You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel). Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost.
You will be picked up from Entebbe airport or Hotel or Kampala and Depart for a 5 hour picturesque drive through western Uganda to Fort Portal Town. A beautiful drive with scenic views of tea plantations, green mountain backdrops and the people and their cultures along the road.
Once in Fort portal, you can decide with your private Chimp Habituation driver/guide to visit the amazing caves that are surrounded by the creator lakes. Inside these beautiful caves are historical myths about the Bachwezi people with associated geographical features such as the breast-like pointed pillars stalactites and the stalagmites locally called the “Amabeere ga Nyinamwiru”. This mythical story about the Bachwezi people and their culture that will blow your mind. You’ll retire to your booked lodge and prepare for the following day which will equally be an exciting day as you spend time with the Chimps.
Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Forest
Accommodation:
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest lodge/Isunga Lodge/ Kibale Forest Camp
Mid range: Turaco Tree Tops Lodge
Luxury: Primate Lodge/ Tabebuia Hotel/ Ndali Lodge
Meals: Lunch & Dinner (Breakfast Not Included)
Drinks: Drinking Water
After breakfast head to Kibale Forest National Park headquarters for a briefing and you be assigned a chimp group that you’ll either be tracking or going for a habituation experience. For Chimpanzee habituation, you’ll really have to wake up very early to able to meet the Chimps before they wake up from their nests to embark on a breakfast foraging. You will then follow these animals throughout the day.
This 3 Day Chimp Habituation or Trekking tour will expose you to Chimpanzees, the black and white colobus monkeys, the bush baby, grey checked mangabey, red tailed monkeys as well as the different bird species that you encounter along your trekking journey. There are about 138 species of birds including the black bee eater and the crowned eagle that have been recorded in Kibale National Park.
You will have a late lunch at your lodge (particularly for who will have opted for Chimp tracking). After lunch, you will visit the Bigodi swamp which is privately owned by the local community. This swamp is habitat to more than 10 primates species and is also an excellent place for bird watchers. Some animals like the Warthogs can also be seen in this swamp. Since this walk in Bigodi wetland is designed and managed by the local community surrounding the park, all the fees you pay for the walk directly goes to benefit the local community living around Kibale National Park. As Encounter Africa Safaris, we encourage our clients to take part in this walk as the money raised from it helps the communities to sustainably manage and utilize this wetland
Main Destination: Kibale forest National Forest
Accommodation:
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest lodge/Isunga Lodge/ Kibale Forest Camp
Mid range: Turaco Tree Tops Lodge
Luxury: Primate Lodge/ Tabebuia Hotel/ Ndali Lodge
Meals: All Meals Included
Drinks: Drinking Water
After your breakfast, you will be driven to Kampala or Entebbe for your post tour accommodation or you may choose to fly out of Uganda today.
Main Destination: Entebbe
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Drinks: Mineral Water
Gorilla permits: We encourage you to book gorilla permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla permits are served on first come first serve at Uganda wildlife Authority. Please contact us so that we book them for you.
Cost of the gorilla permit: The gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD800 for Non-Foreign residents, USD700 for East African Foreign Residents, USD500 for Rest of Africa Residents and UGX300,000 for East African Citizens, cost applies for trekking in Both Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla trekking Regions: Bwindi has 4 gorilla trekking sectors namely Buhoma, Ruhaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija. We shall book for you accommodation in respect to the permits location.
Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country.
Packing List: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain in Bwindi, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,
Age Limit: The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.
Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Bwindi has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.
Means of Transport: You can opt to fly or drive to Bwindi, Flights take 1-2 hours, and driving takes 8-9 hours drive to Bwindi. For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Land Cruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.
Best time to visit: Bwindi can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most prefered time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.
Gorilla trekking Regulations: Uganda Wildlife Authority has rules and regulations to adhere while on your gorilla trek.
Chances of Seeing the Gorillas: The chances of seeing gorillas are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.
Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it and communicate to your guide.
Gorilla Habituation experience: Bwindi has an option of spending 4 hours with the gorillas called gorillas habituation, the is only possible when you book a gorilla permit that costs USD1500 for Non- foreign residents, USD1000 for East African Residents, and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens
Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Bwindi namely Birding, Batwa cultural experience, Nature walks, Community visits. All these can supplement your gorilla trek in Bwindi.
Trip cost estimate: The cost of the 3day gorilla tour ranges from USD1300 to USD2860 per person, based on your travel style which is Budget to Luxury. The cost Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services.
About Bwindi: Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site, with half of the worlds gorilla population, it has more than 20 Habituated gorilla families in regions of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.
| 1 Person | USD 900 |
| 2 Persons | USD 490 |
| 3 Persons | USD 480 |
| 4 Persons | USD 450 |
| 5 Persons | USD 440 |
| 6 Persons | USD 440 |
Cost Includes: Airport transfers, transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle, fuel for the round trip, services of an English-speaking driver guide, all park entry fees, and drinking water in the vehicle.
Cost excludes visa fees, chimpanzee habituation permit, and all expenses of personal nature such as drinks, tips, or simply anything else not included in the itinerary.