Value+ Midrange 7-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari – Uganda
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest – Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest – Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth Park
Value+ Midrange 7-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari: Visit three Parks in Uganda in 7 days – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you track Mountain Gorillas – Queen Elizabeth Park with its wildlife and Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking, topping it off with a Kibale Forest Park for Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, a visit to the Jungle Swamp in Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary and a crater lake – top of the world Hike.
The Perfect Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari in Uganda is one of the preferred Safari Tours in the Pearl of Africa since it combines Primates and Wildlife.
Visit three of Uganda’s best parks in just seven days with activities you cannot do in any other country in East Africa. Only in Uganda can you discover Africa, Condensed into a Small Country.
Highlights of the Value+ 7-Day Gorilla-Chimpanzee Trekking-Wildlife Safari in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking: Track Gorillas in the Buhoma Area 0f Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Permits are included in the price of the Safari.
- Chimpanzee Trekking: Trek Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, the primate capital of East Africa. Permits are included in the Safari price.
- Tree Climbing Lions: In Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth Park. The best spot for tree-Climbing Lions.
- Game Drives: Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth Park Ishasha and Mweya areas.
- Explosion Crater Drive: This is one of the most scenic drives in East Africa.
- Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise: This highlights your Safari with its wildlife, birds, and reptiles. The channel has the highest concentration of hippos in East Africa.
- Bigodi Wetlands – Jungle Swamp: Traverse a jungle swamp on a boardwalk made from roughly hewn planks.
- Nocturnal Forest Walk: See Kibale Forest at night. Meet the creatures of the night.
- Top of the World – Crater Lake Hike: This a great, scenic hike that takes in villages, crater lakes, and scenic views.
Fitness Level required for this Safari: A moderate level of fitness is needed for this safari. Read more here.
Your Value+ 7-Day Gorilla-Chimpanzee Trekking-Wildlife Safari in Uganda in Detail:
Arrival Day in Uganda:
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where we will meet you in the Tourist Arrival area. Your arrival processing will take you less than an hour. It is good to know what awaits you upon arrival in Uganda.
We suggest that you read our Entebbe International airport information page. You will find out about Ugandan Tourist Visa, Yellow Fever Certificates, COVID requirements, and more.
Read more about arrival here about Entebbe Airport.
After meeting and greeting you, we will take you to the hotel we chose for your arrival in Entebbe. Lunch and dinner arrangements can be made based on your arrival time.
We use the 2-Friends Beach Hotel on Lake Victoria for our clients. This delightful hotel is perfect for your first night in Uganda with its private beach, swimming pool, excellent rooms, service, and meals.
Meal Plan: Depending on your arrival time.
Day 1 – Depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
Depart your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest at 6:30 am. It is a nine-hour drive to Bwindi’s Impenetrable Forest. Our goal is the Buhoma area of the park, which is located in the northern area of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is about nine hours. We break the drive by stopping at the Equator for pictures. Additionally, we stop in Mbarara for lunch.
In the late afternoon, we reach Buhoma at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where we check into the Haven Lodge, which will be your home for the next two nights.
Alternate Starting Point: Start this Safari by flying into Kigali, Rwanda, where we will meet you and take you to the Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive time will be about five hours. Red more here.
:Optional: Fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi.
We will pick you up at your hotel in Entebbe at around 6:15 am for your 7:00 am departure with AeroLink Airline to Kisoro. Your flight time is 75 minutes,
When you land at the Kihihi airstrip, your driver-guide will meet you and be taken to the Haven Lodge. The drive time is about one hour.
Flying to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest allows you to do activities in the area, such as the Batwa Experience or a Village Walk.
There is a 15 kg weight restriction for your flight. Excess baggage costs $6 additional payment, and you can leave extra luggage with us.
To save on the weight of your bag, we suggest that you wear your gorilla wear for your flight, including the rain jacket and hiking boots.
Haven Lodge:
The Haven Lodge, a community project along with Buhoma Community Rest Camp, is the newest in the Buhoma area. It consists of three cottages, one being a family cottage that sleeps four.
This is a mid-range lodge in the Buhoma area. It was built with the assistance of the US Government, which often helps Tourism in various ways in Uganda.
All cottages have an ensuite bath and a deck overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
This is a friendly, welcoming, and hospital Lodge where you will receive excellent guest services that exceed other midrange lodges.
The Lodge is known for the sumptuous meals that are served here. The bar is fully stocked with local and imported alcoholic beverages and sodas such as Coke, Sprite, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew.
Day 2 – Gorilla Tracking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest-Buhoma Area:
This is one of the monumental days of your life. The day when you will spend time with a mountain gorilla family in the rainforest. This is not a day to sleep in but to rise early, enjoy a hearty breakfast and get dressed for the Gorilla Trek.
What Should I wear tracking Gorillas?
Here is practical advice about what to wear while Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. Often Trekkers are not dressed right for the occasion, which can spoil your day, and your focus might not be on the Gorillas but on personal discomfort and misery. Wearing suitable clothing and footwear is about protection.
Gorilla Wear and Gear you will need:
- Daypack: Preferably a waterproof daypack, you can use it as a carry-on flying to Uganda. Pack all essentials inside of the daypack.
- Hiking Boots: Make sure that they have good treads on them. You will need ankle support, something boots give you and give you reactions on muddy trails. Have a good pair of merino wool socks.
- Long Trouser: They will protect you from nettles and thorns. Tuck the trousers into your socks for added protection from ants.
- Long-Sleeved Shirt: Neutral in color. Again, this is for your comfort and protection.
- Rain Jacket or Poncho: Pack into your daypack. You never know when it will train. You are in an Afro-montane Rainforest.
- Tough Gardening Gloves: protect your hands from thorns, nettles, and sharp branches.
- Wide Brimmed Hat: It gives you protection from the Sun.
- Camera Equipment – Binoculars: Ensure extra batteries and storage devices. Put them into Ziploc bags. Binoculars are not needed if you are not a birder.
- Packed Lunch and Bottled Water: You will need your packed lunch from the Lodge and two liters of bottled water.
- Insect Repellent – Sun Lotion – Sunglasses: We recommend the effective Australian RID Insect Repellent. Good Sun blocker cream and sunglasses.
- You will need a Porter and Walking Stick: The services of a porter free you on the often-difficult trail, and a local walking stick helps you and steadies you on the often-challenging path. We supply our clients with both.
Read more about Gorilla Gear and Wear here.
Gorilla Trekking Orientation:
The Gorilla Trek begins with an orientation. You are assigned a Gorilla family based on your age, physical shape, and level of fitness by a ranger.
A moderate level of fitness is needed. Many trekkers prepare in advance for their gorilla safari by taking walks and hikes at home. If you are handicapped and unable to take a trek, you can be carried into and out of the forest by a team of porters in a Sedan Chair. This is something that we can arrange for you.
Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations:
There are three main rules for the protection of the gorillas and you. If you are sick, cancel your gorilla trek. That is to protect the gorillas. There is the ten-meter distance rule. Again to protect the gorillas and you from the transmission of infections. Read more about Gorilla Rules.
Porter Services:
If you are on Safari with us, we will arrange for the services of a porter. They will carry your daypack and assist you on the often tricky trek. Being a porter is quite profitable since most have an income exceeding mid-level government officials. The importance of having a porter cannot be minimized since they allow you to focus on the trek and not on your load and discomfort.
We also provide our gorilla trekking clients with a walking stick, protective masks, and bottled water. Do not forget to pick up your lunch at the lodge. Read more here about Porter Services.
The Encounter with a Gorilla Family:
The Gorilla Family Encounter is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most trekkers. Mountain Gorillas are not found in any zoo, only in the wild of Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo.
In the presence of gorillas, it is vital to wear a mask and keep the ten-meter distance rule.
You will enjoy your one hour with a gorilla family, and you will have the opportunity to get some incredible up-close photos.
After your time with a gorilla family, you return to the Buhoma trailhead, where your driver-guide will meet you and return you to your lodge around lunchtime.
Optional Activities that you can choose to do:
- Batwa Experience: See the forest through the eyes of its first people, the indigenous Batwa People, who are today Conservation refugees living outside of the Forest. Read more here.
- Buhoma Village Walk: This is a guided walk through the Buhoma village and includes a school and home visit. Additionally, you have time with the Batwa people. read more here.
- Mountain Biking: You can rent a bike with a guide and bike ride inside and outside of the park. This helps the Ride for a Woman community self-help group. Read more here.
- Bwindi Bar: Have a delightful Snack and drink at the Bwindi Bar along Mainstreet in Buhoma. Shop for souvenirs and then have a snack and drink at the Bwindi Bar. Read More here.
- Hitting the trails: You can hike inside and outside of the park, including the famous waterfall trail. Read more here.
- Relax and Chill out: Relax and chill out at the Haven Lodge and read a book.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3 – Tree Climbing Lions – Queen Elizabeth Park:
This morning we take the 1 ½ to 2-hour drive to the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth Park. This is home to tree-climbing lions. It is seen as the best spot in all of Africa for sure sightings of the tree climbing Lions.
Here, we take a game drive with a Ugandan Wildlife Authority Tanger who knows where we can spot the lions and other wildlife on this day. The game drive is about three hours long, and you will see countless antelopes, including the colorful Topi, Elephants, Leopards, Buffaloes, and more savannah animals.
After the game drive, you can have a nice lunch at the nearby Savannah Resort. /w then continue to the Mweya area of Queen Elizabeth Park. Our destination is Enganzi Game Lodge – 2 hours drive time.
Before we check-in, we take the scenic 27-kilometer Katwe Explosion Crater Drive. This is one of the most scenic drives where ancient explosion craters are seen. Some are filled with fresh water or salt lakes, others covered by savanna grass or forests – beautiful enough that they recently were featured in National Geographic.
You can also see from this the highest point of the park, a portion of the western rift escarpment, Lake Edward and Lake George, the Kazinga Channel, the endless savannah, and the majestic, snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains of the moon. Along with the fabulous views, you will see some wildlife here, such as elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes.
Enganzi Game Lodge:
Enganzi Game Lodge – with that affordable extra added touch Enganzi Game Lodge offers quality yet is reasonable in price.
Enganzi Game Lodge is the perfect base while exploring the scenic Queen Elizabeth Park with its wildlife, explosion craters, the vast Kyambura Gorge, the endless Maramagambo Forest, and more.
The tented cottages have a full bath and extensive views down the Albertine Escarpment to Queen Elizabeth Park.
We have used this Lodge for most of our mid-range Safari clients for over four years with excellent results at a value-added price.
Enganzi Game Lodge is also a family-friendly lodge open to children of all ages.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4 – Queen Elizabeth Park:
Morning Game Drive: The early game drive can begin at dawn which is around 6:30 am. Your driver0guide and the Uganda Wildlife Ranger will guide you to where animals such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Hippos, Warthogs, Hyenas, and much more.
A sunrise game drive allows you to see the predators return from the night’s hunt. The game drive is about three hours long. You can have breakfast before or after the game drive.
Optional – Lion Tracking Research: A drive searching for electronically collared lions with researchers. The cost per person is $100D. The lion tracking Research Experience is a one-of-a-kind activity that is very informative, and you definitely will see lions. Read more here.
Optional-Bush Breakfast: A traditional Safari bush breakfast can be arranged. This is combined with the morning game drive.
Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise:
In the afternoon, you take the famous Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise. The boat cruise begins at the Mweya Landing site, and you move along the channel banks toward Lake Edward.
This is a pleasant boat cruise where you can get some great pictures of elephants, antelopes, predators such as crocodiles in the late afternoon, and buffaloes on shore. Hopefully, you will get an open-mouthed hippo shot with your camera.
The Boat Cruise is about two hours long. For most, it is a Queen Elizabeth Park Safari visit highlight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 5 – Kibale Forest – Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary:
Drive to Kibale Forest, which is a 2-hour plus Drive. Check into the Isunga lodge.
Isunga Lodge:
A newer, moderately priced lodge that gives its guests value plus for their money. We have used this Lodge with great success on our safaris, and our Clients have responded more than positively.
There are four cottages with an ensuite bath in a very private setting. The food is prepared thoughtfully, and the service is excellent.
There are much higher cost moderately priced lodges in Uganda that do not match what you receive at Isunga Lodge.
Isunga Lodge has an excellent track record regarding Customer Service, the quality of the room, and the meals provided for its guests.
Isunga Lodge is one of the lodges where we have had not one complaint from our clients.
Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary:
Afternoon Walk at Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, next to Kibale Forest, and you might see chimpanzees again. Many birds are found there; the area is best known for the Large Blue Turaco.
Kibale Forest is also home to Forest Elephants who are hairier and smaller than their savannah cousins, and they also have smaller tusks that allow them to roam the forests. You can also find Forest Buffaloes, which are redder in color than the ones on the savanna.
Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary is a community project that has been put together quite well, and entrance and guide fees benefit the local community.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 6 – Kibale Forest – Chimpanzee Trekking:
Like the Gorilla Trek, the Chimpanzee Trek begins with an orientation where you go over the trek’s rules. Wear the same clothing that you would for a gorilla Trek.
You will not need gardening gloves or a packed lunch. The chimpanzee trek is a three-hour activity where you spend one hour with a Chimpanzee Troop.
The Chimpanzee Trek is not as tricky as the gorilla trek since the terrain at Kibale Forest is quite different from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where a trek can be pretty difficult.
Optional – the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience: Here, you spend more time with a Chimpanzee Troop that is being habituated. Habituation experience will take about six hours and is quite rewarding. There are fewer participants allowed to participate in the activity.
Nocturnal Forest Walk:
Take the evening Nocturnal Forest Walk in Kibale Forest, where you experience the sights and sounds of the African Rainforest at night. Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers guide the walk and spotlight for you to see the creatures of the night.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 7 – Top of the World Hike – drive to Entebbe:
Breakfast and then off for the top-of-the-world hike, where you pass by three crater lakes.
You pass through Tea Plantations, quaint villages, and settlements; as you reach the top of the world, the views are simply breathtaking – the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon – Queen Elizabeth Park, the greater local area, including the crater lakes before you.
it is well worth the 3-hour nature hike. You have a guide to point out things, explain, and enlighten you about the region.
After lunch, we depart for Entebbe and arrive in the late afternoon.
We can arrange a dayroom and dinner at Entebbe before your flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch
What is included in this Value+ 7-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. Some luxury Lodges have non-premium alcoholic beverages and sodas.
- Private 4×4 Safari Vehicle with pop-Up Roof: The vehicle has a car fridge, WiFi, and bottled Water.
- Gorilla Trekking: Gorilla Habituation Experience Permits are 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.
For over a Decade since 2008, we have offered Hakuna Matata – No Worries Safaris:
Our private Hakuna Matata – No Worries Safaris are full-service Value+ Midrange and Luxury Safaris that come with all that is needed for a successful Safari in Uganda. You have your own Safari Vehicle with an experienced driver. You stay at a quality midrange or luxury Lodge, and all the activities listed are included. The outcome of your safari is more important to us than income.
Contact us if you are interested in this Value+ 7-Day Gorilla – Chimpanzee Trekking – Wildlife Safari
Be aware of our Flexible Booking Policy and our Price Guarantee.
