This 8 days Uganda primate safari is a 7 nights 8-day safari in Uganda offering gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking & wildlife game viewing safari that has been carefully crafted to give you 7 nights and 8 days in Uganda perfect Africa safari memories that you will forever hold dear to your heart. This 8 days Uganda safari is aimed at giving you an insight into the best of Uganda tourist attraction sites as you will get to visit 4 of Uganda’s premier safari destinations namely, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mountain Rwenzori National Park and Kibale National park in 8 days. This Uganda safari starts and ends in Entebbe and we can easily arrange it for you under budget, midrange or luxury accommodation options and can be customized further to suit your safari interests.
Come and explore the Pearl of Africa with this 8 Days Uganda primate safari adventure for unforgettable Africa safari memories.
The Chimpanzee trek in Kibale National park brings you into contact with our wild cousins the Chimps
Having a chance to stand in 2 different hemispheres of the world at the same time.
Enjoying a magical moment to remember with gentle Mountain Gorillas
Exploring the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains
Seeing several of Africa’s big five game when you visit Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The incredible boat cruise along the Kazinga channel
Exploring the beautiful and calm waters of Lake Bunyonyi
Exploring the sights and sounds of Kampala during an experiential Kampala city tour drive.
Day 1 & 2: Kibale National Park
Day 3: Rwenzori Mountain
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi
You will wake up very early in the morning at 6:00 am and have breakfast after which you will be picked by one of our highly professional guide using any of our 4×4 safari cars and you embark on an awesome 300 km or 5-6 hour road adventure to Kibale which is filled with lots of fascinating road sightings. 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 Uganda’s purely organic tropical fruits that will tantalize your taste buds due to their absolute sweetness. Other things that may come your way is Uganda’s very own KFC version of chicken and 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. From here you drive through fascinating tea plantations of Fort portal that seem like expansive playing fields when viewed from afar. You will finally proceed with the rest of your journey to your lodge in Kibale. Upon your arrival here, you will have a lunch break then transfer to 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 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 retire back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
The highlight of the day: Enjoy the scenic drive through Uganda’s countryside
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & time: Approx. 300km or 6-7 hours
Optional activities: –
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 a company of park ranger, embark on jungle walk as you search for these great humans of the wild the chimpanzees and 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, 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. After having this lunch, you will check out of your lodge and embark on the transfer to Kasese town which is 75km or a 1-1.5 hours drive away from Kibale. You will pass via Ruboni community centre where you will find local women selling an assortment of art and craft materials. You can buy a souvenir for this trip form here. this way, you will have played a pivotal role in supporting the local community here as the proceeds from the sales are used by these ladies to support their families’ livelihoods. If you wish, you can also spare a minute or two and indulge yourself in a learning process from these expert weavers on how to make some the impressive art products just like those on display. You will proceed with the rest of your journey to your hotel in Kasese town with magnificent views of the Rwenzori ranges. You will arrive at your lodge late in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
The highlight of the day: An encounter with the chimpanzees will fascinate you on this day
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: Approx. 157km or 2-3 hours
Optional activities: –
This day of this safari leads on an expedition through the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains. You will have an early morning breakfast at your hotel at 6:30 am then you will transfer to Nyakalengija park station early in the morning to embark on the whole day hike to the Rwenzori Mountains. This hike will cover a course of 10km as you explore the lower ranges of the mountain. As you hike you will start your ascent at 1727m above sea level and you will go as high as 2373m above sea level although the entire Rwenzori Mountain rises to 5,109m above sea level with snowcapped peaks despite its closeness to the world’s main latitude – the Equator. During this hike, you’re likely to encounter impressive flora species such as the giant lobelias and groundsels that are lovely to encounter. On a clear day, you can have glimpses of the peaks such as Baker and Stanley that can be viewed at a distance, the sights of glaciers flowing down the mountain is beautiful not forgetting the savannah landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the rift valley lakes of George and Edward and Kasese town below. You will have lunch while on the mountain and in the evening you will descend back to Nyakalengijja where your safari guide will be waiting for you. You will drive to your lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park arriving there late in the evening at around 5 pm for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Enjoy the magnificent views of the diverse wildlife that exists on the Rwenzori Mountain
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: Approx. 30km or 40min-1 hour
Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include: –
The 4th day starts quite early as you have an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am after which you get to engage in a morning game drive experience as you explore of more the Kasenyi sector of this park which is filled with a wide variety of animals such as 4 out of the 5 big five mammals which include lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, large herds of African bush elephants, Topis and many other antelope species. Retreat from the encounter which tends to take 2 – 5 hours, settle for lunch after which you transfer to Mweya jetty for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise which is the highlight of the day as it is considered the best boat cruise experience on the African savanna plains. During this boat cruise, you have the opportunity to sail on the tranquil but turbid waters of the Kazinga channel a 40 km long channel that connects Lake George to Lake Edward. This cruise offers you an opportunity to see at close range the highest concentration of water submerged Hippos which is close to 5000 individuals and Nile crocodiles that are seen basking along the shores of the channel. If you are interested in birding then this boat cruise in a good place for you to be because it offers you the chance to several of the waterbird species that constitute a big part of the 600 bird species that are found in this park alone. The cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing. You retreat from the boat cruise and engage in an evening game drive along the Channel track to explore more wild game in their evening moments. Continue to the lodge for overnight.
Today’s highlight be will the incredible boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include: –
You will wake up early in the morning at 6:30 am for breakfast then get comfortable into the safari car and begin your 2-3 hours journey towards the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National 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 Africa 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 between 3-4 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 tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector logged in between tree branches is the highlight of the day
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance &time: Approx. 140- 240 or 6-8 hours
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 and confectionaries to give an energy boost for the 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, 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 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.
Having a close moment with the majestic gorillas surely makes this day a one to remember for a very long time in your lifetime
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: Approx. 55-85 km or 1-3 hours
Optional activities: –
This day is a bit laid back as you get to wake a bit late at 8:00 am and listen 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 in 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 at Lake Bunyonyi and embark on the whole day Island hopping boat cruise exploration visiting the main Islands of Lake Bunyonyi. You explore the Bucuranuka (Upside down) Island which is believed to have buried people alive after refusing to offer local brew to an old woman and she cursed the Island turn upside down burying its inhabitants. You also visit the Akampane (Punishment) Island where the girls with unwanted premarital pregnancies would be dumbed to die of hunger or as they as try to swim back the mainland. Njuyera Islands which is a traditional leprosy healing centre which can also be visited. Have a lunch break then in the evening, embark on a hike to the top of the world point here which takes you 2200meters above sea level and if you manage to get to the top your efforts will be rewarded with spectacular views of the entire Bunyonyi lake which will forever be imprinted in your memory. While at the top take time off to catch your breath and enjoy a picnic evening tea that comes with a warm cup of coffee & an assortment of snacks while you appreciate nature’s work and also re-energize before you slope down. After this hike, set off for a community tour as you visit some of the local schools if the school term is open. While here, you will get to meet the local students who are striving for a better future, if it’s fine with you, you can donate a few scholastic items to the school to enable these students to have a comfortable stay in school. From the school visit. Retire from the activity return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
An experiential boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi will make be the highlight of the day
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: Approx. 55-85 km or 1-3 hours
You will wake up at 8:00 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 in 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 wish 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 into 2 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
End of the 8 Days Uganda Primate Safari- Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi, Wild Game Viewing in Queen Elizabeth Park & Chimpanzee Tracking Tour in Kibale National Park
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
Visa fees
Laundry services
Items of personal nature
Gratuities and tips
Other beverages/ drinks
Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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