4-Day Gorillas, Wildlife, and Chimpanzee Trekking at Kalinzu Forest

See Tree-Climbing Lions

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest

Gorilla Trekking Bwindi NP

This 4-day adventure is the best of wildlife safaris in Uganda, offering you the opportunity to spot creatures from Uganda’s myriad of natural wonders. See the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, catch a glimpse of the tree-climbing lions, and venture into the natural wonderland that is Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve, famous for its numerous species of trees and primates.

Tour Highlights

Track the rare mountain gorillas through the mountains of Bwindi National Park

Spot the unique tree-climbing lions, as they lazily hang from candelabra trees in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Observe other animals in the QE National Park such as hippopotamus, leopards, and elephants

Follow the trails of chimpanzees through Kalinzu Forest, also home to six other species of primates

Explore the flora and fauna in Kalinzu Forest with its 414 species of trees and 378 species of birds

Click the Tabs to Find out More

Trip Details

Trip Details

Price

Adults (15-80): $2,870

Please inquire for the budget accommodation price, this is our mid-range accommodation tour

2 persons or more: $2,078 per person
3 persons or more: $1,924 per person
4 persons or more: $1,790 per person


Departure Time

Anytime between 7:00 am to 11:00 am Kigali time


Meeting Point

We offer pick-up to the following places for this experience:

  • Kigali city
  • Kigali International Airport

Availability

Monday to Sunday, year-round


Duration

4 days


Difficulty Level

Moderate – uphill trekking


Group size

1 to 5 persons


Included

  • Meals: 3 x breakfasts, 3 x dinners, 3 x lunches
  • Accommodation included: 3 nights
  • Transport in 4×4
  • Gorilla trekking permits ($700 per permit)
  • Park entrance fees:
    • Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
    • Queen Elizabeth National Park
    • Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve

Not Included

  • Optional activities (see tab 4)
  • Visas, travel insurance, and items of personal nature
  • Flights (domestic and international)

What to Bring

  • Hiking boots
  • Garden gloves
  • Rain jacket or poncho
  • Long-sleeved shirt/blouse
  • Cameras and extra batteries
  • Hat/cap and sunglasses
  • Pair of binoculars
  • Flashlight (torch)
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites

Participation Requirements

  • Age restriction: 15-80 years old
  • A valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • This tour is not wheelchair accessible
  • We advise against people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions participating on this tour
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

Good to Know

On day 2, depending on the availability of gorilla permits, we may propose trekking gorillas at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

What You’ll Do

We will pick you up at Kigali Airport or downtown Kigali and drive you to Bwindi National Park. The scenic 4-5-hour drive to Uganda will take you through Rwanda’s northern town of Ruhengeri and then cross over into Uganda via the Cyanika or Katuna border post. The trip continues through the nearby Kisoro or Kabale town and finally into Bwindi National Park. Arriving at Bwindi National Park in the early afternoon will allow you to do optional activities such as hiking, canoeing, or visiting the local community. ​

Today is a special day! The gorilla safari Uganda is famous for. You will head to Bwindi National Park immediately after breakfast to get a briefing about the gorilla trek. The presentation will cover the basics of what to expect during the trek, how to approach the animals for both your and their safety. The national park guide will assign all visitors a gorilla family to track and after that, your adventure begins. Depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest, the trek can last from 3 to 8 hours, the average time being between 3 and 5. Venture into the vegetation until you come across these incredible creatures, it is a truly unique experience. After the trek, you will return to the lodge to relax, eat dinner, and enjoy a good night’s sleep.

We will start the journey in the morning from the Bwindi National Park area and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through the Kabale-Ishaka-Bushenyi Road, with the stunning landscapes of southwestern Uganda and the area tea plantations. On arrival at Queen Elizabeth National Park, join the Kazinga Channel boat trip to enjoy possible sightings of hippos and elephants.

After breakfast, we will drive to Kalinzu Forest to experience tracking the chimpanzees in their forest home. Kalinzu Forest is a haven for chimp trekking in Uganda and visitors have more than a 50% chance of encountering the animals. If you are lucky, on the Kalinzu trek, you might encounter one of the 6 different species of primates that call the area home. These include the colobus monkey, the olive baboon, and the red-tailed monkey. After our exhilarating morning of wildlife sightings, it’s time to end the trip, and we will take you to Kigali or Kampala/Entebbe. The drive from Kalinzu Forest Reserve to Kigali or Entebbe/Kampala is about 6-7hrs.

Accommodation & Meals

We will choose from one of these lodges according to availability.

Optional Activities on Days 1 & 3:

  • Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – $90 USD
  • The Batwa Trail Cultural Tour inside Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – $80 USD
  • Visit the Batwa Community in the Village – $30 USD
  • Canoe Trekking at Lake Mutanda – $30 USD
  • Coffee-Making Experience – $30 USD
  • Mabungo Community Village Tour in Kisoro – $30 USD
  • Boat trip on the Mweya Peninsular – $30 USD

See our Local Experiences(opens in a new tab) page for more information on each activity.

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