This 8 day Best of Uganda Primates safari offers opportunities of connecting with nature and the people of Uganda. Enjoy game drives in the custom made safari vehicles, boat safari on Kazinga Channel, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest, gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest, great scenery of the mountains of the moon and crater lakes. The highlight for many people on this safari is gorilla trekking when they come face to face with the mountain gorillas but the community experiences with the local people might top it all.
Day 1: Kibale Forest | The Primate Capital
After breakfast, start the journey to Kibale forest national park – the primate capital of the world. It is home to 13 primate species which include the black & while colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey and the chimpanzees.
Enroute, visit the Entanda cultural experience in Kijjude village for an authentic cultural experience. You will have opportunities of tasting different tropical fruits found in this village – in fact it will be a buffet of fruits. Get involved in preparing local foods and enjoying the meal after. Received counselling from the Senga for women and Kojja for the men and end with an experience in basketry.
After this experience, leave for Kibale forest. Check in to your lodge in preparation for chimpanzee trekking the next day.
Day 2: Kibale Forest | Meet the Chimpanzees
Today you will go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest. Transfer to Kanyanchu for briefing after an early breakfast. After briefing from the ranger guide, you will be allocated a group to start your chimp trek with a ranger guide. Your experienced ranger guide will lead you as you hike through the tropical forest for a rewarding experience in search of man’s closest relatives the Chimpanzees. Once you locate them, you have an opportunity to stay for one hour with them. The trek can take anything from 1 hour to 3 hours.
After lunch, take a walk in Bigodi village – proceeds from this help in community development. You will have a young guide from the community taking you through different homesteads for banana beer making, coffee experience, basketry and medicine man.
You have an opportunity to plant trees in the Bigodi area which help absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere. The trees also provide habitat to different animals, birds and insects. .
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth park | Explore Uganda’s Wilderness
After that exhilarating experience with the chimps in their natural habitat, journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park passing through Crater lakes region (depending on road condition) and enjoying views of the Rwenzori mountain ranges. Have a stopover at the Rwenzori Sculptors gallery.
Continue to the park and take the crater drive to enjoy the beautiful scenery of craters in the park and wildlife. Exit the park and visit the Katwe salt mines. At the Katwe salt mines, learn about the salt mining processes and the history of the area in general. Have a picnic lunch and later proceed to the lodge for overnight.
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth park | Game drives and Boat Safari
After an early breakfast we leave for a game drive joining the lion research team on lion tracking and supporting their work. The car is customized for game viewing, enjoy the exotic species which include Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, and Uganda Kobs etc.
In the afternoon join a boat safari on Kazinga Channel – towards Lake Edward with different animals on its banks and beautiful species of birds. Stay in the park for an evening game drive and later for a night game drive as you look out for the nocturnal animals
Day 5: Explore the Bwindi Impenetrable forest
Have breakfast and then start your drive to the magnificent Bwindi impenetrable national park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – the home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site hosting numerous tree species, birdlife, primates, mammals, insects etc.
The drive will take you through various villages. You will view amazing landscape of hills cause by farmers terracing the areas as they farm.
Day 6: Bwindi forest | Encounter the Mountain Gorillas
Gorillas are amazing creatures, with so much energy yet gentle – commonly known as the gentle giants. The tour guide will transfer you to the briefing area where you will allocated a gorilla family to trek. The gorilla trek can take anything from a few minutes to several hours depending on where they nested the previous night. Once you locate the gorillas with help of your guide and trackers, you are allowed to stay with them for only one hour.
Day 7: Lake Mburo | A walk in the wild
This morning after breakfast, you will transfer to the tranquil Lake Mburo national park which is the smallest of the savannah national parks in Uganda. Have a stopover at the Igongo Museum for lunch and visit to the Ankore cultural museum.
Proceed to your lodge for check in and after return to the park for an evening nature walk in the park. You will do a 2 hour walk with a ranger guide who will share intimate knowledge of the park and wildlife.
Day 8: Entebbe | Departure
Depending on your flight time – have a relaxed breakfast and transfer to Entebbe with a stopover at the Equator monument for pictures and shopping souvenirs.
***END OF SAFARI***
This Best of Uganda Primates Group safari will allow you to have an up-close experience with the wildlife in Uganda and experience part of the culture when you visit villages. The minimum age for trekking is 15 years for mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. You will be moving by road and having stopovers for stretching, washroom, photography and lunch depending on your needs.
Transfers
All your transfers are arranged from the first day to the last day. We arrange these to all the activities and lodges as mentioned in the itinerary. We however do not organize airport transfers. If this is something you want from us, let us know so that we arrange it at an extra cost.
Lodges
We partner with ideally located accommodations in the mid-range level of comfort and amenities. The lodges have been inspected for health and safety protocols. They offer great service.
Physical Level: Moderate to Difficult
This is an active safari – requiring to be out in the forest and volcanoes walking/ hiking for hours. You need to be relatively fit to enjoy this experience. The treks can be as easy as 1 hour hike or as difficult as 4-6 hour hikes. Most of the elevations are above 2000m asl in above sea level.
Booking and Cancellation Policy
50% is required at time of booking with full payment expected 30 days before start of your safari. This is used to purchase the permits and confirm with the lodges.
Deposit can be paid via bank transfer or credit card – please contact us to send you details. If you pay using credit cards, include 4% which is surcharge from the bank.
We are not responsible for cancellations due to medical or other reasons.
Should cancellation be required due to severe weather, an alternate date will be scheduled at no additional charges.
No money will be refunded if you withdraw after the tour has started.
We are not responsible for any fees associated with non-refundable air travel, we highly recommend you purchase travel insurance.
You can request this itinerary and pricing as a private tour for you and your friends or family. Our safari experts will advise you in case you need to add activities to this itinerary and preferred lodges.
Email: sales@kagerasafaris.com
Telephone: +256-392-176513
WhatsApp: +256-782477992
