13 Day Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
Murchison Falls · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth · Ishasha
From $5,522 pp in a group of 4
15 days · Uganda
15-Day Margherita Peak, Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Safari
This safari will take you to the Margherita Peak, Africa's third highest. Located on Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains, it stands at 5,109 meters (16,762 feet). Witness majestic gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, track playful chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, wildlife viewing in Ishasha sector and lake Mburo national park, offering an unforgettable experience in the heart of East Africa.
from$7,060pp
- 15days
- 1country
- 6travellers at most
In brief
What this safari is
Kibale Forest National Park is one of the great African rainforest research reserves, famed for the variety of primates found here and a terrific area for birds. The Rwenzori climb crosses Mutinda valley, Namusangi Valley, Bamwanjarra Pass, Lake Kitendara, and Scott Elliott's pass to Margherita Camp, then Oliver's Pass toward Kiharo and the Kilembe gate.
Before you go
The Margherita Peak hike is a serious alpine route with steep bamboo, bog, glacier grades over 60 percent in places, and a 2am start. Weather can close the mountain in snow even in the dryer season, as in January and February 2017. You must accept the 10am turnaround.
Before you book
Quick facts
- Starts at
- Entebbe International Airport
- Length
- 15 days
Day by day
The itinerary
Each day shows where you spend it, with today's sunrise and sunset there.
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Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the booked hotel
Entebbe
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), you will be met by our guide/driver who will brief you on the trip. You will then transfer to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and your overnight stay as you relax from the jet lag and wait for the next day's countryside adventure.
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Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Kibale Forest
Drive westwards toward Fort Portal to the Kibale Forest National Park (about 5 hours), traveling on both asphalt and unpaved roads. You arrive at Fort Portal for lunch, then continue toward Kibale Forest, one of the great African rainforest research reserves.
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Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Kasese
Kibale Forest
Assemble at the park headquarters for a briefing and then go for the most popular activity in this park - chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzees are man's closest cousins, though they are one of the most threatened primate species. More primates like the black and white colobus monkey, L'Hoest's monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkey, bushbaby, and potto can be seen, plus birds such as yellow-spotted nicator, rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, green-breasted pitta, crowned eagle, and black bee-eater, and mammals like elephants.
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Day 4: Trekkers to Sine Hut
Kibale Forest
Start at Trekkers at 1,450 meters and sleep at Sine Hut at 2,596 meters being a height gain of 1,146 meters, or those who are fit and want to proceed to Kalalama Camp at 3,134 metres may do so.
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Day 5: Bamboo zone to Mutinda Camp
Kibale Forest
Trekking starts at 8.30am and almost immediately you enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone which is steep climb with many high steps. In the wet season the bamboo zone is rather muddy and slippery making the going slow. However, the atmosphere and the forest is beautiful as you climb 551 metres altitude and a distance of 1.8km to Kalalama Camp at 3,147 meters which is in the Heather-Rapanea Zone.
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Day 6: Mutinda valley to Bugata Camp
Kibale Forest
The trail to Bugata Camp is boggy particularly in the wet season but with a little skill you can step from tussock to tussock to make the going easier. First you cross the Mutinda valley through the tussock grass and everlasting flowers interspersed with many Giant Lobelias before climbing a steep section up to the Namusangi Valley (3,840 meters), with sheer waterfalls and looking back you get fantastic views of Mutinda Peaks.
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Day 7: Bamwanjarra Pass to Hunwick's Camp
Kibale Forest
Trek to Hunwick's Camp via Bamwanjarra Pass. As you leave Bugata Camp you pass up a ridge then drop down slightly before ascending to Bamwanjarra Pass at 4,450 meters where we have a hut should the weather turn bad. From the pass on a clear day, you get excellent views of the three main peaks.
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Day 8: Lake Kitendara to Margherita Camp
Kibale Forest
From Hunwick's we pass down and across the valley floor to Lake Kitendara, with deep water and beautiful vegetation. From here you climb up Scott Elliott's pass then up the ridge to Margherita Camp 4,485 metres which is situated between some huge rocks and offering some shelter from the strong winds.
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Day 9: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley
Kibale Forest
Wake up at 2am and catch an early breakfast before heading off to climb Mt Stanley at 2.30am. This is necessary as the weather has changed a lot and often even during the dryer season the mountain is closed in with heavy clouds and snow falls from 1 pm to 4pm. Due to this change in weather, we have set a strict turnaround time of 10am so if you do not reach the peak before then you must turn around regardless of the disappointment in the interests of safety.
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Day 10: Oliver's Pass toward Kiharo Camp
Kibale Forest
Distance to Kiharo Camp 11km, time taken to walk 4 to 7 hours. From Hunwick's Camp we start the day by climbing up a ridge towards McConnell's Prong where you get the best views of all three peaks and Scott Elliott's Pass before reaching Oliver's Pass at 4,505 metres.
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Day 11: Park gate and Queen Elizabeth overnight
Queen Elizabeth
Distance Kiharo Camp to the park gate 16km and another 2.8km down to Trekkers Hostel.
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Day 12: Ishasha tree-climbing lions to Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable
You'll wake up to an early breakfast, check out of the accommodation, and travel to the southern area of the park called Ishasha. This area is popular for the tree-climbing lions, and if you are lucky, you may see them. Other big game in this area includes elephants, topis, and buffalo, among others.
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Day 13: Mountain gorilla trekking
Bwindi Impenetrable
You'll wake up to an early breakfast at 6:30 am, pick up a packed lunch, and transfer to the park offices for a briefing by the rangers, and they will assign a gorilla group you shall track. At 8:00 am, you'll transfer to the start of the trek and head into the forest to find the mountain gorillas. You are allowed no more than an hour with them; return to meet your driver.
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Day 14: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo
You'll have breakfast and check out, and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. You'll get to Lake Mburo in time for lunch, check in to your accommodation, and then have lunch.
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Day 15: Nature walk and transfer to Entebbe
Entebbe
You'll wake up for an early morning nature walk into the park for a chance to catch some nocturnal wildlife at close encounter. You are led by an armed ranger; after the walk, return to the lodge, check out and travel back to Entebbe. Lunch is en route.
Your group
Price for your group
2 travellers: $7,060 each, $14,120 in total.
| Travellers | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7,060 | $7,060 |
| 2 | $7,060 | $14,120 |
| 3 | $7,060 | $21,180 |
| 4 | $7,060 | $28,240 |
| 5 | $7,060 | $35,300 |
| 6 | $7,060 | $42,360 |
Prices are in US dollars per person, from the group rates listed with this trip. No group discount is listed, so the price per person is the same for every group size.
The detail
What is included
Included
- Gorilla trekking permits
- Chimpanzee permits
- Park entrance fees
- 8 days Margherita peak hike
- All activities mentioned above
- Meals as mentioned in the day by day
- All accommodations
- Round trip Airport transfers
- A professional Verdoro guide/driver
- All transportation mentioned
- All taxes/VAT
Not included
- International flights (from/back to home country)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Personal items (visa fees, travel insurance and all other personal items)
- Government imposed increase of taxes
- Transport to and from the meeting point if you do not use the included transfers
Nights and arrival
Where you stay and how you get there
Where you stay
Night one is your booked hotel after the Entebbe arrival. Overnight stay at kibale forest camp follows chimpanzee tracking, then the Margherita trail uses Sine Hut, Kalalama Camp, Mutinda Camp, Bugata Camp, Hunwick's Camp, Margherita Camp at 4,485 metres, and Kiharo Camp as height is gained and lost on Mount Stanley.
Getting there
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), you will be met by our Verdoro guide/driver who will brief you on the trip, then transfer to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
The final morning is a nature walk in Lake Mburo, then the road back to Entebbe with lunch en route and a stopover at the Equator point. Share outbound flight times.
Good questions
Questions about this safari
What is included in the package price?
Gorilla trekking permits, chimpanzee permits, park entrance fees, the 8-day Margherita Peak hike, listed activities, meals as mentioned day by day, all accommodations, round trip airport transfers, a professional guide driver, listed transportation, and taxes sit in this bundle.
What is not included?
International flights, extra nights before and after the tour, tips, personal items such as visa fees and travel insurance, and government imposed increases of taxes sit outside the package.
How does the Margherita Peak climb work?
Trekking starts from Trekkers at 1,450 meters, with nights at Sine Hut, Kalalama Camp, Mutinda Camp, Bugata Camp, Hunwick's Camp, and Margherita Camp between huge rocks at 4,485 metres, the spot where the Duke of Abruzzi camped in 1906.
How does chimpanzee tracking fit this itinerary?
You assemble at Kibale park headquarters for a briefing, then go chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzees are among the most threatened primate species, and the forest also holds black and white colobus, L'Hoest's monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkey, bushbaby, potto, and many birds.
How does gorilla trekking work after the mountain?
You wake for breakfast at 6:30 am, pick up a packed lunch, and transfer to the park offices for a briefing. Rangers assign a gorilla group, and at 8:00 am you transfer to the start of the trek. You are allowed no more than an hour with them.
How fit should I be?
This is a serious high-mountain itinerary with steep bamboo, boggy valleys, glacier travel, and a 2:30 am alpine start. Weather on Mt Stanley can close in with heavy clouds and snow from 1pm, even in the dryer season.
Where do we stay?
Night one is your booked hotel after Entebbe. Kibale Forest Camp is named for the chimpanzee night. Mountain nights use Sine Hut, Kalalama, Mutinda, Bugata, Hunwick's, Margherita Camp, and Kiharo Camp as the trail dictates.
Are meals included?
Meals are as mentioned day by day, including lodge dining off the mountain and hut or camp meals on the Margherita trail.
What should I pack?
Pack mountaineering layers, waterproofs, sturdy boots, and gloves for the Rwenzori, plus a head torch for the 2am summit start, and closed shoes for chimpanzee and gorilla forest days.
What happens after we leave the mountain?
You'll wake to an early breakfast, check out, and travel to Ishasha, popular for tree-climbing lions, plus elephants, topis, and buffalo. You'll have lunch in Ishasha, thereafter travel southwards to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Read before you book
Guides for this safari
- How a gorilla trek works Fitness, trek times, what to bring, and why a sighting is never guaranteed.
- Every gorilla trekking safari compared Lengths, styles and prices side by side.
- Chimpanzee trekking safaris Every trip that tracks chimpanzees.
- Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale and Budongo How the longer habituation experience differs from an ordinary trek.
- What a Uganda safari costs Every Uganda trip priced, and what the price covers.
- Best time to visit Uganda Dry and wet months, park by park.
More answers are on our safari questions page and in what guests say. We also arrange flights, hotels and insurance.
How payment works: the balance is due one month before your safari, a reservation made within 45 days of arrival is paid in full when it is confirmed, and a card payment carries a 3.9% service charge. The full wording is in our terms and conditions.
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