5 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Kibale Chimpanzee Safari from Kigali
Our 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Kibale Chimpanzee Safari from Kigali allows you to explore both Rwanda and Uganda. During this safari, you will get to experience gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which hosts half the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas. You will also be tracking habituated chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. With pickup and drop off in Kigali, Rwanda; this safari also gives you the chance to explore Kigali city before heading to Bwindi national park.
Highlights for 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Kibale Chimpanzee Safari from Kigali
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 5: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary for 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Kibale Chimpanzee Safari from Kigali
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After an early breakfast on the first day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari from Kigali, our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel in Kigali and brief you about the safari. You will start with a brief tour of Kigali city where you will visit the Genocide Memorial Center and then start the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This drive takes about 6 hours and you will have a stopover for lunch en-route to the park. You will be entering Uganda via Katuna/Cyanika land border so you will have another stop to clear with immigrations at the border. Once you are done clearing with immigrations, you will proceed to the park arriving in the evening and check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari from Kigali, you will carry packed lunch and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters to join others for the briefing about the rules and regulations of trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the jungle which takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on their location.
During trekking you will be able to view other primates like l’Hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, view bird species, different plants among others and once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, playing, take photos and record the moments.
After the one hour with the gentle giants you will trek back to the starting point where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and later meet up with your driver guide to go for an optional cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the Batwa, learn about their culture, way of living, visit their homesteads, enjoy their cultural performances among others. After the cultural tour, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park
After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari from Kigali, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kibale National Park in western Uganda.
The journey will take you through Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will get a chance to view the tree climbing lions which will be lying up in fig tree branches. Tree climbing lions will be viewed alongside other animals like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs among others during the game drive.
After the game drive in Ishasha sector you will have lunch and then proceed to Kibale national park with stunning views of Rwenzori mountain ranges, crater lakes and tea plantations. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
After an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari from Kigali, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to Kanyachu visitors Centre for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of chimpanzee trekking.
After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on their location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primates, view bird species, plants among others.
Once the chimpanzees are spotted you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which helps you to learn about their behaviors, take photos, watch them play, feed, breastfeed, fight, mate, rest, record the moments among others.
After the face to face interaction with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch you will go for an interesting nature walk in Bigodi sanctuary, where you will have spectacular views of different plants, beautiful butterflies, bird species like the great blue turaco, primates like l’Hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys among others. After the swamp walk you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 5: Departure to Kigali
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari from Kigali, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kigali. You will have lunch en-route and arrive in Kigali in the evening and your driver guide will drop you off at a hotel of your choice or at Kigali international airport as you will advise.
End of 5 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzee safari from Kigali!
