A young chimpanzee sits on a sunlit rock, surrounded by the greenery of its forest home.

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Gorillas, Chimps and the Crater Lakes

A six-day primate-focused trip combining chimpanzee tracking in Kibale with a gorilla trek in Bwindi, via Fort Portal's crater lakes.

Enquire about this trip See the day by day

Duration6 Days / 5 Nights

Group size2 – 6 travellers

Best monthsJune – September, December – February

From$2,840 per person sharing

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The Trip in Short

Kibale National Park holds an estimated 1,500 chimpanzees across 766 square kilometres of forest, more habituated groups than anywhere else in East Africa, alongside twelve other primate species. Bwindi, four to five hours further south, holds the gorillas. Put the two together and you get the two great apes of Africa within a single week, which is roughly what this itinerary sets out to do.

Fort Portal sits conveniently between the two, its surrounding hills scattered with volcanic crater lakes and tea estates that make a natural, scenic place to break the drive rather than push straight through. This is a moderately paced trip: two forest treks, two long but manageable drives, and enough slack built in that neither trek feels rushed against the schedule.

It suits travellers who have done a standard game-drive safari before, or who simply want primates over plains game as the focus of the trip.

Park entry fees and gorilla and chimp permits in Uganda are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Highlights

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary community walk
Fort Portal tea estates and crater lakes en route
Views of the Rwenzori 'Mountains of the Moon'

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Where You Go, Stop by Stop

Day 1

Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park

Day 2

Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Wetland walk

Day 3

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 4

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Day 5

Bwindi to Fort Portal crater lakes

Day 6

Return to Entebbe

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Entebbe to Kibale

A drive west of around five to six hours via Fort Portal's tea plantations, with the Rwenzori range, known locally as the Mountains of the Moon, visible in the distance on a clear afternoon. Arrival at a lodge on Kibale's edge in time for dinner.

Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Wetland

An 8am start from the Kanyanchu trailhead, tracking one of Kibale's habituated chimp communities through mixed forest alongside colobus, red-tailed and L'Hoest's monkeys. In the afternoon, a gentler walk through the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, good for hornbills, primates and, with luck, the shy sitatunga antelope.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi

A long drive south, four to five hours, into the hills of the southwest and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving in the afternoon with the evening free to settle in ahead of the trek.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking

A briefing at park headquarters followed by a trek of two to six hours, depending on the assigned family's overnight movement, then a fixed hour of observation once found. An easier afternoon back at the lodge.

Day 5: Bwindi to Fort Portal

The return drive north, broken by a stop at the Fort Portal crater lakes for lunch and a short walk around one of the smaller lakes before continuing to your lodge for the night.

Day 6: Return to Entebbe

The final leg east back to Entebbe, roughly five hours, with a stop for lunch along the way.

From

$2,840

Enquire about this trip

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What the Price Covers

Included

5 nights' accommodation, full board
Chimpanzee tracking permit ($250)
Gorilla trekking permit ($800)
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk fee
Private 4x4 vehicle and driver-guide throughout
All park entrance fees

Not included

International flights and Uganda visa
Porter fees for the gorilla trek (optional, recommended)
Alcoholic drinks
Tips
Travel insurance

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Before You Book

Is chimp tracking as physically demanding as gorilla trekking?

Generally less so. Kibale's terrain is flatter and the habituated groups tend to range less widely than gorilla families, so treks are typically shorter, though chimps move fast once found and following them can mean a brisk pace.

Can chimpanzee habituation experience replace standard tracking?

Yes, a longer half-day habituation experience with a research group is available at extra cost and gives considerably more time with the chimps than the standard one-hour tracking permit.

What is the vehicle and driving like between parks?

A private 4x4 throughout; the Kibale to Bwindi road is tarmac for much of the distance with a rougher final stretch, generally a comfortable if long day.

Should we do Kibale or Bwindi first?

This itinerary runs Kibale first because it is the shorter, gentler trek, letting you build confidence before the more demanding Bwindi day; it can be reversed on request.

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Where This Trip Goes

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Semuliki National Park

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Gorillas, Chimps and the Crater Lakes