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4 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Crater Lakes

Overview

The 4-day Kibale chimpanzee trekking and Crater Lakes safari offers a rewarding mix of primate encounters and scenic landscapes in Uganda. This short tour begins with visits to the cultural Amabere caves and the picturesque Crater Lakes, and ends with an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale National Park. The journey starts and finishes in Kampala or Entebbe. 

Located in western Uganda, Kibale National Park is a lush tropical rainforest surrounded by beautiful crater lakes. It is home to 13 primate species, including about 1,500 chimpanzees, as well as baboons, colobus monkeys, mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys. Chimpanzee trekking takes place at Kanyanchu, offering a close and memorable wildlife experience in a natural forest setting. 

Brief itinerary: 4 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking

  • Day 1: Transfer to Fort Portal & visit Amabere caves
  • Day 2: Crater Lake Tour, full day
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi for birding
  • Day 4: Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Fort Portal & visit Amabere caves

Your driver-guide from Maranatha Tours & Travel will pick you up and brief you on your 4-day Kibale chimpanzee trekking and Crater Lakes adventure. Travel to Fort Portal, Western Uganda, via the Mityana-Mubende route, a drive of about 5 hours. On arrival, enjoy lunch in Fort Portal, home of the Toro King. Afterward, visit the Amabere Ga’nyina Mwiru caves, a 17-minute drive from Fort Portal. These caves are a cultural and historical gem for the Batooro and feature fascinating stalactite formations. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge. 

Day 2: Crater Lake Tour full day

Start your day with an early breakfast, then embark on a Crater Lakes tour in Fort Portal. Explore several crater lakes, including Ndali-KasendaNyinabugaNyabikere, and Lyantonde, walking around their scenic shores. Reach the viewpoint known as “the top of the world” and discover the reason behind its name. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. 

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi for birding

Start your day with an early breakfast, then transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking rules and assignment of your park guide. The trek begins at 8:00 am and lasts 2–4 hours, including a one-hour magical encounter with the chimpanzee community. Along the way, you may also spot other primates such as baboons, mangabeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus, and bush babies. At 2:00 pm, enjoy a guided tour of Bigodi Wetlands, home to around 138 bird species, including the spectacular Great Blue Turaco, as well as various primates. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. 

Day 4: Departure

After breakfast, check out from your lodge and begin the drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, a journey of about 5–6 hours, with lunch en route. Arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the afternoon and be dropped at your hotel or next destination, marking the conclusion of your 4-day Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Crater Lakes adventure. 

End of the 4 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Carter Lakes

Safari Inclusion

  • Park entrance fees
  • Crater Lake tour
  • Bigodi swamp walk
  • Chimpanzee permit- Kibale
  • Bird sighting
  • Accommodation for 3 nights & meals
  • Ground transportation 4 days in a 4×4 safari vehicle
  • An English-speaking guide service
  • Bottled drinking water

Safari Exclusion

  • Tipping
  • Laundry services
  • Shopping
  • Telephone
  • Insurance

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The 4-day Kibale chimpanzee trekking & Crater Lakes is a complete primate safari and Crater Lake tour in Uganda. This special short Uganda safari tour starts with a visit to historical and cultural treasures, “Amabere caves’, and the Crater Lakes, and finally, end it with a memorable chimpanzee trekking tour in Kibale National Park. Your journey to explore Kibale Forest National Park and the Crater Lakes begins and ends in Kampala/Entebbe Kibale National Park is magnificent tropical forest park located in Western Uganda, a region that is blessed with numerous Crater Lakes. The park hosts up to 13 primate species and they include an estimated population of about 1500 chimpanzees, plus countless olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus, red-tailed, mangabeys. Chimpanzee trekking on this short Uganda tour will be conducted in Kibale starting at Kanyanchu. Brief itinerary: 4 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking
  • Day 1: Transfer to Fort Portal & visit Amabere caves
  • Day 2: Crater Lake Tour, full day
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi for birding
  • Day 4: Departure
Detailed Itinerary Day 1: Transfer to Fort Portal & visit Amabere caves Pick up by your driver guide from Maranatha Tours & Travel, and get briefed on these special 4 days of Kibale chimpanzee trekking and Crater Lakes. You will be transferred to Fort Portal tourism city, Western Uganda, via the Mityana-Mubende route about 5 hours drive. Lunch will be provided early on arrival at Fort Portal tourism city, also home to Toro King. After lunch, you will go visit Amabere Ga’nyinamwiru caves, about 17 17-minute drive from Fort Portal. This cave is a historical and cultural treasure for the Batooro, and geographically, they are stalactites features. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge Day 2: Crater Lake Tour full day Wake up for an early morning breakfast, and then proceed for your Crater Lake tour. You will explore different Crater Lakes in Fort Portal, and head off to Crater Lake to walk around most of the Ndali-Kasenda Craters as well including Nyinabuga, Nyabikere, Lyantonde, and others. You will also get to the top of the world, and discover why it is called so.  Dinner and overnight at the Lodge Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi for birding Breakfast early in the morning, after, you will be transferred to the Kanyanchu visitor center for a briefing about chimpanzee trekking rules and to be assigned to a park guide. The actual visit to see the chimpanzee community begins at 8:00 am and it is expected to go for 2-4 hours which is inclusive of 1 hour for a magical encounter. A variety of other primates that live within Kibale Forest will also be sighted, including baboons, mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus, bush babies, etc. At 2 pm, the Bigodi wetland tour will be the perfect way to end your long day. Bigodi is a rich wetland with birdlife, about 138 bird species all reside here and higher chance are you will come across the Great blue turacos and there are also multiple primate species. Later on, transfer to the Lodge for dinner and overnight Day 4: Departure Leave your lodge after breakfast and check out. Drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, 5-6 hours’ drive journey with lunch enjoyed en-route. Arrive at Kampala or Entebbe early, and drop off at a hotel or at your next destination and it marks the end of your 4 days of Kibale chimpanzee trekking and Crater Lakes. End of the 4 Days Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Carter Lakes Safari inclusions
  • Park entrance fees
  • Crater Lake tour
  • Bigodi swamp walk
  • Chimpanzee permit- Kibale
  • Bird sighting
  • Accommodation for 3 nights & meals
  • Ground transportation 4 days in a 4×4 safari vehicle
  • An English-speaking guide service
  • Bottled drinking water
Safari exclusions
  • Tipping
  • Laundry services
  • Shopping
  • Telephone
  • Insurance