8 Days Uganda Primate Safari – Uganda Chimpanzees And Mountain Gorillas : This Uganda primate safari is tailored to fulfill the interests of primate lovers who seek to encounter both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
Uganda is one of the great primate destinations in Africa hosting the largest gorilla population (half of the world’s gorilla population) and the largest population of chimpanzees in Africa. On this safari of 8 days and 7 nights of adventure in the jungle of Uganda, you will visit Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will encounter Mountain gorillas on gorilla trekking activity. Kibale national park – the primate capital is another site you will visit for an encounter with the playful chimpanzees and other primates. Also Queen Elizabeth national park is another wonderful wildlife destination you will visit for game viewing drives and boat safari on the iconic Kazinga Channel.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 8 DAYS UGANDA PRIMATE SAFARI
- Day 1: Arrival
- Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National park – home of Chimpanzees
- Day 3: chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest
- Day 4: transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 5: game drive and boat safari on Kazinga Channel
- Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Forest – Home of Mountain gorillas
- Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest
- Day 8: Departure
DETAILED ITINERARY OF 8 DAYS UGANDA PRIMATE SAFARI
Day 1: Arrival
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed in Uganda by a representative of Petnah Africa Tours and Travel and transfer you to your hotel for an evening of rest. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Serena Hotel
Midrange: Fairway Hotel
Budget: Forest Cottages
Meal plan: dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National park – home of Chimpanzees
After breakfast, you will leave for Kibale forest – a primate capital of the world, the journey will take you through the countryside with lunch in Fort Portal – a beautiful tourism town. After lunch you will proceed to your lodge for check in and overnight
Driving time – 5 hours
Accommodation options
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange: Isunga Lodge
Budget: Kiojo Guest Cottages
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 3: chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest
After early breakfast, you will transfer to Kanyanchu Tourism center for briefing about chimpanzee trekking. Then trek into the forests of Kibale looking for chimpanzees, with the help of your experienced tour guide you will locate chimpanzee which can be found while following their noise / sounds which they normally make as a way of communication with each other. When you locate the chimpanzees you will spend one hour in their presence which is an unforgettable and rewarding experience.
Head back to the lodge for lunch and then go for a nature walk in the Bigodi Community for a swamp walk and the village walk, on the walk through the wetland you will enjoy sightings of red tailed monkeys, Mangabeys, butterflies and several bird species. The walk continues to take you on a visit to different homes where you will have a coffee experience, banana brewing, basketry and learning about different local/traditional medicine. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 4: transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Have a leisure breakfast, bid farewell to Kibale forest and head to Queen Elizabeth national park with a drive through the Crater Lakes Region and enjoying views of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
Arrive in the park in time for lunch which you will enjoy after check-in, in the afternoon you will go for a game drive searching for various wildlife including buffaloes, elephants, lions, antelopes among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Elephant hab
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 5: game drive and boat safari on Kazinga Channel
Enjoy early breakfast and head to the park’s Kasenyi plains for a morning game drive, the area hosts a large population of Uganda Kobs which attract predators in the area making it a great site for game drives. Some of the animals you will see include Buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, Uganda kobs, bush pigs among others.
After lunch at the lodge, you will head to the Kazinga Channel for an afternoon boat ride. The Kazinga Channel is a water channel connecting Lake Edward to Lake George, the channel hosts the largest population of hippos in Uganda. During the boat ride of about 3 hours you will watch many animals including hippos, Nile crocodiles in the waters and herds of elephants, cape buffaloes drinking waters and many water birds including herons and crested cranes. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Forest – Home of Mountain gorillas
After breakfast, you will depart for Bwindi impenetrable national park through the Ishasha sector where you will spot the tree climbing lions. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home to half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, the forest is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Arrive in the park in the evening, check into your lodge and spend the rest of the evening relaxing at the lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge
Budget: Buhoma Community Camp
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest
Wake up early for breakfast and transfer to the park’s headquarters for briefing about mountain gorilla trekking which is the highlight of this safari. In the briefing you will be taken through the rules and regulations to follow while in the forest and presence of mountain gorillas, then be grouped into 8 people and head into the forest looking for your allocated gorilla family.
The trek takes approximately 2-6 hours depending on the movement of mountain gorillas and the gorilla family you are trekking and upon find the group, you will spend one hour in their presence while observing their amazing behavior and characteristics which are so similar to humans. You are allowed to take pictures as long as your flashlight is off as it irritates the gorillas, you will then head back to the park’s headquarters to pick your certificates. Head to your lodge and spend the rest of the relaxing or go for a community visit in the Batwa people where you will be entertained by local dances and drama and demonstration of hunting skills among others.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, you will start the journey back to Kampala/ Entebbe with a stopover in Mbarara for lunch and at the Equator Monument in Kayabwe for pictures. You will be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport for your flight back home or to your next destination.
End of 8 Days Uganda Primate Safari
