8 Days Uganda Primates and wildlife Safaris : This 8 Days wildlife safari experience takes you to – Murchison falls National Park is the best destination in Uganda with a connection with longest river in Africa – River Nile and also the largest national park in Uganda offering a variety of attractions. Murchison falls is bisected by River Nile home to hippos and Nile crocodiles. The park hosts 75 mammals and 451 species of birds. It offers classic African wildlife viewing safari all year round but the dry season from December to February and June to September is the best time to visit the park.
Bwindi impenetrable national park which is Uganda’s best-selling tourism product as it is the world’s habitant for half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world offering visitors the best experience of gorillas with a maximum adventure for both habituated and semi-habituated gorilla families. Bwindi forest is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species.
Kibale national park which is Africa’s foremost research site that focuses on the Chimpanzees and other primates in Uganda. Kibale forest national park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kabarole district and is the only park where we find the world endangered Chimpanzees and other primate species. It covers an area size of about 795 square kilometres and with the lowest point of about 1,100 meters on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley to the south. Kibale national park is also one of the best birding destinations in Uganda with about 375 bird species.
Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest wildlife national park located in the western part of Uganda in Rubirizi district near Kasese district. Queen Elizabeth national park has a massive biodiversity with landscape including bushland, savannah, wetland and lush vegetation. The park covers an area of 1,978 square kilometres and was first founded in 1952 as Kazinga national park however later after the visit of Queen Elizabeth 11; it was renamed Queen Elizabeth national park. The park inhabits about 95 mammal species including the big 4 game (Lions, Leopards, buffaloes, and Elephants), other animals including; hyenas, hippos, waterbucks, Oribi to mention a few and over 600 bird species. Queen Elizabeth national park is surrounded by 2 lakes including Lake Albert and Lake Edward which support water activities like boat cruises, and fishing activities. Queen Elizabeth national park is located in the western part of Uganda, covering a distance of about 335Kms from Kigali-Rwanda crossing via Katuna border.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi swamp walk
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 5: Lion tracking/game drive and Boat cruise
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 7: Gorilla trekking experience.
Day 8: Return to Kampala – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park
Depending on your location, you will be picked up by our company representative/ driver who will drive you to Murchison falls national park, en route Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 3 hours’ drive from Kampala for Rhino trekking experience.
After the activity you will have lunch then connect to Murchison falls national park entering through Kichumbanyobo gate from Masindi town. Arrive in the park in the evening and connect to your lodge to rest. Dinner and overnight stay Parkside Safari Lodge for budget/Pakuba Safari lodge for mid-range/Nile Safari Lodge for luxury on full board basis
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Early morning breakfast and then go for a morning game drive at the delta where you may spot various animal species like elephants, giraffes, lions, Uganda kobs among others. Return and have lunch then at 2pm, you will go for a launch cruise at the bottom of the Murchison Falls along River Nile, enjoy streaming views of hippo and serried ranges of crocodile along the sandbanks, as well as large numbers of different species getting down to drink & bathe.
After the boat cruise at the bottom of the falls, you will hike up the top of the falls where you will be picked up by your driver to return to your lodge. Dinner and overnight at lodge as the above
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi swamp walk
Have breakfast and embark on your drive to Kibale national park– the best safari destination in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Arrive in Fort portal town at good time for lunch, then connect for a nature walk at Bigodi swamp for about 2 hours then drive to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Guesthouse for mid-range/Isunga lodge for budget/Crater Safari lodge/Chimpundu Safari Lodge for luxury on full board basis.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
On the 4th day of your 8 Days Uganda Primates and wildlife Safaris, after breakfast, you will go for chimpanzee trekking with your packed food and water. Meet your guide at the head office then enter the rainforest to start searching for the chimpanzee, this will take 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees. On seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures.
After tracking, embark on a 3 hours’ drive to Queen Elizabeth national park from Fort portal with en-route lunch. Dinner and overnight at Pumba Safari Cottages for budget/Parkview Safari lodge for mid-range/Elephant Plains lodge for luxury
Day 5: Lion tracking/game drive and Boat cruise
After breakfast early morning, go for a lion tracking experience where you are guaranteed to view the lions, enjoy an en-route game drive at the Kisenyi area where you will spot a good number of wildlife including Elephants, Buffaloes and all species of antelopes.
After enjoying your lunch at the lodge, go for your boat trip along the Kazinga channel for yet another wildlife/bird watching experience as you cruise on lake Edward/George. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
On the 6th day of your 8 Days Uganda Primates and wildlife Safaris, after breakfast, drive out of the park to connect to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park (home of Uganda Mountain Gorillas). Dinner and overnight at Bakiga lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla lodge/Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range/Mahogany Springs Lodge for luxury
Day 7: Gorilla trekking experience.
On the 7th day of your 8 Days Uganda Primates and wildlife Safaris, wake up early, have breakfast, and connect to the forest with your packed food and water. The briefing from the park warden about the gorillas starts at 8 am where your will be guided on highlights about the way of life of the gorillas you will be tracking. The hike can take anything from 2-8 hours. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away. Return to the lodge to unwind and dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 8: Return to Kampala – Departure
After breakfast at the lodge, proceed back to Kampala with en-route lunch in Mbarara town and the Equator. Arrive in Kampala/Entebbe late afternoon and connect to the airport for drop flight back. End of tour.
