5 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee safari
This 5-day Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari links both parks in one unforgettable loop, starting and ending in Entebbe or Kampala, with return airport transfers included. Uganda is home to two of Africa’s greatest primate experiences: wild chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, the “Primate Capital of the World,” and mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, sanctuary to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Highlights
- National park visits
- Gorilla trekking experience
- Chimpanzee Trekking experience
- Scenic Landscape Views
Your Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari begins with a pickup from the airport or hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. After a short briefing on the days ahead, you'll set off toward western Uganda, driving through the scenic Rwenzori foothills and lush tea and coffee plantations that carpet the countryside near Fort Portal. Expect photo stops at scenic viewpoints along the way. On arrival, check in to your lodge near Kibale National Park, relax, and enjoy dinner.
Dinner and Overnight: (Budget) Kibale Forest Lodge
(Midrange) Turaco Treetops Lodge
(Luxury) Chimpundu Lodge
Rise early for breakfast before heading to Kanyanchu, the park headquarters, for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking etiquette. Guests are grouped in small teams, accompanied by expert ranger guides, for a trek through Kibale's rainforest in search of wild chimpanzees. The search can take anywhere from one hour to most of the day, since chimps roam constantly in search of food. Once located, you'll spend an unforgettable hour observing and photographing these highly intelligent primates.
After a relaxed lunch back at the lodge, an afternoon nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary offers a chance to spot rare birds, monkeys, and butterflies while supporting a community-led conservation initiative. You'll also visit the local people and see how gin and beer are made out of bananas.
Dinner and Overnight: (Budget) Kibale Forest Lodge
(Midrange) Turaco Treetops Lodge
(Luxury) Chimpundu Lodge
After breakfast, depart Kibale for the scenic drive south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You'll pass via the rolling terraced hills of the Kigezi region, creating a beautiful scenery. Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, check in, and unwind before dinner.
Dinner and Overnight: (Budget) Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
(Midrange) Gorilla Leisure Lodge
(Luxury) Gorilla Heights Lodge
An early breakfast is followed by a 7:30 a.m. briefing at park headquarters on gorilla trekking rules. In a group of 8, you'll be accompanied by armed rangers and trackers, you'll hike through dense, misty forest — anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours — in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. Once found, trekkers are granted one magical hour with the gorillas at close range for photographs and observation, guided by insights from experienced wardens.
After lunch in the forest, return to the starting point to receive your official gorilla trekking certificate. In the evening, visit the Batwa Community for an immersive cultural experience featuring traditional dance, storytelling, and history from Bwindi's original forest-dwelling people. Gorilla trekking is strenuous; a walking stick and moderate fitness are recommended.
Dinner and Overnight: (Budget) Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
(Midrange) Gorilla Leisure Lodge
(Luxury) Gorilla Heights Lodge
After a final breakfast, bid farewell to Bwindi and begin the drive back to Entebbe in time for your international departure, or transfer to your Kampala hotel.
For a shorter driving distance, you can head to Kigali (Rwanda) for your flight out.
Includes
- Airport transfers
- Transport in a 4×4 Safari Vehicle
- Fuel for the round-trip
- A gorilla permit of USD800 per person
- Chimpanzee Trekking Permit of $300 per person
- Services of an English-speaking driver guide
- Bigodi Nature Walk
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Excludes
- International flights to and from Uganda
- Uganda Visa fees of USD50.00 per person.
- All expenses of personal nature such as drinks and tips
- All other Activities not indicated in the itinerary
Frequently Asked Questions For About the Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
The main highlights are mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and a guided Bigodi Swamp Walk. The safari also includes scenic drives through the beautiful countryside of western and southwestern Uganda.
The safari starts and ends in Entebbe. However, it can be arranged to start in Kigali, Rwanda, before crossing into Uganda for Bwindi and continuing to Kibale. It can then finish in Entebbe for your international departure. The routing can also be customized around your flights.
For 2026, a standard Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs USD 800 per foreign non-resident. The permit covers entry for the gorilla trekking experience, ranger guidance and the regulated viewing period with a habituated mountain gorilla family.
The duration varies because mountain gorillas move freely through the forest. Depending on the location of your assigned family, the experience may involve several hours of hiking through steep, uneven and sometimes muddy terrain. Once the gorillas are located, standard trekking allows up to one hour with them.
You will enter Kibale's tropical forest with an experienced ranger-guide to search for a habituated chimpanzee community. Once located, you can observe the chimpanzees feeding, grooming, communicating and moving through the forest during the regulated viewing period.
Bring sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, a lightweight rain jacket, gardening gloves, insect repellent, sunscreen, a small backpack and a reusable water bottle. A camera and binoculars are also useful.
The minimum age for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is 15 years and 12 years respectively. Travelers planning chimpanzee trekking should also confirm the applicable age requirement when permits are being booked, particularly when travelling with children.
Yes. The safari can be tailored according to your travel dates, accommodation category, budget and preferred starting or ending point. Extra days can also be added for Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth National Park, gorilla habituation, additional gorilla trekking or other Uganda wildlife experiences.
