5 Days Kibale Chimpanzees & Semuliki National Park Safari
5 Days Kibale Chimpanzees & Semuliki National Park Safari is one of the best safaris in Uganda that starts and ends in Kampala. The safari will take you to Kibale national park which is also known as the primate capital because it harbors about 13 primate species including over 1500 chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys among others. While in Kibale national park you will engage in Bigodi swamp walk and chimpanzee trekking where you will get an opportunity to spend time with the chimpanzees. During the safari you will also visit Semuliki national park which is known for harboring different bird species, primates like red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, Debrazza monkeys, olive baboons, mammals like elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hippos and offers chimpanzee trekking activity.
Highlights of the 5 days Kibale chimpanzee and Semuliki national park safari
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale national park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 3: Transfer to Semuliki national park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki national park
- Day 5: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 5 days Kibale chimpanzee and Semuliki national park safari
Pick up and transfer to Kibale national park, depending on your arrival time on day 1 of the 5 days Kibale chimpanzee and Semuliki national park safari our driver guide will pick you up and transfer to Kibale national park which is located in western part of Uganda. On the way you will pass via Mityana and have a stopover in Fort Portal for lunch. After lunch you will continue the journey with spectacular views of beautiful scenery, tea plantations, crater lakes among others and upon arrival you will continue to check into the lodge, have an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on day 2 of the 5 days Kibale chimpanzee and Semuliki national park safari you r driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a briefing about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek, a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle and then start trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they are mobile and like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to spot other wildlife species including bird species, primates like red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked magabey, vervet monkeys, some mammals among others. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their environment which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, lifestyle, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, rest, hunt, fight, jump up in tree branches, take great photos and record the moments to show people back home after the safari. After the one hour encounter with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Bigodi swamp walk, after lunch you will go for an interesting nature walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary where you will be able to view different bird species such as the great blue turaco, yellow spotted barbet, Brown crowned Tchagra, superb sunbird, black bishop, black and white shrike flycatcher, western nicator, primates like red tailed monkey, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, animals like bushbucks, sitatungas, view colorful butterflies, enjoy the cool breeze among others. After the swamp walk you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Semuliki national park
After breakfast on day 3 of the 5 days Kibale chimpanzee and Semuliki national park safari you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Semuliki national park which is located in Bundibogyo district at Uganda’s border with Democratic Republic of Congo. The national park is known for harboring animals like buffaloes, hippos, leopards, primates like chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and different bird species. The journey takes about 4 hours and upon arrival you will check into the lodge and have lunch.
After lunch you will go for a guided nature walk where you will follow different trails to Sempaya hot springs through the woodland where you will have great views of primates like red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkeys among others. Sempaya hot spring has both a female and male hot spring with bubbling water that boils from rock at a very high temperature above 103 degrees Celsius which is tested by dropping in raw eggs and plantain that instantly gets ready for consumption. After the guided nature walk you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and afternoon game drive
Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on day 4 of the 5 days Kibale chimpanzee and Semuliki national park safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest and start trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours. During trekking you will have great views of other primates like red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, birds like yellow throated tinkerbird, honey guide greenbul, blue breasted kingfisher, forest hornbill, fraisier’s ant-thrush, views of colorful butterflies, mammals among others. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their habits, behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, play among others. After spending time with chimpanzees, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Game drive, after lunch you will go for an interesting game drive in the savannah grassland where you will have great views of animals like waterbucks, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, Uganda kobs, leopards, view different bird species among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Departure to Kampala
On day 5 of the 5 days Kibale chimpanzee and Semuliki national park safari, you will check out of the park and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kampala. On the way you will have en-route lunch in Fort Portal and then proceed to Kampala where your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 5 days Kibale chimpanzee and Semuliki national park safari
Tour includes
- Chimpanzee trekking permits
- Park entrance fees
- Services of an English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips among others.
