Gorilla and Chimp Fly-in safari in Uganda
Iconic Africa Safaris offers an exciting 5-day gorilla and chimp fly-in safari, taking you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale Forest National Park. This safari allows you to see the major primates in Uganda, including mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, in their natural habitats.
Summary of the 5 Days Gorilla and Chimp Fly-in Safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Entebbe Airport for your domestic flight to Bwindi
Our guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Entebbe Airport for your internal flight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The flight lands either at Kihihi (for the north and eastern parts of Bwindi NP) or Kisoro Airstrip (for the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park). Upon landing, our guide or vehicle will transfer you by road to your respective overnight lodge. You can choose to fly in the morning or afternoon. Morning flights depart Entebbe for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at 7:45 am, while afternoon flights depart Entebbe at 3:30 pm. For the southern part of Bwindi NP, there is only one morning flight that departs Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip daily at 7:45 am due to strong winds in the region. Internal flights to Bwindi NP take up to one and a half hours, depending on the routing of the day.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Lodge: Mahogany Springs\Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
- Flight time: One to one and a half hours
- Drive time: Approximately 1-2 hours
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Early in the morning, after breakfast with your packed lunch, you will go to the park headquarters for registration and join other trackers for a briefing on the dos and don’ts during your gorilla tracking at 7:45 am. You will trek through thick creepers and undergrowth with your guides to find the gorillas, which can take half an hour to three-quarters of the day. The steeply forested landscape is dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access to tourists. It’s an extraordinary feeling to be with these beautiful yet endangered creatures.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Lodge: Mahogany Springs\Nkuringo Gorilla Camp/Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Day 3: Domestic flight to Kasese Airstrip and Drive to Kibale Forest National Park for overnight
After breakfast, you will drive back to Kisoro/Kihihi for a flight to Kasese Airstrip. Upon arrival, you will be picked up by your driver guide and driven to Kibale Forest National Park for overnight stay.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Lodge: Buffalo Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge
- Flight time: One to one and a half hours
- Drive time: Approximately 1-2 hours
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Community Walk
After breakfast, you will drive to Kibale National Park Headquarters for a briefing on the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee trekking. You will be divided into small groups of six people, led by one guide, who will then take you into the forest to find one of the chimpanzee families. Chimpanzees live in communities of between 50-250 individuals but usually break up into small parties during the day to reduce competition for food. They then regroup in the evening to build their nests. Once you find the chimps, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them before returning to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will head out for a wetland walk in the nearby Bigodi Village. Kibale National Park is famous for its 15 recorded primate species and several bird species.
- Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
- Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge or Papaya Lake Lodge
- Meals: All Meals Included
- Drinks: Drinking Water
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Drive back to Kasese Airstrip for your Domestic flight back to Entebbe
After breakfast, you will transfer to Mweya or Kasese Airstrip for your flight to Entebbe, marking the end of your 5 Days Gorilla and Chimp Fly-in safari.
