5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Chimpanzee Tracking Tour in Kibale Park

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale, visit the Amabere ga’ Nnyinamwiru caves and the crater fields

On the first day of this 5 days primate tracking Uganda safari tour, you will be picked up by our guide to begin the journey to Kibale National Park which is an awesome adventure that is filled with lots of fascinating road sightings during this 5-6 hour journey covering about 300km. You will wake up very early in the morning for breakfast before you kick start this 300km journey.

Along this adventurous journey, expect to have several stops such as one at the Mityana local market and this gives you an opportunity to take your taste buds on a culinary journey as you taste some of Uganda’s purely organic tropical fruits that will tantalize your taste buds due to their absolute sweetness.

Another thing that may come your way is Uganda’s very own KFC version of chicken this will be a roasted chicken skewered on sticks and if you aren’t a fussy feeder, this is your moment to have a taste of this fire-grilled finger lingering goodness. You will arrive at Mpanga tea estates in the mid-morning and then embark on a cycling experience.

The green tea plantation is spread over a beautiful undulating landscape with endless scenic views which makes it ideal to encounter on your mountain bikes. As you cycle here, you will encounter the estate staff plucking tea and you are free to participate in the exercise to gain the exact touch.

Retreat from the activity and continue to Fort Portal town where you will settle for lunch after which you will connect to Fort Portal Crater Lake Area. Upon arrival, you are welcomed by the local inhabitants of the place with a deep understanding of and history of the place.

You visit the Amabere ga’ Nnyinamwiru caves – the breast like features believed to have belonged to Nyinamwiru the daughter of Bukuku who was a self-enthroned King of the Bachwezi. She was denied the opportunity to breastfeed her baby Ndahura as the father had been alerted that the child will take over his throne. The milk continues to flow out of Nyinamwiru’s breasts.

Retreat from this encounter and embark on the hike to the Fort Portal Crater Lake field where you traverse the challenging slopes of Kyeganywa hill surrounded by a range of crater lakes and crater hollows presenting one of the most beautiful scenic sites in Uganda.

The top of Kyeganywa hill offers the views of Rwenzori Mountains on a clear day. Retreat from the activity and transfer to Kibale National Park 26km from Fort Portal town for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

The highlight of the day: Enjoy the intriguing local folklore stories behind the existence of these unique features

Accommodation: –

• Top-notch / Exclusive: Kyaninga Lodge/ Ndali Lodge

• Luxury/ Upmarket: Crater Safari Lodge/ Primate Lodge Kibale
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House- Cottages
• Budget/ Basic: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House-Main House/ Kibale Forest Camp- Tents

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & time: Approx. 300km or 6-7 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
• Visit the Amabere ga nyina mwiru caves in Fortportal

Optional activities: –

• Nocturnal walk in Kibale National Park enables you to encounter some of the nocturnal creatures such as Bushbabies, Nightjars, Tree hyrax, Ginet & Mongoose

• Cycling in Mpanga tea  estate

Day 2: Do Chimpanzee Trekking in the morning & Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon.

The morning of this day kicks off with an amazing breakfast that is aimed at energizing for the thrilling chimpanzee trek that’s ahead of you. You will be transferred by your guide to the park centre in Kanyanchu where you get to go through a short briefing about the entire chimpanzee trekking experience.

From here in the company of a park ranger, embark on a jungle walk as you search for these great Chimpanzees. The highlight of the day will be when you get to meet these exciting creatures you will be wowed by how much in common we do have with these great apes as they laugh, hug and kiss just like humans do and also look after the young ones.

Besides the chimpanzees, you should also not miss out on the sightings of several other primates that call this forest their home and these include the black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, and Grey monkeys. After the chimpanzee encounter which lasts an hour of pure enjoyment return to the park centre where your trekking efforts are rewarded with a trekking certificate.

From here, have a lunch break then transfer to the Bigodi community where you get to engage in a community encounter with the locals and see how they live their daily lives, watch them or even engage in some of their days to day activities such as coffee picking, local brew making and as you undertake this community thriller, you will take part in the coffee-making process right from planting process, harvesting red ripe coffee berries, sun drying process, then coffee pounding and finally making your own cup of coffee that is freshly brewed from the coffee that’s grown by these locals.

After this really exciting cultural mash-up you’ve just had, you will embark on a 157km drive to Queen Elizabeth Park where you will have dinner and an overnight stay.

The highlight of the day: A trek to see the Chimpanzees and spending time with them, analyzing their closeness to humans 99.8 DNA!!

Accommodation: –

• Luxury/ Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Safari Lodge / Mazike Valley Lodge
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Enganzi Game Lodge/ Marafiki Safari Lodge

• Budget/ Basic: Pumba Safari Lodge / Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: Approx. 157km or 2-3 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Chimpanzee trekking
• Cultural experience as you visit the Bigodi wetland community
• Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park

Optional activities: –

• Afternoon birding session in the park
• Nocturnal walk in the forest

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi with an en-route game drive in Ishasha sector

On this day you will enjoy breakfast and a cup of Ugandan coffee before setting off. This day is programmed for transferring from Queen Elizabeth Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After having breakfast, you will embark on an 8-9 hours transfer to above sea level with snow-capped peaks. This drive will also take you through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth and when you arrive here, you will the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth Park.

On arrival here, you will engage in a stunning game drive in this sector while you search for the tree-climbing lions that have made this park and particularly this sector a must-visit place for numerous African safari adventurers who are interested in having encounters with these rather unique lions as they usually find them taking a mid-morning rest while lodging their bodies in between tree branches.

After your game drive which lasts for about 2 hours, transfer to a convenient lodge in this park sector for your lunch break which also helps you stretch your body for a while before you then embark on the remaining part of your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

A sighting of the rare tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector logged in between tree branches is the highlight of the day

Accommodation: –

• Top-Notch / Exclusive: Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge
• Luxury/ Upmarket: Haven Lodge Buhoma
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Budget/ Basic: Trekkers Tavern Ruhija

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance &time: Approx. 140- 240 or 6-8 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Transfer to Bwindi
• Game drive in Ishasha

Day 4: Do Mountain Gorilla trekking & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for an evening boat cruise

On this day, you will have an early morning breakfast served at 6:30 am comprising of a wide assortment of bites ranging from truly delicious tropical organic fruits to freshly baked confectionaries aimed at giving you an energy boost for the Uganda gorilla trekking in Bwindi experience ahead of you where you get to meet one of the gorilla families in this park for a full hour.

Depart from the lodge with your packed lunch and gather at the park centre where you will be welcomed by the park sector warden who will take you through the history of gorilla conservation in this particular park sector and Bwindi park in general. While here still you get to have a miniature cultural performance from the local Batwa people who will showcase their musical skills to you.

With your armed ranger in the lead, embark on a trek, searching for your allocated gorilla family. Along the way keep your eyes and ears on the lookout for several of the 350 bird species that are found in this park that might come your way, you will also be in a position to see some of the other primates here such as the Black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, different species of lizards such as the 3 horned chameleon and many more.

On seeing the gorillas, count yourself among the lucky people who have managed to see these endangered mountain giants in their natural habitat. You will be granted a full hour with these magical beings to watch them as they go about their daily lives and if you’re lucky you might get to see the young gorillas break the 7-meter rule as they get closure to you to have you incorporated in their games.

After the full hour of contact with these gorillas, you will transfer back to the park centre where you get awarded a Gorilla tracking certificate for your tracking efforts.

From here, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi where you get to relax from the rather a bit tedious gorilla trekking experience. On arrival to this beautiful tropical gem of the Kigezi highland, you will be fascinated by the tranquil waters of this lake and the numerous islands that are dotted all over this lake hence leading to its famous name The Lake of a Thousand Islands.

Take a relaxing boat cruise on the waters of this lake as you are taken through the history behind several of these islands such as the Akampene island which is also known as the Punishment island where young girls who had got pregnant were thrown and left to die alone, the upside-down island which legend has it that it was cursed by an old lady when the young people who lived on that island refused to give her beer, she cursed it and it turned upside down hence having them all drowned.

From this boat cruise, transfer to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

The highlight of the day: Trekking and seeing the Mountain Gorillas and taking a boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi.

Accommodation: –

• Luxury/ Upmarket: Birds nest @ Bunyonyi
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
• Budget/ Basic: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: Approx. 55-85 km or 1-3 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
• Gorilla trekking

Optional Activities: –

• Nature walks in Bwindi
• Batwa community walks
• Birding

Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala with en-route stops along the way

You will wake up at 7:00 am to the sweet melodies of birds that will be singing their hearts off to the dawn of a new day and this will fairly make you understand why this Lake is called Bunyonyi which means a Lake of many small birds as you will hear interjecting voices of many birds singing together in uniformity as they welcome the day. Grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea and choose from any of the available wide selection of confectionaries.

After having breakfast, you will embark on the transfer to Kampala 420km and Entebbe 470km from Lake Bunyonyi. During this 470km return journey to Entebbe, you will drive through the rolling hills of Mirama which will fascinate you given how the locals here have managed to tame these wildlands by cultivating along these steep slopes. Along the way back you will encounter many local men carrying farm produce on their bicycles headed towards the nearest local markets.

You will make an en-route stop for lunch at Igongo country hotel and just a few kilometres outside Mbarara town to enjoy a locally inspired lunch buffet and if you wish, you can try out the Ishabwe dish which is a local delicacy in this region. After having this sumptuous lunch buffet, you will proceed and visit the 1520AD solar eclipse monument which is found in Biharwe village.

If you wish you can hike up the hill on which this monument is set and enjoy spectacular views of the undulating Ankole plains which form a nice background for you to take photos. While here, the guide will take you through the intriguing history behind this solar eclipse and how it managed to greatly change the destiny of three great ancient kingdoms all at once.

From here proceed to the Equator point where another stop will be done to allow enjoy an experience of living in 2 separate halves of the world at the same time as this is the line that divides the earth into2 equal halves! You should take a number of photos of yourself while here to allow have this magical moment captioned for eternity.

You will also undertake a water experience which teaches how to differentiate the northern from the Southern hemisphere hence helping you to always be in the know of which half of the world you’re in anywhere in the world! You will finally continue with the rest of your journey back to Entebbe airport where your safari will come to an end as you catch your departure flight back home.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Drive distance & time: Approx. 450km or 7-8 hours

Activities & services: –

• Transfer back to Kampala
• Traditional Lunch buffet at Igongo country hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Drive distance & time: Approx. 450km or 7-8 hours

End of the 5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – 5 Days Safari Uganda Tour

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – SAFARI INCLUSIONS:-

   Full-time English professional safari driver-guide

   4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with pop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C

   Full board accommodation

   Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking permit fees

   Boat cruise fees

   Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle

   Bottled water

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – SAFARI EXCLUSIONS:-

•    International &domestic flight fees
•    Visa fees
•    Laundry services
•    Items of personal nature
•    Gratuities and tips
•    Other beverages/ drinks
•    Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – GETTING THERE

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – PRICE PER PERSON 

Number of people against price per person

2 – $na pp

3 – $na pp

4 – $na pp

5 – $na pp

6 – $na pp

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – RELATED SAFARI ACCOMMODATION

RELATED 5 DAYS UGANDA PRIMATE SAFARI ITINERARIES – UGANDA SAFARI CATEGORIES

• Gorilla Safaris From Kigali
• Uganda Wildlife safaris
• Uganda Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris
• Uganda Birding safaris
• Uganda Fishing safaris
• Uganda Mountain Hiking Safaris
• Long Uganda Safaris
• Short Uganda safaris
• Days Tours In Uganda
• Cultural Safaris In Uganda
• Scheduled Group Safaris In Uganda
• Adventure Vacation Safari Holidays
• Uganda Agricultural Safaris
• Luxury Safaris In Uganda
• Budget safaris In Uganda
• Uganda Rwanda Safaris

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari – GORILLA TREKKING TIPS.

•   Mountain gorillas sometimes nest far from the start of your gorilla trek, you should ready yourself for a long walk and drink plenty of water.
•    Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden – designated time and place will be communicated.
•    Smoking while inside the forest is strictly forbidden
•    Bwindi being a tropical forest, it can rain anytime so we encourage you to carry a rain poncho
•    Waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots are essential.
•    Gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants
•    Long trousers and long-sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
•    Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
•    Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a small charge
•    As you prepare to come for your Uganda gorilla adventure, please do some exercises so that you prepare your body for gorilla trekking which can last between 3-8 hours
•    In case you can’t walk for a very long time, you shouldn’t really worry about not being able to do gorilla trekking because there are potters who can carry you throughout at a small extra cost.
•    Carry your sunscreen lotion to keep your skin safe from the tropical heat & sun rays
•    When you get to the gorillas, don’t make noise because this agitates the gorillas
•    For more information about gorilla trekking tips please follow these links to read more about gorilla trekking tips and advice.

At Prime Safaris and Tours Ltd, your safety is our utmost priority. We have thus undertaken the necessary safety measures in compliance with the approved Standard Operating Procedures by the Governments of ALL African countries in which we operate with a goal of protecting our customers while travelling and on their Africa safari. The following guidelines will be applicable for your  Safari in Uganda, Rwanda, Congo and other African Countries.