4 Hours with Gorillas – All-Day with Chimpanzees plus Wildlife
7-Days in Africa on this Mid-Range Priced Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari in Uganda beginning in Kigali and ending in Entebbe
A Private 7-Day-Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari that gives you the greatest return for your money. For most being with a Gorilla Family on a Gorilla Trek where you have one hour with a Gorilla Family, is the Experience of a lifetime. The Gorilla Habituation Experience takes Gorilla Trekking to another level.
Not only do you spend 4-hours with a Gorilla Family, but you are all-day with a group of Chimpanzees and Researchers in Kibale Forest – the best park in East Africa for Chimpanzee Sightings.
Add on top of that, the abundant wildlife and scenery of Queen Elizabeth Park and you come up with the perfect Primate – Wildlife Safari in the Pearl of Africa.
This is a changeable Safari in regards to the number of days. It has one long drive-time Day from Rushaga to Queen Elizabeth Park, ower the day is broken up by activities such as a game drive in search of the Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha.
Safari Highlights
- Gorilla Habituation Experience – 4-Hours with a Gorilla Family
- Tree-Climbing Lions in Ishasha – Queen Elizabeth Park
- Lion Tracking Research with Collared Lions – Queen Elizabeth Park
- Wildlife Game Drives
- The Scenic Explosion Crater Drive with its Stunning Crater Lakes – Best Views in the Park.
- Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary Walk – a Jungle Swamp
- All-Day chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale Forest
- Optional Golden Monkey Trekking on Day 1
- Optional Buniga Forest – Batwa Forest Walk
Your 7-Day-Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari in Detail
Day 1 – Drive to Rushaga – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda:
Your private 7-Day-Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience-Wildlife Safari begins. We leave your hotel in Kigali for Rushaga. The drive time to Rushaga is about 4-hour plus depending on the Border Crossing – Visa for Uganda is 50 USD. You can also get an East African Visa from Rwanda Migration Ministry which you can get online.
Normally the border crossing is about 30 minutes and you are in Uganda heading for the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest through what is often called the Gorilla Highlands and Lake Mutanda.
We arrive in the Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where there are more and more mid-range lodging choices that you can choose below.
Lunch
Options: During the Afternoon you can take the Buniga Forest Walk with the Batwas – a Pygmy Tribe, the first people of the Rainforest in the area. They lived in harmony with nature until they were evicted from the Forests when the National Park was formed in 1991. This is a 3-hour activity and you can include a visit to their village. You will learn the ancient Batwa Culture of hunting and gathering.
Dinner
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodging: Bwindi Jungle Lodge
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Bwindi Jungle Lodge – Moderate $$:
This is a great newer lodge combining a base for Gorilla Trekking in the Rushaga Area with the added plus of being along Lake Mulehe with the Virunga Volcanoes providing a beautiful backdrop.
Private, en-suite cottages, consistent customer service, meals prepared with an Italian touch.
Nearby Hiking Trails, Village Visit, Canoe Boat ride on the lake, Birding, or relax and read a good book, it does not get any better.
The Southern area of Bwindi just got better with the addition of Bwindi Jungle Lodge and the menu comes with an Italian Touch that is much appreciated by our clients who stay in this lovely setting.
The lodge is 45 minutes away from Trekking and or the Habituation Locations. The Distance is offset by mid-range quality at a discounted price, views and ease of access to the roads to Queen Elizabeth Park and Kigali, Rwanda.
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Day 2 – Gorilla Habituation Experience – Rushaga:
Early Breakfast and take your packed lunch from the lodge, you need the right gear – have a daypack, 2 -liters of water, daypack, long trousers, gardening gloves for pulling yourself up on branches, long-sleeved shirt. waterproof boots, hat, rain jacket, use a walking stick and the services of a porter at a small cost.
Meet the researchers, trackers and guides and head for the location of your gorilla family group being habituated and your four hours in their presence and learning their ways.
With the trek in and trek out – the 4-hour Gorilla Habituation Experience – this is an all-day trek, not only do you see the Gorillas with only 4 participants, but you learn about the Gorillas habits and ways from the Gorillas and the Researchers.
Return to the trailhead and it is back to the lodge.
Here are some Tips – Advice for the Gorilla Habituation Experience
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Lodging: Bwindi Jungle Lodge
Day 3- Queen Elizabeth Park:
After Breakfast, we drive to Queen Elizabeth Park where we stop in the Ishasha Region to take a Game Drive in search of the Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha. This the best place in East Africa where you can readily see the Tree Climbing Lions sleep away the day. Besides Lions, there is a large Elephant – Buffalo Population here
Drive time from Rushaga to Ishasha is 5-hours depending on the road conditions that day.
Lunch at Savanna Resort before the Tree-Climbing Lion Game Drive
Continue to the northern area of the park where you check into your lodge. From Isasha to the Northern Area of the park it is 2-hours drive time.
Dinner
Meal Plan: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
Lodging: Enganzi Game Lodge
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Enganzi Game Lodge $$:
Enganzi Game Lodge – with that affordable extra added touch Enganzi Game Lodge offers quality and yet is affordable in price.
The View of the vast Savannah alone is worth a night’s stay here. Our Clients have enjoyed their stay here and you are offered more than comparable Lodges.
Enganzi Game Lodge is the perfect base while exploring the scenic Queen Elizabeth Park with its wildlife, explosion craters, the vast Kyambura Gorge, the endless Maramagambo Forest and more.
The large tented cottages come with a full bath and have extensive views down the Albertine Escarpment to Queen Elizabeth Park and the vastness of the Savannah that is before you..
Enganzi Game Lodge is also a family-friendly lodge open to children of all ages.
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Day 4- Queen Elizabeth Park:
Breakfast
Lion Tracking Research – here you are with Researchers from the Carnivore Project and track the Collared Lions, leopards in this part of the park, not only will you see lions, but a learning experience about the lions.
This Activity is not a normal Tourist Activity, however, our past clients have found it to be an activity not to be missed while in Queen Elizabeth Park.
Lunch
In the afternoon the fabulous Kazinga Channel Wildlife – Birding, Reptile Boat Safari that is one of the highlights of your Queen Elizabeth Park Visit.
This is a 2-Hour long Boat Safari, you will wish it was longer.
The Boat Safari can be taken with the Uganda Wildlife Authority Boat or with the smaller Mweya Safari Lodge Boat.
Dinner
Meal Plan: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
Lodging: Enganzi Game Lodge
Day 5- Kibale Forest:
Breakfast and at 6:30 am we take the 27 kilometer Explosion Crater Drive that was featured in National Geographic, It is the highest point in the park. Sunrise is a good time for picture taking here. The views are fantastic and you will see some wildlife such as Elephants.
After the Explosion Crater drive, we continue to Kibale Forest which is a 2 hour plus drive and check into your Lodge.
Lunch
Afternoon 3 PM – Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary Hike. This is a guided 3-hour hike through a Jungle Swamp, much of it is on planks that act like a boardwalk above the swamp. Your experienced guide is from the local community that has maintained the Wetlands for many years with thousands visiting each year.
During the Afternoon you might spot Chimpanzees, Colobus Monkeys, also baboons. The area is well-known for birds, the chief attraction is the Blue Turaco.
When it comes to Mammals you can see otters, bush pigs, mongoose, and the rare Sitatunga Antelope to name a few.
Meal Plan: Lunch – Dinner
Mid-Range Lodging Choices
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Isunga Lodge:
A newer moderately priced lodge that gives its guests value plus for their money. We have used this lodge with great success on our safaris and our Clients have responded more than positively.
There are 4 cottages with an en-suite bath in a very private setting. The food is prepared in a thoughtful manner and the service is excellent.
There are much higher cost moderately priced lodges in Uganda that do not match what you receive at Isunga Lodge.
Clients of ours who have stayed here have been more than enthusiastic about Isunga Lodge.
The Lodge is one of the newer ones around the park, it has, however, to be one of the best in terms of service, value, and meals served.
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Day 6 – Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Kibale Forest
Early Breakfast and you are off to meet with your Ranger-Guide who will take you into Kibale Forest where a Chimpanzee Group is being habituated, a process that takes up to two years. Habituation teaches the Chimpanzees to allow humans in their presence.
A chimp community can number over 100 members. Chimpanzees live in a relational social structure, the alpha males defend against other chimpanzees trying to move into the territory. Females are part of smaller family groups and nurture the young.
Way before you see the chimpanzees, you will hear their hooting calls in the distance. Soon you come upon them and spend one hour with them observing their ways and habits.
Normally you might see 4 to 6 primates here, many of the birds, the butterflies, mammals found here and of course the forest itself with its vegetation that is unique. On all-day habituation, you will see a lot more than on a trek.
It is important that you wear the right clothing and shoes and have at least 3 liters of water with you, plus a packed lunch
Lodging: Isunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 7 – Entebbe:
Breakfast
The Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – Wildlife Safari comes to an end. Today’s activities will depend on your flight departure out of Entebbe International Airport. The Drive-Time is 4 1/2 to 5 hours depending on what time of day we reach Kampala and the traffic there.
A DAy-Room can be arranged here for you until your flight out. We can also arrange for overnight Lodging.
Safari includes All Permits and activities except where it says optional. All lodging, full-board is included except drinks, tips, laundry at lodges.
Contact us about this 7-Day Moderately Priced Gorilla-Chimpanzee Habituation Experience – Wildlife Safari
