5-Day Gorilla, Lions and Chimpanzee Tracking at Kalinzu
Overview
Tour Overview
The 5-Day Gorilla, Lions, and Chimpanzee Tracking experience at Kalinzu Forest Reserve in Uganda is an immersive wildlife adventure that allows participants to
Day by Day
Itinerary
Transfer from Kigali, Rwanda to Bwindi Forest National Park
Day 1Transfer from Kigali, Rwanda to Bwindi Forest National Park 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
Day 2Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park 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
Day 3Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha Sector 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
Day 4Kasenyi Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise 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
Day 5Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest & Departure 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 End of tour (See Getting There for more details)End of tour (See Getting There for more details) Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport. Interested in This Tour? Request a Quote We advise requesting quotes from 3 operators (Learn why) Requests are sent directly to the tour operator If preferred, you can contact the tour operator directly Next: Overview Next: Day by Day Next: Rates Next: Inclusions Next: Getting There Next: Offered By Best pric
What's covered
Included & Excluded
Included
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
- What is included in this tour
Not Included
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
What travellers say
Verified Reviews
Excellent, reliable and clear communication both before and our during trip. Excellent tour guide, went above and beyond to cater for our needs and recovered much lost time from our airline mishaps to make the trip a complete success. ...
I recently returned from a 12-day trip to Uganda, organised through Gorilla Explorers. Throughout, the communication from/with Chris at Gorilla Explorers was great, he was very responsive, provided lost of information and adjusted the trip...
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