5-Day Uganda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari

Your 5-Day Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari begins with an early morning pick-up from Entebbe, Kampala or another agreed location.

After meeting your professional Enjobe Safaris driver-guide, you will receive a short briefing about the safari before beginning the journey towards western Uganda. The drive takes you through Uganda’s countryside, passing roadside towns, farmland, tea-growing areas and rural communities. You will stop for lunch along the route before continuing towards Fort Portal, one of Uganda’s most attractive tourism towns.

Fort Portal is surrounded by rolling hills, tea plantations, crater lakes and distant views of the Rwenzori Mountains. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy scenic views of the surrounding countryside before continuing towards Kibale National Park which is famous for its tropical rainforest and exceptional diversity of primates. The park is home to chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and several other species.

You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon or early evening, check in and relax in the peaceful forest surroundings. Your driver-guide will brief you about the following day’s chimpanzee trekking experience. Dinner and overnight will be at your selected lodge in the Kibale region

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the chimpanzee trekking briefing point at Kibale National Park. At the briefing point, you will meet Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and receive instructions about forest safety, chimpanzee behaviour and trekking procedures. You will then enter the tropical rainforest accompanied by experienced trackers.

As you move beneath the forest canopy, listen for the calls of chimpanzees and watch for movement in the trees. Your ranger will point out animal tracks, feeding signs, medicinal plants, birds and other primates encountered along the trail. Kibale National Park supports one of World's richest concentrations of primates. In addition to chimpanzees, possible sightings include black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend one memorable hour observing them in their natural habitat. You may watch the chimpanzees feeding, resting, grooming, communicating and moving between the forest floor and tree canopy. Your ranger will explain their behaviour, social relationships and the conservation work being carried out to protect them. After the chimpanzee encounter, you will return to the starting point and transfer to your lodge.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided Bigodi community and wetland walk. The Bigodi experience combines nature, culture and community-based tourism. During the walk, you may encounter monkeys, birds, butterflies and wetland vegetation. The community section may introduce you to traditional farming, coffee growing, banana cultivation, local food preparation, medicinal plants, craft-making and everyday village life. Revenue from the experience supports local conservation, education and community development projects. After the walk, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and begin the journey towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive takes you through the beautiful landscapes of western and southwestern Uganda, passing tea plantations, crater lakes, rural communities, farmland and rolling hills.

You will stop for lunch during the journey before continuing towards Bwindi. As you approach the national park, the landscape becomes increasingly mountainous, with winding roads, terraced hillsides and dense rainforest which is one of Africa’s oldest and most biologically diverse forests. It protects endangered mountain gorillas together with numerous species of birds, butterflies, primates and forest plants. You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon or early evening and check in.

Your driver-guide will provide a detailed briefing about the following day’s gorilla trekking experience, including the recommended clothing, equipment and trekking procedures. You will have dinner and an early night in preparation for the adventure the following day.

Today marks one of the most anticipated moments of your Uganda safari. After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters with your original passport, packed lunch, drinking water and trekking equipment.

At the park headquarters, you will meet Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and receive a detailed briefing about gorilla trekking procedures, forest safety and conservation guidelines. You will then be assigned a habituated gorilla family and placed in a small trekking group.

Accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers, you will enter the ancient rainforest and begin searching for the mountain gorillas. The trek can last between two and several hours, depending on the gorillas’ location, movements and the condition of the forest trails. The experience may involve steep slopes, thick vegetation, mud and uneven terrain. Hiring a local porter is strongly recommended, as porters provide valuable assistance while directly benefiting from the income earned. Once the gorilla family is located, you will spend one extraordinary hour observing the gorillas as they feed, rest, groom, play and interact. You will have opportunities to take photographs while following the instructions provided by your ranger. After the encounter, you will trek back to the park headquarters and receive a gorilla trekking certificate. You will then return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Later in the afternoon, you will participate in a respectful, community-led Batwa cultural experience. During the visit, members of the Batwa community may share stories about their forest heritage, traditional survival methods, medicinal plants, songs, dances and cultural practices. The experience provides an opportunity to learn about Batwa history while supporting community livelihoods and cultural preservation. You will return to the lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay on safari.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and begin the return journey to Entebbe. The drive takes you through the beautiful hills and rural landscapes of southwestern Uganda. You will stop for lunch and comfort breaks during the journey. You will make a short stop at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe for photographs, souvenir shopping and refreshments. You will then continue to Entebbe, arriving in the evening.

Your driver-guide will drop you at your hotel, residence or Entebbe International Airport depending on your departure flight schedule, marking the end of your 3-Day Uganda Gorillas and Chimps Safari.

Guests departing Uganda on the same day should book a late-night flight. An additional night in Entebbe is recommended for travellers who prefer a more relaxed conclusion to the safari.