5 Days Uganda Primates Safari

On this 5-day adventure in Uganda, you will get the chance to explore two major primate tracking destinations- Kibale Forest and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks. This safari starts in Kampala with a scenic drive to/through western Uganda, followed by a chimpanzee tracking tour and a visit to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided walk where lots of wetland birds and primates are spotted. Then venture south towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the popular Queen Elizabeth National Park. The trip ends in Kampala.

Highlights
• Go chimpanzee trekking and take part in a guided wetland walk in Bigodi.
• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, then undertake a community walk.
• Take in scenic views of the countryside, stunning Crater Lakes, verdant forests and others.
• Have a brief game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Kibale Forest National Park and optional Crater Lake tour.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking Tour & Wetland walks.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Queen Elizabeth Park.
Day 4: Explore Bwindi; Gorilla Trekking & Community visit.
Day 5: Depart Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Kampala City.

Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Kibale Forest National Park and optional Crater Lake tour
Early in the morning, you will meet your safari driver for a briefing on the 5-day primate safari that begins on this day. Later, transfer to Kibale Forest National Park located in the western side of Uganda. The journey is 5-6 hours, going through the Towns of Mityana, Mubende, and Fort Portal while taking in remarkable views of the countryside. You will be in Fort Portal Town early afternoon, thereby continuing to the Lodge. Settle in and have lunch, before relaxing or undertaking a Crater Lake Tour.
Kibale Forest National Park is a stone’s throw from the Ndali-Kasenda Crater area known for its magnificent Lakes of different sizes and appearances. Enjoy dinner before resting, in preparation for the next day’s adventures.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking Tour & Wetland walks
On this day, you will venture into Kibale Forest National Park for your first primate trekking tour- Chimpanzee tracking and this starts with briefing and registration at Kanyanchu Visitor Center. Interestingly, this Park is the best spot for meeting face-to-face with these Great Apes (our closest relatives in the animal Kingdom) in their natural habitat. After the briefing, start walking through the jungle searching for the chimpanzees, and this will take about 1-4 hours with more sights of primates along the way. Have one hour with the chimpanzee community and later return to the Lodge for lunch.
Afterward, you will leave your Lodge for Bigodi wetland Sanctuary for a guided tour, where more birds and primates will be sighted. Time permitting, also visit the local community to be introduced to the rich Batoro culture. After this adventure, you will return to the Lodge to have dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Queen Elizabeth Park
This morning, you will enjoy breakfast and transfer from Kibale Forest National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the southwestern part of Uganda. To make this journey more thrilling, you will go through Queen Elizabeth National Park while spotting lots of elephants, buffaloes, Defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, Hippos and others.
Later continue towards the Ishasha sector for another game drive, with hope of seeing the tree-climbing lions. Lunch at Savannah Resort and continue to Bwindi, arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Explore Bwindi; Gorilla Trekking & Community visit
After breakfast, transfer to the Park Headquarters for a briefing that begins at 7:00 am with entertainment from the local community and an insight into the regulations to be followed while trekking the gorillas. Be assigned a gorilla family and start searching through the forest for another 1-5 hours. Once the gorilla family is found, spend one hour watching and photographing them go about their daily routines. Receive your gorilla certificate at the Park Headquarters and later return to the Lodge to freshen up, relax and enjoy lunch.
Next, you will visit the local community- ride 4 a woman, famous for their invigorating traditional dance and artisanal crafts (shoes, African wear, hats, and wood carvings) which you will purchase as souvenirs. Later, retire for dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

Day 5: Depart Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Kampala City
As they say; “parting is always such a sweet sorrow” and sadly, we bid farewell to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and head back to Kampala. After your breakfast, your safari driver will pick you up from the Lodge and embark on the 8-9 hours journey to the Capital. This marks the end of our 5 days of Uganda Primates Safari.

This 5-day Uganda Primates safari package includes;
• Gorilla Permit ($700 per person per trek).
• Chimpanzee trekking permit ($200 per person per permit).
• Entry fees (where applicable).
• Bottled water.
• Relevant Government taxes.
• Meals per the itinerary.
• Wetland walks in Bigodi.
• Community visit.
• Ground transport by a comfortable 4WD Safari vehicle.
• 4 nights’ accommodation- 2 nights in Kibale and 2 nights in Bwindi.

The package excludes;
• Visa fees where applicable.
• Domestic and International flights.
• Other activities not mentioned on the program.
• Personal expenses like laundry fees, shopping, telephone calls, cigarettes, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.