PRIMATE WATCH SAFARIS

Embark on a life-changing 10 Days Wildlife Expedition through Uganda’s lush rainforests and wildlife havens. Your journey begins with a transfer to your Entebbe accommodation, then a drive to Kibale Forest National Park. Here, witness diverse flora and fauna – spot playful chimpanzees and red colobus monkeys amongst the treetops. After an electrifying afternoon tracking our primate cousins, travel to nearby Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy an evening game drive under the setting sun before cruising the teeming Kazinga Channel at sunset, where pelicans and waterbuck roam the papyrus-lined shores.

Rise at the crack of dawn tomorrow for an immersive morning game drive. Peer through bush and grasslands, spying majestic lions and their prides ambling the plains at sunrise. Later, drive out through several waterways teeming with many hippos – over 10,000 call these waterways home. Leaving the teeming waterways, drive to the impenetrable rainforest of Bwindi, where mountain gorillas reside. Wander through to the Ishasha Sector to search for the rare tree-climbing lions lounging blithely in the boughs overhead.

The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived – gorilla tracking amidst the forest’s shady glades. Coming face to face with silverbacks or playful family groups is a soul-stirring experience, connecting you intimately with our ancient relatives. Finally, motor to Lake Mburo National Park for game drives past sweeping vistas. Gaze out over rippling savannahs and spot zebras and buffalos across the yellowed plains. This all-encompassing safari blends adventure, wildlife wonders and nature’s raw beauty – an unforgettable expedition through Uganda awaits!

Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe – Transfer to Hotel

Arrive in Entebbe, and transfer to your accommodation to rest and freshen up. If time permits visit the famous Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.

Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel / Papyrus Guest House

Day 2: Drive to Kibale National Park

Drive westward to Kibale National Park approximately a 5-hour drive. The route slowly ascends from the Lake Victoria Basin into the lush rolling foothills of The Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon). The road passes through villages and farmland where every imaginable fruit and vegetable of the tropics can be seen growing. Birding is excellent as the road passes through rainforest regions, agricultural land, papyrus swamps, and scrubland before reaching the famous tea-growing area around Fort Portal and Kyenjojo. Pass through tea plantations into the Kibale Forest area.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge Kibale / Ndali Lodge / Turaco Treetops

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest

After breakfast, proceed for Chimpanzee tracking. The exciting activity begins in the morning and may take a whole day or a few hours. Briefing is done by the UWA park rangers at the park headquarters. Besides being human’s close cousins, the chimpanzees, Kibale National Park hosts other primates such as red colobus, L’hoest, black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabey among others. The swamp walk at Bigodi wetland is an optional activity in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge / Primate Lodge / Turaco Treetops

Included: Chimpanzee tracking

Optional: Bigodi Swamp Walk

Day 4: Kibale National Park – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, check out and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive passes through Fort Portal southwards along the Eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains. On a clear day, you may see the glaciated peaks as you gently descend into the Great Rift Valley to the park. The Rwenzori Peaks provide a magnificent backdrop to antelope-filled plains. Queen Elizabeth National Park covers about 2,000 square kilometres and spreads along the eastern shores of the Rift Valley’s Lake Edward.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge / Buffalo Safari Lodge / Irungu Forest Lodge

Included:  Evening game drive

Day5: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today you go for an early morning game drive with the hope of seeing lions and other predators as they hunt for their prey. In the afternoon, you take a launch/boat cruise of about two hours on the Kazinga channel for bird viewing (Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best birding parks in Africa with “560” + recorded bird species and 296 bird species seen in 24 hours). You may also watch wildlife including the hippopotamus and elephants, among others. The Channel is believed to have the largest concentration of hippopotamus in the world.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge / Buffalo Safari Lodge / Irungu Forest Lodge

Included: Game drive, Boat trip at the Kazinga Channel

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Here you will choose either to go via Maramagambo Forest for a nature walk and visit the bat caves where you may observe thousands of bats within inches of their roosts and often pythons and monitor lizards poised to strike by the cave entrance or to go to Ishasha for a game drive in search for the unique tree climbing lions. Afternoon, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Dinner and overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Haven / Gorilla Bluff Lodge

Included: Search for Tree Climbing Lions

Day 7: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, and our packed lunch, we then take a short drive to the park headquarters for briefing where we meet the excellent local guides and trackers who give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then trek into the forest to a spot where gorillas were last seen the previous night and track from there. Trekking may take anything between 1 to 6 hours depending on the family and altitudes which is more than 7500 feet. The terrain is rough and muddy calling for physical fitness. Although the hike is physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery makes the trekking worthwhile. Once the Great Apes (Gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world). It is recommended that you take plenty of water with you on the trek. Non-flash cameras and plenty of fast-speed films are recommended. Being a tropical rain forest, it may rain at no notice, hence need to bring with you waterproof clothing, including zip-lock bags for cameras and film. Others to come with include sturdy hiking boots, long pants, gloves and a raincoat. Maximum time spent with the gorillas is 1 hour.

Dinner Overnight at Mahogany Springs / Buhoma Haven / Gorilla Bluff Lodge

Included: Gorilla tracking

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park through the renowned Kigezi hills arguably known as the Switzerland of Uganda. Do an evening game drive in the park

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge / Rwakobo Rock / Mantana Camp.

Included: Game drive

Day 9: Lake Mburo National Park

Your day starts with a choice of either a game drive or a safari walk, allowing you to experience the park’s wildlife according to your preference. Lake Mburo National Park has a rich history, including the reintroduction of species like giraffes, and you’re likely to see buffaloes, zebras, impalas, and a variety of birds during your exploration.

After lunch and some relaxation, embark on a two-hour boat cruise on Lake Mburo. This offers a chance to spot hippos, crocodiles, and diverse water birds like the African fish eagle. You might even observe animals like buffaloes and antelopes coming to drink at the water’s edge. Following the cruise, you’ll return to your lodge for dinner and a restful night.

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge / Rwakobo Rock / Mantana Camp.

Included: Game drive, Boat trip

Day 10: Return to Entebbe/Departure

Morning at leisure or go horse riding. After lunch at the lodge, drive to Entebbe Airport for your International flight connections.