This popular 7-Day gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda combines gorilla trekking at Bwindi Lodge with chimpanzees and wildlife at Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
This unique safari will give you a unique insight into the endangered great apes, their habitats and the communities living nearby. Combine wonderful wildlife sightings with opportunities to participate in conservation and community projects, run by Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust.
Enjoy a fireside chat the evening before your gorilla trek with staff from one of our conservation partners, Gorilla Doctors and Conservation Through Public Health, and learn about their conservation work in the park. Explore the Kyambura Gorge Ecotourism Project which aims to protect the ‘Lost Chimpanzees of Kyambura’ in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute.
Learn about lion conservation with the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Team and take part in an annual carnivore survey during your game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
2025 Rates from $8,760 per person in low season for this all-inclusive 7-day safari to Bwindi and Kyambura, including a free chimpanzee permit at Kyambura worth $100 and a complimentary night at Bwindi Lodge worth up to $1,655.
Trekking mountain gorillas in dense African forests is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Groups of eight visit per day, maintaining a 10m distance to protect the gorillas. Treks last 3-8 hours, requiring some fitness, but all levels are accommodated for this unforgettable adventure.
Experience the thrill of chimpanzee trekking in the natural high canopies and across river bridges. Starting from Kyambura Gorge Lodge, the 2-3 hour trek involves navigating steep gorges and log bridges, demanding agility and fitness. Nearby Kalinzu Forest also offers a glimpse into the lives of 40 habituated chimpanzees.
The Kyambura Wetland Walk offers a 2-hour guided experience through a 45-acre wetland area, which has been regenerating after years of being used as an illegal brick works. Now home to over 200 species of birds, mammals, and primates, this project showcases conservation and community efforts.
The Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation, located near Kibale and Kyambura Gorge Lodge, features a gallery and bronze foundry showcasing world-class sculptures inspired by Uganda’s clan totems. In 2024, VSPT partnered with the Foundation to support local artists. Guests can view sculptures at Kibale Lodge and visit the Foundation.
Since 2021, VSPT and the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda have collaborated to support chimpanzee conservation at Kyambura Gorge and, in 2024, expanded efforts to Kibale Lodge. Initiatives include empowering women leaders and supporting schools in the Roots and Shoots Program, fostering environmental awareness and action among students. Guests can visit participating schools.
Join a veterinarian from Gorilla Doctors for an enlightening briefing on gorilla health and conservation strategies. Learn about their unique One Health approach and life-saving veterinary practices dedicated solely to the conservation of endangered mountain and eastern lowland gorillas.
Explore the Gorilla Health and Community Conservation Center in Buhoma, Bwindi. This behind-the-scenes tour offers insights into gorilla conservation efforts and the CTPH’s initiatives, including health monitoring, community health, and livelihood programs.
In 2015, VSPT opened Bwindi Bar near Bwindi Lodge to train disadvantaged youths in hospitality, providing practical skills and internships to boost employment opportunities in the Bwindi area. The bar serves delicious local dishes like the Ugandan ‘Rolex’ wrap and the signature ‘Gorillini’ cocktail.
In 2013, the VSPT launched a beekeeping initiative at the Volcanoes Safaris Virunga Lodge in Rwanda, inspired by the success of a similar project in Kyambura. Situated on a designated plot near the lodge, this project features 11 colonized beehives and offers tours for guests to learn about honey production and harvesting. Five local beekeepers, each contributing a traditional beehive with a colony, participate in this venture, which continues to support local livelihoods and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
The Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative offers vocational training and a sustainable income source for twenty local women, many facing significant challenges. They cultivate over 2,500 coffee plants organically, which are processed locally and served at Volcanoes Safaris lodges. This initiative not only supports these women but also serves as a wildlife buffer, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts. Contributions help expand the project and sustain the community.
Since 2009, the VSPT has developed a 3km buffer along Kyambura Gorge, showcased through a guided walk that offers views over the Gorge, Park, and local homesteads. Plans for 2024 include expanding this buffer by twenty acres to further protect wildlife and support local communities. Contributions towards this effort are crucial for continued conservation success.
Launched in August 2023 by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project, led by Dr. Alexander Braczkowski, collects data on Uganda’s carnivores like lions, leopards, and hyenas in Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area, enhancing local livelihoods and supporting long-term conservation goals.
Write to us on [email protected] or send us a message via the form on our contact page.
Rwanda: +250 (0) 252 502 452
Uganda: +256 (0) 414 346 464
© Volcanoes Safaris 1997 – 2024. All Rights Reserved
Write to us on [email protected] or send us a message via the form on our contact page.
Rwanda: +250 (0) 252 502 452
Uganda: +256 (0) 414 346 464
| High Season Safari Rates 2025 | Per Person Sharing | Single Traveler Supplement |
|---|---|---|
| 7 day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari Bwindi and Kyambura | $ 11755 | $ 3135 |
High season rates are applicable on bookings from 1st June to 30th September and 15th December to 28th February. Rates are based on a minimum of 2 people.
| Low Season Safari Rates 2025 | Per Person Sharing | Single Traveler Supplement |
|---|---|---|
| 7 day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari Bwindi and Kyambura | $ 8760 | $ 1605 |
Low season rates are applicable from 1st October to 14th December and 1st March to 31st May. Rates are based on a minimum of 2 people.
Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor is nothing short of exhilarating. The chimps effortlessly cross and scamper through the trees above the gorge, and visitors on the other hand must cross the river using natural bridges in order to keep up with the chimps. So although the walk usually lasts only 2–3 hours, descending the steep gorge and crossing the log bridges over the river requires some agility and fitness.
Chimpanzee tracking is also available in nearby Kalinzu, a forest reserve 30 minutes drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge where there is a community of about 40 habituated chimpanzees.
