Arrival - Shoebill Tracking

Entebbe - Upon reaching Entebbe International Airport, a driver or trip manager will warmly welcome you and transport you to your hotel in Entebbe.

Mabamba Swamp Bird Watching - If you arrive early, there are optional activities to introduce you to Uganda, such as nature walks in the botanical gardens, visits to local markets and malls, and a boat ride to Mabamba Swamps to track the prehistoric giant bird. Many international tourists choose Shoebill tracking, which is available for an additional fee.

Journey to Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park - Begin your day with a delightful breakfast and set off on a picturesque journey to Western Uganda through the breathtaking landscapes of central Uganda, featuring expansive cultivated plains, banana plantations, and cattle farms. Make a brief stop at Mpambire to observe the creation of traditional and local artifacts. Capture some Instagram-worthy moments at the equator stop. Arrive at the Rwakobo Rock Lodge in time for a delicious lunch.

Lake Mburo National Park - After a satisfying lunch at the lodge, embark on a game drive to encounter local wildlife such as buffalo, impala, zebra, eland, warthogs, and bushbuck. For additional adventures, consider a one-hour boat safari to see crocodiles, hippos, and numerous water birds or a horseback safari (available at an extra cost).

Lake Mburo - Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Lake Mburo National Park - Join your guide for a sunrise game drive on the savannah tracks before departing the park and heading towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. During the drive, you may spot popular game animals such as leopards, buffalo, impala, zebra, eland, warthogs, and bushbuck. Be prepared to rise early for this thrilling adventure.

The Gorilla Trekking Experience

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Rise early and enjoy breakfast before your driver takes you to the visitor’s center for a pre-trekking briefing with the park rangers at 7:30 am. Following the briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla group, two armed rangers for your security, and a tracker guide to lead you on your trekking adventure in the forest. The duration of your time in the forest is unpredictable, but it could take hours to locate the gorilla group. Therefore, it is essential to prepare yourself both physically and emotionally for this experience. Once you find the gorillas, you will be able to observe them for an hour with critical guidance from the rangers before being guided out of the forest.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - If you’re up for a walk, you can join the Batwa cultural elders on a forest trail to learn about the history of a tribe that once lived in the Impenetrable Forest. The Buniga Forest trail is located near the lodge and includes a re-enactment of the tribe’s daily life and experiences in the rainforest before it became a National Park. Traditional leaders will be leading the way.

Nature Hike Across Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - One of the most popular and pioneering activities for travelers is hiking on the ancient walking trails through the mystical Bwindi jungle. This journey takes you from the Nkuringo south side to the Buhoma visitor center in the north. As you enter the forest gates, you will be amazed by the majestic beauty of the ancient jungle and forget all your city estimates of greatness.

You will be guided by a local expert for 4-5 hours, sharing ancient tales and incredible forest knowledge and bringing you closer to being one with nature. With luck, you may even encounter wild forest inhabitants such as chimps, forest elephants, duikers, forest buffalo, and more.

Queen Elizabeth National Park - At the other end of the walking trail, your driver will be waiting to take you through the Ishasha savannah plains, where you can catch a glimpse of the incredible tree-climbing lions. Unlike other lions, the Ishasha tree-climbing lions are known for their ability to climb trees, often lounging in the branches for hours on end. Scientists believe this behavior results from the lions’ desire to escape the hot sun and avoid pesky insects on the ground. They also adapt to their surroundings, where the trees are more robust and provide excellent hiding spots for prey. You’ll arrive at your safari Lodge just in time for dinner.

Queen Elizabeth National Park - Kibale Forest

Queen Elizabeth National Park - Get a chance to reach close to Africa safari’s big game players on an early morning or evening game drive and afternoon boat safari on Kazinga Channel, famous for hosting the largest population of hippos. While on a game drive on Kasenyi tracks, you will encounter animals like enormous herds of elephants and buffalo. You’ll also spot many interesting antelope species, such as Uganda kob, topi, and bushbuck. The giant forest hog is unusually easy to spot. Search around the Kasenyi tracks for the elusive leopard.

Kazinga Channel - After lunch, you’ll board a safari boat for a Kazinga Channel safari trip at 14:00; you can catch sight of elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, Uganda kob, and large hippo pods daily. Keep an eye open for the enormous water monitor lizard, common in the riverine scrub, and crocodiles. You’ll also see the giant forest hog, leopard, and lion. The odds of seeing predators and other nocturnal creatures coming to drink are highest in the afternoon.

Kibale National Park - In the late afternoon, the driver will travel west on the highway with the stunning backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. You will arrive at Kibale National Park in time for dinner and spend the next two nights there.

Chimpanzee Trekking Experience in Kibale

Kibale National Park - Wake up early and head to the visitor center by 7:30 am. With over 1500 chimpanzees under the park’s rainforest canopy and a dozen other primate species, Kibale is renowned for having the highest density of primates in Africa, making it the perfect place to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. During your morning trek, you might come across other primates such as the rare L’Hoest’s monkey and red colobus monkey, black & white colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, and grey-cheeked mangabey.

However, your main objective will be to find a troop of human-habituated chimpanzees. Accompanied by an expert tracker, you’ll venture into the jungle in small groups, keeping an eye out for signs of the chimpanzees’ whereabouts and listening for their loud calls. The experience can last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the location of the habituated chimpanzee troop.

Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary - In the afternoon, after your lunch, you have the option to join a local guide in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a nature walk. The sanctuary is home to over 200 bird species, including the great blue turaco, and primates such as the black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, and red-tailed monkey. Visitors can take guided nature walks through the sanctuary to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat and learn about the various plant species in the wetland ecosystem. In addition to the wildlife, the sanctuary also offers cultural experiences, such as visits to the nearby Bigodi village, where visitors can learn about the local customs and way of life. The sanctuary also benefits the local community by providing sustainable livelihoods through ecotourism.

Drive To Entebbe

Entebbe - After enjoying breakfast, take your time to gather your belongings in the morning hours. You will then embark on a scenic drive through Fort Portal, with the beautiful Rwenzori mountains accompanying you as you exit western Uganda and head towards Entebbe via Kampala. Once you arrive at Entebbe, you are welcome to freshen up at the Papyrus Guest House before catching your international flight back home.

Please note that accommodation for this day is not included, but we are happy to assist you in booking a room according to your preferences.

• Local experienced Safari Guide
• Accommodation as per itinerary - on full board meal arrangement
• 4x4 safari Land Cruiser
• Amref evacuation Cover included
• Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits included

• Excess luggage charges (where applicable)
• Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
• Visas - applied in advance for Uganda and obtained on arrival for Rwanda

Join us for an unforgettable eight-day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari, where you’ll have the chance to observe gorillas and chimpanzees up close, take scenic game drives through the savanna plains, and immerse yourself in Ugandan culture.

Your adventure begins in Entebbe, where you will embark on a scenic road trip across Uganda to the Impenetrable Forest. Here, you will spend two nights exploring the gorilla jungle. On your way to Kibale, the chimpanzee kingdom, you can experience a classic safari and witness majestic animals such as tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, and buffalo. After spending another two nights in the primate capital, you will return to Entebbe.

• Age limit is 15 years and 15-18 year olds must be accompanied by an adult
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
• Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.