A gorillas and chimpanzees safari lets you meet Africa’s two great apes on one trip. First, you hike into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to spend an hour with a family of mountain gorillas. Then you follow noisy, fast-moving chimpanzees through the forests of Kibale or beyond. After all, chimps share about 98% of our DNA. If you look deep into a chimpanzee’s eyes, an intelligent, self-assured personality looks back at you. As a result, many travellers say the two treks together are the highlight of their lives.
In fact, Uganda is the best place in Africa for this combination. It is home to around half of the world’s mountain gorillas and roughly 5,000 chimpanzees, more than any other country in East Africa. At Roots Tours & Travel, we plan tailor-made primate safaris that link both experiences smoothly.
To start, browse some of our popular trips that include gorillas, chimps or both.
Our 12 day Uganda safari gives you the bragging rights of having done it all. First, you enjoy game drives on the savannah of Murchison Falls and a dramatic boat ride to the falls. Next, you walk with chimps in Kibale Forest. Then, you search for lions and leopards in
Our 2 day Lake Mburo safari is a short, easy wildlife break from Kampala or Entebbe. In just one night away, you can enjoy two game drives, a nature walk and the open, rolling scenery of Lake Mburo National Park. As a result, it is ideal if you have a
Our 3 day Queen Elizabeth safari brings you to one of the most varied wildlife parks in Uganda. Imagine a cool afternoon game drive under a bright sun. You move slowly past herds of Uganda kob, giant forest hogs and warthogs, and you may even spot lions or leopards. Then,
Our 3 day Kibale chimpanzee safari takes you into one of the best primate forests in Africa. The famous chimpanzees of Kibale Forest National Park are wild. However, they have been habituated, so they are not afraid of people, and you can get close to them. In addition, you walk
Our 3 day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari is the quickest way to meet mountain gorillas from Kampala or Entebbe. Your trip to Uganda is not really complete without the full gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. If you are looking for a challenge, you have found it. The
This 4 day gorilla trekking and volcano hike takes you to Kisoro, in the far southwest corner of Uganda. First, you track mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Then, you spend a full day exploring the sleeping volcanoes, forests and cultural trails of the area. You need to be
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-western Uganda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to many habituated gorilla families. First, each trek starts with a briefing from the rangers. Then you hike through steep, thick forest until you find your family. The search can take from one hour to most of a day. Once you find them, you spend one magical hour watching the gorillas feed, play and rest. If you want even more time, ask us about the four-hour gorilla habituation visit.
Kibale Forest National Park is the top destination for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Established in 1993, it is home to 13 primate species. Here, your chances of seeing chimps are very high. Treks mostly follow the Kanyanchu primate trail, where you may also spot several other monkeys. Moreover, the calls and hoots from the forest keep you excited as you search.
In Kibale, treks start three times a day, at 8:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Each one begins with a briefing at the park headquarters by skilled guides, who then lead you into the forest. Usually, the walk lasts about three hours, depending on where the chimps are. Also, groups are limited to six people, and trekkers must be over 16 years old. Once you find the chimps, you get one hour to watch them, take photos and enjoy their behaviour. Alternatively, you can spend a whole day with them on the chimpanzee habituation experience.
Kyambura Gorge lies on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, a park famous for savannah wildlife and birds. Although it is small, the gorge is home to a group of habituated chimpanzees. In addition, it offers beautiful scenery, with a sunken forest, rivers and wildlife you may spot along the trek.
Kalinzu Forest sits close to Queen Elizabeth National Park, and many rank it second only to Kibale for chimp trekking. Here, visitors above 12 years can join the trek, which lasts about three hours. Kalinzu permits are usually easy to get and affordable, at about $50 per person for foreign non-residents. However, rates can change, so we will confirm them when you book.
Budongo Forest is one of East Africa’s lesser-known chimp destinations. It lies close to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. Here, treks run in the morning and the afternoon, and you have a good chance of finding chimps. Besides the chimpanzees, you can also spot monkeys, baboons and other primates resting in the trees.
Kibale and Bwindi both lie in western Uganda, with Queen Elizabeth National Park in between. Therefore, a classic route runs from Kibale for chimps, through Queen Elizabeth for game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat trip, then south to Bwindi for gorillas. For example, our 5-day gorillas and chimps trip from Kigali follows this idea. You can also explore our wider range of Uganda primate safaris.
First of all, you need a separate permit for each trek. The Uganda Wildlife Authority sets gorilla and chimp permit prices and changes them from time to time. Chimp trekking costs vary by forest, from about $50 to $300 per person. Meanwhile, we will confirm the current rates for both permits when you enquire. Because gorilla permits sell out first, book early. Read our guide to securing gorilla permits for details.
You can track both apes all year round. That said, the dry months from June to September and December to February make forest trails easier. Our guide to the best months to see gorillas explains each season. So, take the first step and contact us for a free gorillas and chimpanzees safari itinerary.
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