5 Days Best of Uganda -on this Value+ Gorilla – Chimpanzee – Wildlife Safari
The Best of Uganda on this Value+ Midrange 5-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari
Value+ Midrange 5-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari: Experience the excitement of our Value+ Midrange 5-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Wildlife Safari — one of our most sought-after adventures! This safari perfectly combines remarkable wildlife experiences with comfortable mid-range accommodations, featuring cozy en-suite bathrooms, delicious meals, and attentive service.
Over five action-packed days, you’ll trek through Uganda’s stunning Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to track the elusive mountain gorillas. Next, explore Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to tree-climbing lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo herds, warthogs, hyenas, and over 600 species of birds. The breathtaking landscapes include the Explosion Crater lakes, the majestic Rwenzori Mountains, and endless savannah views.
Additionally, you will enjoy chimpanzee trekking in either the Kyambura Gorge or the renowned Kalinzu Forest — your choice! Both locations offer unforgettable encounters with these incredible primates in lush, verdant forest settings.
For your convenience, we can arrange airport pickups, accommodations for your arrival and departure, or day rooms. This safari combines adventure, comfort, and unforgettable wildlife moments, all in just five days!
Highlights of your Value+ Midrange 5-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safaris
- Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Chimpanzee Trekking in either the Kyambura Gorge or in Kalinzu Forest.
- The Scenic Explosion Crater Drive was featured in National Geographic.
- Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise – Hippos, Reptiles, Wildlife, and Birds.
- Wildlife Game Drives
- Add-On Options such as Lion Tracking Research or Banded Mongoose Research
Things to do and see In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Things to do and see in Queen Elizabeth Park
Please Note: This Safari can also be done as a Luxury Safari.
Your Value+ Midrange 5-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari:
Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Welcome to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, and get ready for your unforgettable Gorilla Adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — named one of Africa’s top parks by CNN Travel!
No matter what time your flight lands, we’ll be there to greet you and whisk you away to a cozy spot like 2-Friends Beach Hotel on the beautiful shores of Lake Victoria.
This charming hotel offers comfy, self-contained rooms with balconies where you can relax and enjoy stunning lake views.
Depending on your arrival, we’ll arrange delicious lunch and dinner so you can settle in and recharge.
If your schedule calls for it, we can also book a day room or an overnight stay before your departure, making your trip smooth and stress-free.
Get ready to dive into an amazing African adventure with comfort and care every step of the way! . Entebbe International Airport Tourist Information.
Day 1- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Drive to the Buhoma Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
From Entebbe: Your 5-day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari starts at 6:30 am from Entebbe or Kampala. We travel to the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with bottled water provided for your comfort. There will be a lunch stop halfway to Buhoma.
From Kigali, Rwanda: Starting your safari in Kigali shortens the journey by about four hours compared to Entebbe. Hotel pickup is at 6:00 am. At the border, adjust your watch forward one hour to East African Time. The drive from Kigali to Buhoma takes roughly five hours, arriving by lunchtime. In the afternoon, you can enjoy activities like the Batwa Experience or Buhoma Village Walk.
Fly to Buhoma from Entebbe: For the fastest option, fly from Entebbe to Kihihi with AeroLink Safari Airline. Upon arrival, your driver-guide will meet you and transfer you to Buhoma Lodge, about an hour’s drive away.
Haven Lodge in Buhoma:
In Buhoma, you can check into the moderately priced Haven Lodge. The lodge features three cottages, including a family cottage that can accommodate up to four guests. It stands out as one of the best mid-range lodges in Buhoma, offering extra touches that enhance your experience.
Each cottage comes with an ensuite bathroom, and your private deck provides a stunning view of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest—an excellent place to relax after a day of gorilla trekking. The courteous staff is dedicated to ensuring your stay is comfortable.
Dining at the lodge is a pleasure, with meals that surpass those offered by other lodges in the same price range. They also excel at preparing packed lunches for your gorilla trekking excursions. Additionally, WiFi is available at the lodge for guests who wish to stay connected. Read more,
Meal Plan: Lunch – Dinner
Day 2 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Buhoma Area:
Before embarking on your gorilla trek, participants will attend a briefing conducted by a Uganda Wildlife Ranger, who will assign you to a specific gorilla family. This assignment takes into account your age, fitness level, and personal preferences to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience during the trek. Trekking durations typically range from three to six hours, depending on the location of the gorilla group that day.
It is essential to wear appropriate gear, including comfortable, weather-appropriate layered clothing and sturdy hiking boots. A walking stick can assist you on uneven or slippery trails. Additionally, it is advisable to bring a packed lunch from your lodge and sufficient water to maintain energy and hydration throughout the trek. If you have any physical challenges, please notify us in advance; porter services are available to assist with carrying your belongings or provide a sedan chair if necessary, allowing everyone to fully participate.
The trek in Buhoma takes place at a gentle elevation, making it accessible to most fitness levels. Pre-trackers are sent ahead to locate the gorilla family, enhancing the chances of a successful encounter. Meeting these majestic mountain gorillas is a remarkable and unforgettable experience. Participants will have the opportunity to observe their gentle interactions, watch silverbacks protect their families, and feel a deep connection to these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.
Read more about Gorilla Gear and Wear here.
Use a Porter to Assist you during Trek.
After the Gorilla Trek Options:
- Relax at the Lodge
- Take the Buhoma Village Walk
- Do the Batwa Experience with the First People of the Forest
- Bike around or into Bwindi Forest
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3 – Ishasha-Tree-Climbing Lions – Queen Elizabeth Park:
After breakfast, we will leave for Queen Elizabeth Park. About 1½ hours later, we will arrive in the Ishasha region, which is famous for its Tree Climbing Lions – the best place in East Africa to see them.
From the Buhoma Area, it’s a 90-minute drive to Ishasha within Queen Elizabeth Park. During our game drive, a ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority will accompany us in the vehicle. The safari vehicle is equipped with a pop-up roof for better viewing of the wildlife.
On this drive, you can expect to see Tree Climbing Lions, leopards, herds of elephants, buffaloes, and Uganda Kobs, as well as Topi Antelopes.
After the game drive, we will travel through the park to the Mweya area north of Queen Elizabeth Park, where you will have the opportunity to spot even more wildlife along the way.
Check into the Enganzi Game Lodge:
Enganzi Game Lodge offers an affordable yet exceptional experience, providing quality accommodations at reasonable prices. It serves as the ideal base for exploring Queen Elizabeth Park, which boasts diverse wildlife, stunning explosion craters, the expansive Kyambura Gorge, and the endless Maramagambo Forest, among other attractions.
The lodge features tented cottages equipped with full bathrooms. It offers breathtaking views of the Albertine Western Rift Escarpment of Queen Elizabeth Park. Enganzi Game Lodge is known for consistently delivering high-quality service to guests at a fair price. It can be considered a mid-range lodge that offers more than what similar-priced lodges provide.
Guests can enjoy spacious rooms, full bathrooms, impressive views, and private cottages that are well-separated from one another. Additionally, it is one of the few mid-range lodges that features a swimming pool. Read more.
Kazinga Channel Wildlife Cruise
In the afternoon, there will be a wildlife boat safari on the Kazinga Channel at 3 PM. The boat will move along the channel’s banks toward Lake Edward, where you can witness the largest concentration of hippos in Africa.
You can expect to see hundreds of bird species; bird watchers often spot over 40 different species during the two-hour boat safari. Additionally, herds of elephants frequently come down to the water, especially during the dry season when even larger herds are seen. You may also spot buffalo herds, and occasionally, a predator might come to water before heading out for its nighttime hunt.
The boat safari takes place at a leisurely pace, providing excellent opportunities for photography. This experience is one of the highlights of your visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a remarkable tapestry of natural wonders that will surely surprise you. Read more here.
Katwe Explosion Crater Drive:
After the Kazinga Channel Wildlife, Birding, and Boat Cruise, we take the 27-kilometer explosion crater drive. It is the most scenic drive in Uganda and takes you to the highest point in Queen Elizabeth Park.
The timing and lighting are just right for you to get some great pictures during the late afternoon.
You will see the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon. The Explosion craters shaped much of the park. Some are lakes filled with water, others containing sulfur, and others are covered by savannah grass or forest.
The drive is so scenic that National Geographic featured a picture of one of the explosion craters. Beyond the craters, you have views of the Western Rift escarpment. Below are the Savannah, Lake George, and Lake Edward connected by the Kazinga Channel. Read more here.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4 – Queen Elizabeth Park:
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest:
This morning it is Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest. We will depart the lodge at 7:00 to reach Kalinzu Forest before 8:00 am.
You will need the same gear clothing and gear as you used for the gorilla trek.
Chimpanzees have been habituated here for over 25 years by Japanese researchers. Kalinzu Forest is one of the best places for chimpanzee trekking, and it is at a fraction of the price that it is in Kibale Forest.
After an orientation, you go out with guides and trackers to track our closest cousins, the chimpanzees.
Like the gorillas, they are habituated, which means they are used to human beings and do not scamper when we appear in their area.
Game Drive:
This afternoon is your last game drive on this Safari. We hope that you will see lots of lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes,
Lion Tracking Research Option:
Instead of the game drive, you can choose Lion Tracking Research. It involves following collared lions and leopards in a research vehicle with the Uganda Carnivore Project. ($50 per person, after July 1, 2020 -$100)
Banded Mongoose Research Option:
The other choice is the Banded Mongoose Research on the Mweya Peninsula. ($30 per person)
After the morning activity, we drive to Entebbe. Depending on your morning activity’s timing, lunch is either at the Lodge or on the Road.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5 – Queen Elizabeth Park – Return to Entebbe:
Your Value+ Midrange 5-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari ends.
Return to Entebbe by Air:
Fly from nearby Kasese to Entebbe International Airport, reaching there before noon in time for your flight out of Uganda. Meals, a day room, or overnight lodging in Entebbe can be arranged. With this option, there is only breakfast for this day since your flight leaves for Entebbe midmorning.
Drive to Entebbe:
We depart Queen Elizabeth Park at 8:00 am for Entebbe. In order to break the six-hour drive, we stop at the equator for lunch and picture-taking.
We reach Entebbe in the afternoons where, depending on your flight departure, we can arrange for a day room and dinner. We can also arrange for overnight lodging and activities in the Entebbe area.
What is included in this Value+ Midrange 5-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari?
- Experienced Ugandan Driver-Guide: A Safari becomes more enjoyable with a knowledgeable and professional Local Driver-Guide.
- Greet and Meet at Airport upon arrival: We provide meet and greet services, including a welcome gift and Safari Informational Packet.
- Full-Board Lodging: All meals are included except alcoholic drinks, sodas, and snacks that you might order apart from meals.
- Private Safari Vehicle with pop-Up Roof: The vehicle has a car fridge, WiFi, and bottled Water.
- Gorilla Chimpanzee Trekking: Gorilla Habituation Experience Permitsare included in your Safari. Additionally, we provide porter services, a walking stick for support, and bottled water. Read our Practical Gorilla Trekking Advice:
- WiFi Internet Access: Most Lodges only provide a WiFi Internet Connection in the main lodge. We offer you a MiFi Router that gives you and your party access to the internet in your cottage or room, depending on nearby transmission towers. Read Staying in touch with home.
- Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Mandarin, Arabic Speaking Driver-Guides: At an extra cost.
- Your Dietary Needs can be met: Notify us if you are a vegan, vegetarian, or need a gluten-free diet. Halala dietary requirements can be met in most instances. Strictly kosher nutritional requirements cannot be met on safari. a.
- ; Automatic AMREF-Flying Doctors Air-Medivac Insurance coverage: Our clients have covered a rare need for medical evacuation to a hospital that meets international standards.
Not included: Visas, Travel Insurance, Laundry, Tips, drinks at lodges such as Alcoholic drinks and sodas, and optional listed activities.
Why Choose This 5-Day Value+ Midrange Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari?
Since 2008, our Hakuna Matata – No Worries Safaris has provided worry-free, personalized adventures that showcase the best of Uganda with comfort and ease. This 5-day safari strikes an ideal balance between value and quality, making it perfect for travelers seeking mid-range accommodations without sacrificing authentic experiences.
You will enjoy a private safari vehicle and an expert driver-guide who knows Uganda’s wildlife and landscapes inside and out. Accommodation is in carefully selected mid-range lodges that combine comfort with local charm. All activities in your itinerary, including gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, are included with no hidden costs.
Our priority is to provide an unforgettable experience, not just a sale. We handle every detail, allowing you to relax and focus on connecting with Uganda’s incredible wildlife. With Hakuna Matata Safaris, you are guaranteed a seamless and enriching journey that will leave you with lifelong memories.
If you are interested in this Value+ Midrange 5-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari, and we will send you the current price.
