Duration
3-Day
Accra, Botswana
Combine mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda with a visit to the Kalinzu Forest Reserve for chimpanzee trekking! Given Kalinzu Forest's proximity to the Ugandan gorilla parks and Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Kalinzu Forest Reserve is a recommended area for trekking chimpanzees, especially for clients who want to add chimp trekking to a short gorilla tour.
Plan snapshot
Duration
3-Day
Route
Kigali to Kigali
Via Queen Elizabeth NP, Kalinzu FR (Chimps), Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)
Country & park
Botswana
Style
Mid-range shared safari
Group size
1-12 travelers
Starts
Any day if available
Minimum age
15 years
Activities
gorilla trekking & chimpanzee trekking
Accommodation
Buffalo Safari Lodge - Mid-range lodge just outside Queen Elizabeth NP – Lunch & Dinner Included
Meals
Lunch & Dinner Included; All Meals Included
Pickup
Airport transfer included
Booking
Request quote
Currency
USD
Solo travelers
Can join this group tour
Rates
USD
Before booking
Quote flow
This mid-range tour uses lodges.
On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 4 people per group.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request changes to this tour.
Single travelers can join this group tour.
The minimum age for this tour is 15 years.
Day 1
Mid-range lodge just outside Queen Elizabeth NP – Lunch & Dinner Included
Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 2
Mid-range lodge just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 3
(No accommodation)
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Tour step
A transfer from the airport is not included. You can use a taxi, request your hotel to arrange a transfer or prearrange a transfer yourself. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1
We will pick you up from your booked hotel in Kigali at 7:00 AM and drive you to Queen Elizabeth 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 town of Kabale, a small town nestled amid lush greenery at the foot of the Kigezi Highlands and the hills adjacent to Lake Bunyonyi. We will wind through the mountain roads through the towns of Ntugamo, Ishaka, and Bushenyi to our final destination - Queen Elizabeth National Park - arriving early afternoon. Spend the afternoon wildlife viewing along the Kazinga Channel, where you can see hippos, elephants, buffalo, and rare birds. After the Kazinga Channel boat trip, we drive to the lodge for check-in, dinner, and overnight. Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 2
After 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 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 trekking, we will drive to Bwindi National Park via the Ishaka-Kabale road. Dinner and overnight at Bwindi National Park. Mid-range lodge located just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP) All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 3
Today is the main event - our Uganda gorilla trek! You will embark on a full-day adventure to track the mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park. The trek will begin with a short briefing on the rules of gorilla trekking to ensure guests’ safety and the protection of these animals in their natural habitat. You will then start the trek into the Bwindi Forest to encounter the gentle giants of Bwindi National Park. This is a true adventure; part of the excitement is finding the gorillas. Follow the guides as they make paths through the thick vegetation until the special moment 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, drive to Kigali for about 5 hours. We will drop you off at a hotel in Kigali. Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Tour step
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. A transfer back to the airport is not included. You can use a taxi, request your hotel to arrange a transfer or prearrange a transfer yourself.
Park fees (For non-residents)
Gorilla permits(One per person, non-resident)
Chimp permits(One per person, non-resident)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinking water (On all days)
International flights (From/to home)
Roundtrip airport transfer
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Offered by
Bamboo Ecotours is a Ugandan social enterprise that was founded to promote tourism as a means to transform communities out of poverty. We link travelers to authentic wildlife, cultural and local experiences that directly benefit the traveler and the local communities.
Office In
Uganda
Size
5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
Member Of
Association of Uganda Tour Operators
Tour Types
Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
Destinations
Rwanda, Uganda
Traveler feedback
Overall
5.0/5Communication
5.0/5Accuracy
5.0/5Value
5.0/5Safety clarity
5.0/5Cultural value
5.0/5My friend and I went on a 12 day tour with Bamboo. We started in Uganda and ended in Rwanda. They customized the tour with the activities we wanted to do. Edison, who is the owner, made the itinerary. He always answered my emails (which there were many) very promptly. Our guide/driver was Herbert, and he was amazing!! I actually cried when we said bye to him. He was friendly, caring, knowledgeable, has amazing eyesight and was able to spot animals far away, and was an amazing driver. We really had the best time with him!! This trip was amazing!! My friend and I are both vegan, and we had some issues at some of the lodges at the beginning of the trip, but then Herbert called the others in advance to give them a heads up to make sure there would be food for us. I really can't say enough good things about Bamboo Ecotours. I would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat! Very very happy that we booked with them!
Ariela · United States
My amazing gorilla trek was seamlessly coordinated by Bamboo EcoTours. Every step of the trip, from initial inquiry to delivery, was a breeze, thanks to Edison's clear and timely information. My driver/guide, Amanya, was prompt and friendly and provided information about things along the way on our drive from Kigali to Lake Mulehe and Bwindi National Park. I decided to do the Golden Monkey trek the following day after completing the Gorilla trek, and again this was organised with no fuss. I highly recommend Bamboo Eco Tours!
Lynda · Australia
We had the best week with Fred our tour guide. He was knowledgeable, easy going, kind and had good communication! Edison has beyond excellent organizational skills during the planning process. 10/10 we would recommend Bamboo Eco Tours, thank you for memories to last a lifetime!
Ashley · United States
Bamboo Eco Tours provided a well executed and professionally arranged gorilla trek experience for us out of Kigali, Rwanda to Bwindi National Park in Uganda. They were very responsive to all questions and requests while initially arranging the tour and made a number of recommendations with regards to activities to include. They provided all needed information for both the tour itself and advance preparation. They were very responsive to questions. In addition, our guide was professional, friendly and prompt. Our accommodation was first class with attentive staff and very comfortable rooms. While the price of the trekking permits is quite high (as set by the government), the cost of the remainder of the tour was very affordable. It was very remarkable to see the gorillas in their habitat - a once in a lifetime opportunity. Would highly recommend Bamboo Eco Tours.
Joanne · Canada
Practical answers
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).
This tour accepts children who are 15 years and older.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request changes to this tour.
Buffalo Safari Lodge - Mid-range lodge just outside Queen Elizabeth NP – Lunch & Dinner Included. Meals: Lunch & Dinner Included
This tour starts and ends in Kigali
An airport transfer is not included. You can use an airport taxi, request your hotel to arrange a transfer or prearrange a transfer yourself
Operator policy
This tour is offered by Bamboo Ecotours, not SafariBookings.
This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
Gorilla tracking permits are subject to availability.
This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Bamboo Ecotours.
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