This 5 day Uganda Primate Safari starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda, combining mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park. The journey also offers a Batwa cultural experience and a guided walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
5 Day Uganda Primate Safari Highlights
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Batwa cultural experience
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk
- Scenic road trip from Kigali to Uganda
- Optional Kigali city tour
- Cross-border safari adventure
Summary of the 5 Day Uganda Primate Safari
Day 1: Pick-up in Kigali and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk
Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick-up in Kigali & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
On the first day of your 5 day Uganda primate safari, your professional driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kigali or Kigali International Airport and brief you about the journey.
Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an optional Kigali city tour featuring attractions such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, and the Inema Arts Centre.
Afterward, you will travel to the Cyanika border crossing into Uganda before continuing to the northern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Upon arrival in the late afternoon, check in at your lodge and relax.
Overnight: Four Gorilla Lodge – Mid-range Option
Meal plan: Half board
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Cultural Experience
After an early breakfast, collect your packed lunch and transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines.
You will then join a park ranger-guide to search for your assigned mountain gorilla family.
The trek may last between 30 minutes and seven hours, depending on the gorillas’ location and movement through the forest.
Once you find the gorillas, you will spend strictly one (1) hour observing their behavior and taking photographs, following the park’s guidelines of no flash and getting so close to the gorillas.
Afterwards, trek back to the starting point and meet your driver-guide for the return journey to the lodge.
Later in the afternoon, enjoy a Batwa cultural experience. Interact with members of the local community, learn about their traditional way of life, and experience their music, dances, and food preparation practices.
Overnight: Four Gorilla Lodge – Mid-range Option
Meal plan: Full board
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before departing for Kibale Forest National Park, one of Uganda’s leading destinations for chimpanzee trekking.
The journey takes you through scenic countryside and Fort Portal, with lunch en route. Upon arrival, check in at your booked lodge and relax ahead of the following day’s chimpanzee tracking experience.
Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Mid-range Option
Meal plan: Full board
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking rules and regulations.
You will then enter the forest with a ranger-guide to search for chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The trek’s duration depends on the chimpanzees’ location and movement.
Once you find them, you will have one hour to observe their behavior, including feeding, playing, grooming, and interacting with other members of their community.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk, offering opportunities to spot birds, monkeys, and other wildlife while learning about the wetland’s ecology.
Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Mid-range Option
Meal plan: Full board
Day 5: Transfer Back to Kigali
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before checking out and beginning your return journey to Kigali. Lunch will be taken en route.
Upon arrival in Kigali, your driver-guide will drop you off at your hotel, Kigali International Airport, or another agreed location, depending on your travel arrangements.
This marks the end of your 5 day Uganda Primate Safari from Kigali.
Estimated Cost of the 5 Day Uganda Primate Safari
The cost of this 5 day Uganda Primate safari depends on the number of travelers, accommodation category, travel season, and transport arrangements.
The following tables provide estimated per-person prices to help you plan your trip.
Peak-Season Prices
| Travelers | Budget (From) | Mid-range (From) | Luxury (From) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | US$2,110 pp | US$2,475 pp | US$4,627 pp |
| 3 people | US$2,000 pp | US$2,340 pp | US$3,867 pp |
| 4 people | US$1,700 pp | US$1,863 pp | US$3,800 pp |
Low-Season Prices
| Travelers | Budget (From) | Mid-range (From) | Luxury (From) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | US$2,035 pp | US$2,175 pp | US$3,825 pp |
| 3 people | US$1,880 pp | US$2,057 pp | US$3,634 pp |
| 4 people | US$1,650 pp | US$1,813 pp | US$3,475 pp |
Note: Prices are estimates and should be confirmed at the time of booking. PP means per person.
Safari Inclusions of 5 Day Uganda Primate Safari
- Mountain gorilla trekking permit: US$800 per person
- Chimpanzee trekking permit: US$250 per person
- Guided Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified in the itinerary
- Ground transportation in a 4WD safari vehicle
- Fuel for the safari
- Bottled drinking water during the safari
Safari Exclusions
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Optional activities not specified as included in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses, including souvenirs, crafts,
- Alcoholic drinks
- Laundry
- Porter fees
- Tips & gratuities
Plan Your 5 Day Uganda Primate Safari
Ready to explore Bwindi and Kibale on a 5 day Uganda Primate Safari? Contact Silverback Gorilla Safaris at info@silverbackgorillasafaris.com to check permit availability, confirm your preferred accommodation, and customize your safari.