7-Day Uganda Wildlife, Culture and Primate Safari
7-Day Uganda Wildlife, Primate and Cultural Safari
This 7 Day Uganda Wildlife, Primate, and Cultural Safari offers travelers a chance to take part in several adventure activities in Uganda, including gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, wildlife viewing, a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel, birdwatching, and a visit to the Batwa people. This itinerary is designed for wildlife and nature lovers who are interested in a great Uganda safari. You will have an opportunity to visit Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The tour starts from Kampala or Entebbe in Uganda, but it can be tailored such that you start the journey from Kigali in Rwanda.
This journey will take you to Kibale Forest National Park, often referred to as the “primate capital of the world” due to its 13 primate species. This makes it stand out as one of the best destinations for viewing primates. While in Kibale, you will have a chance to visit the Bigodi Wetlands sanctuary for birdwatching and seeing several primate species. After Kibale, you will proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the most visited parks with a rich biodiversity.
Queen Elizabeth receives two rainy seasons throughout the year, offering a more classic savannah that doesn’t get too dry like the Serengeti. The park hosts four out of the five members of the Big 5 mammals, including lion, buffalo, elephant, and leopard. It is also a unique destination for the tree-climbing lions. After, you will transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to mountain gorillas, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the leading gorilla trekking destination. While in Bwindi for gorilla trekking, you can have a chance to participate in nature walks and visit the Batwa community.
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Tour Fort Portal
Wake up early, have breakfast, and our company safari driver will pick you up from your hotel to embark on your journey to Kibale National Park. The journey may seem long, but you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the countryside, including farmlands, tea plantations, forests, towns, and the local people busy with their daily activities. You will have lunch and after get a tour of this beautiful town. Fort Portal is currently the leading tourism city of Uganda and home to the headquarters of the Toro Kingdom. It is strategically located with a unique landscape, excellent climate, and beautiful scenery all year round.
Accommodation: Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury), Kibale Forest Lodge (Mid-range), and Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget).
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Wake up early, prepare and have breakfast, your driver guide will transfer you to Kanyanchu park headquarters for the briefing on chimpanzee trekking. The briefing is led by the park guides concerning the expectations, rules, and regulations of tracking chimpanzees. After the briefing, you will get grouped and assigned different families led by armed ranger guides into the forest to search for the chimps. Chimpanzee trekking is a bit different from gorilla trekking since chimps stay longer in trees compared to gorillas that roam on the ground. Their groups are characterized by more vocals and drama, and it is possible to hear their cries at a distance away even approaching them. By the time you get to reach them, they will have already seen you. Chimpanzee trekking usually lasts for 3 to 5 hours.
After, return to the park offices to meet your company driver. The driver will take you back to the hotel for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi wetlands sanctuary for a nature walk and birdwatching experience. The Bigodi swamp is one of the best spots for birding in Uganda. Expect to see unique primates such as monkeys, butterflies, and plant species, among others.
Accommodation: Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury), Kibale Forest Lodge (Mid-range), and Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Katwe Salt Mining – Visit Kyambura Gorge
Wake up at leisure, have breakfast, and after your driver will transfer you to Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Katwe salt mining. Here you will interact with the local people and also participate in their daily activities, which are carried out around the lake as you learn about the history of the place and how they benefit from this Salt Lake and earn a living to sustain their daily life.
You will check in at your lodge, have lunch, and later in the evening, you will drive to Kyambura Gorge for a nature walk safari. This guided nature walk offers stunning savannah and forest walks through its amazing landscape, with higher chances to see several primate species such as chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and many others. Later, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), and Pumba Safari Camp (Budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Morning Game drive -Afternoon boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel
Wake up early, have breakfast, and embark on your morning game drive at Kasenyi plains in the northern part of the park. This early morning game drive will offer you a chance to catch up with nocturnal animals and predators as they retreat to their dens after hunting in the night. You also have a chance also see the early risers, such as several species of birds. Other animals to look out for are leopards, hippopotamus, buffalo, hartebeests, among many other birds. Retire and return to the lodge for a lunch break. In the afternoon, you will have a boat cruise safari on Kazinga Channel, one of the park’s highlights and Africa’s greatest birding sites. Here, you will have a chance to see both resident and migratory birds in large numbers. During the boat cruise, you will also see most of the water-dwelling mammals as hippos, elephants, warthogs, leopards, several antelope, and some primates drinking water, while others swim in the channel. Later, retire and return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), and Pumba Safari Camp (Budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to the Ishasha Sector- Game drive – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up early to take your delicious breakfast, check out, and transfer to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park for another game drive through the Ishasha sector of the park. This Ishasha sector is famous for hosting the magical tree-climbing lions and several other wildlife species, such as elephants, buffalo, and several antelopes. You will have an en route lunch, and on a lucky day, you may come across some of these magical wonders. This is one of the few destinations in Africa for tree-climbing lions. Patches of these lions can also be sighted in Lake Manyara National Park of Tanzania and Kruger National Park of South Africa.
Researchers have it that the lions have adapted to climbing trees to escape bites from insects such as bugs. They also use tree-towering to observe movements of their prey. The lions prefer to have a shade under the strong fig and acacia trees, but you may also spot them on fallen trees. After the game drive, you will transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Dinner and overnight at your booked Lodge.
Accommodation: Bwindi Lodge (luxury), Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range), and Ride 4 A Woman (Budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest – Visit to the Batwa Pygmies
Wake up early, prepare, and have your breakfast with boxes of packed lunch. Then by 7:30 am, drive to the park information offices for a briefing. Where you will meet other tourists and park rangers who will lead you to the forest. This briefing focuses on what to expect, rules, and regulations concerning the trekking experience. You will be assigned a specific gorilla family, taking into consideration your overall fitness and age. This is because some of the gorilla groups are far deep in the forest, hence it may take more hours between 45 minutes to 6 hours. However, porters are available to help you carry your extra luggage.
Once you spot them, you will spend one hour with them and also take as many photos as possible while seeing them doing their daily activities. After, you will return to the starting point to receive your certificates of completion, have lunch, and relax. In the evening, visit the Batwa community, the forest custodians of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, before their eviction by the government. You will interact with the Batwa elders, who will provide you with information about their culture, history, challenges, and how they managed to survive in the forest with wild animals. They will also provide traditional performances through dance and drama from the tribesmen.
Accommodation: Bwindi Lodge (luxury), Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range), and Ride 4 A Woman (Budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer back to Kampala/ Entebbe International Airport for departure
This marks the end of the last day of your safari, and you will wake up at your leisure time, taking into consideration your time of departure. You will drive back to Entebbe via Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara or Ishanyi Food Centre for lunch and the Equator landmark in Kayabwe for photos. After, you will proceed with your journey to Entebbe, and your driver will drop you at either the hotel or Entebbe International Airport.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Inclusions:
All airport transfers (pickup and drop-off)
Professional English-speaking guide
1 gorilla trekking permit per person
1 chimpanzee trekking per person
All accommodation for the entire safari and meal plans
Drinking water throughout the safari
All park entrance fees and government taxes.
Fuel for 7 days
All activities mentioned in the itinerary
All ground transport using a 4×4 safari vehicle
All en route meals included
Exclusions:
Travel insurance
Alcoholic drinks and all soft drinks, such as sodas, juice, and wines, in lodges
Visa Ticket
Extra activities not included in the itinerary
Personal items such as telephone charges, laundry, tips, souvenirs, etc.