8-Day Classic Uganda Primates & Wildlife Tour

Day 1 · Arrive - Shoebill Tracking

1. 1

   Entebbe

   20 min

   Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be greeted by your driver/trip manager who will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   3 hours Admission not included

   If you arrive early in the day, there are optional activities available to introduce you to Uganda, such as nature walks in the botanical gardens, strolls through local markets and malls, and a boat ride to Mabamba Swamps to track the prehistoric giant bird. Many foreign tourists opt for Shoebill tracking, which incurs an additional charge.

Overnight at Papyrus Guesthouse, a comfortable boutique home.

Day 2 · Drive To Lake Mburo National Park

1. 1

   Lake Mburo National Park

   5 hours Admission included

   Start your day with a delightful breakfast and embark on a scenic journey to Western Uganda through the stunning landscapes of central Uganda, featuring vast cultivated plains, banana plantations, and cattle farms. Make a brief stop at Mpambire to observe the production of traditional and local artifacts. Don't miss the opportunity to capture a few Instagram-worthy moments at the equator stop. Arrive at the Rwakobo Rock Lodge in time for a delicious lunch.

2. 2

   Lake Mburo National Park

   3 hours Admission included

   Enjoy a satisfying lunch at the lodge, then embark on a game drive to encounter local wildlife such as buffalo, impala, zebra, eland, warthogs, and bushbuck. For additional adventures, consider a one-hour boat safari to see crocodiles, hippos, and numerous water birds or a horseback safari (at an additional cost).

Rwakobo Rock Lodge, a mid-range safari lodge.

Day 3 · Lake Mburo - Drive To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

1. 1

   Lake Mburo National Park

   one hour Admission included

   Join your guide for a sunrise game drive on the savannah tracks before leaving the park and heading towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. During the drive, you may spot popular game animals such as leopards, buffalo, impala, zebra, eland, warthogs, and bushbuck. Be prepared to wake up early for this exciting adventure.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   6 hours

   As you travel through southwestern Uganda, take in the breathtaking scenery of rolling hills, tea plantations, and tropical rainforests. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the rugged and majestic Virunga Volcanos in the distance. Your journey will take you through Mbarara and Kabale before arriving at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. A 32-km countryside dirt road will lead you to the lodge, which is situated on a magnificent ridge on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The lodge boasts ten luxurious cottages that offer stunning views of the surrounding Tuscany-like landscapes.

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, a mid-range to luxury eco-lodge.

Day 4 · The Gorilla Trekking Experience

1. 1

   Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

   6 hours

   You will need to wake up early and have breakfast before your driver takes you to the visitor's center for a pre-trekking briefing with the park rangers at 7:30 am. Following the briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla group, two armed rangers for your security, and a tracker guide to lead you on your trekking adventure in the forest. The amount of time you will spend in the forest cannot be predetermined, but it could take hours before you locate the gorilla group. Therefore, it is essential to prepare yourself both physically and emotionally for this experience. Once you find the gorillas, you will be able to observe them for an hour with critical guidance from the rangers before being guided out of the forest.

2. 2

   Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

   2 hours

   If you're up for a walk, you can join the Batwa cultural elders on a forest trail to learn about the history of a tribe that once lived in the Impenetrable Forest. The Buniga Forest trail is located near the lodge and includes a re-enactment of the tribe's daily life and experiences in the rainforest before it became a National Park. Traditional leaders will be leading the way.

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Day 5 · Nature Hike Across Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

1. 1

   Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

   6 hours Admission included

   One of the most popular and pioneering activities for our travelers is hiking on the ancient walking trails through the mystical Bwindi jungle. This journey takes you from the Nkuringo south side to the Buhoma visitor center in the north. As you enter the forest gates, you will be amazed by the majestic beauty of the ancient jungle and forget all your city estimates of greatness.

   You will be guided by a local expert for 4-5 hours, sharing ancient tales and incredible forest knowledge and bringing you closer to being one with nature. With luck, you may even encounter wild forest inhabitants such as chimps, forest elephants, duikers, forest buffalo, and more.

2. 2

   Queen Elizabeth National Park

   4 hours

   At the other end of the walking trail, your driver will be waiting to take you through the Ishasha savannah plains, where you can catch a glimpse of the incredible tree-climbing lions. Unlike other lions, the Ishasha tree-climbing lions are known for their ability to climb trees, often lounging in the branches for hours on end. Scientists believe this behavior results from the lions' desire to escape the hot sun and avoid pesky insects on the ground. They also adapt to their surroundings, where the trees are more robust and provide excellent hiding spots for prey. You'll arrive at your safari Lodge just in time for dinner.

Katara Lodge, a mid-range safari lodge.

Day 6 · Queen Elizabeth National Park - Kibale Forest

1. 1

   Queen Elizabeth National Park

   3 hours

   Get a chance to reach close to Africa safari's big game players on an early morning or evening game drive and afternoon boat safari on Kazinga Channel, famous for hosting the largest population of hippos. While on a game drive on Kasenyi tracks, you will encounter animals like enormous herds of elephants and buffalo. You'll also spot many interesting antelope species, such as Uganda kob, topi, and bushbuck. The giant forest hog is unusually easy to spot. Search around the Kasenyi tracks for the elusive leopard.

2. 2

   Kazinga Channel The Hippo's Paradise

   3 hours Admission included

   After lunch, you'll board a safari boat for a Kazinga Channel safari trip at 14:00; you can catch sight of elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, Uganda kob, and large hippo pods daily. Keep an eye open for the enormous water monitor lizard, common in the riverine scrub, and crocodiles. You'll also see the giant forest hog, leopard, and lion. The odds of seeing predators and other nocturnal creatures coming to drink are highest in the afternoon.

3. 3

   Kibale National Park

   3 hours

   In the late afternoon, the driver will travel west on the highway with the stunning backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. You will arrive at Kibale National Park in time for dinner and spend the next two nights there.

Turaco Treetops Lodge, a mid-range forest lodge.

Day 7 · Chimpanzee Trekking Experience in Kibale

1. 1

   Kibale National Park

   5 hours

   Wake up early and head to the visitor center by 7:30 am. With over 1500 chimpanzees under the park's rainforest canopy and a dozen other primate species, Kibale is renowned for having the highest density of primates in Africa, making it the perfect place to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. During your morning trek, you might come across other primates such as the rare L'Hoest's monkey and red colobus monkey, black & white colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, and grey-cheeked mangabey.

   However, your main objective will be to find a troop of human-habituated chimpanzees. Accompanied by an expert tracker, you'll venture into the jungle in small groups, keeping an eye out for signs of the chimpanzees' whereabouts and listening for their loud calls. The experience can last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the location of the habituated chimpanzee troop.

2. 2

   Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary

   3 hours Admission included

   In the afternoon, after your lunch, you have the option to join a local guide in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a nature walk. The sanctuary is home to over 200 bird species, including the great blue turaco, and primates such as the black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, and red-tailed monkey. Visitors can take guided nature walks through the sanctuary to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat and learn about the various plant species in the wetland ecosystem. In addition to the wildlife, the sanctuary also offers cultural experiences, such as visits to the nearby Bigodi village, where visitors can learn about the local customs and way of life. The sanctuary also benefits the local community by providing sustainable livelihoods through ecotourism.

Turaco Treetops, a mid-range lodge.

Day 8 · Drive To Entebbe

1. 1

   Entebbe

   5 hours

   After enjoying breakfast, take your time to gather your belongings in the morning hours. You will then embark on a scenic drive through Fort Portal, with the beautiful Rwenzori mountains accompanying you as you exit western Uganda and head towards Entebbe via Kampala. Once you arrive at Entebbe, you are welcome to freshen up at the Papyrus Guest House before catching your international flight back home.

   Please note that accommodation for this day is not included, but we are happy to assist you in booking a room according to your preferences.