5 Days Bwindi and Kibale Safari | Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale, Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi, and the Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha Along the Way
This 5 Days Bwindi and Kibale Safari is built entirely around Uganda’s primate strongholds, opening with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, home to the highest density of primates anywhere in East Africa, before continuing south through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, genuine tree-climbing lion territory, on to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for a full day of mountain gorilla trekking.
Along the way, a stop at the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary adds a further, genuinely rewarding wildlife dimension: red colobus monkeys, sitatunga antelope, and a strong bird list including the great blue turaco and the rare papyrus gonolek.
Five days is enough to properly absorb both primate encounters without rushing either, and the Ishasha stopover en route to Bwindi turns what would otherwise be a long transfer day into a genuine wildlife-viewing opportunity in its own right.
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, Bigodi Nature Walk
Your driver-guide picks you from your location in Kampala for the roughly six-hour drive west to Kibale Forest National Park, with stops to stretch and for lunch along the way. En route, you’ll pass the region’s scenic crater lakes before arriving at your lodge.
In the afternoon, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a reserve genuinely rich in butterflies, plant life, and birds, including the spectacular great blue turaco and the rare papyrus gonolek, alongside more elusive residents like the red colobus monkey and sitatunga antelope. The visit also offers a chance to see local community projects funded directly by tourism revenue. Dinner and an overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge for mid-range travelers, Isunga Lodge for budget, or Chimpundu Lodge for luxury.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking
After breakfast, head to Kibale’s park headquarters for a briefing before entering the forest to track the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The search typically takes two to five hours, and once found, you’ll spend a genuine hour in their presence, watching them swing through the canopy high above the forest floor. Return to the lodge for lunch, and spend the afternoon at leisure, with the option to visit the Top of the World viewpoint and further crater lakes nearby. Dinner and a second overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha
Depart early for the roughly five-to-six-hour journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, routed through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, genuinely one of the only places in Africa where lions climb trees, and a real chance to spot them, along with other wildlife, along the way. Continue on to your lodge in Bwindi, checking in for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range travelers, Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget, or Mahogany Springs Lodge for luxury.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Experience
After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing before setting off into the forest. Trekking through Bwindi’s steep, densely forested hills before finally encountering the gorillas, camouflaged in the surrounding vegetation, is a genuinely inspiring, privileged moment.
The trek can take most of the day given the terrain and the gorillas’ unpredictable movement, and once found, you’ll spend a full hour in their presence before returning to meet your driver-guide and head back to the lodge. Dinner and a second overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, begin the roughly eight-to-nine-hour journey back to Kampala or Entebbe, with a stop at the Equator and for lunch along the way. On arrival, you’ll be dropped at a location of your choosing or taken directly to the airport for your departure flight, bringing your five days of Ugandan primate trekking to a close.
Safari Includes
- Pick-up and drop-off
- Gorilla permits ($800)
- Chimpanzee trekking ($200)
- All meals along the way
- 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel, private transport
- Full-time English-speaking guide/driver
- All accommodation as indicated in the itinerary, on full board
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water while on safari
Safari Excludes
- Air tickets and visa fees
- Tipping for driver, rangers, and lodge staff
- Optional activities
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, email, laundry, and beverages or meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Porterage and wait-staff gratuity
