Combining gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda with Kenya safari

Things to consider when combining gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda with Kenya safari. Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking are top safari activities carried out in Uganda at any time of the year. Combined with a Kenya safari, it makes your trip fun and worthwhile.

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A Kenyan safari is an authentic African safari where you get to see the different plains and the vast wildlife found in the different national parks within the country. In this article, we discuss the possibility of combining the two safaris and how to plan for it easily. Steps to be taken when designing this safari include researching the destinations, contacting your tour operator, and planning early enough to avoid inconveniences.

Kenya is known as the birthplace of safaris and is considered the best place to visit in East Africa. Whether you are on a luxury or budget safari, Kenya has destinations that cater to every type of tourist planning on visiting the country. The different safari destinations that you can see and activities carried out include the following:

Masai Mara National Reserve: Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's most visited safari destination. It is located in southwestern Kenya along the border of Tanzania. The National Reserve covers over 583 square kilometers. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including hartebeest, wildebeests, lions, zebras, hippos, rhinos, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, gazelles, and buffaloes, among others. It is also home to over 500 bird species best seen during the wet season. Some of the activities you can engage in at Masai Mara include watching the wildebeest migration with millions of wildebeests crossing the Mara River from Serengeti to Masai Mara, game drives through the plains, cultural trips to the Masai people, and bird watching, among others.

Lake Naivasha: Located north of the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi, Lake Naivasha is best known for the over 400 bird species, which include flamingos, egrets, pelicans, and kingfishers, among others, the yellow barked acacia trees, and the wildlife that are attracted to the place due to the abundant food and water and these include zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, giraffes and gazelles among others.

Tsavo East National Park: This is the largest national park in Kenya, covering over 4535 square miles. Some of the attractions of Tsavo East include the Yatta plateau, which has the most extended lava flow at 180 miles, the Voi and Galana Rivers, the Aruba dam, and the wildlife species, which include the Oryx, Klipspringer, the African antelope, lesser kudu, and the big five among others.

Amboseli National Park: Amboseli National Park is Kenya's second most visited national park after Masai Mara. The national park was declared a UNESCO Reserve in 1991

Lake Nakuru National Park: Lake Nakuru National Park is a birding spot famously known for its large flock of lesser and greater flamingos found at the Lake. The national park, which is located a few hours from Nairobi, is home to several wildlife species, including the endangered black and white rhinos and home to the Rothschild's Giraffes, lions, antelopes, baboons, leopards, bushbucks, and Impalas, among others.

Other safari destinations in Kenya worth visiting include the Kenyan coastline, Meru National Park with its unspoiled terrain, Nairobi National Park, Samburu National Park, and Mount Kenya National Park, among others.

Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Reserve the gorilla permits.

To confirm that you are going for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, you must first purchase the trekking permits issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. We can assist in purchasing the permits and help with planning the safari, but you need to know that the purchase of the licenses depends on their availability status. When we receive your inquiry, we will check for the availability of the chimpanzee and gorilla permits and get back to you on the available dates in cases where the dates you would have preferred are unavailable. The next step is for you to send a payment for the permits, and the earlier, the better.

Permit purchases will only be made if you pay the total amount for it, and when making the payments, make sure you do it on company bank details and not personal accounts. The permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and must be reserved when you know they are available.

The cost of the gorilla and chimpanzee permits

The Uganda Authority sets the cost of the gorilla and chimpanzee permits, and part of the money is used to conserve the national parks where the trekking takes place. Below is the cost of the permits as of 2023.

Gorilla permits: East African citizens 300 000 UGX, $800 for foreign non-residents, and $700 for foreign residents.

Chimpanzee permits: East African citizens 300 000 UGX< $300 for foreign non-residents and $250 for foreign residents.

Trekking guidelines for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking

• After locating the chimpanzees and gorillas, keep a distance of 7 meters from the primates. The distance between you and the primates reduces your chances of spreading infections to the endangered species.
• Avoid moving with the gorillas and chimpanzees, especially when they move toward you. Avoid touching the primates and do all that the guides tell you in situations like these.
• The gorilla and chimpanzee trekking age limit is 15 years because children are more challenging to control and the trek terrain might prove difficult for each of them.
• Flash photography when taking photos of chimpanzees and gorillas is prohibited because the flashlight might push the gorillas and chimpanzees to hide.
• Avoid moving away from the trek group when trekking and after locating the gorillas and chimpanzees because the primates do not want to be ambushed, as this affects their daily behavioral patterns of the primates.
• When you wish to eat, drink, or smoke, inform your guide to get a cleared area because you will not be allowed to do so when with the chimpanzees and gorillas.
• You will have to spend a maximum of one hour with the primates after locating them, and this is to ensure that the gorillas and chimpanzees are not worn out and to prevent disease transmission from humans to the primates.
• Try to speak in low tones as much as possible because loud voices or sounds scare them since they are not used to it, forcing them to hide.
• You must maintain good hygiene because anything you do, like spitting on grass, sneezing, and coughing without covering your mouth, will significantly affect the primates.
• Tourists feeling sick on the morning of the trek should volunteer not to trek to protect the gorillas and chimpanzees.

Accommodation during the chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safari in Uganda

You must get one closer to or within the national parks for easy access when choosing accommodation. Bwindi has accommodation inside, whereas Mgahinga National Park does not due to its small size, so you have to book accommodation outside the national park.

Accommodation in Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Kibale National Park has three categories: luxury, mid-range, and budget-friendly accommodation facilities. Below is a list of facilities to choose from on your safari.

Bwindi: Clouds Lodge, Engage Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla safari Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Ruhija Gorilla camp and Gorilla Forest Camp.

Mgahinga: Traveller’s Rest Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Rest camp, Amajambere Iwacu community camp, and Mgahinga Rest camp among others.

Kibale national park: Kyaninga lodge, Ndali lodge, Chimps Nest Camp, Kibale Safari Lodge, and Primates Lodge.

Transportation to Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda

Depending on the chosen itinerary, the type of transportation to Mgahinga and Bwindi can either be road or air. When connecting from Kenya, the best way to travel is by air since it is faster, but you can still drive, although this will take more days and become more expensive.

Air: Charter flights can be arranged from Entebbe International Airport or sometimes at Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip, the closest to Bwindi and Mgahinga. The flight takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and after landing, a safari vehicle (if you are traveling with a tour company) will take you to the national parks for the rest of the way. This is the best travel method if you have limited time on your safari, but it is also expensive. The charter flights have to be booked in advance to avoid inconveniences.

Road: This is the best and most convenient way to travel to Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Kibale National Park and the most commonly used. 

The drive from Kampala to Bwindi and Mgahinga is about 8 to 9 hours, with a few stopovers along the way so that you get to the national parks in the evening. Kibale National Park is a 7 hours drive from Kampala, and 4x4 safari vehicles are used for the drive.

Kenya is the dream safari destination for an African safari destination, and gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda makes it the perfect safari. Exploring the vast Savannah plains, watching the wildebeest migration, and experiencing the cultural differences in Kenya adds to the fun.

What to pack for the safari

You might be wondering what to pack for the Kenya and gorilla/chimpanzee trek safari, and we have come up with a list that will help you with your packing list. Below is a list of what to bring.

Gardening gloves and gaiters for both chimpanzee and gorilla trekking. These protect your hands from blisters and scratches during the trek.

You should bring neutral-colored clothes for the safari to blend in with the jungle quickly. These include undershirts, lightweight pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Brightly colored clothes are not recommended because they attract unwanted attention from the wildlife.

Gadgets that should be brought include:

• Cameras and long-lasting batteries (extra ones, if possible).
• Binoculars, especially if you are going for a bird-watching excursion.
• Phones for easy communication.

Strong hiking knee-length boots are used for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, and comfortable shoes for the Kenya safari since you will only be walking a little.

Mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and a sun hat to protect your skin.

A waterproof day backpack to help you carry your luggage during the trek and Kenya safari.

Best time for a gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda with Kenya safari

Uganda and Kenya have similar weather conditions with two travel seasons, the dry and wet seasons. The dry season is from June to September and December to February. This is the best time for the safari because the trek routes for chimpanzee and gorilla trekking are easier to use, and the primates can easily be seen because of the thinning vegetation. Wildlife and other safari activities are best out during the dry season.

March to May and October to November's wet season are also excellent times to plan the safari for tourists traveling on a budget and not minding the rains. Note that the dry season also receives rainfall but is less heavy than the rains during the wet season, which sometimes interferes with safari activities.

FAQS about combining gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda with Kenya safari

Is it possible to drive from Uganda to Kenya and vice versa?

It is possible to drive from both countries, although it is a bit longer and more expensive than flying. If you plan on going, the best starting point is from Kenya, specifically from Western Kenya, after your Kenyan safari towards the border of Uganda and Kenya ate Busia. We can help you organize a road trip between the two countries.

How will I be able to combine a Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trek and a Kenya safari?

This is the easiest, especially if you have the correct information and tour operator to help you plan. You can start with a safari in Kenya and, after exploring the country, fly to Uganda to enjoy the gorilla and chimpanzee trek or vice versa.

We are a recognized tour company planning safaris for a long time with a dedicated team to help with the planning. All queries you have about the safari will be answered swiftly by our available team, which goes for consultations as well. Contact us to help you plan your combined Gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda with a Kenya safari.