Trip Info
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This tour is an easy tour that is likely to take about seven days to a week depending on where in Entebbe you begin the trip. Pre and post tour accommodation can also be arranged on request, and will be charged .
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This tour is an easy tour that is likely to take about seven days to a week depending on where in Entebbe you begin the trip.
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Suitable for solo travelers and groups
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Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle & pop-up roof minivan
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Can start any day
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Mid-range, private tour
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All meals included
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English
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15
Overview
Join on a 7-Day Uganda Gorilla, chimp tracking and wildlife safari featuring thrilling gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and diverse wildlife encounters in the country’s most iconic national parks.
This 7 days Uganda tour enables you to engage in numerous activities in Uganda such as chimp tracking, gorilla trekking, watching wildlife, a launch cruise on the Kazinga channel, bird watching from Uganda and visiting Batwa people.
This is a good itinerary for the lovers of wildlife and nature and any traveler interested in a good Uganda safari. You will be privileged to visit Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Highlights
- Can start any day
- Private tour
- Mid-range tour
- Can be customized
- Suitable for solo travelers
- Minimum age of 15 years
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Itinerary
You will be picked early in the morning by our driver from Safari Vacations and Travel Services for the journey to Kibale National Park. You will wake up early in the morning, eat in the morning, and then have to wait for him or her to arrive. The trip to Kibale National Park takes long several hours but the scenic view of the country side, other national park, forests, covering river and energy giving/uplifting sites which include but not limited to the coveted Ankole type of cattle, trading centers, other cities, districts, camps as well as the ever fresh and smiling peasant will encourage one not to knacker down.
Main Destination:
Kibale National Park (Chimps)
Best SeasonThe best seasons are mainly in January-February and June-July since the hike to meet the chimps is not so challenging.
High SeasonJune to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best WeatherJanuary to February and June to July (Least rain)
Wildlife in Kibale NP
Chimpanzee, Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Hippo, Giraffe, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Cheetah, Zebra, Wildebeest
Accommodation:
Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
- Simple mid-range guest house situated a few Kms outside Kibale NP, home of the chimps
Meals & Drinks:
- Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
After breakfast, trip to Kibale National Park headquarters for a brief on the chimp tracking activity. The briefing is conducted by the park guides and mainly aims to cover such topics as how to track chimpanzees, the park, and what to expect. Following the briefing, the park guides will take guests into the forest to look for the chimps. Chimpanzee trekking is very different from the gorilla trekking experience. Chimpanzees spend more time in trees than gorillas. Their groups are also more vocal or dramatic in their way of going about things. Even before approaching them one can hear their cries as if from a distance of a mile or so. By the time you get to them, they shall have already seen your group. It takes between 3 and 5 hours to track chimpanzees. This means you only have one hour to watch them.. That is why time should be used to try and take as many pictures as you can.
Main Destination:
Kibale National Park (Chimps)
Accommodation:
Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
- Simple mid-range guest house situated a few Kms outside Kibale NP, home of the chimps
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
It will be a very busy day, so you will wake up early and have a breakfast before checking out. They will come & pick you up to begin a 2 hours drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
You will then check into the lodge and have a lunch. At around 4:00 pm, you will go for the evening game drive in the Akasenyi planes.
Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best Time To VisitJanuary to February and June to July (Dry seasons)
High SeasonJune to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best WeatherJune to July and January to February (Less rainfall)
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
Chimpanzee, Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Hippo, Leopard, Giraffe, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Cheetah, Zebra, Wildebeest, Wild Dog
Accommodation:
Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Moderately-priced accommodation that located near Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
For this tour you will have to wake up very early in the morning and take breakfast at your lodge or hotel. Our guide will pick you up for your second game drive at Kasenyi plains to witness more stunning sights. This will give you the chance to see nocturnal animals and predators that are coming out hunting during the night and will have to return to their dens during the morning. You must ideally be able to identify the birds especially those that tend to wake up early in the morning.
After lunch, you will be transported to Kazinga Channel where you will go for a boat trip. The Kazinga Channel remains one of the top birding destinations in Africa because of the diverse bird species that dwell around the area. It is also rich in birdlife and one can easily identify different resident birds and other bird that migrate at certain times of the year. Other animals that you are also likely to come across during the boat cruise include almost all the water animals, lions, leopards, antelope, and different types of primates coming to drink at the channel. Hippos, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and crocodiles are often observed to be either washing/bathing or drinking.
Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation:
Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Moderately-priced accommodation that located near Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
The next day after breakfast, you will set off for a 6 hours drive from Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your next activities.
You will ride through stunning sceneries with picturesue terrains of tea plantations. You shall make a lunch break at Kabale town.
After the lunch you will have an opportunity to go to the lodge and spend the night there.
Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
The best time to visit the Ugandan landscape is during the months of Jun-August and Dec-Feb especially if one isinterested in gorilla trekking.
High Season: June to September (gorilla permits are scanty)
Best WeatherJune to July and December to February (Less rainfall)
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Elephant, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Lion, Giraffe, Leopard, Cheetah, Buffalo, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hippo
Accommodation:
Rushaga Gorilla Haven's Lodge
- A low cost accommodation pretty close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the famous gorillas.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
You should rise early and order breakfast as you wait for the driver to arrive for transportation. The driver will have to drop you at the park offices for a briefing by 7:00 am. This is the last briefing you are going to get and this is where you will see other tourists and rangers that will take you to the forest. There are so many aspects discussed in the briefing but the most critical include; how to interact with the gorillas, expectations and what should be carried when tracking the gorilla. You will be allocated a gorilla family based on your general fitness and age. This is so due to the fact that some of the gorilla groups are located in the deeper part of the forest, and it may take more hours to get to those groups. The porters are around to aid you if you carry more luggage than you can handle.
Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Rushaga Gorilla Haven's Lodge
- A low cost accommodation pretty close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the famous gorillas.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
As you go through your tour itinerary, the last day of the tour will start with you wakening up for a breakfast. Then you will begin the long drive from Bwindi back to Uganda’s Entebbe or Kampala to complete the tour.
There will be a photo-stopper at Uganda equator and a lunch break on the way.
Main Destination:
Entebbe (City)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
End of tour
- Students who may require other types of accommodation may arrange for such at an additional cost.
- You will be provided with transport to the airport.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- • Park fees (For non-residents)
- • Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
- • Chimp permits (One per person, non-resident)
- • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- • A professional driver/guide
- • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All Taxes/VAT
- • Roundtrip airport transfer
- • Food (As highlighted in the day by day section)
- • Drinking water (On all days)
Cost Excludes
- • International flights (From/to home)
- • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- • Travel accessories; travel insurance; visas, souvenirs, etc.
- • Government-imposed increase in the taxes and/or park fees
FAQs
The 7 Days Uganda Gorilla, Chimp & Wildlife tour encompasses everything that a client would need for their trip, including accommodation, meals, transportation, and park fees. Permits for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, professional English speaking guides and game drives in the Queen Elizabeth National park fall under this category. Additional activities that can be sought include; boat safaris, nature walks, cultural visits. Nevertheless, travel to other countries, individual costs, beverages, and things like additional trekking permits are often excluded.
For the 7-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimp Tracking and Wildlife base, it is advised to dress in light colored, full sleeved clothing especially to protect from being bitten by insects as well as from scratch by the plants and tree branches. Well insulated waterproof hiking shoes are required when going for a hike in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Some of the things that the hiker should carry include a raincoat, gloves, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and gripping plants. This is why a good camera with extra batteries, binoculars will come in handy when on your wildlife adventure. Personal items to carry include personal prescriptions and should not forget to carry a refillable water bottle.
The best period for the 7-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimp Tracking and Wildlife safari is during the dry seasons of June – September and December – February. These are relatively dry months with more suitable conditions for trekking through the paths and for wildlife observations. However, Uganda is a year-round destination, and the wet seasons; March-May & October-November also brings out vibrant greenery and relatively less tourist crowd. Most of the tracking of the gorillas and the chimps can be done throughout the year because it does not depend on season.
Safari activities such as gorilla and chimp tracking experiences on this 7-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimp Tracking and Wildlife safari proves to be demanding especially in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park due to steep and low altitude. Tours may last from 2 to 6 h depending on the geography of the animals’ habitat. Detecting chimps in Kibale National Park is slightly easier but still involves a form of hiking in the forest. Minimum physical fitness is expected, and it may be possible to hire a porter to assist in carrying your backpack and heavy cameras.
The 7-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimp Tracking and Wildlife safari is undoubtedly packed with wonderful wildlife experiences. During the workout, in Kibale National Park, you will track the chimpanzeers and there are also other types of monkey such as the colobus and the baboons. Queen Elizabeth National Park has trees climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos and much more over 600 bird species. This park is particularly renowned for hosting the endangered species of the mountain gorillas. Boat trips around the Kazinga Channel is another exciting trip to make and here one is likely to come across crocodiles, waterbucks and many species of birds.
Permits for gorilla and chimps for the 7 Uganda Gorilla, Chimp Tracking and Wildlife safari need to be arranged with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a recommended tour operator. The costs are relatively affordable with gorilla tracking permits for about US $ 700 while for chimps its US $ 150 to US $ 200 depending on the park to venture into. Due to their limited availability, and especially because of the higher occupancy during particular months, it is advised to book permits ahead of time – at least 3 – 6 months in advance.
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