Overview
This 8 Days Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari is an extraordinary adventure that takes you to some of the most visited national parks in Uganda. The safari explores the savannah parks of Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will have opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, hippos, warthogs, bushbucks, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, lions, leopards, Nile crocodiles, and numerous bird species during game drives and boat cruises.
The safari also includes visits to Kibale Forest National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you will enjoy close encounters with primates. Here you will spend one hour observing the endangered chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.
Highlights of the 8 Days Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 8: Departure to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick Up and Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Depending on your location on the first day of the 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari before beginning the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours, and along the way you will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking.
After the rhino tracking experience, you will continue the journey with another stop for lunch. Following lunch, you will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park and upon arrival you will drive directly to the Top of the Falls where you will enjoy spectacular views of the waterfall, the powerful water splashes, and the surrounding scenery. After the visit, you will continue to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will meet your driver guide and head out for a morning game drive in the park. During the drive you may see animals such as buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeest, elephants, waterbucks, giraffes, Uganda kobs, oribi, warthogs and many others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Boat Cruise
In the afternoon, you will go for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. During the cruise you will see large numbers of hippos and crocodiles in the water as well as other animals along the riverbanks. The cruise also offers excellent opportunities to observe various water birds. After the experience, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast on the third day of the 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will check out of the lodge and begin the journey to Kibale Forest National Park. Along the way you will have lunch and enjoy beautiful views of the crater lakes, the Rwenzori Mountain ranges, tea plantations, and banana plantations.
Upon arrival in Kibale, you will proceed to the lodge for check-in, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking
After an early breakfast on the fourth day, your driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing about the guidelines for chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing, you will begin the trek in the forest with an experienced park guide who is familiar with the chimpanzee trails.
Chimpanzee trekking takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours, and during the search you may encounter various bird species, other primates, and different plant species. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend one hour observing them in their natural habitat as they feed, play, breastfeed, rest, and interact. You will also have opportunities to take photos and record memorable moments.
After the experience, you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will check out and begin the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way you will enjoy scenic views before continuing to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Morning Game Drive / Lion Tracking Experience and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Morning Game Drive / Lion Tracking.
After an early breakfast on the fifth day of the 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, your driver guide will pick you up for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. During the drive you may see elephants, waterbucks, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, bushbucks, and predators such as lions and leopards. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon Boat Cruise
In the afternoon you will enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During the cruise you will see large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in the water, as well as elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and warthogs along the shores. You will also spot a variety of water birds such as cormorants, hornbills, kingfishers, and African fish eagles.
After the 2 to 3 hour cruise, you will return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast on the sixth day of the 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will check out of the lodge and begin the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector. While passing through Ishasha you may see the famous tree-climbing lions resting on fig tree branches.
After the game drive in Ishasha you will have lunch before continuing the journey to Bwindi. Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Trekking
On the seventh day of the safari, you will have breakfast, carry your packed lunch, and meet your driver guide for transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking rules and regulations. After the briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family to track and begin trekking in the forest with an experienced ranger guide.
Gorilla trekking can take 30 minutes to 7 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas as they move through the forest in search of food. During the trek you may see other primates, birds, and plant species. Once the mountain gorillas are found, you will spend one hour with them, observing their behavior, watching them feed, groom their young, and interact with one another while taking photos and videos.
After the experience you will trek back to the starting point where you will receive a gorilla trekking certificate. Later you will return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 8: Departure to Kampala
On the final day of the 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will enjoy breakfast at the lodge before checking out and starting the journey back to Kampala. Along the way you will stop for lunch in Mbarara town before continuing the drive.
You will also stop at the Equator crossing where you can take photos and purchase souvenirs. After the stopover, you will continue to Kampala arriving in the evening, and your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.
End of the 8 Days Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari.