8‑Day Uganda Primate Safari: Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Adventure
8 Days (7 nights) Uganda Safari trekking Chimpanzees and Gorilla tracking, lions, elephants, hippos; over 1000 bird species, etc:
From the time you land at Entebbe international airport, with its equatorial location on the forested shores of island strewn Lake Victoria, it is very clear that Uganda is no ordinary safari destination. Dominated by an expansive golf course leading down to the lake shore and a century-old botanical alive with the chatter of acrobatic monkeys and tropical birds, Entebbe its self is the least obviously urban of all comparably sized African Towns.
Then, just 40 km distant sprawed across seven hills, there is the capital Kampala . The bright modern feel of this bustling cosmopolitan city reflects the ongoing economic growth and political stability that has characterized Uganda since 1986 and is complemented by the sloping spaciousness and runaway greenery of its garden setting.
Ecologically, Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African Jungle. Where else but in this impossibly lush country can one observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rain forest undergrowth the same afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippo and crocodiles before setting off into the misty mountains to stare deep into eyes of the Mountain Gorillas:
Safari Highlights:
- Trek with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Track chimpanzees in the dramatic Kibale National Park
- Embark on thrilling wildlife game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up at Entebbe Airport and transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Forest for chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Swamp walk.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 4: Game drive and boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
Day 5: Transfer via Ishasha sector to Bwindi National Park to see tree-climbing lions.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi; Batwa cultural visit..
Day 8: Transfer to Kampala or Entebbe for your next travel destination.
Detailed Travel Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport you will be Received to And dropped at your hotel for overnight:
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our professional driver or guide, who will be holding a signboard with your name for easy identification. After a brief introduction and assistance with your luggage, you will embark on a comfortable transfer to your hotel. Along the way, your guide will provide a brief overview of the city and share insights about Uganda, ensuring a smooth and engaging start to your trip.
Once at the hotel, you will be assisted with check-in and given time to settle into your room. The evening will be at your leisure, allowing you to rest after your journey or explore the hotel’s facilities. Overnight stay at the hotel in Entebbe, preparing for the adventures a head.
Mid-Range: KK hotels Entebbe/ Best western gardens Entebbe/
Budget: ViaVia Hotel/Anderita Beach Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National park – Fort portal for Chimpanzee tracking.
Take your breakfast and proceed to to Kibale national park via Hoima to Fort portal for 4hrs, A high light of visit to Kibale National Park will be the Chimpanzee tracking excursion that starts from Kanyankyu at 0800hrs and 1400hrs daily. Encountering man’s closest cousin is stands at over 95% according to 2006 statistics.
Whilst in the forest, you can expect to see encounter other types of primates most probably the grey-cheeked mangabey and red-tailed monkey. You will hear plenty of bird song but it is very difficult to see any bird (bird watching) in the heart of forest-you are better off looking for them in the rest of the camp and along the road. Take pictures of traditional homesteads and farms en route. Weather is pleasant in Fort portal
Moderate option: Kibale Forest Camp/
Low Budget option: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Rweetera service park/Kibale forest cottage.
Day 3: Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Take breakfast early morning. Leave for Kibale Forest National Park, this is commonly accepted to have a diversity and highest massing of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided chimpanzee walk in the tropical rainforest evergreen in searching of the Hot springs, Black white colobus monkeys, wild chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, butterflies of different species and many others. Have a luncheon, and then go to the Bigodi areas for a swamp walk. The guide will provide details about the flora and fauna that you will encounter and then after, you will be transferred back to your lodge
Low Budget option: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Rweetera service park/Kibale forest cottage
Day 4: Transfer from Kibale Forest National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Take an early breakfast and head for the park guided walk. (2-3 hours). This park has 12 species of primates including the chimp. Get very clear pictures of the variety in flora fauna and birds.
Have lunch and head for Queen Elizabeth National Park via the foothills of foot hills of mountain Rwenzori.Take an evening game drive and retire for the night at
Budget: Albertine river camp/Simba safari camp/Pumba Safari lodge
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Experiential lion and Leopard Tracking and Afternoon Boat Ride Along the Kazinga Channel
Wake up early in the mornings and take cup of tea or coffee. Go for a game drive along Kasenyi track to see the herds of Buffalo, Elephant, Warthog and Lion. Return to the lodge for mid-morning breakfast. After lunch, a two-hour launch cruise along the Kazinga channel proffers visitors a unique opportunity to encounter at close quarters hippo and a variety of bird species common to the park.
The prolific bird life is colorful and astonishing with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight at your lodge
Budget: Albertine river camp/Simba safari camp/Pumba Safari lodge:
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Morning Game Drive Out to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park via Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions:
After breakfast drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, via the Ishaha sector for the tree climbing lions and through picturesque panorama where the overriding topography is of terraced farmland and deep valleys.
Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas (self-contained cottages)/Ruhodeza gorilla logde:
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience:
After breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters by 7:00am for briefing about the gorilla’s life style and tracking guidelines. Around 8:00 am we embark on the highlights of gorilla trekking safari, which may last for the entire day. We trek through the rain forest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a park ranger, porters and other trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family.
The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6metres from the mountain gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes, observing their behaviors and taking photos for the memorable experience.
It’s difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike; gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.
After this gorilla safari tour, you will descend back to the park headquarters were you will be awarded with gorilla trekking certificates for participation in gorilla trekking activities thus contributing in the gorilla conservation.
In the evening you can relax around a campfire or take walk to Batwa pygmies the original forest dwellers who will demonstrate their living lifestyle and later retire to the lodge
Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas (self-contained cottages)/Ruhodeza gorilla logde.
Day 8: Transfer Back to Entebbe for Departure.
After breakfast, early morning game drive and then start on the journey back to Entebbe for your flight out of Uganda on this day. You will have lunch en-route the journey with a stopover at the equator line, for pictures and experiment, and then to Mpabire village for local crafts and drum making place, to get yourself some of the African crafts on your way back to Entebbe.
+++END OF UGANDA WILDLIFE SAFARI TREKKING HOLIDAY+++++
Tour price per person Budget Range from: $3149.5 USD, and Midrange: from $3817 USD including gorilla permit of $800 and chimpanzee permit of $250.
Tour cost includes:
- Gorilla tracking permit Uganda (Bwindi) of $800 usd,
- Chimpanzee tracking permits (Kibale Forest) of $300
- All park entrance and related fees, boat fees,
- Full board accommodation with all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner),
- Bottled drinking water on safari,
- Private 4×4 ground transportation.
- French speaking driver guide, guides in national parks.
Excluded:
Flight tickets and departure taxes, travel documentation (visas),travel and medical insurance, optional excursions, tips and gratiuties for your guides and accommodation staff, Laundry, beverages other than mineral water in the vehicle and at meal times with meals, -Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, postage fees and so on
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