5-Day Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
DESTINATION
Uganda: Kibale Forest & Bwindi Forest
DURATION
5 Days | 4 Nights
COST
From $2,400 Per Person
DESCRIPTION
Few journeys on earth bring you as close to our wild cousins as this one. Over five unforgettable days, you will track wild chimpanzees through the rainforest canopy of Kibale Forest National Park — the primate capital of the world — before crossing into the southwest to look a mountain gorilla in the eye inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to nearly half of all the mountain gorillas left on the planet.
Along the way, you will walk the boardwalks of the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, share stories with the forest’s original inhabitants on a Batwa cultural visit, and travel through some of the most dramatic highland scenery in East Africa. This is a complete primate safari — two endangered great apes, two iconic forests, and an experience that stays with you long after you leave Uganda.
This itinerary can be combined with a Rwanda extension or a wildlife-focused add-on through Queen Elizabeth National Park — browse our Uganda & Rwanda Safaris and Primate Safaris collections for ideas, or contact our travel experts to tailor this trip to your dates and budget.
Safari Highlights
- One chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale Forest National Park, issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority
- One mountain gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority
- A guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, managed by the local Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED)
- An immersive Batwa cultural experience with the indigenous forest community, supported by the United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda (UOBDU)
- Scenic road transfers through Uganda’s western highlands, crater lakes, and tea estates
- Comfortable mid-range accommodation close to both forests
- A private 4×4 safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide throughout
TRAVEL PLAN
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport – Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Your safari begins with a warm welcome at Entebbe International Airport, where your driver-guide will meet you for the scenic drive west to Kibale Forest National Park. The roughly six to seven-hour journey winds through the rolling hills of central and western Uganda, passing tea plantations, small trading towns, and the picturesque crater lakes around Fort Portal. There will be plenty of opportunities to stop, stretch your legs, and pick up snacks or a hot Ugandan coffee along the way.
You’ll arrive in the late afternoon and check in to your lodge on the edge of the forest, with the rest of the evening free to relax and listen for your first distant chimpanzee calls drifting through the trees. Dinner and overnight at a lodge near Kibale Forest.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking Experience & Bigodi Wetland Nature Walk
After an early breakfast, head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing from your ranger guide before setting off into the dense, multi-layered rainforest of Kibale in search of one of the park’s habituated chimpanzee communities. Kibale is home to more than 1,500 chimpanzees, and the trek — which can take anywhere from thirty minutes to a few hours — rewards you with up to an hour observing chimpanzees feeding, grooming, and calling through the canopy, alongside encounters with red colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and some of the park’s 375 recorded bird species. Chimpanzee permits and all park activities in Kibale are regulated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
In the afternoon, swap the high forest for the open papyrus swamp of the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run conservation project bordering Kibale. A local guide leads you along raised boardwalks in search of the striking great blue turaco, the rare African finfoot, and troops of black-and-white colobus crashing through the trees overhead — with proceeds from your visit going directly to schools, healthcare, and conservation projects in the surrounding villages. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
This morning you’ll travel south to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a drive of around six to eight hours through some of southwestern Uganda’s most spectacular scenery. The route skirts the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park and climbs steadily into the terraced, mist-wrapped hills of Kabale and Kanungu districts — often described as Uganda’s “Switzerland” for their dramatic, layered landscapes.
You’ll arrive at your lodge on the edge of the forest in time to settle in, enjoy dinner, and rest ahead of tomorrow’s gorilla trek. Depending on which of Bwindi’s four sectors — Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo — your trek is allocated to, your lodge will be selected accordingly to minimize early-morning travel time.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Experience & Batwa Cultural Experience
This is the day you’ve been waiting for. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before setting off into the forest in search of one of Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families. Treks vary in length and difficulty depending on where the gorillas were last located, lasting anywhere from one to several hours through steep, beautiful montane forest — but the reward is the same for everyone: a full hour spent in the quiet company of a wild mountain gorilla family, watching them feed, rest, and interact at extraordinarily close range.
In the afternoon, swap the forest canopy for storytelling and tradition on a Batwa cultural experience. Guided by members of the Batwa community — the forest’s original inhabitants — you’ll learn about traditional hunting and gathering techniques, medicinal plants, fire-making, and ancestral songs and dances, in an experience developed with the United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda (UOBDU) in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. It’s a moving, hands-on counterpoint to the morning’s trek, and a meaningful way to support a community closely tied to this forest’s history. Return to your lodge for a celebratory dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Departure
After breakfast, begin the road transfer back toward Kampala or Entebbe International Airport (alternatively, a domestic flight from Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip can be arranged to cut down travel time — ask your travel expert about options). Depending on your flight schedule, there may be time for a final stop at a curio shop or viewpoint along the way to pick up souvenirs and take in one last look at Uganda’s green hills before your onward journey home.
Meals: Breakfast. Lunch
COST INCLUSIONS
- 1 Gorilla trekking permit (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park)
- 1 Chimpanzee trekking permit (Kibale Forest National Park)
- Guided nature walk at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
- Batwa cultural experience
- All ground transport in a private 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel, driver-guide, and waiting time
- 4 nights’ accommodation on a mid-range basis (as specified)
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Drinking water in the vehicle throughout the safari
- All applicable government taxes
Cost Exclusions
- International flights to and from Entebbe International Airport
- Uganda entry visa
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, phone/internet, alcoholic drinks)
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and lodge staff
- Optional activities not listed above (e.g., the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience or Gorilla Habituation Experience upgrades)
Best Time to Go
This safari runs year-round, but the dry seasons — June to September and December to February — offer the easiest trekking conditions in both Kibale and Bwindi, along with higher demand for gorilla and chimpanzee permits. The wetter months of March to May and October to November bring lush, photogenic forest, quieter trails, and better last-minute permit availability, in exchange for a higher chance of rain underfoot. Either way, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking operate every day of the year.
Good to Know Before You Go
- The minimum age for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking is 15 years.
- A reasonable level of fitness is recommended; treks can range from a gentle walk to a strenuous multi-hour hike depending on where the primates are located on the day.
- Pack sturdy hiking boots, long trousers and sleeves, a rain jacket, gardening gloves, insect repellent, and a camera without flash.
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are issued directly by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are subject to availability and government pricing — we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for travel in the peak season.
- For general travel planning, visa requirements, and entry information for Uganda, the Uganda Tourism Board is a useful official resource.
Why Travel With Pick and Transfer Safaris
At Pick and Transfer Safaris, we design every itinerary around your budget, pace, and interests — handling permits, lodge bookings, and logistics so you can focus on the experience itself. A portion of our proceeds supports community projects through the Kigezi Foundation, so your trip also leaves a positive footprint behind.
Looking for something different? Explore our full range of Primate Safaris, Uganda & Rwanda Safaris, or browse all our destinations across East Africa.
Ready to Book This Safari?
Secure your gorilla and chimpanzee permits early — they are limited and sell out months in advance during peak season. Contact our travel experts today with your preferred travel dates, group size, and accommodation preferences, and we’ll put together a free, no-obligation quote tailored just for you.