5-Day Gorilla, Lions and Chimpanzee Tracking at Kalinzu

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Transfer from Kigali, Rwanda to Bwindi Forest National Park

Gorilla Explorer guide will pick you up at Kigali Airport or downtown Kigali and drive you to Bwindi National Park. The 4 to 5-hour scenic drive to Uganda will go through Rwanda’s northern town of Ruhengeri where you will cross over into Uganda via the Cyanika. The trip continues through the nearby towns of Kisoro and finally into Bwindi National Park. Arriving at the park early afternoon will allow you to choose from our optional activities such as hiking, visiting the Batwa community, or trying your hand at the local industry: coffee making.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February (Gorilla trekking is easiest)

High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeRare

ElephantRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)

+41 Photos

+40 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park

After an early morning breakfast, we will have a short drive to the Bwindi National Park gate to receive a gorilla-trekking briefing. The national park guide will conduct the presentation that covers the basics of what to expect during the gorilla trek and how to act to ensure the safety of both guests and the gorillas. Once you are assigned to a group, our adventure into the rainforest begins! Follow your guide through dense vegetation until you encounter these impressive creatures in their natural habitat. Depending on how far inside the forest the gorillas are, the trek can take from between 3 hours up to 8, but most last between 3 and 6 hours. After the gorilla trek, we will take you back to the lodge to enjoy a well-deserved dinner and an evening of relaxation.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha Sector

We will start the journey in the morning from Bwindi National Park and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The tour will take you through the stunning landscapes of western Uganda and get you to the park by early afternoon. We will drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for the tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts at the Kasenyi Plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees to enjoy the warm temperatures. While the sighting of the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, a stopover at Ishasha is well worth a visit!

Main Destination:

Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)

Best Time To Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional

ElephantCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloCommon

HippoAbundant

LeopardOccasional

Show more

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

The Bush Lodge (Banda)

• Mid-range banda located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP

+8 Photos

+7 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Kasenyi Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

We start our action-packed fourth day with an early morning breakfast at the lodge. Afterward, we proceed to the famed Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot various species of wild animals. The Kasenyi plains are found in the vast savannahs of the Albertine Rift in Queen Elizabeth National Park and it will be a morning full of adventure! Expect to encounter lions, herds of buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, topi, and bushbucks. While spotting the ‘big five’ in the park is not guaranteed, on a lucky day, you may sight leopards to make it the ‘big four.’ We will return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, join the Kazinga Channel boat cruise for an afternoon of wild game viewing. We’ll have the chance to spot crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and a wide range of bird species on the channel waters.

Main Destination:

Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda)

Accommodation:

The Bush Lodge (Banda)

• Mid-range banda located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest & Departure

After an early morning breakfast, we will drive to the Kalinzu Forest to experience tracking the chimpanzees in their forest home. Visitors to Kalinzu Forest have more than a 50% chance of encountering these creatures. Kalinzu Forest is not only a haven for chimps but it’s also home to 6 more species of primates, and if you’re lucky, on the Kalinzu trek you might encounter other different colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys.
After our trekking adventure is over, it’s time to end the tour with the transfer to either Kigali or Kampala/Entebbe.

Main Destination:

Kalinzu Forest Reserve (Chimps)

Best Time To Go January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

High Season June to September (But it’s seldom busy)

Best Weather

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.