8 Days Primates & Wildlife Safari

Overview

8 Days Primates & Wildlife Safari

This 8 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari begins at Entebbe airport and ends at Kigali airport. This safari gives you the opportunity to explore three of Uganda’s National Parks for the country’s top three primate species that are Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Golden Monkeys. Kibale Forest in the western side of Uganda is known for sheltering Uganda’s highest Chimpanzee population in Africa. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-western Uganda is known for being a home to the World’s highest Mountain gorilla population while Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s only habitat of the Golden monkeys, Queen Elizabeth National Park for its rich bio-diversity and also a visit to the Rwanda’s darkest site, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Transfer & Bigodi Swamp Walk – Kibale Forest National Park

Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, our guide will warmly welcome you to the pearl of Africa and then after transfer you to the western part of Uganda and traverse the districts of Mityana and Mubende where you will have your first stop at Nakayima Ancestral Tree that is often worshiped by locals and continue with the scenic drive relishing the large rock boulders, lush tea plantations with a lunch en-route in Fort-Portal. You will then proceed to your lodge for a check-in and head out for the Bigodi swamp walk that will reward you with the sights and sounds of some of the primates as well as swamp dweller bird and mammal species that call the Sanctuary home.

Expect to see the black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys and L’Hoests monkeys, rare Sita-tunga among others as well as the Papyrus gonolek, Great blue Turaco and many other bird species. Return back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight:

High-end: Tabebuia Spa & Safari Resort

Luxury: Primates Lodge

Mid-range: Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge

Budget: Kibale Forest Camp

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Start the day with a tasty breakfast served at the Lodge and a briefing at the Park Headquarters before venturing into the jungles for one of the habituated Chimpanzee communities. Spend 1-2 hours searching for them and once found, spend 1hr learning their unique way of living that makes them our closest relatives and also take photos of your memorable encounter. Return to the Lodge for lunch and check-out for a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive at your lodge in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight:

High-end: The River Station

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Mid-range: The Bush Lodge

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 3: Game drive & Boat Safari – Queen Elizabeth National Park

On this morning after an early breakfast, we will drive to Kasenyi plains for the morning game drive. The queen Elizabeth is a bio-diverse national park with so much to see. The kasenyi plains are famously known for the Cat family as a specialty to see here. Lions, leopards are a sighting here with much more game to see including the giant Elephants in big herds. The game drive takes about 4 hours and you shall later transfer to mweya peninsula for the afternoon kazinga boat cruise. The Kazinga channel is a 40km connecting water body for lake George and lake Edward populated with vibrant wildlife encountered on a close range. Expect to see lots and lots of schools of hippos, elephants, buffalos, crocodiles, bird species, lions or more so leopards. This cruise takes about 2 hours and takes you to the mouth of lake Edward.  Upon your return, we will then drive to the lodge for our overnight.

Overnight:

High-end: The River Station

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Mid-range: The Bush Lodge

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 4: En-route game drive – Ishasha Sector

On this Morning after a relaxed breakfast, we will today start a lazy drive to Ishasha, The southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is known for its vibrant wildlife and the famous tree climbing lions. We shall arrive in time for lunch and later head for a sundowner game drive in the ishasha plains. We expect to see elephants, buffalos, antelopes, hogs, hippos, lions, leopards and much more. Later relax for a sundowner before we retire to our lodge.

Overnight:

Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Mid-range: Enjojo Lodge

Budget: Ishasha Pride Lodge

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 5: Transfer – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

On this morning after a relaxed breakfast, we will depart for Bwindi impenetrable National Park. The drive takes about 5hrs traversing through the forest and a section of a possibility to walk through the forest for those that would like to walk through the forest to Nkuringo while others can drive with the jeeps to traverse. Driving presents very good scenic drives with spectacular rolling hills and calm forest sounds. It’s quite bumpy but very rewarding.

Overnight:

High-end: Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge

Luxury: Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Mid-range: Orugano Bwindi Lodge

Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Today morning you shall ascend in to the jungle in company of Ranger guides and porters in search for the Mountain Gorilla. The trek starts at 8am with a briefing and later ascend into the jungles. Time for trekking ranges between 4 to 7 hours depending on where the Gorillas were last found. Return to the lodge and spend rest of your evening on a sundowner and later on a camp fire before you wind off the day.

Overnight:

High-end: Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge

Luxury: Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Mid-range: Orugano Bwindi Lodge

Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 7: Golden Monkey Trekking – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Today, you will wake-up very early and embark on a drive (approx. 2hrs) to Mgahinga gorilla national park for the golden monkeys and transfer to Kigali afterward.

Just like the previous day, you receive a briefing from the ranger guide who will share information on what to expect while in the Virunga volcanoes searching for the golden monkeys. After this short brief, you will start your hike up in search of the golden monkeys.

Porters are available for those interested and an enforcement officer will join you to help in case you meet the wild buffaloes and Elephants which can be dangerous. Golden monkeys are swift in their movements unlike the gorillas and you will follow them as they feed. They love feeding on bamboo shoots among other foods like fruits, vegetation and sometimes ants.

You are only allowed to spend 1 hour with the golden monkeys before you start your descent back to the starting point to return to your lodge for a hot deserving lunch and relaxation.

Overnight:

High-end: Mount Gahinga Lodge

Luxury: Lake Chahafi Resort

Mid-range: Ichumbi Hotel

Budget: Travelers Rest Hotel

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 8: Transfer & Genocide Memorial Center – Kigali International Airport

After your morning breakfast, you will check-out and embark on your scenic drive to Kigali international airport with lunch & Kigali Genocide Memorial Center en-route before proceeding to the airport for your outbound flight.

Overnight: N/A

Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch