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8 Day Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari

8 Day Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari


Overview

The 8 Day Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari is a rewarding journey through some of Uganda’s most remarkable national parks, combining unforgettable primate encounters with classic wildlife experiences. This safari takes you to Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kibale National Park, offering a diverse mix of landscapes and wildlife.

During this adventure, you will enjoy a game drive and boat cruise in Lake Mburo National Park, trek through the rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to see the endangered mountain gorillas, explore Queen Elizabeth National Park with game drives and a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, and finally visit Kibale National Park, one of the best places in Africa to see wild chimpanzees.

The safari also includes a guided walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, an excellent area for bird watching and spotting other primates. By the end of the trip, you will have experienced Uganda’s rich biodiversity, including gorillas, chimpanzees, a variety of wildlife, and hundreds of bird species.

This safari starts and ends in Entebbe, making it a well-rounded journey through the highlights of southwestern and western Uganda.

Safari Highlights

  • Visit four of Uganda’s most famous national parks
  • Track mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
  • Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel with excellent wildlife viewing
  • Boat safari on Lake Mburo
  • Guided walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
  • Scenic countryside drives through southwestern Uganda
  • Travel in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Airport or hotel pickup and drop-off included

Trip Itinerary

Day 01 : Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, your safari guide will pick you up from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala and begin the journey to Lake Mburo National Park. Along the way, you will stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe where you can take photographs and enjoy a short demonstration about the Equator.

You will arrive at the park in time for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, you will enjoy an en route game drive where you may see animals such as zebras, impalas, buffaloes, and antelopes.

Later in the evening, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Mburo where you can see hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of water birds along the shoreline. After the cruise, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Drive time: Approximately 4–5 hours

Accommodation Options

Budget

Mid-range

  • Mihingo Lodge
  • Kigarama Wilderness Lodge

Luxury

  • Kigambira Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 02: Enroute Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, you will continue your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

You will enjoy an en route game drive through Lake Mburo National Park as you exit the park and continue toward southwestern Uganda. The drive offers beautiful views of rolling hills, tea plantations, banana farms, and rural villages.

You will stop for lunch along the way before continuing to Bwindi. Upon arrival at the lodge, you will check in and relax while preparing for the gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Drive time: Approximately 6–7 hours

Accommodation Options

Budget

  • Rushaga Havens Lodge
  • Bakiga Lodge
  • Ride 4 A Woman
  • Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Mid-range

  • 4 Gorillas Lodge
  • Gorilla Leisure Lodge
  • Buhoma Haven Lodge

Luxury

  • Buhoma Lodge
  • Gorilla Heights Lodge
  • Sanctuary Forest Camp
  • Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
  • Kiho Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 03: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers.

You will then enter the forest with experienced guides and trackers in search of a mountain gorilla family. The trek can take between 30 minutes and several hours depending on where the gorillas are located that day.

Once the gorillas are located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watching these gentle giants interact, feed, and care for their young is a truly special wildlife experience.

After the trek, you will return to the lodge where you can relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Same as Day 2
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 04: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular wildlife destinations.

The journey takes you through beautiful landscapes of banana plantations, tea estates, and scenic countryside. You will arrive at your lodge in time for lunch before relaxing for a short while.

In the late afternoon, you will head out for an evening game drive in the Kasenyi Plains where you may see buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, and with some luck predators such as lions or leopards.

Drive time: Approximately 4–5 hours

Accommodation Options

Budget

  • Bush Lodge

Mid-range

  • Buffalo Safari Lodge
  • Elephant Hab Lodge
  • Parkside Safari Lodge

Luxury

  • Elephant Plains Lodge
  • Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 05: Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

In the early morning, you will head out for another game drive in the Kasenyi Plains when wildlife is most active. This is a great opportunity to spot animals that may have been missed during the previous game drive.

After returning to the lodge for lunch, you will head to the jetty for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel which connects Lake George and Lake Edward.

The channel is famous for its large concentration of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and many bird species making it one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in the park.

You will return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Same as Day 4
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 06: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Kibale National Park

After an early breakfast, you will enjoy a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park before continuing the journey to Kibale National Park.

The drive takes you through scenic countryside toward Fort Portal, a beautiful town surrounded by crater lakes and tea plantations. You will stop here for lunch before continuing to your lodge near Kibale.

You will spend the evening relaxing at the lodge.

Drive time: Approximately 3–4 hours

Accommodation Options

Budget

  • Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
  • Isunga Lodge
  • Kibale Forest Camp

Mid-range

  • Turaco Treetops Lodge

Luxury

  • Primate Lodge
  • Tabebuia Spa and Safari Resort
  • Ndali Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 07: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk

After breakfast, you will drive to Kibale National Park headquarters for a briefing before beginning the chimpanzee trek.

You will enter the forest with experienced guides in search of a chimpanzee community. Once located, you will spend one hour observing the chimpanzees as they feed, communicate, and move through the forest.

After the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch before heading out for a guided walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This community-run wetland is rich in birdlife and primates and offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the local environment.

In the evening, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Same as Day 6
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 08: Return to Entebbe or Kampala

After breakfast, you will begin the journey back to Kampala or Entebbe.

You will stop for lunch along the way in Mubende before continuing the drive. Along the route, you will enjoy scenic views of Uganda’s countryside and plantations.

You will arrive in Entebbe or Kampala in the afternoon or evening where you will be transferred to your hotel or Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Tour Inclusions


  • Gorilla trekking permit
  • Chimpanzee trekking permit
  • All park entrance fees
  • Game drives in Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Parks
  • Boat cruise on Lake Mburo
  • Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
  • Guided walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
  • Transportation in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking driver guide
  • Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Airport or hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Bottled drinking water during the safari

Tour Exclusions


  • International flights
  • Uganda visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and telephone calls
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks not included in meals
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Additional accommodation before or after the safari unless requested

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