5 Days Uganda Primates Safari
This 5-day, 4-night Uganda Primate Safari is specially crafted for travellers with a keen interest in observing wild primates in their natural habitats. The adventure begins with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, followed by a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Swamp, a haven for primate and birdlife, to an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking experience in the dense jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. While tracking these iconic great apes, visitors will also have opportunities to encounter a variety of other primate species, including baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, Colobus monkeys, pottos, and other fascinating forest dwellers
Kibale Forest is famously known as the Primate Capital of the World, this is because remarkable population of over 15,000 chimpanzees. The forest hosts four fully habituated chimpanzee groups available for tracking, along with two additional groups set aside for the chimpanzee habituation experience, thus offering visitors a deeper, behind-the-scenes look at their behaviour and social dynamics. It is recognised as the best place on the planet to observe wild chimpanzees. Kibale offers an outstanding 91% success rate for sightings, making chimpanzee tracking the park’s main attraction.
Another key destination on the 5-Day Uganda Primates Safari is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world. The park currently has 17 habituated gorilla groups open to tourism, offering visitors unforgettable close encounters with these majestic primates. Bwindi is also the only place where travellers can participate in the gorilla habituation experience, a unique opportunity to spend extended time with a semi-habituated gorilla group alongside researchers and rangers. Another activity to do in Bwindi is visiting the Batwa pygmy community for an amazing cultural experience. Our driver will take you to learn about their interesting history after gorilla trekking
Safari Highlights of Days Uganda Primate Safari
- Transfer to Kibale National Park
- Visiting Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Cave
- Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park
- Nature Walk at Bigodi Wetland
- Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Stop over at Equator Crossing
- Gorilla Trekking
- Visiting the Batwa Community
- Return to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport
Details of the Safari
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Our company guide/driver will pick you from your hotel, Kampala, Entebbe International Airport in the morning after breakfast and head for Kibale National Park and give a brief about your 5 days Uganda Primates Safari. The journey takes between 4 to 5 hours through amazing countryside. You will have a stop at Fort Portal City, an extremely beautiful town which has now been turned into Uganda’s tourism city because of its proximity to some of the best tourist attractions in the country, have lunch, tour around the City, visit the King’s Palace, Crater lakes and Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves. After you will proceed to your lodge in Kibale.
Dinner and overnight: Kyaninga Lodge/Chimpanzee guest house lodge/Isunga lodge
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park – Bigodi Wetland Nature walk
After taking breakfast, you will set off to the Kibale National Park headquarters for a briefing. The park Warden/Guides will share important information about chimpanzee trekking and how to conduct yourself during the activity. Chimpanzee trekking is different from gorilla tracking in many ways. One is that chimps are very mobile and rarely stay in one place for too long. Chimps are also very vocal with groups that are very dramatic. Once the briefing is over, follow the group and start the trek. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park usually takes between 3- 5 hours, but you will only be allowed one hour with them. After you will return to your hotel for lunch.
In the evening, you will head out for a nature walk along the Bigodi swamp, where you will spot more of the 12 primates in the forest, but also the forest has a great collection of birds since it has over 335 bird species, thus a good place for bird lovers. After, you will return to your reserved lodge for relaxation, Dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up and have breakfast, the driver will start your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Queen Elizabeth National Park along the Ishasha section. Here you will have a stopover in Kikorongo to have an experience at Equator Crossing.
Along the way through Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may also be able to see several wildlife species like Buffaloes, Elephants, Antelopes, and you may get an opportunity to view tree-climbing lions along the Ishasha sector. You will have lunch en route. Arriving in Bwindi will be late in the evening, check in at your reserved lodge in the Buhoma sector.
Dinner and overnight stay: Buhoma lodge/Buhoma haven lodge/Buhoma community rest camp.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park – Visiting Batwa pygmies
Your day will begin early with breakfast at the lodge. Be sure to pack your lunch, drinking water, and any essentials you will need for the trek. Your driver will then transfer you to the park headquarters for a mandatory pre-trek briefing, which starts promptly at 7:00 AM.
After the briefing, you will be assigned to a specific gorilla family, with a maximum of eight trekkers per group. Gorilla trekking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest can be physically demanding, as the trail winds through dense vegetation, steep hills, and sometimes muddy terrain. But the reward is unmatched. Once you locate the gorilla family, you will have one unforgettable hour in their presence.
Take plenty of photos and be sure to follow the rangers’ guidance closely to ensure both your safety and the well-being of the gorillas. After your hour with the gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point, where your guide will be waiting to return you to the lodge for a well-prepared lunch and some rest
A visit to Bwindi isn’t complete without a cultural experience with the Batwa pygmy community, the original forest dwellers who lived in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for thousands of years before they were relocated to their current home. Later in the evening, your driver will take you to meet the Batwa people and learn about their history, traditions, and way of life in the forest. After you will be transferred back to your reserved lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala for departure
This is your last day of the 5 days Uganda primate safari. You will wake up at your own time and have breakfast, but keep in mind the journey from Bwindi to Kampala is about an 8–9-hour drive. Check out of your lodge, and the driver will start the 8-hour journey back to Kampala using another route.
You will have a stopover in Mbarara at Igongo Cultural centre, have lunch and continue and have another stop at the equator crossing in Kayabwe. The driver will take you back to your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe International Airport for your flight, as you will advise him to do.
End of 5 Days Uganda Primates Safari
5 Days Uganda Primates Safari Includes;
- Gorilla Permits
- Chimpanzee Permits
- English-speaking Driver/Guide
- A safari vehicle
- Lunch and bottled drinking while travelling
- Full board accommodation
5 Days Uganda Primates Safari excludes;
- International flights
- Visas
- Personal insurance and expenses.
- Kampala accommodation and Meals
