5 Day Primates Safari Uganda

Primates Safari Uganda – Gorilla Trekking & Chimpanzee Safari

Destinations:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park

Overview

This 5-day Primates Safari Uganda is a combined Uganda gorilla trekking and chimpanzee safari that takes you to the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to more than half the World’s population of 1004 Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest offers a unique birding opportunity, cultural experience, and a scenic allure of stunning hills and lush vegetation inhabited by a wide variety of primates. Gorilla tracking is the most enchanting experience in this forest that will leave you with memories of a lifetime.

The Primates Safari Uganda will also adventure with you to Kibale Forest National Park the primates capital of the world and home to the highest concentration of primate species with 13 species recorded including the fancy Chimpanzee. You will trek the wild but habituated chimpanzees, watch colorful birds, have a walking safari in the Bigodi Swamp, and visit the crater lakes region to see the ancient extinguished craters that are now breathtaking landscapes of exclusive scenic beauty.

Safari Highlights

• Western Uganda Road Scenic Drive
• Equator experience
• Uganda Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Chimpanzee safari in Kibale Forest
• A nature walk in Bigodi swamp 

Travel Schedule

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda
Day 2: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 3: Gorilla tracking and cultural experience
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and travel to Kampala

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day1: Arrival in Uganda

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our Uganda primates safari guide who will transfer you to Kampala to a hotel booked for you. In case you have had an early flight to Uganda, you will be taken on a brief tour of the city of Kampala.

Luxury Lodge: Serena Hotel/ Imperial Hotel 
Moderate:  Emin Pasha Hotel/ Speke Resort Hotel
Budget facility: Acardia Cottages/ Namirembe Guest house
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis

Day 2: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (490 Kms)

After an early breakfast, you will set off from Kampala and travel westwards to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for approximately 9-10 hours for the first period of the Primates Safari Uganda. You will have a brief stop at the Equator for an opportunity for you to stand in two hemispheres at the same time and take some photographs. You will continue the journey through the beautiful verdant rolling hills characteristic of this part of the country. You will have a lunch break in Mbarara town and then continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park arriving late in the afternoon hours.

Budget: Buhoma community Rest camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Moderate: Gorilla Resort Bwindi /Gorilla Safari Lodge / Lake Mutanda Resort/ Gorilla Mist Camp.
Up market: Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Rushanga Gorilla Satari Lodge.
Meal plan: Full Board Basis

Day 3: Uganda Gorilla trekking and cultural experience

After an early breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters where you will be briefed by the guides on the dos and don’ts of Uganda Gorilla trekking before you begin the search in the thick Bwindi forest for the Mountain Gorillas. Although it is unpredictable how long you will trek before finding them, the thrill of getting to them and spending time with these gentle giants is an emotional and humbling experience that leaves you with memories of a lifetime! You will return to your lodge for a rest and later go for a cultural walk among the Batwa people who used to live in the Bwindi forest before it was gazetted as a National Park. You will learn about their life and culture as forest people and be amazed by the wealth of knowledge they have on native medicinal plants which they use to treat a wide array of human sicknesses. Alternatively, you will watch a skillful blacksmith as he manufactures local iron tools for use in everyday life the way it used to be done in the ancient days or witness the making of local beer. Your cultural tour will be crowned with a traditional dance performance whose antics are fabulously entertaining.

Budget: Buhoma community Rest camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Moderate: Gorilla Resort Bwindi /Gorilla Safari Lodge / Lake Mutanda Resort/ Gorilla Mist Camp.
Up market: Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Rushanga Gorilla Satari Lodge.
Meal plan: Full Board Basis

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi swamp walk

You will, after breakfast on the fourth day of the Primates Safari Uganda, head to Kibale Forest National Park arriving in the early afternoon. On the Drive to Kibale Forest National Park, you will be able to enjoy an impressive sight of the legendary “Mountains of the Moon” which you will clearly see on the road to Fort Portal. You will have lunch in Fort Portal after which you will hit the road for the Kibale Forest National Park. You will visit the unique Bigodi swamp eco-tourism site where you will see uncommon plants and rare bird species such as the Great Blue Turaco, little Bulbul, Rwenzori Turaco, and the Narina Trogon, among others. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge of your booking.

Luxury: Ndali lodge/Primate lodge/Kyaninga lodge
Moderate: Mountains of the moon/Kibale forest camp/crater safari lodge/ Primate Lodge
Budget: Rwenzori travelers/Kibale forest camp/Chimpanzee forest guest house
Meal plan: Full Board Basis 

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and travel to Kampala

You will, after breakfast, head to Kibale Forest to view the primates. The activity begins at 8.00 am with a briefing on the rules for trekking the chimpanzees after which you set off to search for them in the forest. The exercise takes half a day and along the way, you will see other primates such as Grey cheeked Mangabeys, Phoestes, Red-Colobus, and the Blue-tailed and Red-tailed monkeys swinging in the tree branches of this thick forest. Your guide will give you informative briefings on the lifestyles of the primates you will be coming across and on the plants as well as on the insects and butterflies in this forest to ensure that the trek is not only informative but enjoyable as well. You will return to your reserved Uganda Primates Safari lodge for lunch after which you will set off for Kampala arriving late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight will be at the Hotel of your booking.

END OF SAFARI

Requirements for this Safari:

• A Visa – you can apply for a visa online or very easily get one at the point of entry into the country (airport)
• Chimpanzee and Uganda Gorilla trekking permits – You can apply and secure these online but experience has shown that it is better coordinated when you send money to the tour firm to handle it for you at no extra cost to the standard fee (USD700)
• Travel & Health insurance – This should be arranged by you in your home country before you travel.
• Physical fitness

The Safari package includes:

• Accommodation as per the itinerary
• 4WD safari vehicle with popup roof
• Bottled drinking water
• Chimpanzee safari permit in Kibale forest
• Uganda Gorilla trekking permit for $700 per person
• Services of an English Speaking Driver/guide.
• Community visit fees
• Guided nature walks
• Pickup and Return airport transfers.

The Safari package excludes expenses of a personal nature such as:

• Other drinks
• Laundry
• Tips to local guides
• Telephone expenses
• Porter fees while trekking Gorillas and chimpanzees
• Personal Insurance
• Cigarettes

Request a quote for this safari