3-Day Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Adventure

Prepare for an unforgettable primate-focused adventure with Terenga Safaris as you embark on a thrilling 3-day chimpanzee and mountain gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. Designed for travelers with limited time or those seeking a short but immersive wildlife experience, this itinerary combines the majestic Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the lush Kibale Forest National Park—two of Uganda’s premier primate destinations.

Ideal for last-minute travelers, budget-conscious adventurers, or anyone with a deep appreciation for great apes, this short safari offers remarkable value while delivering life-changing wildlife encounters. Over the span of three days, you will track wild chimpanzees in the forested landscapes of Kibale and engage in a once-in-a-lifetime trek through the misty slopes of Bwindi in search of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas.

Comfortable accommodations in Broadbill Safari Lodge provide en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and hearty local meals to enhance your stay. Each moment is thoughtfully planned—from your early morning departure in Kampala to your final journey back—ensuring a seamless and intimate East African safari experience.

This 3-Day Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking safari not only allows you to witness primates in their natural habitats but also to experience the beauty of Uganda’s scenery, including rural villages, crater lakes, and forested hills. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple, or part of a small group, this 3-day journey offers an accessible gateway into Uganda’s spectacular biodiversity.

Detailed 3-Day Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Adventure

Day 1: Pick-Up from Kampala and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Tracking – Transfer to Bwindi

Pick-Up from Kampala and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Tracking – Transfer to Bwindi

Your 3-Day Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking safari adventure begins at dawn. At 5:30 AM, our Terenga Safaris driver-guide, dressed in official Amakula African Safaris uniform, will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. After a warm welcome and briefing about the 3-Day Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking journey ahead, we set out westward toward Kibale Forest National Park, home to the highest concentration of chimpanzees in Uganda. This leg of the journey takes approximately 5–6 hours, but multiple stops will be made along the way for rest, photography, and an optional lunch break at a local restaurant with scenic views.

As you approach Kibale Forest, the air turns fresher and the vegetation thickens into dense green canopies. Upon arrival at the Kanyanchu Visitor Center, you’ll undergo a chimpanzee tracking briefing with park rangers. After being assigned to a tracking group, you’ll venture into the forest accompanied by a UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY guide who will help you locate the chimpanzee families by listening for calls, looking for nests, and following feeding trails.

Once you find the chimps, you’ll spend up to one hour observing their social interactions—watch them swing between trees, feed, and communicate. These interactions provide a deeply emotional and humbling experience that connects you with your evolutionary cousins in an extraordinary way.

After the trek, you’ll continue your scenic drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. This 3-Day Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Adventure journey—about 5 hours—winds through crater lakes, rolling tea plantations, and misty highlands. You’ll arrive at Broadbill Safari Lodge, your overnight accommodation near the Ruhija or Rushaga sector, just in time for a hot dinner and restful sleep.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge
Meals & Drinks: All meals included. Drinks included (Premium wines and liquors may be excluded).

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Relaxation at the Lodge

Day two of your 3-Day Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Adventure

safari marks the highlight of your journey—Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Wake up early for a hearty breakfast before heading to the park headquarters with your packed lunch and enough drinking water. At 7:30 AM, you’ll attend a pre-trek briefing conducted by UWA park rangers who will explain gorilla etiquette, safety protocols, and trekking procedures. You will then be assigned a gorilla family and ranger guides for the trek.

The trek itself can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the movement of the gorilla families. Bwindi’s steep slopes and dense vegetation make for an adventurous hike, but it’s worth every effort once you encounter the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Spend one magical hour observing the gorillas as they go about their daily activities—feeding, playing, resting, or nursing their young. The moment you lock eyes with a silverback or witness a juvenile tumbling in the undergrowth is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

After this life-changing experience, trek back to the starting point where you will receive your gorilla trekking certificate, marking your successful adventure. Return to Broadbill Safari Lodge for a late lunch, followed by an afternoon at leisure.

You can choose to rest at the lodge, enjoy a nature walk around the property, or simply sit on your balcony taking in the panoramic forest views while reflecting on your experience.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meals & Drinks: All meals included. Drinks included (Premium wines and liquors may be excluded).

Day 3: Transfer Back to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport

Transfer Back to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport

After an early breakfast at the lodge, your guide will begin the return 3-Day Uganda Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Adventure journey to Kampala or Entebbe. Expect to be on the road for approximately 8 to 10 hours, with opportunities for bathroom stops, photography breaks, and a lunch stop at a scenic restaurant along the way. The route back is equally picturesque, featuring views of terraced hills, banana plantations, and traditional homesteads.

Depending on your flight schedule or accommodation plans, you will be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or at your chosen hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. For travelers with late-night flights, Terenga Safaris can arrange a day room or extra night stay at an additional cost upon request.

This day marks the end of your 3-day Uganda primate trekking adventure, but the memories you’ve made—especially those soulful moments with the chimpanzees and gorillas—will stay with you for a lifetime. Our team will ensure that your journey ends as smoothly and warmly as it began.

Main Destination: Kampala or Entebbe
Accommodation: None (End of Tour)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast and lunch included. Drinks included (Premium wines and liquors may be excluded).