7-Day Gorillas, Golden Monkeys & Kibale Chimp Habituation
Uganda primates and great apes safari
Trek the Uganda primates and great apes in this 7-Day Gorilla, Golden Monkeys & Kibale Chimp Habituation Safari. The major highlights are golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale chimpanzee habituation experience, and Ishasha tree-climbing lions.
Tour Highlights
>> Track golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
>> Encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
>> Spot tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
>> Enjoy Uganda wildlife sighting at Kazinga channel and Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park
>> View the spectacular Fort Portal crater lakes, Western Rift Valley escarpment and the Rwenzori mountains
>> Experience chimpanzee habituation in Kibale Forest National Park
7-Day Gorillas, Golden Monkeys & Kibale Chimp Habituation
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- Small-Group Tours
- Socially Conscious Ethos
- Competitive Pricing
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Trip Details
Please inquire about our budget accommodation price.
DEPARTURE TIME
8:00 am
MEETING POINT
From your guesthouse in Entebbe or downtown Kampala (pick up from the airport not available)
AVAILABILITY
Monday to Sunday, year-round
DURATION
Seven days
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Moderate – uphill trekking
GROUP SIZE
2 to 4 persons
INCLUDED
- Meals, as per itinerary
- One gorilla trekking permit per person
- One chimpanzee habituation permit per person
- Transport in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation as described in the itinerary
- Park entrance fees
- Drinking water when in the safari vehicle
- Optional Activities
NOT INCLUDED
- Domestic flights in Uganda
- International flights from home
- Accommodation for days not listed in the itinerary
- Pick up at the airport
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Visas, travel and medical insurance
- Gifts, gratuities, and tips
- Other costs of personal nature
WHAT TO BRING
- Hiking boots
- Garden gloves
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Long-sleeved shirt/blouse
- Cameras and extra batteries
- Hat/cap and sunglasses
- Pair of binoculars
- Flashlight (torch)
- Mosquito repellent
- Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
- Age restriction: 15-80 years old
- A valid passport is required on the day of travel
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
- We advise against people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions participating on this tour
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe/Kampala to Kibale National Park
Irunva Adventure Tours representative will pick you up in Entebbe or downtown Kampala at 8:00 am and drive to Kibale National Park. The drive will take about 6-7hrs to go through western Uganda’s major towns of Mityana, Kyenjojo, and Fort Portal. There will be a stopover for lunch along the way to Kibale NP. Dinner & overnight at Kibale National Park.
Day 2: Chimp Habituation Experience at Kibale National Park
After breakfast, you will head to the Kibale forest immediately for the chimpanzee chimp habituation experience. If you are lucky on the trek, you might encounter other species of monkeys in the Kibale forest. These include colobus monkeys, olive baboon, and red-tailed monkeys. Transfer from Kibale Forest National Park after chimp trekking to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park will go through the spectacular Fort Portal crater lakes.
Day 3: Kasenyi Plains Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Trip
You will start the day with an early morning breakfast at the lodge. Afterwards, we proceed to the famed Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot various species of wild animals. Kasenyi plains dwell in the vast savannahs of the Albertine Rift in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It will be a morning full of adventure! Expect to encounter lions, herds of buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, topi, and bushbucks. While spotting the “Big Five” in the park is not guaranteed, on a lucky day, you may want site leopards to make it to the “Big Four.” We will return to the lodge for lunch.
Kazinga channel boat cruise
After lunch, join the Kazinga channel boat cruise for an afternoon of wild game viewing. You will spot crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and bird species on the channel waters. Dinner & overnight at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha sector for tree-climbing lions
Ishasha sector for tree-climbing lions
On the way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we will drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for its tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts at the Kasenyi plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees to enjoy the warm temperatures available in the park. While the sighting of the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, a stopover at Ishasha is worth a visit!
Dinner and overnight at Bwindi National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi National Park
You will head to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gate immediately after breakfast to get a briefing about the gorilla trek. The national park guide will present what to expect during the gorilla trek. The national guide will assign the gorilla trekking group during the pre-trekking briefing. Other visitors will likely join you. The gorilla trek can take a few to many hours, depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest—dinner and overnight at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Golden monkey trekking. Trek the Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
This trip will take you to trek the golden monkeys, an endemic Mgahinga Gorilla National Park species in southwestern Uganda. You will enter the forest and walk through the bamboo vegetation and various indigenous plants like giant lobelia. Your national park guide will tell you about the national park’s history and the fauna and flora that the park holds during the trip. The golden monkey trek should take about 5 hours.
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi overnight, immediately after the golden monkey trek.
Day 7: Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala/Entebbe via the Equator Crossing
Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala or Entebbe. There are two scheduled stopovers along the way: the first will be at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara City for a local lunch buffet. The second one is at the Equator crossing near Masaka for a coffee break and handicraft shopping. After a coffee break, you will proceed to Kampala or Entebbe.
Accommodation & Meals
- Days 1: Isunga Lodge – All meals included
- Days 2-3: Buffalo Safari Lodge– All meals included
- Days 4-5: Mutanda Lake Resort – All meals included
- Days 6: BirdNest Lake Bunyonyi – All meals included
- Day 7: Breakfast & lunch included
- The Batwa Trail Cultural Tour inside Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Visit the Batwa Community in the Village
- Canoe Trekking at Lake Mutanda
- Coffee-Making Experience
- Mabungo Community Village Tour in Kisoro
- Sabyinyo Volcano Hiking Tour
See our Local Experiences page for more information on each activity.
