Uganda Chimpanzee & Gorilla Habituation 5-Day Tour

Your Uganda Chimpanzee & Gorilla Habituation 5-Day Tour begins the moment your guide meets you at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe Airport. After a warm welcome, you will embark on a scenic drive to Kibale National Park, located in western Uganda. Known as the “Primate Capital of the World,” Kibale boasts one of the highest concentrations of primates in the world, including the endangered chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys.

The 5-6 hour drive offers a glimpse of Uganda’s rural life, with rolling hills, tea plantations, and local villages dotting the landscape. Along the way, your Uganda Chimpanzee & Gorilla Habituation 5-Day Tour guide will provide insight into the region’s rich biodiversity and cultural history.

Upon arrival in Kibale, check into your accommodation, where you can relax and enjoy a delicious dinner. In the afternoon, take a guided primate walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a haven for primates and birdlife. This walk will introduce you to Kibale’s diverse primate species, including red colobus monkeys and baboons, as well as some of the park’s unique bird species.

Accommodation Options

• Standard Accommodation: Turaco Treetops / Isunga Lodge
• Luxury Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge / Crater Safari Lodge

After a hearty breakfast, get ready for a day-long adventure into the heart of Kibale National Park for the chimpanzee habituation experience. Unlike the regular chimp trekking experience, the habituation experience allows you to spend extended hours with a group of wild chimpanzees, as part of a conservation initiative aimed at habituating these fascinating primates to human presence.

Guided by expert researchers, you will track the chimpanzees through Kibale’s lush forests, observing their daily activities, from feeding and nesting to social interactions and tool usage. During this immersive experience, you’ll gain invaluable insights into the chimps’ behavior, intelligence, and complex social structures.

The day’s activities will also include opportunities to spot other primates and wildlife species, including the endangered red colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and several species of birds. After spending the day with the chimps, return to your accommodation in the late afternoon to reflect on the experience over dinner.

Accommodation Options

• Standard Accommodation: Turaco Treetops / Isunga Lodge
• Luxury Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge / Crater Safari Lodge

After breakfast, depart Kibale National Park and head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, making it one of the premier destinations for gorilla trekking.

The journey from Kibale to Bwindi is approximately a 5-6 hour drive, passing through Uganda’s beautiful countryside, with scenic views of rolling hills, terraced farmland, and local villages. As you approach Bwindi, the landscape changes to dense forest and misty mountain peaks, creating a magical atmosphere.

Upon arrival at Bwindi, check into your accommodation and relax before the exciting experiences that await in the coming days.

Accommodation Options

• Standard Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp / Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Luxury Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge / Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Today marks the highlight of your Uganda Chimpanzee & Gorilla Habituation 5-Day Tour —your gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Unlike the standard gorilla trek, this experience allows you to spend up to four hours with a group of semi-habituated mountain gorillas, guided by researchers. You will have a unique opportunity to learn about gorilla behavior, social structures, and the efforts taken to protect them from poaching and habitat loss.

After a briefing at the park headquarters, you’ll head into the forest with a team of rangers to locate your assigned gorilla group. Once found, you will spend the next several hours observing these incredible creatures as they feed, interact, and move through the dense forest. The chance to observe gorillas in their natural habitat, up close and personal, is an experience that is sure to leave you in awe.

After the gorilla encounter, return to your lodge to relax and share the day’s experiences over a hearty meal.

Accommodation Options

• Standard Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp / Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Luxury Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge / Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

After an early breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Bwindi and begin your journey back to Kampala or Entebbe, marking the end of your extraordinary Uganda Chimpanzee & Gorilla Habituation 5-Day Tour. The return drive will take about 8-9 hours, depending on your departure point, offering more opportunities to take in Uganda’s stunning landscapes.

Alternatively, if you are continuing your journey to Rwanda, you can opt to be dropped off in Kigali, the capital city, which is about 4-5 hours from Bwindi.