4- Hours with the Gorillas – All-Day with the Chimpanzees plus Wildlife
One-of-a-Kind – 7-Days in Africa on this Luxury Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari in Uganda -Begins in Kigali
This is a Private 7-Day Luxury – Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari that begins in Kigali and takes Gorilla to another level where incredible up-close encounters with the Gentle Giants become a reality. Primates and Wildlife in abundance while staying in some of Uganda’s best Luxury lodges. Three incredible parks, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth Park and Kibale Forest.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to the largest Mountain Gorilla Population, Kibale Forest, the Premier Chimpanzee Park in East Africa, plus Queen Elizabeth Park with its Tree Climbing Lions and a thriving Elephant Population.
This Luxury Safari is with the Gorilla Habituation Experience. It can be taken as a Gorilla Trekking Safari when 4-Hour Gorilla Habituation Experience is not available. If you are set on the 4-Hour with a Gorilla Family Habituation Experience we suggest that you book your safari at least 6-months in advance with a flexibility in Dates.
Safari Highlights
- Gorilla Habituation Experience of 4 Hours with a Gorilla Family – All-Day Trek
- Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth Park
- Lion Tracking Research of Collare
d Lions in Queen Elizabeth Park
- Wildlife Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth Park
- Kazinga Channel Boat Ride – Wildlife – Birds – Reptiles in Queen Elizabeth Park
- Scenic Explosion Crater Drive featured in National Geographic
- Optional Kyambura Gorge Hike
- Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary – Jungle Swamp Walk
- All-Day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale Forest
- Optional Golden Monkey Trekking
The Safari Itinerary in Detail
Day 1 – Drive to Rushaga – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda:
Your Luxury Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari begins. We leave your hotel in Kigali for Rushaga. The drive time to Rushaga is about 4 hours plus depending on Border Crossing – Visa for Uganda is 50 USD. You can also get an East African Visa from Rwanda Migration online.
The drive is a most scenic one through the Land of a Thousand Hills with its terraced hillsides and vat Tea Plantations and colorful villages.
Normally the border crossing is about 45 minutes and you are in Uganda heading for the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest through the Gorilla Highlands, Lake Mutanda as we reach the Nkuringo – Rushaga Area of the Park.
The area is home to the exclusive, luxury Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and the upmarket Gorilla Safari Lodge.
Add 1 Option for the Day:
- Add Golden Monkey Trekking in the Bamboo Forest of Mgahinga Gorilla Park before checking into Lodge.
- Add Buniga Forest Walk with the first People of the Forest – The Batwa Pygmy People and learn how they lived in the Forest for thousands of years.
Early Breakfast and take your packed lunch from the lodge, have a daypack, 3 liters of water, long trousers, gardening gloves for pulling yourself up on branches, long-sleeved shirt. waterproof boots, hat, rain jacket, use a walking stick and the services of a porter at a small cost.
Meet the researchers, trackers and guides and head for the location of your gorilla family group being habituated and your four hours in their presence and learning their ways.
With the trek in and trek out – the 4-hour Gorilla Habituation Experience – this is an all-day trek, not only do you see the Gorillas with only 4 participants, but you learn about the Gorillas habits and ways from the Gorillas and the Researchers.
Return to the trailhead and it is back to the lodge.
Tips – Advice for the Gorilla Habituation Experience: This gives you all that you need to know about the Gorilla Habituation Experience including what to wear and bring while on your trek.
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
After Breakfast, at 7 am we drive to Queen Elizabeth Park where we stop in the Ishasha Region to take a Game Drive in search of the Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha. This the best place in East Africa where you can readily see the Tree Climbing Lions sleep away the day plus you will see a lot of added wildlife here including a growing Elephant Population.
Lunch Before Game Drive at Savannah Resort
Please Note: Drive-Time to Ishasha is 5 hours plus- though most take this Safari in 7 days we recommend adding one night in the Ishasha Area.
Continue to the northern area of the park where you check into the Lodge of choice. Drive Time – 2 hours.
Option: Add a night staying at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, this reduces the Drive-Times for this day and allows for more time with the Tree-Climbing Lions.
Dinner
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch-Dinner
Lodging: Your Choice
Day 4- Queen Elizabeth Park:
Breakfast
Morning Lion Tracking Research – here you are with Researchers from the Carnivore Project and track the Collared Lions, leopards in this part of the park, not only will you see lions, but a learning experience about the lions.
Lunch
In the afternoon it is the fabulous Kazinga Channel Wildlife – Birding, Reptile Boat Safari that is one of the highlights of your Queen Elizabeth Park Visit.
Note: For Luxury Safari Clients we use the Mweya Safari Lodge Boat which has people in it and better opportunities for Picture Taking – Private Boat Safaris on Kazinga Channel can be arranged.
Dinner
Meal Plan: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
Lodging: Your Choice
Day 5- Kibale Forest:
Breakfast and hopefully Sunrise Explosion Crater Drive which was featured in National Geographic and is one of the most scenic Drives in Western Uganda. Sunrise which is around 20 minutes to 7 in the morning is one of the Best Times for photographing some of the incredible natural wonders here.
After the Explosion Crater Drive, we continue to Kibale Forest – 2 hours plus Drive time where we check into the lodge you have chosen.
Afternoon – Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary Hike. This is a guided 3-hour hike through a Jungle Swamp, much of it is on planks that act like a boardwalk above the swamp. Your experienced guide is from the local community that has maintained the Wetlands for many years with thousands visiting each year.
During the Afternoon you might spot Chimpanzees, Colobus Monkeys, also baboons. The area is well-known for birds, the chief attraction is the Blue Turaco.
When it comes to Mammals you can see otters, bush pigs, mongoose, and the rare Sitatunga Antelope to name a few.
Dinner
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodging: Your Choice
Day 6 – Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Kibale Forest
Early Breakfast and you are off to meet with your Ranger-Guide who will take you into Kibale Forest where a Chimpanzee Group is being habituated, a process that takes up to two years. Habituation teaches the Chimpanzees to allow humans in their presence.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Reduced in Price in 2018 to 200 USD per person for the permit – 1 hour with chimpanzee Trek is 150 USD.
A chimp Troop can number over 100 members. Chimpanzees live in a relational social structure, the alpha males defend against other chimpanzees trying to move into the territory. Females are part of smaller family groups and nurture the young.
Way before you see the chimpanzees, you will hear their hooting calls in the distance. Soon you come upon them and spend one hour with them observing their ways and habits.
Normally you might see 4 to 6 primates here, many of the birds, the butterflies, mammals found here and of course the forest itself with its vegetation that is unique. On an all-day habituation, you will see a lot more than on a trek.
It is important that you wear the right clothing and shoes and have at least 3 liters of water with you, plus a packed lunch
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodging: Your Choice
Day 7 – Entebbe:
Breakfast
The Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari comes to an end – Your Departure depends on your flight-time out of Entebbe. Drive time to Entebbe – 4 1/2 to 5 hours depending on road condition and traffic.
Lunch and morning Activities depend on your flight out.
Morning Option: The Top of the World Hike – 3-hour hike up a mountain passing 3 Crater Lakes, Hamlets and farms, tea plantations. From the top, you see the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon, Queen Elizabeth Park, and the surrounding countryside.
The Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari includes – All Permits and activities except where it says optional. All lodging, full-board is included except drinks, tips, laundry at lodges. The Vehicle used is a Land Cruiser 4×4 vehicle with pop-up roof for best Wildlife Viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Contact us about this 7-Day Luxury – Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari