Safari Overview
Uganda is often described as the Pearl of Africa and our gorilla and chimp tracking safari presents you with the breathtaking moment of meeting 2 of our closest relatives face to face in their natural habitats of dense tropical forests. Of the more than 5,000 chimps living in various forest reserves of Uganda, Kibale National Park (KNP) alone is home to about 1,500 and offers the best opportunity to experience habituated chimpanzee groups close up. In addition to tracking chimps, the Kibale forest also features an extensive network of hiking trails with more than 320 tropical bird species to observe.
The highlight of our 5-day primate safari takes you to the ancient tropical forests of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet our closest relatives, the mountain gorillas, in their natural habitat of bamboo thickets and dense rain forests. The dense tropical Bwindi Forest is also known as Birder’s paradise, featuring many forest trails and over 350 recorded species of tropical birds, of which 14 have no record anywhere else in the country.
Arrival in Entebbe
Your appointed driver/tour guide will collect you at the airport and take you to your chosen accommodation. Time permitting, you have the following optional activities at a cost to choose from.
Early breakfast, drive to Kibale National Park, and afternoon chimp Trekking. you will be going on an exhilarating search for the chimp troops of Kibale, venturing into the dense tropical forests with the further opportunity of observing several tropical bird species. Kibale National Park is home to the largest concentration of chimpanzees in Africa. Also found in KNP are 12 other species of primates such as the red colobus monkey, blue monkey, and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey.
Situated in western Uganda, the Kibale National Park (KNP) consists of 766 square kilometers of mostly lowland and montane forests and is home to the largest concentration of chimpanzees in Africa. Also found in KNP are 12 other species of primates such as the red colobus monkey, blue monkey, and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey.
Based on research by the Jane Goodall Institute, more than 5,000 chimps are living in various forest reserves in Uganda, and the Kibale National Park alone is home to about 1,500 and offers the best opportunity to experience habituated chimpanzee groups close up in their natural habitat. In addition to regular chimp tracking, the extended day-long chimpanzee habituation experience allows you to accompany researchers as they follow chimp troops in their forest activities.
On your guided tours of various forest trails, you can also discover other primate species such as Guereza colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, and L’Hoest’s monkey. You also have the chance to see the lumbering yet silent forest elephants, as well as buffalos along the main trails.
Situated in south-western Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) covers an area of 321 square kilometers and consists mostly of montane and lowland tropical rain forest dating back to the last ice age. The mist-covered hills and ancient forests of Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the world’s largest population of mountain gorillas. Of the 780 gorillas in the world, more than half live in the Bwindi Impenetrable NP and the Mgahinga Gorilla NP in Uganda.
Bwindi is also known as Birder’s paradise, featuring many forest trails and over 350 recorded tropical bird species, of which 14 have no record anywhere else in the country. The park is one of the most ecologically diverse in Africa and home to 120 species of mammals, 220 species of butterflies, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, and geckos, many of these are endangered species.
At the BINP, you can choose one of four sectors and corresponding trailheads for your once-in-a-lifetime adventure of tracking mountain gorillas in their natural habitat of a lush green tropical rainforest and dense bamboo thickets. There are more than 15 habituated gorilla families in the four main sectors of the park, and a close-up encounter with the endangered gorillas is a memorable and spectacular experience.
Also, there are two forms of gorilla tracking in the Bwindi Forest, the standard version available for US $ 700 per person/gorilla permit allows a group of 8 visitors to have 1-hour contact with a habituated gorilla family. Additionally, the expanded gorilla habituation experience costs US $ 1,500 per person/gorilla permit, allowing a group of 4 to join researchers for a 4-hour visit to a gorilla family in the Rushaga sector of the BINP that also houses the research center for the entire park.
Today, you venture on a lifetime adventure into the tropical forest of Bwindi, past waterfalls and bamboo thickets, in search of the famous mountain gorillas. Following breakfast, transfer to the National Park Headquarters to meet your guides for the day and begin your gorilla-tracking experience. You will be guided by experienced guides into the dense forest in search of the Mountain gorillas. It is a lifetime experience viewing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Mountain gorillas are extremely rare with only an estimated 880 remaining in the wild. This is an experience you won’t soon forget!
After the trek, return to your lodge, and time permitting, go for an afternoon community walk. Please note: tracking may be fairly strenuous with treks up to six hours or longer, at high altitudes, not uncommon
Fly to Entebbe International Airport for your departure Flight.
The price tables listed here are subject to availability at the time of booking and changes without prior notice. The prices stated are PPS – Per Person Sharing in a Double / Twin Room, with the Single Supplement cost listed at the end of each table. Activities and accommodation options of this safari itinerary can be tailored to individual requirements and preferences.
| 4/5 Star Accommodation | 3/4 Star Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Per Person Sharing (PPS) |
|
|
| Transport Options | 5 / 7-Seater Safari Customed Land Cruiser | 5 / 7-Seater Safari Customed Land Cruiser |
| Single Supplement | US $ 950 | US $ 592 |
Services & Safari Activities Included
• Safari Activities in Kibale National Park.
– Chimp Tracking Permit PP.
• Safari Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
– Gorilla Tracking Permit PP.
• Internal flights
• Airport Transfers.
• Entrance fees for national parks are listed in the itinerary.
• Return transfers with 4×4 safari vehicle.
• English-speaking driver/tour guide.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary and mineral water.
• FB – Full board includes bed, breakfast, (packed) lunch, and dinner.
• HB – Half Board includes bed, breakfast, and dinner.
• BB – Bed & Breakfast includes bed and breakfast only.
General Terms
• This safari proposal is subject to availability at the time of booking and may be subject to changes without prior notice.
• If accommodation options or safari activities listed in this itinerary are unavailable at the time of booking, suitable alternatives will be offered.
• The following wildlife permits are required to be paid together with the deposit for this safari:
– Gorilla Tracking BINP US $ 800 per person / permit
– Gorilla Habituation Experience BINP US $ 1,500 per person / permit
– Chimp Tracking KNP US $ 250 per person / permit
– Chimp Habituation Experience KNP US $ 300 per person / permit
– Golden Monkey Tracking MGNP US $ 80 per person / permit
– Golden Monkey Habituation Experience MGNP US $ 100 per person / permit
• The cost for the above permits is non-refundable. In case of cancellation, we shall endeavor to resell tickets through the available official channels.
• A language-specific driver/tour guide is available against a surcharge.
• For internal charter and/or scheduled local flights, the following baggage restrictions apply 15 kgs in soft-sided bags.
Payment Terms
– Deposit: 30% of the safari price within 7 days of written tour confirmation.
– Balance: full balance due within 56 days before arrival.
– Reservations within 45 days or less before arrival: Immediate full prepayment due.
Cancellation fees:
– 30 days before the safari date, a 20% cancellation fee
– 30 to 15 days before the safari date, a 50% cancellation fee
– 15 to 05 days before the safari date, a 70% cancellation fee
– 05 to 01 day before the safari date 90% cancellation fee
– No Show 100 % cancellation fee
