6 Days Uganda primates and wildlife Safari
6 Days Uganda Safari
This 6 Days Uganda primates and wildlife safari includes both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, the famous Big 5, and rare bird species. The tour is based on a 5-night stay at 3 specially selected Uganda wildlife parks: Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Beginning and ending in Kampala, the tour begins with a transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of the world that harbours the greatest variety and concentration of primates not found anywhere else in the world. Kibale National Park covers 795 km² and consists mostly of a vast tract of equatorial rainforest. Kibale is home to numerous forest wildlife species. Primate species here include rare L’Hoest’s monkeys, black-and-white colobus and Uganda red colobus monkeys, red-tailed and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and bushbabies.
The next visit is in Queen Elizabeth National Park, scenically located on the rift valley floor between Lake Edward and Lake George, flanked by towering mountains in the distance. The game park incorporates scenic hills and lakes and consists mostly of euphorbia tree-studded savannahs or grasslands. The varied habitats within Queen Elizabeth National Park host 95 mammals and 612 bird species. The park is home to the famous tree-climbing lions and other wildlife such as the Uganda kob, various antelope species, topi, hyena, crocodile, waterbuck, elephant, baboon, hippo, buffalo, and 10 primate species, including chimpanzees and monkeys.
Last but not least, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to almost half the world’s population of mountain gorillas. This national park is home to more than 500 mountain gorillas and offers the most exclusive gorilla trekking experiences in Africa and the world at large.
On the last day, we return to Kampala and Entebbe in time to catch flights onwards, bringing this 6 Day Uganda safari to Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to a close. Airport drop-offs can be arranged free of charge if you are flying out on the last day of the 6 Days Uganda primates and wildlife safari.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Bigodi swamp walk
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 3: Lion tracking/morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise.
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 6: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Bigodi swamp walk
You will meet your company driver-guide and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park in the western part of Uganda with an en-route stop in Fort Portal town for lunch. Proceed to visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds.
Spectacular birds like the great blue turaco and the rare papyrus gonolek will be of great interest to birders. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as red colobus monkeys and sitatunga antelope. There is also the opportunity to visit local community projects that have been financed by tourism. Dinner and overnight stay at Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Lodge/Primates Lodge
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, go for a briefing and start chimpanzee trekking. Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Kibale’s 795 km² National Park contains one of the most beautiful and varied tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda. This is a place for a number of forest wildlife, most especially 13 species of primates, coupled with chimpanzees.
Thereafter, have lunch and embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is about a 3-hour drive with en-route crater lake tours. On reaching the park, connect to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Pumba Safari Cottages/Buffalo Safari Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 3: Lion tracking/morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise.
You will wake up early and head out for a lion tracking experience, where you will be guaranteed to see the lions with a connecting game drive in the Kasenyi area to catch up with the early risers and other animals. Explore the Kasenyi sector, a known mating ground for kobs and a hunting ground for lions. Some animals you should expect to see include the leopards, elephants, buffalo, different species of antelopes, and warthogs.
Return to the lodge for lunch, then prepare to go for an afternoon launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where you will get an opportunity to see many bird species, elephants and buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles at the lakeshores. Return and relax at the lodge as above.
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You will wake up early, have breakfast, and embark on your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with an en-route stop in the Ishasha sector for chances of seeing the tree-climbing lions. It’s a 4-5 hour drive with lunch en route. Proceed to your lodge in Bwindi forest to check in at your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Silverback Safari Lodge/Buhoma Gorilla Camp/Ride for a Woman Guesthouse
Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience
After an early breakfast, with your trekking gear and backpack with snacks and water, meet up with your driver guide to connect to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the jungle, which takes about 1-7 hours depending on where the Uganda gorillas are located, because they like to move from place to place in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other primate species like L’Hoest’s monkeys, forest birds, and different plant species, among others.
On finding the mountain gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat, which allows you to watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones and playing; observe their behaviours and habits; take photos; and record the breathtaking moments.
After the one hour with the gorillas, you will drive back to the lodge for a hot lunch. You can spend your afternoon relaxing at the lodge or go for an optional Batwa cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the Batwa, learn about their culture and way of living, and enjoy their traditional performances, among other things. After the cultural tour, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 6: Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
After a relaxed breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to Kampala, en route for lunch and a stopover at the Equator to take photos and buy souvenirs. Proceed to Kampala, arriving in the evening, and upon arrival, you will be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or dropped off at any place you advise.
End of the 6 Days Uganda primates and wildlife Safari
