Chimpanzee and Gorilla Tour in Uganda

Chimpanzee and Gorilla Tour in Uganda. Few wildlife experiences can match the moment a silverback mountain gorilla lifts his head and looks straight at you through the leaves. Perhaps the only thing that comes close is standing beneath a fig tree as a family of chimpanzees screams, drums and swings through the branches overhead. On a chimpanzee and gorilla tour in Uganda, you get to experience both.

Uganda is one of the very few countries on earth where you can track mountain gorillas and chimpanzees on the same trip, often just a day’s drive apart. It is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas and Uganda’s largest chimpanzee population, along with golden monkeys, colobus monkeys and many other primates. That is why travellers call it the primate capital of Africa.

This complete guide covers everything you need to plan your great apes safari:

• Where to see gorillas and chimpanzees in Uganda
• What gorilla trekking and chimp tracking are really like
• How the two experiences compare
• Sample itineraries from 3 to 10 days, starting in Entebbe or Kigali
• Permit prices for 2026 and 2027, including low-season discounts
• Realistic tour costs for budget, mid-range and luxury travellers
• The best time to go, where to stay, fitness tips, packing lists and rules

At Pick and Transfer Safaris, primate safaris are what we do every day. Our team is based in Kisoro, between Bwindi and Mgahinga, and we specialise in affordable gorilla and chimp trips — including short safaris that start from Kigali. We know the trekking sectors, the rangers and the roads, and we use that knowledge to give you the best possible experience at a fair price.

Why Uganda Is the Best Place for a Chimpanzee and Gorilla Tour

Both Great Apes in One Country

Rwanda offers gorillas and some chimps; Tanzania offers chimps but no mountain gorillas. Uganda offers world-class encounters with both. Mountain gorillas live in Bwindi and Mgahinga in the southwest, while chimpanzees are found in Kibale, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo and other forests. The two can be combined easily in four to seven days.

More Gorilla Families and More Permits

Bwindi has more habituated gorilla families than any other park, spread across four trekking sectors. This means more permits are available each day than in neighbouring countries, which makes planning easier.

Better Value

A Uganda gorilla permit costs US$800 for foreign non-residents — well below Rwanda’s US$1,500. In April, May and November, it drops to US$600. Kibale chimp permits cost US$250 in 2026, falling to US$200 in the low season. These savings make a combined primate safari far more affordable than in many other destinations.

Exceptional Chimp Tracking

Kibale Forest National Park shelters around 1,500 chimpanzees, the largest population in Uganda, and its habituated groups give sighting success rates above 90%. It is widely considered one of the best chimp tracking destinations in Africa.

A Journey Through Spectacular Scenery

Travelling between the chimps and gorillas takes you through some of East Africa’s most beautiful landscapes: crater lakes and tea plantations near Kibale, the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the terraced hills and volcanoes of the southwest. Many itineraries add a Kazinga Channel boat cruise or a search for tree-climbing lions on the way.

Easy Access From Kigali

Bwindi’s southern sectors and Mgahinga are just three to four hours from Kigali International Airport, compared with eight to ten hours from Entebbe. Many travellers now start their Uganda primate safari in Rwanda — something we specialise in. Learn more about the country in the About Uganda guide from Kenlink Tours.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: What to Expect

Where to See Mountain Gorillas

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. This ancient, steep rainforest is divided into four trekking sectors:

• Buhoma (north): The original trekking sector, with comfortable lodges and relatively gentle trails. Closest to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Ruhija (east): High altitude, cool and scenic, with excellent birding.
• Rushaga (south): The sector with the most habituated families and the base for the Gorilla Habituation Experience. Close to Kisoro and Kigali.
• Nkuringo (southwest): Dramatic views of the Virunga volcanoes, but some of the steepest treks.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, offers gorilla trekking with one habituated family, plus golden monkey tracking and volcano hikes. It is known as the place “where silver meets gold.”

A Typical Gorilla Trekking Day

Your day starts early with breakfast and a short drive to the sector headquarters, where you meet your rangers and fellow trekkers. After a briefing on rules and safety at about 8am, you are assigned to a gorilla family. Groups are limited to eight visitors per family per day.

You then set off into the forest with an armed ranger and porters, following trackers who have been locating the gorillas since dawn. Treks can take anywhere from one to six hours, depending on where the family is feeding. The terrain can be steep, muddy and slippery, with dense vegetation.

When you reach the gorillas, you spend one magical hour with them. You may watch the silverback eat bamboo shoots, mothers nursing infants, and youngsters wrestling and tumbling through the undergrowth. Then you trek back, collect your certificate and return to your lodge.

Gorilla Habituation Experience

In Bwindi’s Rushaga sector, the Gorilla Habituation Experience allows a maximum of four visitors to spend about four hours with a gorilla family that is still being habituated, alongside researchers and trackers. It is more expensive but offers a deeper, more intimate encounter.

Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga

After your gorilla trek, consider tracking the rare golden monkeys in Mgahinga’s bamboo forests. These playful, colourful monkeys are found only in the Virunga region and make an excellent extra primate experience. Kenlink Tours’ 4-Day Rwanda–Uganda Golden Monkey and Gorilla Trekking shows how they combine.

For a focused gorilla trip, see our 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari, or compare Kenlink Tours’ 3-Day Uganda Gorillas Safari.

Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda: What to Expect

Where to See Chimpanzees

• Kibale Forest National Park: Uganda’s top chimp destination, with around 1,500 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species. Success rates exceed 90%, and it fits perfectly into a route that continues to Bwindi.
• Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park: A dramatic forested gorge with a small chimp community. Sightings are less certain than in Kibale, but the setting is spectacular and it lies directly on the route to Bwindi.
• Budongo Forest: On the edge of Murchison Falls National Park, ideal if your safari includes the north.
• Kalinzu and Bugoma forests: Lesser-known, more affordable options with habituated groups.

A Typical Chimp Tracking Day in Kibale

Tracking starts from the Kanyanchu visitor centre with two sessions a day, at 8am and 2pm. After a briefing, small groups follow an armed ranger into the forest. Unlike gorillas, chimps are often heard before they are seen — their loud pant-hoots and drumming on tree buttresses echo through the forest.

The walk usually takes one to three hours on relatively flat trails, although chimps move quickly and you may need to walk briskly. Once you find them, you spend one hour watching them feed in the canopy, groom one another, squabble and sometimes race along the ground right past you.

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

For serious primate lovers, the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale lets you join researchers for most of a day, from the moment the chimps leave their nests at dawn. It offers a deeper understanding of chimp behaviour and excellent photography opportunities.

Other Primates in Kibale

While tracking chimps, you will likely see red colobus, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and red-tailed monkeys. In the afternoon, the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk adds more primates and birds such as the great blue turaco.

For a short chimp-focused trip, see our 3 Days Chimpanzee Tour in Uganda, or compare Kenlink Tours’ 3 Days Chimp Tracking Safari to Kibale. If you are starting in Rwanda, chimps can also be tracked in Nyungwe — see our 2 Days Nyungwe Chimps Tracking Trip.

Gorillas vs Chimpanzees: How the Two Experiences Compare

Many travellers ask whether they really need to do both. The answer is yes — because the two experiences are completely different.

Feature	Gorilla trekking	Chimpanzee tracking
Main location	Bwindi and Mgahinga	Kibale (also Kyambura, Budongo)
Behaviour	Calm, gentle, mostly on the ground	Noisy, energetic, often high in the trees
Terrain	Steep, muddy hills at altitude	Mostly flat forest trails
Trek length	1–6 hours	1–3 hours
Time with apes	1 hour (4 hours on habituation)	1 hour (most of a day on habituation)
Group size	Up to 8 visitors per family	Small groups of about 6
Minimum age	15 years	12 years
Permit (foreign non-resident)	US$800 (US$600 low season)	US$250 in 2026 (US$300 from 2027; US$200 low season)
Sighting success	Very high, close to 100%	Above 90% in Kibale
Photography	Easier; gorillas sit still in dim forest	Harder; chimps move fast, often in the canopy

The Emotional Difference

Gorilla trekking is often described as peaceful and deeply moving. Sitting quietly a few metres from a family of gorillas, watching their human-like expressions and gentle interactions, many travellers find themselves moved to tears.

Chimp tracking is more like an action film. Chimpanzees are loud, fast and social, with complex politics. You may see them hunt, argue, make up, groom and play — often all within your hour. It is exciting, noisy and full of surprises.

Which Should Come First?

We usually recommend chimps first, then gorillas. Chimp tracking is physically easier and builds excitement, while the gorilla encounter makes a perfect, emotional climax to your trip. It also fits the natural geography: Kibale is further north, and Bwindi is close to the Rwandan border, making it easy to finish in Kigali.

Sample Chimpanzee and Gorilla Tour Itineraries

4 Days: Kibale Chimps and Bwindi Gorillas From Entebbe

Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Kibale (about five to six hours), with an afternoon Bigodi wetland walk. Day 2: Morning chimp tracking in Kibale, then drive south through Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi. Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Day 4: Return to Kampala by road or fly from Kihihi or Kisoro.

This is the fastest way to see both apes from Entebbe. Kenlink Tours’ 4 Days Uganda Primate Tour follows a similar plan.

5 Days: Gorillas, Chimps and Queen Elizabeth

Adding one day allows a Kazinga Channel boat cruise or a search for tree-climbing lions between Kibale and Bwindi. Our 5-Day Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari is our most popular primate itinerary, and you can compare Kenlink Tours’ 5 Days Chimps & Gorilla Safari and 5 Days Gorilla & Chimpanzee Tracking Tour.

5 Days From Kigali: Our Speciality

Starting in Kigali shortens the journey to Bwindi dramatically. Cross into Uganda, track gorillas in Rushaga or Nkuringo, then continue north to Queen Elizabeth and Kibale for chimps, before returning to Kigali or ending in Entebbe. See our 5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Chimps Safari Starting from Rwanda, or Kenlink Tours’ 5-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari from Kigali to Uganda.

Short Gorilla Trips From Kigali

If you only have a day or two, you can still see Uganda’s gorillas from Kigali and add chimps on another trip. Our 1 Day Uganda Gorilla Safari Starting from Kigali and 2 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour Starting from Kigali are ideal for travellers with tight schedules. Explore all our gorilla safaris.

7 Days: Primates and Big Game

A week adds Murchison Falls or a longer stay in Queen Elizabeth, combining chimps and gorillas with excellent savannah wildlife. Our 7 Days Uganda Safari – One Week Tour covers chimps, Big Five game drives and the Kazinga Channel, and can be extended to Bwindi. Kenlink Tours’ 8-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari is another strong option.

10 Days: The Complete Uganda Primate Safari

Ten days covers Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, with time for golden monkeys in Mgahinga or a relaxing finish at Lake Bunyonyi. See our 10 Days Uganda Primates and Wildlife.

Uganda and Rwanda Double Primate Safari

For the ultimate great apes adventure, combine Uganda’s chimps and gorillas with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest. Our 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari and Kenlink Tours’ 5 Days Uganda Rwanda Double Gorilla Safari show what is possible.

Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permit Prices for 2026 and 2027

All permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). These are the prices for foreign non-resident visitors.

Permit	2026 standard	Low season (April, May, November)	From 1 January 2027
Gorilla trekking (Bwindi or Mgahinga)	US$800	US$600	US$800
Gorilla Habituation Experience	US$1,500	—	US$1,800
Chimp tracking, Kibale	US$250	US$200	US$300
Chimp Habituation Experience, Kibale	US$300	—	US$400
Chimp tracking, Kyambura Gorge	US$100	—	US$200
Golden monkey tracking, Mgahinga	US$60 + US$40 park entry	—	Confirm when booking

Foreign residents pay US$700 for gorilla trekking and US$200 for Kibale chimp tracking at standard rates.

Important Booking Rules

• Pay in full to secure permits. Since March 2026, UWA no longer holds permits without payment.
• Low-season permits cannot be rescheduled. The discounted April, May and November permits are fixed to the dates booked.
• Book early. For June to September and December to February, book gorilla permits four to six months ahead. Chimp permits sell out less quickly but should still be booked two to three months in advance.
• Permits include park entry for Bwindi (gorillas) and Kibale (chimps) on the day of your activity.

How Much Does a Chimpanzee and Gorilla Tour Cost?

For a private 5-day tour with two travellers sharing a 4×4 vehicle and room, typical prices per person are:

Comfort level	Approximate price per person (5 days)	What to expect
Budget	US$2,000–US$2,700	Clean, simple lodges; all permits and transport included
Mid-range	US$2,700–US$3,800	Comfortable lodges with views, full board
Luxury	US$4,500–US$8,000+	Top lodges, fine dining, optional domestic flights

The two permits alone account for US$1,050 of the cost in 2026, so the rest covers transport, guide, accommodation, meals and park fees. Groups of four or more save on vehicle costs.

How to Save Money

• Travel in April, May or November for a US$600 gorilla permit and US$200 chimp permit — a saving of US$250 per person.
• Book 2026 chimp permits before the January 2027 price rise.
• Start from Kigali to cut long, expensive road transfers.
• Choose budget or mid-range lodges near the trekking sectors.
• Consider a self-drive safari through our sister company, Self Drive Safaris Uganda.

Best Time for a Chimpanzee and Gorilla Tour

Gorilla trekking and chimp tracking run every day of the year, but conditions vary.

• June to September and December to February (dry seasons): Trails are firmer and drier, making treks easier, especially in Bwindi’s steep hills. These are the busiest months, so permits and lodges sell out early.
• March to May and October to November (wet seasons): Forests are lush, fruit is plentiful and chimps often gather in large groups. Trails are muddier and rain is more frequent, but there are fewer visitors and permits are discounted in April, May and November.

Because Bwindi and Kibale are rainforests, rain can fall at any time of year, so always pack a rain jacket.

Where to Stay

• Kibale: Choose a lodge near Kanyanchu for an easy start to chimp tracking, or a crater lake lodge near Fort Portal for spectacular views.
• Queen Elizabeth: If you stop on the way, stay near Kasenyi or Mweya for the Kazinga Channel, or in Ishasha for tree-climbing lions.
• Bwindi: Always stay in the sector where your permit is booked. Treks begin around 8am, and the sectors are several hours apart by road.
• Mgahinga and southern Bwindi: Our own Ikoro Hotel in Kisoro sits opposite Nyakabande airstrip at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, about 15 kilometres from Mgahinga and 36 kilometres from Bwindi’s southern sectors — a comfortable, affordable base for gorilla and golden monkey treks.

Getting Around

Most primate safaris travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle with an experienced driver-guide. Approximate driving times are:

Route	Approximate time
Kampala to Kibale	5–6 hours
Kibale to Queen Elizabeth	2–3 hours
Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi (Buhoma)	3–4 hours
Bwindi (Rushaga) to Kigali	3–4 hours
Bwindi to Kampala	8–10 hours

Domestic flights link Entebbe with Kasese (for Kibale), Kihihi (northern Bwindi) and Kisoro (southern Bwindi and Mgahinga). For travellers arriving in Rwanda, starting from Kigali saves a full day of driving.

Fitness, Packing and Primate Rules

How Fit Do You Need to Be?

Gorilla trekking is the more demanding of the two activities. Bwindi’s trails climb steep, muddy slopes at altitudes of up to about 2,600 metres, and treks can last from one to six hours. Mgahinga’s trails sit higher on the volcano slopes. A reasonable level of fitness makes the experience much more enjoyable, so regular walking, hiking or stair climbing in the months before your trip is a good idea.

Chimp tracking in Kibale is easier, on mostly flat forest paths, although you may need to walk quickly to keep up with moving chimps.

Hire a porter. Porters are available at every trekking trailhead for a modest fee. They carry your bag, help you over slippery sections and earn valuable income for families living around the parks. Many are former poachers or their relatives, so hiring them directly supports conservation.

If you have limited mobility, ask about sedan chair services in Bwindi, where teams of local porters carry visitors to the gorillas.

What to Pack

• Waterproof hiking boots with good grip, already worn in
• Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts in neutral colours
• A light rain jacket and a warm fleece for cool mornings
• Garden gloves for gripping vines and nettles
• Gaiters or long socks to tuck trousers into (keeps ants out)
• A small waterproof daypack with water and snacks
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• A camera with a fast lens and spare batteries (flash is not allowed)
• Face masks, required near gorillas and chimps
• Passport, yellow fever certificate and printed permits

Rules for Visiting Great Apes

• Do not trek if you have a cold, flu, diarrhoea or any infectious illness — apes share 98% of our DNA and catch human diseases easily.
• Keep at least seven metres from gorillas and eight metres from chimps.
• Wear your face mask when near the apes.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke near the apes.
• Never use flash photography.
• Keep your voice low and avoid sudden movements.
• If a gorilla charges, stay still, crouch down and look away — follow your ranger’s instructions.
• Your time with the apes is strictly limited to one hour (longer on habituation experiences).

Health Essentials

A valid yellow fever certificate is required to enter Uganda. Discuss malaria prevention with a travel clinic, drink bottled or filtered water, and choose travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see gorillas and chimps on the same day?

Not usually. Bwindi and Kibale are several hours apart, and both activities start early in the morning. Most itineraries track chimps one day and gorillas a day or two later. In Bwindi, a few lodges offer short forest walks where other primates can be seen, but chimps are not tracked there.

What is the minimum number of days for a chimp and gorilla tour?

Four days from Entebbe is the minimum, though five days is more comfortable. From Kigali, a five-day trip lets you see both apes with shorter drives.

How close will I get to the gorillas?

The rule is seven metres, but gorillas do not know the rules. Curious youngsters sometimes come closer, and rangers will ask you to move back calmly.

Is gorilla trekking safe?

Yes. Habituated gorillas are used to people, and every group is led by experienced, armed rangers. Following the briefing and your ranger’s instructions keeps the experience safe for everyone.

Can children do this tour?

Children aged 15 and above can track gorillas, and those aged 12 and above can track chimps. Younger children can enjoy game drives, boat cruises, nature walks and cultural visits while parents trek.

Is it better to start in Entebbe or Kigali?

If your trip focuses on gorillas, Kigali is usually better because Bwindi’s southern sectors are only three to four hours away. If you also want Murchison Falls or Kibale, Entebbe makes sense, and you can still end in Kigali.

Can I add Rwanda’s gorillas too?

Yes. Many travellers trek in both Uganda and Rwanda to compare the experiences. Explore our destinations, including Volcanoes National Park, or Kenlink Tours’ Uganda safaris and 10 Days Best of Primate & Culture for more ideas.

Book Your Chimpanzee and Gorilla Tour in Uganda

A chimpanzee and gorilla tour in Uganda is one of the most extraordinary wildlife journeys on earth. In just a few days, you can follow noisy, energetic chimpanzees through the forests of Kibale and then sit in quiet wonder beside a family of mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Add the landscapes, the people and the wildlife in between, and it is easy to see why so many travellers call it the trip of a lifetime.

At Pick and Transfer Safaris, we make primate safaris affordable and stress-free. We secure your permits, plan the smartest route — including short safaris from Kigali — provide reliable 4×4 vehicles and experienced driver-guides, and host you at our own Ikoro Hotel in Kisoro. Part of our profits also supports orphaned children through the Kigezi Foundation, so your safari makes a difference.

Ready to meet the great apes? Contact our team with your travel dates, group size and starting point, and we will send you a tailor-made chimpanzee and gorilla itinerary and quote.

Call or WhatsApp: +256 200 921 002 / +256 793 194 703 | Email: info@pickandtransfersafaris.com