Uganda Primate Encounters
Uganda offers intimate wildlife encounters beyond ordinary safaris, from mountain gorillas to tree-climbing lions and chimpanzees. See gorillas, chimpanzees, buffalos, elephants, leopards, and far more on this 8-Day Uganda Primate Encounters Safari.
Uganda was named “the pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill in 1908 because of its outstanding natural beauty. Uganda is blessed with natural forests and beautiful national parks filled with 20 primate species, including the chimpanzees, more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and over 1,086 species of birds. Boosted by a tropical climate, Uganda’s national parks are not overcrowded and have a lot to offer. Kibale National Park is Africa’s primate capital with 13 species of primates waiting to be encountered, while Murchison Falls NationalPark hosts the world’s most powerful waterfalls, where the force of the Nile plunges through a narrow gorge falling almost 50 meters below before flowing to Lake Albert. At Queen Elizabeth National Park herds of elephant match through their territories majestically while to the south-west, mountain gorilla tracking through the thick forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park redefines the true meaning of being on a safari. Fresh and rejuvenating, Uganda is truly the pearl of Africa.
Tour Highlights:
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
- Game drives on the savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Arrive in Entebbe, Uganda, which earns its nickname, the “Pearl of Africa,” from its scenery. Transfer to your hotel for resting and leisure.
Optional: Visit the stunning Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Accommodation: Medium Budget: Papyrus Guest House (BB) High Budget: Hotel No.5
After a hefty breakfast, embark on a journey to Kibale National Park along the picturesque countryside. In the afternoon, you can take a walk around the lodge where you can encounter some birds, butterflies and more.
Kibale Forest is a unique jungle with the highest population of Chimpanzees in Africa and 12 other primate species including baboons, red colobus, black and white colobus, L’Hoest monkeys and grey cheeked mangabey.
Accommodation: Medium Budget: Kibale Guest Cottages (FB) High Budget: Primate Lodge (FB)
This morning, go for a chimpanzee trek, listening to the silence of the forest as you go to meet man’s closest cousins. Kibale Forest is also home to 300 species of birds. Return to the lodge and for the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Included: Chimpanzee tracking
Optional: Nature walk in Bigodi
Accommodation: Medium Budget: Kibale Guest Cottages (FB) High Budget: Primate Lodge (FB)
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to large strong herds of elephants, lions, hippos and kobs, any of which you may see on an evening game drive.
Included: Evening Game drive
Optional: Crater lakes walk
Accommodation: Medium Budget: Kasenyi Safari Camp (FB) High Budget: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Deluxe (FB)
Embark on a morning game drive through the vast landscape, observing the timeless circle of life in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your explorations may reveal buffalo, elephant, lion, Uganda kob, leopard and far more. Return to the lodge for lunch.
This afternoon, embark on a 2-hour boat safari along the Kazinga Channel which is known for it high concentration of hippos in the whole world. Expect to see several water birds, crocodiles, buffalos, warthogs, elephants, kob, and far more. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Included: Game drive, Boat cruise
Accommodation: Medium Budget: Kasenyi Safari Camp (FB) High Budget: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Deluxe (FB)
After breakfast, set out for a morning game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park. Make your way out of the Rift Valley through the Kigezi Highlands to the mountains of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Proceed with game viewing to the Ishasha sector, searching for the tree-climbing lions, a species of lions seldom seen elsewhere in Africa. Check-in your accommodation and have the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Included: Search for the tree-climbing lions
Optional: Community Walk
After breakfast, you will be taken to the park headquarters for a short but important briefing from the park rangers and guides after which you will be allocated the gorilla family to visit. Enter the forest and start your trek (please note that a drive to the starting point of your trekking may be required).
Coming up close to endangered Mountain Gorillas in the forests of Uganda is a thrilling lifetime experience that surely ranks on most people’s travel bucket lists. Trekking at a high altitude through dense forests and up steep terrain can be challenging, especially in the African heat, but the hour you get to spend with these gentle giants is worth every step.
Only 8 guests may visit one gorilla family, at a time. One trek per day/ family.
Gorilla Tracking – is managed fully by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, with a head ranger, security personnel (who are armed as a precaution against wildlife among others), and trackers, with optional porters – who walk with the guests until a family is located. Once the gorillas are found, the rangers only take the guests closer to the gorillas – and your viewing time commences – which is one hour.
Porters – they are from the local communities, rotated for revenue sharing which goes directly to them. Recommended at least 1 per person trekking. Fees are usually additional to your tour and paid directly.
Included: Gorilla Tracking
After breakfast, depart Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and drive to Entebbe. This afternoon, transfer to the airport for your outbound flight back home.