This 12-day Uganda Primates and Wildlife safari offers you an abundance of wildlife, scenery, and cultural experiences in Uganda. Gorilla and chimp tracking may be the highlight of this safari, but there are amazing opportunities of seeing Rhinos, lions, hippos, buffaloes, leopard, elephants, and several species of birds and an abundance of dense green forest. Enjoy the thundering Murchison Falls in the north of Uganda and the crater lakes is the western part of the country. This journey will bring you close to nature and culture.
Safari Highlights:
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Game drives
- Boat safaris
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Community walk
- Crater Lakes
- Gorilla tracking
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival for Best of Uganda Safari
Our naturalist guide will welcome you to Uganda at Entebbe international airport and transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe. Enjoy the fresh breeze from Lake Victoria – 2nd largest lake in the world. Get a good night’s rest, your adventure starts tomorrow.
Drive time – 20 minutes
Day 2: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Have an early breakfast and depart for Murchison Falls National Park found on the northern/western circuit. The journey is a magical adventure with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to track Rhinos. You will spend a total of 1 hour with the Rhinos after allocating them with the help of your ranger guide.
After this experience, you will proceed to Murchison Falls national park overnight. Depending on water levels, you will visit the top of the falls today or the next day.
Drive time – 5 hours or Scheduled flight – 1 hour 10 minutes
B, L & D
Day 3: Game drives and Boat Safari
Murchison Falls National park is the largest park in Uganda offering a fulfilling game viewing. After an early break-fast we start the day with a game drive on the northern bank of River Nile and look out for giraffes, elephants, hartebeest, Buffaloes, Leopards, Lions and different bird species. Indeed, it is a privilege watching wild animals in their habitat as they eat, play, and protect the young.
In the after-noon, the safari will continue on River Nile. You will join others on a relaxed boat safari providing more opportunities for spotting a variety of animals and birds. Watch the water of the Murchison falls – the ‘devils cauldron’. This boat safari will give great animal viewing and the falls.
B, L & D
Day 4: Transfer for Chimps in Kibale Forest
Today after an early breakfast we depart for the home of Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park – the primate capital of the world. We hope you had an adventurous time in Murchison falls National Park. Kibale forest is home to 13 species of primates with the main attraction being chimpanzee tracking among many other engaging activities.
On this journey, you will have stunning views as you pass small villages, local markets and several bird life. This is a day’s trip with packed lunch or in a town enroute. You arrive at your lodge later that evening ready for tomorrows adventure.
Drive time – 5 hours Or Scheduled flight – 1 hour
B, L & D
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Community Walk
Kibale national park is the primate capital of East Africa. Chimpanzee trekking is a fulfilling adventure that takes you deep in the tropical forest across streams of water. You might have sightings of red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white Columbus monkeys,butterflies, and birds calling from the canopies while on this safari. With the help of your guide, you will locate the chimps. Enjoy picture moments and watch them as they play and feed.
In the afternoon you will visit Bigodi Village and wetland known for its rich diversity of birds and primates depending on the availability of time. By taking this tour, you are contributing to the development of this community because the proceeds are used to build schools and offer small loans.
B, L & D
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today after breakfast, our tour continues to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a wildlife experience in the plain of Kasenyi. The drive will take us through views of several crater lakes and the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges en route. On arrival in the park, we shall have a small game drive as we proceed to the lodge for lunch
Drive time – 2 hours
B, L & D
Day 7: Game drive and Boat Safari
Today we arise early morning for a game drive. The animals in their different families, clans, and groups are out starting on their day. Notice the difference between these animals in their natural habitat and those caged in zoos. The game drive happens in Kasenyi plains in the custom made safari cars for game viewing. Look out for Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Kobs, Water bucks etc all this in between the Rwenzori mountains and the Rift valley escarpment.
In the afternoon the safari will continue on a boat cruise on Kazinga channel which is a stretch of water connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The boat safari offers you great photography sessions in a relaxed way with lots of bird life on the shores, crocodiles, elephants, etc
B, L & D
Day 8: Expedition to Bwindi impenetrable Forest
Today we start journey to the home of the gentle giants of Bwindi impenetrable forest. This fulfilling journey takes us through the Kigezi highlands with great scenery of terraced hills. Lunch will be along the way or at the lodge depending on time of arrival.
Your lodge in or adjust to the impenetrable forest will offer you great resting as you prepare for the next day’s gorilla trek.
Drive time – 4 hours
B, L & D
Day 9: Gorillas trekking in Uganda
The highlight of your safari will be meeting the gentle giants of Bwindi National Park! Enjoy the fullness of the impenetrable forest abounding with life, host to several species of birds, butterflies, primates, mammals. Eventually with help of your guide who is also a park ranger, you will find yourself face to face with the enormous and rare mountain gorillas. The trekking experience takes anything from on hour (rarely) to about 6 hours to accomplish. However, you only have one hour with gorillas to capture your finest moment.
B, L & D
Day 10: Transfer to Jinja
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Entebbe from where you will proceed to Jinja – the adventure capital of East Africa.
Flight time to Entebbe – 1 hour and 50 minutes and Drive to Jinja – 2 hours and 30 minutes
B, L & D
Day 11: White Water Rafting on River Nile
Today morning after an early breakfast, you will transfer to the starting point of the white water rafting.
In Jinja, the Nile finds its origin; visit the Source of River Nile where it starts its 4000 km journey through Africa and a great challenge for rafters. You shall have a whole days white water rafting experience.
Optional activities
Quad bike safari, bungee jumping, horseback safari
Day 12: Transfer to Entebbe
We hope you have had a fantastic time exploring Uganda. This marks the end of your Uganda primates Safari.
Drive time – 3 hours
B & L
