Primate Safari Holidays

Primates Safari Uganda -9day Tours

DAY 1: NGAMBA ISLAND

Take a 45 minute boat trip to Ngamba Island, the home to the orphaned chimpanzees living a protected sanctuary. On arrival, the duty caretakers will take you around the chimp home and brief you about the history of the sanctuary and how and why the chimps were transferred to this island. You can’t miss the feeding session as these give chance for visitors to interact with the chimpanzees. Standing on the visitor platform, you’ll also notice their unique behavior and then take pictures of them.

Have a picnic lunch break and then head back to the mainland, crossing the equator to the Uganda wildlife education centre (Entebbe zoo) where the adventure continues. The rangers here give you a tour of the few animals at the centre such as lions, monkeys, caged snake pythons, crocodiles, the beautiful peacock and the rare ostrich among other birds. Return to hotel for overnight and dinning, luxury packages have Imperial botanical hotel, imperial resort beach hotel, Lake Victoria Windsor hotel and the like. Cheaper accommodation from Boma Guesthouse, Executive airport hotel and Central Inn Hotel.

DAY2: ENTEBBE – KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

Take breakfast and drive to south central Uganda to the town of Fort Portal and then proceed to Kibaale Forest National Park. This park is popular for its diversity and unique flora and fauna and hosts several species of primates. Arrive at Kanyankyu tourist centre, first for your lunch break and then take a guided walk through the forest, visit the neighboring communities and take the rest of the evening at leisure.

Check into budget accommodation from Chimps nest Camp, Kanyankyu Ecological Bandas, Rujuma Guesthouse or Rwenzori View Guesthouse or find luxury facilities from Primates lodge, Ndali lodge and Mountains of the Moon Lodge.

DAY 3: KIBALE NATIONAL PARK & BIGODI SWAMP

After taking an early breakfast, make a short walk to Kanyankyu River Camp where you’ll have briefing session with an experienced tour guide and later set off to the forest on the chimpanzee tracking adventures. On the trail will be other primates like red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, bush babies and galagos among others. Chimpanzees will be found swinging about in the forest canopy and others feeding.

Return to the centre for lunch and head switch your trek to Bigodi Swamp popular with many swamp endemic birds like pelicans, herons, callared apallis, bee eater, Narina trogon, black capped apalis, yellow spotted nicator, blue headed sunbird, woodland warbler and more. The swamp is also a major livelihood for the local community through tourism and crafts.

Return to your lodge/ hotel for overnight and dinning.

DAY 4: TO- QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park, one of the largest parks and home to several species of mammals. Stop by Mbarara for lunch and then follow the beautiful hill slopes of the forested valley of Mt. Rwenzori and you’ll be at the park.

Arrive in time for an evening game drive in the savannah with sights of Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, hyenas, stripped jackals, Hippopotamus, Kobs, Warthog and a variety of primates like Chimpanzee, olive baboon, red-tailed and vervet monkeys in the forests.

Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge or Katara Lodge for luxury packages. Hippo Hill Camp and the Institute of Ecology offer cheaper and budget accommodation.

DAY 5: GAME DRIVE AND LAUNCH CRUISE – QUEEN ELIZABETH NP

After breakfast, drive to Kasenyi track for visits to the crater lakes, Edwards and George, tour the mating ground for several antelopes, particularly for the Uganda kob also with sights of lions, buffaloes, elephants, zebras and other animals. Head back to your lodge for lunch and then proceed on an afternoon launch cruise Kazinga channel. The ride has vast views of the scenic mountains at a distance, vast water expense with schools of yawning hippos, crocodiles and several animals that visit the banks for drinking water. The launch cruise is popular with birders and naturalists as they visit over 500 species of birds, swamp endemics like Shoe bill stork, kingfisher, fish eagles, migrant from the Albertine rift and others. Enjoy the rays of the setting sun on the launch cruise and then return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6: Transfers to Bwindi National park

Take an early breakfast and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable forest park, stopping by Kyambura wildlife reserve located on a deep gorge at 100m. There are also bat caves at the gorge with many snakes specifically, pythons. Take a walk through the forest, tracking chimpanzees, baboons and colobus monkeys and then to River Kyambura.

Have a lunch break and then proceed to Bwindi via the lush green countryside, to Maramagambo forest and then to the park. Reach Bwindi by the evening and check into a lodge or hotel for overnight and dinner at Lake Kitandara Lodge, Nkuringo Campsite, Buhoma Community bandas, Bwindi View bandas  and Virunga Hotel for moderate and cheaper accommodation.

Luxury and up market facilities from Gorilla resort camp, Buhoma Lodge, Engagi lodge, Silver back lodge, Gorilla Forest camp, Clouds Lodge and Wagtail Eco lodge.

Day 7: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

After an early breakfast, head to the ranger station for briefing and by the mid morning, start your gorilla trekking expedition in the lush forest vegetation of Bwindi national park. It is quite strenuous and requires fitness through the long hours of anticipated gorilla tracking, sometimes taking 2-7 hours of trekking. The experience is worthwhile after you meet the gorilla who have been tracking, finding them feeding as the juveniles play in the over hanging vines. Other sights on the trails include the rare golden monkeys, wild birds and several butterflies. Spend utmost one hour with the gorillas and then retire to your lodge happy to have made the trip.

DAY 8: TO – KAMPALA

Wake up to an early breakfast and start the long journey back to Kampala with stops at the equator point and lunch breaks from hotel in a major town. Visit the roadside markets for fresh food supplies and a few souvenirs like drums, hand made crafts and art pieces.

Reach Kampala in the early evening and enjoy the vibrant nigh life in the night clubs, eating places or rest for the evening the way you like. Dinner and over night in your hotel in Kampala.

DAY9:  KAMPALA CITY TOUR

Wake up to a mid- morning breakfast and then visit Kampala Attractions like the independence monuments, cultural and historical sites like Namugongo martyrs’ shrine, Uganda museum, Kasubi Tombs, Rubaga and Namirembe Hill and surely the African Craft Villages and shops to buy some souvenirs and gift items as memoirs on this trip. Travel to the airport in time for your scheduled departures.