7 days Uganda Primates & wildlife safari:
The gorilla and wildlife safari covers most of Uganda’s leading safari parks, highlighting Kibale Forest National Park – the primate capital of the world, Queen Elizabeth National Park for big game and Bwindi Impenetrable National park – home to half of the worlds remaining mountain gorillas.
Kibale park hosts several primate species including chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, baboons, red tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. Its also home to over 375 bird species.
Queen Elizabeth Park has a variety of savanna dwellers including lions, African bush elephants, buffaloes, leopards, warthogs, antelopes and birds. Kazinga Channel linking Lake Edward & George is also home to hippos, crocodiles and several species of birds. Bwindi park is home to the endangered mountain Gorillas.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
- Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National park.
- Gorilla trekking OR Gorilla Habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Big game in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Ishasha sector – famed for Tree climbing lions.
- Bigodi wetland & village walk
BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking / Guided nature walk in Bigodi wetland
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Game drive / Boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 6: Gorilla trekking OR Habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 7: Return to Kampala OR Entebbe OR to Kigali for Departure
DETAILED ITINERARY:
Day 1: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Meet your driver guide and depart for Kibale Forest National Park (+/- 6hrs).
Enjoy the scenic views of the local people, Homesteads & farmlands, crater lakes, lush tea plantations as well as views of the Rwenzori mountains on a clear day.
Transfer to your lodge (HB)
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking & guided nature walk in Bigodi wetland
Transfer to park HQ for a pre tracking briefing before you start your trek in search of the Chimpanzees. The forest is also home to other primate species including grey-cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, bushbabies, black and white colobus monkeys, birds as well as flora & fauna.
Spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat as they feed, play, take care of their young and groom.
Later, visit Bigodi Wetland for a guided nature walk with mammals like Sitatunga & Duikers, primates & birds including the Great Blue Turaco. The walk will also take you through the local homesteads.
After, return to your lodge (FB)
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which boasts of a large concentration of wildlife including Elephants, lions, buffaloes, antelopes, over 620 bird species, hippos and crocodiles, among others.
Transfer to your lodge (FB)
Day 4: Game drive / Boat cruise
Depart for an early morning game drive through some of the wildlife-rich areas. Wildlife includes Kobs, warthogs, buffaloes, bushbucks, elephants, Topis, Common elands and Defassa waterbucks among others.
Later, take an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, and expect to see crocodiles, Hippos, elephants, buffaloes, Kobs and Topis drinking from the banks of the Channel. Also Several species of birds, the commonest being the pelicans, African fish eagles, Kingfishers and sometimes shoebill storks call this home.
Return to the Lodge. (FB)
Day 5: Ishasha game drive / Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After breakfast, transfer through the Park through Ishasha sector famed for the tree-climbing lions. Game drive before transferring to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Home of the Endangered mountain Gorillas. Overnight at your lodge.(FB)
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience OR Gorilla Habituation Experience / Optional: Batwa visit
After Early breakfast, proceed to the park hq for briefing on rules and safety measures to be observed during the trekking activity. Then depart for your Gorilla trekking experience OR Habituation experience
*GORILLA TREKKING:
The gorilla trek can take anything from few minutes to several hours depending on where they nested the previous night. Gorillas are amazing creatures, with so much energy yet gentle therefore commonly known as the gentle giants of Bwindi. Once you locate the gorillas with help of your guide and trackers, you are allowed to stay with them for only one hour – take pictures and learn more about their habits.
Gorilla Trekking is unpredictable, and physical fitness is required for this adventure.
After trekking, return to the lodge.(FB)
OR:
*GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE:
The experience ensures you take a more active role in the protection and understanding of these gentle giants, as you join rangers and conservationists in the habituation process. This process gives insight into the lives of the Gorillas, & helps you understand Gorilla behaviors & social dynamics. After finding them, spend 4hrs with the gorillas. – This is a full day Experience and physical fitness is needed.
Later, return to your lodge.(FB)
*Optional: Batwa visit:
If time allows, take an evening walk to the Batwa community to enjoy cultural & music performances as well as ancient culture demonstrations.
Day 7: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to your next destination / departure. (Breakfast only)
– Drive time to Entebbe Uganda (+/- 9-11hrs)
– Drive time to Kigali Rwanda (+/- 4hrs)
– Flight time to Entebbe Uganda (09:10 – 11:25) – Timings are subject to change.
END OF SAFARI
