6 Days Primates Of Uganda

Our 6 Days Primates Safari focuses mainly on two activities which is Gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee trekking experience in Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale Forest National Parks.

The trip starts in Entebbe and your first destination is Kibaale Forest National Park, the primate’s capital of Africa, several activities can be done while at the park however the most popular is Chimp tracking and Habituation.

Our first adventure will a 4.5Km nature walk at Bigodi wetland run by KAFRED a community-based organization, several bird species over 200 have been identified on this trail including Turacos, Kingfishers among other birds. Over 8 primates have been identified including the L’hoest Monkey, red colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, Vavert Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Olive Baboon, black & white colobus monkeys and the Grey Cheeked Mangabey.

Chimp habituation offers trackers an opportunity to join researchers and habituators in the process of taming the wild chimps to make them get used to human interactions so they can be tracked on the normal chimp trek. The habituation experience is quite challenging. This is a full day activity as you follow the chimps on their whole day activities from leaving their nests at 06 to 06.30am to feeding, playing, patrolling till around 1900 when they make new nests for their overnight stay. After the activity we shall transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park in anticipation for another chimp trek in Kyambura Gorge.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most famous National Park amongst all the 10 Nationals parks, the park sits on 1,978 square kilometers and hosts 95 species of mammals and 600 species of birds, 10 species of primates including chimps in Kyambura Gorge – Chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge. There are two trekking sessions per day, the morning session starts at 08.00am and the afternoon session starts at 2pm.

After the chimp trek we shall transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park, Gorilla tracking can be done at 4 designated locations including Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhijja and Buhoma with a total of 18 Gorilla habituated families that can be tracked every single day. On your day of tracking visitors are allocated different families in the groups of 8 people and are allowed to view the Gorillas maximum of one hour per day. Trekking time depends on the group allocated to, ranging from 3 to 8 hours. After this unforgettable adventure it will be time to drive back to Entebbe or take an optional one-hour flight back to Entebbe

Safari Highlights:

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale
Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth
Bigodi Swamp walk
Community activities in Bwindi

Full Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe Airport – Entebbe Hotel (Approx. 10 -30 mins drive)

On your arrival at Entebbe Airport, your will be met and welcomed by our representative. He will be your tour and driver guide for the rest of the days you will be in the country. After the interaction and brief introduction, you will be transferred to your preferred Hotel in Entebbe for Overnight stay. Bed and Breakfast

Accommodation Options:

Papyrus Guest house (BUDGET)
Boma Guest House/2 Friends Guest House/Best Western Hotel (MIDRANGE)
Hotel No. 5/Lake Victoria Serena Resort (UPMARKET)

Day 2: Depart for Kibale Forest National Park (Approx. 6- 7hrs drive)

Early morning have your breakfast at the lodge and depart for Kibale National Park. The Journey will take you through the Western Rift Valley’s Albertine Escarpment as well as the green country side and traditional homesteads of the local people with in the Bunyoro and Toro Kingdoms. Upon arriving in Fort portal, clear days will give you a glimpse of the legendary snowcapped Mountain also famously known as the “Mountains of the Moon” (Mt Rwenzori). Kibale Forest National Park is a home to 13 primate species including the common Mans’ closest Cousins (Chimpanzees). The Forest is also a home to over 325 bird species including the rare Green Breasted Pitta. Arrive at your Lodge in the afternoon. Check in and later set out for a nature and bird walk with in the Bigodi Swamp. The wetland is a project being run by local communities and is much known for its rich diversity of bird species and other primates. It also provides employment and job opportunities to the local youth through tour guiding. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay. Full Board

Accommodation Options:

Kibale Guest Cottages (BUDGET)
Turaco Tree Tops (MIDRANGE)
Crater Safari Lodge/Chimpundu Safari Lodge/Primates Lodge (UPMARKET)

Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning breakfast and set out for your day’s activity which is Chimpanzee Habituation Experience also known as CHEX. This activity enables you to accompany the park researchers, rangers, trackers and habituators into the forest so that you can get to know more about the day to day lives of these chimps before they get used to human presence. The activity is both exciting and also very challenging considering the chimp families being habituated are still under wild state until they fully get used to human presence. This activity may take up to 6-8hrs and thus its recommended and normally starts at 6:00am. After Chimpanzee Habituation, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is one of country’s best wildlife National parks with over 600 bird species, mammals like Lions, Leopards, elephants, buffaloes and so many others. Dinner and Overnight at your Lodge. Full Board

Accommodation Options:

Baboon Safari Resort/Elephant Hub Lodge/Twin Lakes Safari Lodge (BUDGET)
Park View Safari Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge/(MIDRANGE)
Elephant Plains/ Mweya Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Gorge (UPMARKET)

Day 4: Chimp trekking in Kyambura and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Approx. 5hrs drive)

With your Chimpanzee Habituation Experience of Kibale still fresh in your memories, its now time to track the chimpanzees that are habitat in the Kyambura gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The whole Kyambura Gorge experience gives visitors a chance to know more about the ecosystems of the Gorge’s atmospheric “underground” rainforest, with its vegetation types, birding and identifying the different bird behaviours as well as the ecology of the primates which are habitat like the chimpanzees and the different types of Monkeys. Unlike Kibale Forest National Park where Chimpanzee sights are 99% guaranteed, it’s not the case with the chimpanzees of Kyambura gorge. The activity lasts between 2 to 3hrs. after the trekking, proceed with your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Arriving at the Lodge in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at your Lodge. (Full Board)

Accommodation Options:

Ride 4 A woman /Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – (BUDGET)
Buhoma Haven Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Engagi Lodge (MIDRANGE)
Mahogany Springs Lodge/Bwindi Lodge /Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (UPMARKET)

Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

The day is finally here for your unforgettable life time experience of meeting face to face with the giant mountain Gorillas. You will start your day with an early breakfast at your lodge and then transfer to the park headquarters (Depending on which location you have booked your accommodation) for briefing. There are 4 sectors in which Gorilla trekking takes place with in Bwindi Forest. The northern side of the park is comprised of Buhoma and Ruhija Sector and the southern side comprised of Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. After Briefing, you will start on your day’s trek. Searching for the gorillas may take like 2-5hrs depending on where they were last spotted the previous day. Once they have been spotted, you will be given one hour to take videos, photos and also get a chance to ask the rangers and the guides any questions about these giant apes. Besides the great Apes, the forest is also a home to other wildlife and bird species such as butterflies, primates, mammals, frogs and so on which all can be seen along the way to the Gorillas. After seeing the Gorillas, you will then head back to your lodge and retire for the rest of the day. The whole day activity can take between 5 to 9hrs. Packed Lunch and hiring porters are highly recommended. If time permits, you will also visit the Ride 4 A Woman project in Buhoma and get a chance to interact with local women and also learn about their variety of hand work crafts made out of local materials like basket weaving and knitting. Dinner and overnight stay at your Lodge. Full Board

Accommodation Options:

Ride 4 A woman /Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – (BUDGET)
Buhoma Haven Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Engagi Lodge (MIDRANGE)
Mahogany Springs Lodge/Bwindi Lodge /Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (UPMARKET)

Day 6: Bwindi and then drive or fly to Entebbe (Approx. 8-9hrs drive)/ OR 1.5hrs flight time

After your morning early breakfast, you will be transferred back to Entebbe with en route stopovers for lunch and also photographs and the Equator water experience. Drop off at the Airport for your connecting flight to your next destination.

Alternatively, you will be transferred to the Airstrip in Kihihi/Kisoro for your morning or afternoon domestic flight back to Entebbe with Aerolink Uganda. Upon arrival at the Airport, you will check in for your onward flight to your next destination.

END OF 6 DAYS PRIMATES OF UGANDA EXPERIENCE

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