be surprised if they retreat into the deeper forest.

The funny experience with these chimpanzees is that they ae very keen with there visitors and may look tensed as you approach them but the researchers are on ground as mediators between you and the chimpanzees.

Look out or other forest dwellers including blue monkeys, olive baboon, pottos, grey cheeked mangabey, L’hoest, black and white colobus and others. More than 325 birds species including Albertine endemics have been registered as residents of Kibale National Park.

Return to the lodge to relax

Day 8 Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

Start on the journey to Murchison Falls National Park which is scenic. Pass by the oil city where oil extracting is being done in Uganda. Arrive Murchison Falls National Park late afternoon. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest wildlife protected area in Uganda stride by River Nile. The park acquired its name from Murchison Falls which is the most interesting spot of in the park

A number of wild animals are residents of Murchison Falls National Park including lions, herds of elephants, herds of buffaloes, giraffes, Oribi and others.

Check into you accommodation

Murchison Falls National Park accommodations Paraa safari lodge, Murchison River lodge, Sambiya lodge, Red Chillis Campsite, UWA Campsite,

Day 9 Game Drive and launch trip in Murchison Falls National Park

An early morning game drive in Murchison National Park is always a great decision. During the Game Drive, you may get the chance to spot animals including hartebeests, lions, leopards, waterbucks, elephants, oribi, hyenas and other. When you take the Buligi track in the park, you may get the chance to spot lion prides prowling to catch prey or in action.

Enjoy a launch trip to Murchison Falls where River Nile squeezes through the 6 meters wide gorge to burst out vigorously forming a cloudy appearance. On the way to the falls, you may spot a wide range of animals that make there way to the riverbanks to quench thirst and enjoy a bath. Crocodiles and hippos are always present in the water

When you approach the Murchison Falls you feel a change in the launch turbulence as an after effect from the water that plunges to the floor of the rift valley and a foamy appearance also floats on the water. Return to your lodge to relax

Day 10 Chimpanzee Trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi Forest

Early morning, head to Kaniyo Pabidi Forest where you are to do chimpanzee trekking. During chimpanzee trekking tourists follow a fully habituated chimpanzee community in the wilderness. On the way, you may get the chance to spot other residents primates and birds that are common to this forest.

When you finally find the chimpanzees only one hours is allowed with them for conservation reasons. take and many photos as you please around the chimpanzee troop and return to your lodge.

Day 11 Drive to Entebbe or Kampala

After breakfast, drive to Kampala which takes about 3 hours drive from Murchison Falls National Park at a distance of about 305 Kilometers.

Check into your accommodation

Note that Bed and Breakfast is what most accommodations in impala or Entebbe offer

Accommodations in Kampala Serena Hotel, Protea Hotel, Holiday Inn, Boma Guest House

Meal Plan Bed and Breakfast

Day 12 Visit Ngamba Island and Departure

Join the group that may be sailing to Ngamba Chimpanzee Island in Lake Victoria. Ngamba Chimpanzee Island Sanctuary is the second home to the orphaned, abandoned, rescued chimpanzees that cannot return to there communities, During the visit to the Island, tourist may participate in feeding the chimpanzees from the visitor platform, Chimpanzee up-close, keeper for the day, sand beach walks and others. Some of these activities require advance preparations so the activities you do at Ngamba Island depend on your package.

Return to the main land and drive to Entebbe Airport to catch up with your departure flight.