What To Do On Gorilla, Chimpanzee And Wildlife Safaris In Uganda

To do the gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari in Uganda choose a destination from the different options that are available in the country.

For gorilla trekking destination options in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only destinations open in the country

Chimpanzee safari destinations of Uganda include Kibale National Park the Uganda primate haven, Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Kalinzu forest, Kyambura gorge, Budongo forest, Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary and more. You can choose to do chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX).

A number of game safari wildlife destination are available in Uganda that is Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and more.

You need to have sufficient time for this African safari holiday so that a perfect Uganda safari itinerary is customized to suit your choice of safari destinations. At Arch safaris And Tours, through our professional safari consultants we can work with you to tailor a Uganda safari itinerary within your interest and time.

Guidelines When Planning Gorilla, Chimpanzee and wildlife Safari in Uganda

• Choose the Uganda safari destinations to visit on this tour. You can use the assistance and guidance of our safari consultants for a better flow of your itinerary.
• Book essential requirements for the gorilla, chimpanzee and game safari in Uganda. The gorilla and chimpanzee permits are the only confirmation to this African safari. The number of both gorilla and chimpanzee permits open to the public is minimized as a conservation measure yet demand is overwhelmingly high.
• Identify the people to do gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife Uganda safari to assist with finding availability and other plans.
• Do not forget to pay conservation fees that is park fees as it is compulsory cost for every tourists visiting any Uganda National Park.
• Reserve the necessary accommodations to use during this Uganda safari. For a better experience spending the night within or closer to the Uganda safari destination gives you an opportunity to witness how the park wakes up for the day and the night experience at the destination.
• Choose the means of transport to get to the Uganda safari destination. For road transport having a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition with a professional and knowledgeable guide is a perfect choice. Air transport that is charter and scheduled domestic flights on Uganda safari are available.
• Pack the necessary Uganda safari gears putting into consideration that gorilla and chimpanzee safaris have a special packing list.
• Try to keep fit especially for gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Uganda which require walking in a jagged jungle. At times the gorillas and chimpanzees stage their day’s location up or in the valleys of the ridges or plateaus so you must trek where they may be for the day. No need for vigorous exercises but start slow and seek guidance from a professional instructor.
• Cross examine your health status with a doctor as you draw closer to the gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari in Uganda so that you do not get complications while on your African safari. For gorilla and chimpanzee safaris, incase you catch communicable infections like flu, cough, covid-19, according to the rules volunteer to stay behind because these primates are highly susceptible to human infections.

What Activities To Do During Gorilla, Chimpanzee And Wildlife safari in Uganda

Gorilla safaris in Uganda

For gorilla safaris in Uganda, one can choose to do gorilla trekking where one has one hour with a fully habituated gorilla family or Gorilla habituation experience where tourists have four hours with semi-habituated gorilla family.

For both gorilla safaris, the permit is the only entry ticket to participate in this adventure. It is best to acquire the permits in advance to avoid last minute disappointments. Gorilla safaris in Uganda happen only once in a day.

Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda

Chimpanzee safari in Uganda can either be chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience. Chimpanzee safaris happen in the morning or afternoon. For chimpanzee trekking, only one hour is allowed with a fully habituated chimpanzee troop while chimpanzee habituation experience four hours are allowed with semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

Game drives on Uganda safari

Game drives are open on the tracks of all game park in Uganda. In case you have interest in seeing a particular animal, ask for information about the Uganda safari destination with better chances spotting it. We advise our clients to open their minds to the adventures that unfold during the game safaris so that you do not get frustrated in case you get to encounter the animal you are interested in.

Generally, some of the resident animals in the Uganda game parks include lions, buffaloes, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, elephants, zebras, giraffes, reedbucks, impalas, Uganda kobs, oribi and more.

Some wild animals can only be found in particular Uganda safari destinations so you need to request for where you can find that particular animal during this African safari.

Launch trips and Boat trips on Uganda safari

From the comfort of the boat or launch, you can enjoy relaxing views on the banks of the rivers, channel, Lake and more. In Uganda, launch safaris happen on River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park and On Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National park. The boat ride on Lake Mburo in Lake Mburo National Park.

In general, while on the launch trip during Uganda safari, you may spot a number of animals that move to the shores to quench thirst or take a bath.  A plethora of birds especially water birds normally flock the banks and deep their beaks in the marshy supplies on the shores.

Golden monkey safaris on Uganda tour

For more primate viewing in Uganda, taking a golden monkey safari is an opportunity to meet some of the endangered primates. The golden monkeys are charming and bear a body that is larger that the normal monkeys, golden hairs on the lower back and more.

You can choose to do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience but you need to book permits.

Birding on Uganda safari

During the Uganda safari, you may choose to do birding while in the national parks because most of them host a wide range of birds. Over 1000 bird species are so far recorded as residents of Uganda’s conservation areas. Some of the Uganda birds you may spot include rare shoebill stork, saddle billed stock, kingfisher, marabou stork, Rwenzori Turaco, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Handsome Francolin and more.

Summary Of Gorilla, Chimpanzee And Wildlife Safari In Uganda

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park

Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 3 Kibale national Park

Day 4 Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park

Day 5 Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Day 6 Game Safari and Launch trip

Day 7 Departure

Details Of Gorilla, chimpanzee and Wildlife safari in Uganda

When To Do The Gorilla, Chimpanzee And Wildlife Safaris In Uganda

Even though most Uganda safari destinations are open all year, the dry season which is June to September and December to January receives most tourists in Uganda. The environment in the jungle allows better movement during the game drives and the trek to find the gorillas or chimpanzees.

In the dry season, more sunrays penetrate through the dense canopy to the ground allowing better visibility and creates a stunning ambience that favors taking great photos or filming. The trails leading to the location of the mountain gorillas are drier and passable in the dry season even though these are rain forests. The amount of precipitation in the forested Uganda safari destinations is lower

More tourists visit the Uganda safari destinations in the dry season so advance preparations are required to avoid last minute disappointments when the best options runout.

The Uganda safari destinations are open in the wet season too and there is plenty to watch out for in this season too. Even though the grass is higher, it provides a hiding spot for several infants including those of predators.

Most logistical costs that support Uganda Safaris are lower an opportunity that those with a limited budget can take advantage of. If you are seeking total tranquility in a natural environment with less disturbance, the low tourism season is that appropriate time to do this Uganda safari.

Can I Do The Gorilla, Chimpanzee And Wildlife Safari In Uganda With Family

All Uganda safari activities are inclusive of all family members but for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, 12 year and over is the age limit.

Most Uganda safari destinations are universal with no restriction on who to visit and not to visit. Each Uganda safari destination has guidelines that allow every tourist to enjoy the activities. When planning group gorilla, wildlife and chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda, consider the privacy of infants. In case you are travelling as family with children consider organizing a private Uganda safari to avoid exposing them to misbehaving fellow travelers.

For Uganda safari activities that require mountaineering for almost an entire day  or more, children may not participate especially if you are to take more days on the mountain.

It is best to brief the children about the Uganda safari activities they are to take part in so that you prepare their minds for this adventurous safari activity.

How to get To The Uganda safari Destinations to do Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari.

Road transport id the main means to get to the different Uganda Safari destinations. The roads leading to the safari destinations in Uganda are quite bumpy and rough but having a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle is a better shock absorber. The vehicle must be in good condition and driven by an experienced driver guide with ideas of the alternative routes to get there. This is because at times the roads get messy.

On the way to the chosen Uganda safari destinations, you may do a detour to break the long drive an example is the drive from Kampala to Bwindi forest National Park is about 8 to 8 hours but a break at Lake Mburo National Park gives you time to relax and recuperate. Note that you may make this stopover in case you do not have a safari activity commencing soon.

Air transport to different Uganda safari destinations is open in Uganda with options such as scheduled domestic flights and charter flights. You need to book a seat on the daily domestic flights and make advance clearances for charter flights. Do not forget to hire a transfer vehicle to get you finally to your lodge.

Expectations On Gorilla, Chimpanzee And Wildlife Safaris In Uganda

For gorilla trekking adventures in Uganda, expect to move along the trails of the dense jungle and indeed the word impenetrable is apt for Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The trails are covered by dense undergrowth and ridges or plateaus draped by creepers and vines especially during the intense rainy season.

On the way to find the chimpanzees in Kibale National park or gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest, you may encounter several other forest dwellers including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and more. A plethora of birds roam Bwindi and Kibale forests to enjoy the supplies of these rain forests.

On gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking day,  all tourists for the day must report to the ranger station of the park to attend compulsory briefing before proceeding to search for these primates. Each tourists is randomly allocated a gorilla family or chimpanzee troop to trek

Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees during this Uganda safari so use the time you have to the best of your ability.

During the game drives in the game parks of Uganda, expect to spot a number of wild animals and lush varied vegetation zones. The features around the conservation areas are amazing with opportunities of taking great photos. During the game drives you may find lions, leopards, buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes,  elephants and more.

While on the launch trips, you relax at the launch while watching several animals that enjoy taking a bath from the shallow waters.

The shoreline is often flocked by water birds that deep their beaks into the marshy shoreline to collect some thing to eat.