3-Day Uganda Gorillas and Chimp Trek at Kalinzu Forest

We will pick you up at Kigali International Airport or downtown Kigali and drive you to Bwindi National Park. The scenic drive to Uganda will go through western Rwanda via the Gatuna-Kigali highway. We will cross over into Uganda via the Gatuna/Katuna border post. The trip continues through the nearby towns of Kabale, a  small town nestled into the luscious greenery at the feet of the Kigezi Highlands and the hills adjacent to Lake Bunyonyi. We will wind through the mountain roads through the towns of Ntugamo, Ishaka, ad Bushenyi to our final destination — Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving early afternoon. Spend the afternoon wildlife viewing along the Kazinga channel with a chance to see hippos, elephants, buffaloes, and a range of rare birds. After the Kazinga channel boat trip, we drive to the lodge for check-in, dinner & overnight.

Meal plan: Lunch & Dinner

After early morning breakfast, we will drive to the Kalinzu Forest to trek the chimpanzees in their forest home. If you are lucky on the trek, you might encounter other species of monkeys in the Kalinzu forest. These include the colobus monkey, olive baboon, and red-tailed monkey. Kalinzu Forest Reserve is a haven for trekking chimps in Uganda. Given the Kalinzu forest’s proximity to Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu forest is a recommended area to trek chimpanzees, especially for clients who want to fit chimp trekking into a short gorilla trek. After the Kalinzu chimp trek, we shall drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park via the Ishaka-Kabale highway. If time permits, visit the Batwa Village at the Echuya Forest Reserve before continuing to Lake Mutanda/Lake Mulehe area for dinner/overnight.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today is the main event, our Uganda gorilla trek! You will embark on a full-day adventure to track the mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This national park is Uganda’s smallest national park, making it THE second destination for gorilla tracking after the more famous Bwindi National Park. The trek will begin with a short briefing on gorilla trekking rules to ensure guests’ safety and the protection of these animals in their natural habitat. You will then start the trek into the Mgahinga forest to encounter the gentle giants of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.​ This is a true adventure, and part of the excitement is finding the gorillas. Follow the guides as they make paths through the thick vegetation until the special moment that you encounter these majestic creatures. It is a truly unique experience and will surely be one of the standout moments of your trip. After the gorilla trek, head back downhill to the national park gate, and we drive to Kigali city. The drive to Kigali, which will go through the Cyanika (Kyanika) land border crossing, will take ~5hrs.

Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch