8 Days Uganda Primates Safari
The 8 Days Uganda Primates Safari which can further be customized to match your travel style, takes you to four exciting wildlife parks in Uganda. You will see wild animals, walk in rainforests, and meet friendly local people. This trip includes gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, boat rides, and scenic drives. You will visit Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Kibale, and Murchison Falls National Parks. Each place offers a different experience. You will travel with a driver-guide, sleep in budget lodges, and explore the best places in comfort. This tour is good for nature lovers who enjoy seeing animals in the wild and learning new things.
Day 1: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Your driver will pick you up early and start the journey to Lake Mburo National Park. The road trip offers great views of farms, towns, and hills along the way. When you reach the park, you will check in at Eagles Nest Lodge, located on a hill. The lodge gives you clear views of the park and the lake below. In the afternoon, you will go for a game drive in the park with your guide. During the drive, you may see zebras walking in groups across the plains. You might also see giraffes, impalas, elands, and many colorful birds flying in the trees. After the drive, return to the lodge for dinner and a quiet evening under the stars.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Travel to Bwindi
Wake up very early for a morning game drive in the park before the animals hide in the shade. This is the best time to see animals like leopards and hyenas if lucky. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for a late breakfast. Once you finish eating, check out and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive takes you through beautiful rolling hills and green farmland. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon and check in. If your tracking is in Ruhija, sleep at Bakiga Lodge. If your permit is for Rushaga, then you stay at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge. Relax at the lodge and prepare for the next day’s gorilla trek.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Visit
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules. Your guide will take you into the forest to look for the mountain gorillas. The walk may take a few hours depending on the group’s location that day. Once you find them, you will spend one hour watching the gorillas as they eat, play, and rest. You are allowed to take photos but must keep a safe distance. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, join the Batwa people for a cultural experience. The Batwa will show you how they used to live in the forest. They will share songs, dances, and stories from their past. Spend another night at the same lodge.
Day 4: Ishasha Sector and Drive to Kibale Forest
Check out from the lodge after breakfast and drive toward the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will pass through Ishasha where fig tree climbing lions are sometimes seen resting in the branches. Keep your camera ready in case you see one. You may also find elephants feeding near the road or crossing into the bush. After this short game drive, continue to Kibale Forest. This forest is famous for chimpanzees and other monkeys. Check in at Kibale Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Kibale Forest Camp for the night. Later in the evening, ask your driver to help arrange a night game drive on the public road through Kibale. You might spot bush babies, night jars, and other small animals that only move after dark.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Cultural Visit
Begin your day with a tasty breakfast before heading to the forest office for a chimpanzee tracking briefing. A ranger will guide you into the forest to look for a chimpanzee community. Once found, you will spend one hour with them, watching how they eat, call each other, and move between trees. Chimpanzees show very social behavior that is fun to watch and easy to enjoy. Some visitors say they feel a close connection with them. If available, ask to walk with an old UWA staff member who worked in the park before. These people often share deeper knowledge about chimp life and behavior. In the afternoon, visit a nearby village for a short cultural tour. Talk to locals and learn how they live near the forest. Spend a second night at your lodge.
Day 6: Long Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Wake up early and get ready for a full day drive to Murchison Falls National Park in the north. The road takes you through small towns, roadside markets, and farms along the way. You will stop for lunch at a local place before continuing the journey. When you reach the park, drive slowly and enjoy the first views of wildlife along the way. You may see baboons, waterbucks, or warthogs near the road. Check in at Murchison River Lodge where you will spend the night. The lodge is peaceful and sits close to the river, perfect for relaxing after a long travel day.
Day 7: Game Drive, Boat Cruise and Top of the Falls Hike
Start your day early with a game drive on the northern side of Murchison Falls National Park. Look out for giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, and lions in the open savannah. Your driver will guide you along tracks where animals are likely to be found. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Nile River. This ride takes you closer to animals like hippos, crocodiles, and many birds near the water. The cruise ends at the base of Murchison Falls, where the river squeezes through a narrow rock gap. From here, hike to the top of the falls with your guide. Feel the strong power of the water as it crashes down below. After the hike, return to the lodge for your last night in the park.
Day 8: Return Journey and Departure
After breakfast, check out from the lodge and begin your drive back to Kampala or Entebbe. The journey gives you time to relax and think about everything you saw and did. You will stop along the way for a meal and short breaks. Depending on your flight or travel plans, your driver will take you to the airport or your hotel. This marks the end of your 8 Days Uganda Primates Safari.
What the Safari Cost Covers
This trip includes car hire, fuel, and an English-speaking driver-guide for the full journey. Your accommodation will be in budget lodges with meals. The cost also includes your gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits. These permits allow you to join guided walks into the forest to see these animals.
What the Safari Cost Does Not Cover
You need to pay for your visa to enter Uganda. Tips for the driver and guides are not included. If you want to buy souvenirs, bring extra money for local markets or shops along the way.
