6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest National Park & Queen Elizabeth National Park Chimpanzee Safari

(6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest National Park & Queen Elizabeth National Park Chimpanzees Safari explores Kibale Forest and Kyambura Gorge in South West Uganda which are two of the best places in the world to view chimpanzees in the wild with virtually guaranteed sightings.)

6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest & Queen Elizabeth Park Safari

Kibale Forest & Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari View Discounted Prices - Book Now!

6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest National Park & Queen Elizabeth National Park Chimpanzees Safari explores Kibale Forest and Kyambura Gorge in South West Uganda which are two of the best places in the world to view chimpanzees in the wild with virtually guaranteed sightings.

This chimpanzee safari not only allows you to come face-to-face with our closest living relatives, but also offers a fascinating insight into the complex social behavior of chimpanzees.

Starting in Kibale Forest National Park, home to over 700 chimps and 13 species of primates, you will head out at sunrise to watch the chimps waking in the tree tops, before following them as they play, fight, mate and patrol the borders of their forest home.

You then continue to the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, a spectacular river valley carved into the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, descending the valley floor, to search for the chimps who live here.

All the while, you will have experts on hand to explain the group’s behavior and discuss the ongoing conservation issues faced by the chimpanzees in today’s Uganda.

Whilst the focus of this tour is very much on the primates, there is also time to search for tree climbing lions and other big game in Queen Elizabeth, as well as the chance for some exciting boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel and opportunities to visit colorful local villages.

6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest - Queen Elizabeth Safari Summary

Day 1: Kampala – Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

Day 2: Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking

Day 3: Kibale Forest – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth – Return Drive to Kampala

6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest - Queen Elizabeth Safari Prices

Notes

* Track and study wild chimpanzees and meet leading primatologists

* Safari Includes a donation to Jane Goodall Institute and a local charity
* Follow troops of up to 100 chimpanzees in Kibale Forest & Kyambura Gorge
* Includes game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park boat safaris and village visits

6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest - Queen Elizabeth Safari Prices Include:

* Guide expertise

* Minimum age 16 years

* Bottled water throughout

* Two chimpanzee permits

* Local guides and trackers

* Full board basis unless otherwise shown

* All accommodation on a twin/ double room

* All transport, services of English-speaking guides

* Game drives, nature walks and boat safaris as shown

* Expertise and financial support of fully bonded tour operator

6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest - Queen Elizabeth Safari Prices Exclude:

* Airfares
* Visa Fees
* Personal Insurance
* Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities

6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest - Queen Elizabeth Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Kampala – Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

After being welcomed in Entebbe/ Kampala by your guide, you will enjoy a coffee and a briefing on the trip ahead, before driving towards Kibale, a journey of around 6 hours, including stops for lunch through fantastic scenery, with plenty of stops for photography.

Arrive late afternoon at the comfortable Primate Lodge, situated in the heart of Kibale Forest National Park or similar. With eight unique safari tents in classic East African style, each of the comfortable rooms are raised on a wooden platform, with a spacious private veranda overlooking the forest.

The comfortable lounge area is centered around a welcoming fire place to warm yourself during in the evenings. The rest of the day is yours to relax at the lodge or take time to explore nearby crater lakes.

Accommodation Options:

Midrange Accommodation: Chimps Nest

Budget Accommodation: Ataco Country Resort

Luxury Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge or Primate Lodge

Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 2: Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking
This morning is an early start as you head into Kibale forest with the chimpanzee team and hopefully enjoy your first encounter with the chimpanzees. This moist evergreen forest is well known for its large number of chimpanzees (thought to be up to 700) but is also home to a host of other primates.

Not only will you track the Chimpanzees with guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority but you will have the opportunity to study and observe their movements and behavior Depending on where the chimpanzees nested the night before, it may take anything from ten minutes to over an hour to reach the nesting site.

You can expect to watch silhouettes of chimpanzees in the trees, often a noisy affair, with a dawn chorus of contact calls and pant hoots. When the chimps have been located, you can then spend one hour in their company as your guides explain the group dynamics and relationships.

After returning to the lodge for lunch, you then spend the afternoon walking through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds.

Spectacular birds like the Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders whereas the swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope.

There is also the opportunity to visit local community projects that have been financed by tourism.

Accommodation Options:

Midrange Accommodation: Chimps Nest

Budget Accommodation: Ataco Country Resort

Luxury Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge or Primate Lodge

Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 3: Kibale Forest – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning you continue your journey south on to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to Uganda’s highest number of mammal species including large herds of elephants, the Uganda Kob, (an endemic antelope), buffaloes and the famous tree climbing lions, before arriving at the newly opened Kyambura Lodge or similar.

Originally a coffee plantation and storage plant, the 4 banda’s have been sensitively refurbished and now offer spectacular views across Kyambura Gorge with the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains in the distance. After lunch at the lodge, you are then free to relax or explore the surrounding area.

Accommodation Options:

Midrange Accommodation: Katara Lodge

Budget Accommodation: Enganzi Lodge

Luxury Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge/ Kyambura Lodge

Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning is an early start as you head back out in to the Queen Elizabeth National Park to look for Big Game. What you see depends on the season, but the Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Uganda kob whereas the Mweya peninsula offers excellent game drives with magnificent views across the water to the Rwenzori Mountains.

Mweya is also one of the best places to look for leopard, which live in the dense, scrubby thickets. Time permitting visit the Kyambura Women's Coffee Cooperative and its coffee processing station or the wetland reserve to spot birds.

After returning to the lodge for lunch, you will embark on another game drive in this largely open and scenic park, before returning to the lodge for the evening. Please note there is the chance to enjoy a morning’s chimpanzee walk instead of the game drive on a payment of a small supplement.

Accommodation Options:

Midrange Accommodation: Katara Lodge

Budget Accommodation: Enganzi Lodge

Luxury Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge/ Kyambura Lodge

Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today you will go chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge itself, which lies on the eastern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park, right in front of the lodge. The steeply forested walls of Kyambura are home not only to chimpanzees but also to the red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus, giant forest hog and many bird species.

A half day walk down to the Gorge is a rewarding experience, not only for seeing chimpanzees but also to explore the beautiful river valley. As you walk along the top of the Gorge, you will have a wonderful aerial view of the valley itself, with the Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop before descending into the gorge.

The resident chimpanzee researcher will be on hand here to tell you the history of the chimpanzees themselves and the recent introduction of a buffer zone around the gorge as a conservation initiative.

You then return to Kyambura for your lunch, before heading out on a final game drive, passing through the Ishasha area looking out for the famous tree climbing lions.

This evening you can enjoy a your farewell meal with the group where you can toast a successful chimpanzee safari with your guides.

Accommodation Options:

Midrange Accommodation: Katara Lodge

Budget Accommodation: Enganzi Lodge

Luxury Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge/ Kyambura Lodge

Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner}

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth – Return Drive to Kampala
This morning after saying good bye to the team, you will return to the park for one final game drive before returning to Entebbe/ Kampala.

Meal Plan: {Breakfast and Lunch}

Booking & Reservations for 6 Days/ 5 Nights Kibale Forest National Park & Queen Elizabeth National Park Chimpanzees Safari - Uganda

Booking Office Tel: + 254 (0) 20 2437871
Mobile : + 254 (0) 721242711

Email: info@africanspicesafaris.com