9 Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

With the 9 Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari, you will delve into the lush Kibale National Park’s chimpanzee rainforest where you will wander through ancient montane woods, then proceed to Queen Elizabeth for thrilling savanna encounters through a game drive and Kazinga channel’s boat safari. The climax awaits you in the world’s largest gorilla habitat, where you’ll track and spend an hour with a gorilla family accompanied by rangers. Lastly, unwind at Lake Mburo National Park, a serene savanna retreat, with a night’s stay and an exhilarating game drive.

• 01

  Day 1: Entebbe Airport to Kibale Forest National Park

  You are met at Entebbe International Airport by your driver-guide and begin the scenic drive west (about 5 to 6 hours) via Kampala, Mubende and Fort Portal. You can stop for lunch and views of the tea plantations near Fort Portal. You arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon for dinner and a rest.

  Meals: En route Lunch & Dinner

  Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge (Budget) | Guereza Canopy Lodge (Mid-Range) | Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)

• 02

  Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Optional Bigodi Nature Walk

  After an early breakfast you go to the Kanyanchu visitor centre for a briefing, then trek in Kibale Forest to find habituated chimpanzees. Kibale also has other primates, including red colobus and black-and-white colobus monkeys, and many bird species. Treks typically take 2 to 5 hours, and you may spend an hour with the chimps. In the afternoon you can take the optional guided Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk, which is good for birds, monkeys and local community stories.

  Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch or lunch at the lodge, dinner

  Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 1

• 03

  Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Game Drive

  After breakfast you drive south (about 2 to 3 hours) past the Kasenda crater lakes and through the Rift Valley landscape into the Kasese area. After lunch and check-in you head out on an afternoon game drive across the Kasenyi plains for lions, elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, waterbuck and warthogs.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

  Accommodation: Pumba Safari Lodge (Budget) | Engiri Safari Lodge (Mid-Range) | Elephant Plains Lodge (Luxury)

• 04

  Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

  You leave early for a morning game drive when predators are most active, then return for breakfast. After lunch you take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake George and Lake Edward. The cruise is excellent for hippos, buffalo, elephants, crocodiles and many water birds.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 3

• 05

  Day 5: Morning Game Drive in Ishasha Sector, then Drive to Bwindi

  You travel to the southern Ishasha sector (about 2 hours) for a morning game drive. Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which rest in fig trees, and is also home to topi, kob and elephants. After lunch you continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (about 2 to 3 hours depending on your sector), arriving by evening for dinner and a briefing.

  Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch or lunch en route, dinner

  Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge (Budget) | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Mid-Range) | Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury)

• 06

  Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Optional Batwa Cultural Experience

  After an early breakfast you attend the ranger briefing and set off to track a habituated mountain gorilla family. Trekking can take 2 to 8 hours depending on where the gorillas are, and you spend one hour with them. Porters can be hired locally and are highly recommended. In the afternoon you can join the optional Batwa cultural experience to learn about the forest people’s traditions, hunting methods and songs.

  Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

  Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 5

• 07

  Drive to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Nature Walk

  After breakfast you begin the long drive to Lake Mburo (about 6 to 8 hours) with lunch and photo stops along the way. You arrive in the late afternoon and take a guided nature walk in the park, one of the few places in Uganda where walking safaris are allowed. You may see zebras, impalas, elands and many bird species, and perhaps topis and bushbucks.

  Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch or lunch en route, dinner

  Accommodation: Eagle’s Nest (Budget) | Rwakobo Rock 9Mid-Range) | Mihingo Lodge (Luxury)

• 08

  Day 8: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

  You start with an early game drive for zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elands, impalas and possibly leopards, then return for breakfast. After lunch you take a boat cruise on Lake Mburo to see hippos, crocodiles, fish eagles, pelicans, African finfoots and other water birds.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

  Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 7

• 09

  Day 9: Lake Mburo to Entebbe and Departure

  After breakfast you drive to Entebbe (about 4 to 5 hours), stopping at the Equator in Kayabwe for photos and a quick souvenir stop. Lunch is in Masaka or Kampala before you are transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight. Evening flights work best.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch

  Accommodation: None (tour ends). If you have an early morning flight, a night in Entebbe can be arranged at extra fee.