6 Days Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi safari Tours

This Kibale, Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi safari includes:
Kibale Forest National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Lake Bunyonyi
Tailor-made safaris in Uganda
Uganda Rwanda 8 days safari
Kibale, Queen & Bwindi safari
Day by day itinerary for our Kibale, Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi safari:

Guides of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking has become the most attracting activity in Africa especially in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many tourists prefer going to the deep tropical rainforests searching for these endangered gorillas and some even end up doing three times tracking after their experience. In these three countries, trekking is now the leading tourist attraction bringing in visitors from different countries all over the world.

Uganda is known for its unsurpassed biodiversity but gorilla trekking safaris are the most popular and are the prime reason many tourists visit Uganda. Mountain gorillas are scientifically known as Gorilla beringei beringei and in Uganda occupy the thick Tropical rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks found in the south-western corner of the country.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a one-of-a kind activity that leads enthusiastic primate lovers to the dense jungles to meet one of the 21 habituated gorilla families that call Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks home. With more than half the World’s population of surviving mountain gorillas calling these Park’s home, Uganda is definitely the best gorilla trekking destination. Mgahinga is a home to only one habituated gorilla family known as Nyakagyezi while Bwindi Impenetrable offers shelter to 20 habituated gorilla families found within the four sectors of the Park thus 160 permits are available per day.

The habituated groups you will trek when you visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking safaris are Habinyanja, Mubare, Rushegura, Katwe, Nkuringo, Christmas, Bushaho, Bikingi, Mucunguzi, Kutu, Rwigi, Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye, Nshongi, Mishaya, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguliro and Mukiza. With a valid gorilla permit costing only $600, you will be able to trek the mentioned gorilla families and spend one hour with them.

Cost of gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are relatively cheaper than in Rwanda and the cost depends on a number of factors that include the transport means chosen, the accommodation facility (whether its budget, midrange or luxury) and the time of the year (wet months are generally low seasons where most safari lodges/hotels offer discounts). However, some costs especially for gorilla permits remain constant at $600 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and Shs 250,000 for East African Community Residents.

What you need to carry for Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are incomplete without a number of essential things that include a gorilla permit which you need to put first in your bag, gardening gloves that will protect your hands from getting hurt as you hold on tree branches, rain jacket, strong hiking boots with enough grip, toiletries, cameras with extra batteries and enough memory, long sleeved shirt/top, insect repellant, rainproof backpack, energy giving snacks, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, pair of binoculars, long trousers, long cotton socks and finally you will need to hire a porter on the day of trekking.

Best Time for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are done all year round but gorilla permits are usually on high demand during the dry months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December because most tourists prefer trekking during the dry season when trails are drier and less muddy or slippery.

This however doesn’t mean that the Gorilla trekking destinations are avoided during the wet season but surprisingly, the months of March, April, May, October and November offer easier and faster trekking conditions given the fact that food for the mountain gorillas is in plenty and these primates don’t move to far places.

3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour is the best budget and short Uganda safari package designed for you to get up close with a group of mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in southwestern Uganda, 530 kilometers that is approximately 8-10 hours’ drive from Entebbe or Kampala city center and 3-4 hours by road from Kigali. It covers an area of 331sq.kms and its establishment in 1991 was mainly to offer refuge to mountain gorillas that today remain fewer than 1004 on earth. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to half the total number of mountain gorillas that currently thrive in the world.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are conducted in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorilla trekking adventures are done in only the Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Buhoma  region, each with habituated gorilla families. Note, only 8 visitors are allowed to trek one habituated family per day and you are accompanied by an armed ranger guide.

What is Chimpanzee Tracking?

Chimpanzee Tracking (trekking) is the activity where travelers with the help of a guide through the jungle follow the trail left by a habituated chimpanzee family and when they find them, spend sometime (usually an hour) with the chimps experiencing their cultures.

Chimpanzees are close cousins to man with almost 98% DNA; they live in huge communities of about 20-70 individuals with many family groups with one alpha male. The Alpha male is the highest-ranking male that controls the group and maintains order during arguments, in chimpanzee society male chimps normally stay within their communities were they are born while females frequently move to the neighboring communities after reaching adolescence, Chimpanzees consume a variety of foods like fruits and plants that man eats, and the fruit of fig trees. A well grown male chimpanzee can weigh between 40-70 kg, while an adult female chimpanzee weigh between 25-50kg. Life expectancy of Chimpanzee is at 40-60 years. In Uganda the best thrilling spots for Chimpanzee tracking are Kibale Forest National Park and Budongo Forest National Park.

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park

Uganda is the most well-known destination for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Africa. The Kibale Forest National Park, located in western Uganda, is known to be the home to the close relatives of humans, chimpanzees. It contains a diverse array of landscapes and Kibale is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests. In eastern Africa, it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-montane forest.

Kibale Chimpanzee tracking safari

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Tracking. Kibale National Park is an important eco-tourism and safari destination, popular for its population of habituated chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. The park has one of the highest diversity and concentration of primates in Africa. The park protects several well-studied, habituated communities of common chimpanzee, as well as several species of central African monkey including the Uganda mangabey, the Ugandan red colobus and the L’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates that are found in the park include the black-and-white colobus and the blue monkey.

The full-day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) works with a chimp community which is undergoing habituation. Early visitors can watch chimps leaving their overnight nests between 6:00 – 6:30am before feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling and displaying until it is time to build new nests around 7pm.

Chimpanzee Habituation experience cost $220 per personal for full day chimpanzee habituation guided by researchers and armed  rangers/guides from Uganda  Wildlife Authority all park entries are also included in the price,  while Uganda chimpanzee tracking cost $150 per person both activities habituation and tracking are done in Kibale Forest National Park

The park’s population of elephants travel between the park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other terrestrial mammals that are found within Kibale National Park include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, common warthogs, and African buffalo. The carnivores that are present include African leopards, African golden cats, servals, different mongooses and two species of otter. In addition, lions visit the park on occasion.

The park boasts many species of birds, including the olive long-tailed cuckoo, western tinkerbird, two species of pittas (African and green-breasted) and the African grey parrot.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest National Park

Budongo Forest reserve is located in Western part of Uganda approximately a 4 hour’s drive from the Uganda capital Kampala right before you enter the Murchison Falls National Park. Budongo Forest covers an area of 793 sq km, 53% is complete montane forest and the other area is grassland. This forest reserve is home to different wildlife species such as over 359 bird species, 465 species of trees, 9 primate species, 289 butterfly species, and 24 species of mammals as well as 130 species of moths. Budongo forest is also famous for mahogany trees and a big number of Chimpanzees approximately 600 to 700 chimpanzees.

The reserve has 6 groups of welcomes chimpanzee tracking travellers all year round boasting of 6 habituated chimp groups in the area. There’s always a high chance of seeing the primates in Budongo forest once you book a chimpanzee trekking permit. Trekking starts at 7:00 am as you are led by the ranger guides to look for these amazing primates that share a DNA of about 98% with the human beings. Chimpanzee trekking can take you 30 minutes or even a full day, how long it takes is mainly dependant on the location of these primates. The Budongo forest reserve is managed both by the Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Jane Good all Institute.

Chimpanzee Tracking Rules and Regulations

Trackers with diseases such as diarrhea, cough and flu may not be allowed to enter the park.

A distance of about 8-12m is important between you and the Chimpanzee.

Flash photography is not allowed.

Children below the age of 12 are not allowed to enter the park.