This 9 Days Ultimate Gorilla and Primate Safari takes you on an exploration adventure of Uganda’s prime attractions. You will get to witness wildlife up-close, learn about these animals as well as the culture and the beautiful wilderness of Uganda.
Highlights of 9 Days Ultimate Gorilla and Primate Safari
- Day 1 – Arrival & Transfer to Kampala
- Day 2 – Depart Kampala City for Kibale National Park
- Day 3 – Adventure in the Primate Capital of Uganda
- Day 4 – Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 5 – Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 6 – Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 7 – Gorilla Tracking Day
- Day 8 – Travel Back to Kampala City
- Day 9 – City Tour of Kampala City
Detailed itinerary of 9 Days Ultimate Gorilla and Primate Safari
Day 1 – Arrival & Transfer to Kampala
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and transfer you to your hotel in Kampala. Check-in, have dinner and spend the night.
Overnight stay at Boma Hotel
Day 2 – Depart Kampala City for Kibale National Park
Early in the morning after breakfast, start your journey to Kibale Forest National Park via Mubende and Fort Portal. This journey offers scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, large green tea estates, the Toro Palace and the people of Fort Portal in Western Uganda and many more attractions to suit your interest.
Arrive at your lodge in Kibale Forest National Park, spend the rest of the day at rest as you prepare for the next day’s adventure.
Overnight at Kibale Forest Lodge
Day 3 – Adventure in the Primate Capital of Uganda
At 795 sq.km, Kibale Forest is home to over 351 tree species some over 200 years old, famous for 13 primate species including chimpanzees, 70 mammal species and over 375 bird species. In the morning, the start of the day with breakfast and get ready for the day’s exciting activities.
First thing, you will go for chimpanzee tracking combined with an all green forest walk where you will see various bird species (great blue turaco), and more primates like the black and white colobus monkey, you will also view more animals to include bushbucks and mongoose.
Right after this amazing activity, return to your lodge for refreshment and stay at leisure while enjoying your lunch. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Community where you will be interacting freely with the locals. Then proceed to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a nice spot for birds including African hobby, great blue turaco, Black kite, Swamp flycatcher, Scarlet-chested bird, Grey-crowned crane, Herons, Weaver birds and many more. Later on, in the evening.
Overnight at Kibale Forest Camp
Day 4 – Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for diverse ecosystem which include sprawling savannah, shady humid forests, sparkling lakes, wetlands, and amazing craters. Ideal for the big game, primate species to include chimpanzees and over 600 bird species. It has superb scenic views of Kazinga Channel, the Rwenzori Mountains and crater lakes which are home to a wide variety of birds.
After your breakfast enjoy a leisurely morning, and later on start of your journey to “a medley of wonders”. On arrival after a stopover at the equator, you will check into your lodge for lunch, refreshment and leisure.
In the evening go for a dusk game drive, experience the various animals towards the night time to include bushbucks, elephants, warthogs, hippos and more. Thereafter, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Buffalo Safari Lodge
Day 5 – Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
Start off the day with a tasty breakfast and then get deeper into the highlights of this amazing park. explore the park’s flora and fauna on a morning game drive, see a variety of animals like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, impalas, waterbucks, kobs, warthogs and many more. Do not miss out the scenic views of the craters lakes like Nyamunuka which is medicinal to the animals.
In the afternoon you will have a launch cruise on Kazinga Channel, on this activity you will spot a number of birds like the African fish eagle, pelicans, flamingos, Hammerko, egrets, the African finfoot, pied kingfishers, Marabou storks, vultures, kites and many more, together with animals like hippos, buffaloes, warthogs, crocodiles, waterbucks and many more as the cool off in the waters of the channel.
Overnight at Buffalo Safari Lodge
Day 6 – Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast and a leisurely morning, you will have a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you have a chance to see the tree climbing lions. On arrival check into your lodge and spend the rest of the day at rest.
Overnight at Buhoma Haven Lodge
Day 7 – Gorilla Tracking Day
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for briefing at exactly 8:00 am and the tracking will commence in the next 30 minutes after briefing and registration by the rangers. In groups of 8 people you will head into the forests looking for mountain gorillas, the treks takes approximately 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. You will be allowed to spend only 1 hour with the gorillas watching them play with each, groom each other and take amazing pictures and videos. Return to your lodge and have your lunch, you can decide to spend the rest of the day at the lodge or go for a community tour where you will meet and interact with the shortest people of the mountains – The Batwa, learn about their way of life such as hunting skills, medicinal knowledge, child upbringing, local dishes among others.
Day 8 – Travel Back to Kampala City
After a leisurely breakfast, depart Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Kampala. You will have lunch stop-over in Mbarara, then proceed to Masaka and your next stopover will be at the equator for a photo opportunity. After this equator monument, proceed to Kampala city and upon arrival check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 9 – City Tour of Kampala City
Depending on your schedule, you will have a half day tour of Kampala city and souvenir shopping. Thereafter, you will be transferred to the airport for your outbound flight back home.
End of 9 Days Ultimate Gorilla and Primate Safari
Inclusions
- Park fees
- Gorilla Permit
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Exclusions
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcoholic drinks
- Services not mentioned in the program
- Travel insurance and medical repatriation
- Items of a personal nature