8-Day Uganda Primates Safari | A 6Px Small Group Guided Tour

A Detailed 8-Day Uganda Primates Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe — Shoebill tracking

After a brief (15-minute) ride to Entebbe International Airport, our driver will bring you directly to your hotel in the city. Prior to supper, you will have a meeting with your trip expert.

Entebbe offers a variety of alternative activities for individuals who want to be active and arrive early. Mabamba Swamp and the world-famous botanical gardens are great places for birdwatchers to look for the extinct shoebill. Another option is to stroll peacefully around contemporary shopping malls or local marketplaces.

You’ll stay at: Papyrus Guesthouse (Garden Room)
Meals: Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Drive Entebbe to Lake Mburo – Game Drive

Set out for Western Uganda after breakfast, travelling through expansive banana plantations, cattle ranches, and cultivated plains. Make a quick pit stop in Mpambire to see the traditional wooden drums being made by local artisans. Then, head on over to the Equator for some breathtaking photo ops.

Make sure you get at Rwakobo Rock Lodge before lunchtime. Situated on a rocky ledge on the park’s northern boundary, the lodge is a haven for nature enthusiasts. Its individual cottages provide breathtaking views of the surrounding savannah plains.

After lunch, go on a game drive to see the local animals, including bushbuck, zebra, eland, impala, and buffalo.

Take a horseback safari (not included in the package) or a one-hour boat safari (not included in the plan) to see crocodiles, hippos, and various water birds.

Staying at: Rwakobo Rock (mid-range)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 3: Drive from Lake Mburo to Bwindi (6 hours)

An early morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park will give you your last opportunity to see zebra, impala, buffalo, and eland before you take a scenic drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the crown jewel of your classic 8-day Uganda primates safari and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As you travel across Western Uganda, you’ll pass through verdant hills, vast tea plantations, tropical rainforests, and eventually reach the magnificent Virunga Volcanoes. The last 32 kilometres of dirt road wind through rural areas on your way to Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, which is situated on a picturesque ridge on the outskirts of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Along the way, you’ll travel through the cities of Mbarara and Kabale.

Marvel at the verdant valleys, terraced hills, and lush jungle that resemble Tuscany as you make your way up. With its own cottages set in indigenous forest and breathtaking views of the Bwindi rainforest canopy and the entire Virunga Volcanoes chain, the Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge is the epitome of eco-luxury.

Once you’ve settled in, take a stroll about the neighbourhood to get a feel for the local culture. Meet the Batwa, Bwindi’s indigenous people who have lived in the forest for generations and can tell you tales of life before the area was protected for its gorilla population.

On this day, you will leave the savannah vistas behind and enter the wild rainforests, laying the groundwork for the next day’s incredible gorilla trekking adventure.

Staying at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (packed), and Dinner.

Day 4: The Gorilla Trekking Adventure – A Defining Moment in Your Classic Uganda Primates Safari

At 5:30 in the morning, the calm mist that covers Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is broken by the relentless sound of the alarm. As you jump out of bed and into a hot shower to beat the morning chill, the excitement of going gorilla trekking starts to build up in your stomach. Before setting out on your incredible tour, fuel up with a full breakfast of eggs, fresh tropical fruit, and strong Ugandan coffee.

You reach the park headquarters by 7:30 in the morning, adding yourself to a select group of adventurers who are just as excited as you are to begin this once-in-a-lifetime journey. The lead ranger, an authority on mountain gorilla behaviour, gives you the rundown on how go gorilla trekking, including how to stay at a safe distance, how to avoid using flash photography, and how to keep quiet until the gorillas start talking to you. An exciting primates safari in Uganda begins as you travel into the thick jungle, the first step on a journey that will be defined by its adventure.

For the first hour, you’ll take it easy as you follow well-worn woodland paths adorned with swaying mahogany trees, colourful orchids, and the melodic songs of exotic birds. However, the path vanishes into the dense underbrush of the bush not long after. Skilled trackers who had already set out will now lead your tiny party through the labyrinth of moss-covered boulders and entangled vines.

An enigmatic dusk settles over the jungle floor as the treetops grow thicker. Obstacles include clambering over roots, fording murky creeks, and navigating through prickly foliage. You can feel the oppressive humidity as you listen to the sound of your own measured breaths and the slight rustle of leaves beneath your feet.

Then—a low, rumbling rumble breaks the stillness. A ranger will give you the go-ahead to stop. As you slowly go forward, a burst of adrenaline washes over you. Unexpectedly, a group of mountain gorillas was spotted, relaxing amidst the trees.

The imposing patriarch, a huge silverback, looks down at you with an expression of knowledge and calmness. Juveniles tumbling through the underbrush, wrestling with a display of youthful enthusiasm, and females grooming their frisky young are all around him. Others, content in their haven, peacefully nibble on berries and leaves.

You get to experience the delicate social dynamics of these mild giants’ world for a mystical hour. Despite their intimidating stature and strength, their interactions radiate friendliness, wisdom, and familial ties. Feeling humbled by our common evolutionary heritage, you can’t help but notice how humanlike their faces and actions are.

Your time limit is about to expire. The sound of the gorillas’ calls becomes less audible as you start to make your way back through the forest. You are changed for the rest of time after this incredible wildlife encounter as you blink into the bright sunlight as you emerge from the bush.

With the exhilaration of the hike still coursing through your body, you find a quiet place to settle down and enjoy your picnic. On the way back to the lodge, everyone takes the time to reflect on the day’s happenings.

Settle into a plush chair on the porch of the resort as the sun sets over the hazy Virunga Mountains, taking in the peaceful night air. A sense of fulfilment washes over you, not only from the experience, but also from a deep respect for the delicate beauty of nature and the magnificent beings who inhabit it.

You’ll be returning to: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 5: Drive from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha

A traditional 8-day Uganda primate safari would not be complete without seeing the elusive tree-climbing lions, which can only be seen in the Ishasha Sector, which you will traverse your route to Queen Elizabeth National Park this morning. These evasive hunters may be lying in wait on the fig tree branches, surveying the expansive savannah plains for unsuspecting prey.

Check in, have lunch at your leisure and then go for a game drive in the afternoon. Buffalo, elephants, topi, bushbuck, Uganda kob, and other animals abound in the park, so be sure to keep your eyes open. Lions, leopards, and the rare giant forest hog are also possible sightings, if luck is on your side.

The travel time is about six to seven hours.

Optional: Hike Across Bwindi Impenetrable Forest ($155 per person)

Those in search of a more immersive experience can start their day with an early morning trek through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is home to the magnificent mountain gorillas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will begin your 13-kilometer (4-5 hour) hike through Bwindi’s virgin rainforest after breakfast. Bwindi is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in Africa. The drive will take you via Nteko Ridge to the Ivy River Trail, which is 7 km away.

As you make your way through this old forest, be on the lookout for monkeys, duikers, bush pigs, and butterflies and birds that are famous all over the world. You might even be lucky enough to see gorillas in their native environment, which would be an incredible and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Bwindi is a protected ecological island encircled by settlements and farms; it was formerly a huge, unbroken forest environment that extended into Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes. Learn fascinating facts about the forest’s flora, fauna, and indigenous peoples’ traditional practices from your knowledgeable guide.

On market days, when people are making their way between Nkuringo, Nteko, and Buhoma, this trail is also a vital footpath for the local populations. This straight jungle hike cuts into the middle of Uganda’s most famous rainforest, providing a more personal, satisfying, and environmentally responsible experience than the long, difficult trip around the park (which takes 4-6 hours by automobile).

Upon arrival at Buhoma, your driver will be ready to transport you to your lodge, which is situated four hours away. Along the way, you might see lions perched on trees in the Ishasha savannah plains.

Staying at: Katara Lodge (Mid-range)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

Begin your day with a dawn game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, a sanctuary for some of Uganda’s most diverse species. On a traditional primates safari in Uganda, you must take a drive down the Kasenyi tracks to see some of the most famous animals in Africa up close.

Numerous antelope species, like as the Uganda kob, topi, and bushbuck, can be seen among the vast herds of buffalo and elephants. The elusive leopard is another highly sought-after sighting, frequently seen prowling before dawn. Be on the lookout for the enormous forest hog, an interesting and unusual animal that is surprisingly common in this area.

Kazinga Channel Boat Safari – A Wildlife Spectacle

Set out on a boat safari this afternoon across the Kazinga Channel, a wildlife mecca known for housing one of Africa’s densest populations of hippos. The best time to see the animals is about 15:00, when they congregate along the banks to drink, wash, and mingle.

Elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, and Uganda kob will all be seen as you float peacefully across the waterways, taking in the scenery. A vast water monitor lizard suns itself, an old guardian of the riverbanks, while nimble Nile crocodiles wait for the perfect moment to strike.

You should bring your camera because this is a great spot to see predators and other nighttime animals when the sun goes down. African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, and storks are just a few of the magnificent birds seen in the Kazinga Channel.

Journey to Kibale National Park – Into the Primate Capital of the World

Your driver-guide will take you north towards Kibale National Park after the boat safari, over a beautiful route framed by the famous Rwenzori Mountains.

As you check into your forest lodge, you’ll have dinner on the house and get ready for another amazing monkey adventure in Africa’s top chimpanzee tracking location.

You’ll stay at: Mirima Kibale Lodge (Luxury)
Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale – The Ultimate Primate Tracking Experience

This classic Uganda monkeys safari isn’t complete without another thrilling primate tracking trip, so get up early and make it to the Kibale Forest visitor centre by 7:30 AM.

Kibale National Park is well-known as the ideal location to witness chimpanzees in their native environment due to its exceptional primate diversity and density, which is unparalleled in Africa. With over 1,500 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species calling this verdant rainforest habitat home, it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for wildlife photographers and primate lovers.

The Chimpanzee Trekking Experience

You will be guided by an experienced tracker who will search the forest for new evidence of chimpanzee activity, such as splintered branches, discarded fruit, and faraway hoots that reverberate through the trees as you enter the thick bush. The distance the army must cover on foot can range from two to six hours.

The red colobus monkey and the uncommon L’Hoest’s monkey are just two of the fascinating monkeys you might see on your travels. In Kibale’s biodiverse rainforest, you can spot a variety of monkeys, including black-and-white colobus, olive baboons, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Your guide indicates for silence—you’ve found them—finally, after an adrenaline-filled walk.

A Rare and Intimate Encounter with Kibale’s Chimpanzees

What is happening right now is insane. A group of chimpanzees that have adapted to living among humans glides gracefully through the trees in front of you, their cries echoing across the entire forest. Juveniles show off their agility by chasing and tumbling through the underbrush, while the dominant male makes his presence known. The intricate social relationships that characterise chimpanzee behaviour are reinforced when some females groom one another.

You will have the humbling opportunity to observe their innate intelligence, facial emotions, and complex group dynamics for a whole hour. Every experience in their environment teaches us something new about our primate ancestors, whether it’s watching them eat, conversing with body language, or displaying dominance.

Return to the Lodge – Reflecting on a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Return to your accommodation after your incredible wildlife encounter and take some time to unwind and think about what an incredible day it was. You will relish the opportunity to have strolled among Africa’s great apes in one of the world’s most significant primate conservation areas today, as the adventure continues tomorrow.

You’ll stay at: Mirima Kibale Lodge (Luxury)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Packed), Dinner

Day 8: Drive from Kibale to Entebbe

After breakfast, depart for a beautiful drive through the rural area surrounding Fort Portal. As you drive out of Western Uganda, you’ll see the Rwenzori Mountains slowly disappearing into the distance. As you make your way back to Entebbe via Kampala, take a moment to think on the incredible adventures you had last week—climbing mountain gorillas in Bwindi, following chimpanzees in Kibale, and seeing the world-famous animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

You have the option of checking into the Papyrus Guesthouse in Entebbe to relax and rejuvenate before your international trip home. We can help you make a reservation for a hotel if you’d like, but please be aware that it is not included in the price.

You will depart from your classic 6-day Uganda primates safari with unforgettable experiences, stunning images, and a deeper respect for the rich biodiversity found in Uganda’s national parks.

Accommodation (Optional): Papyrus Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (packed)

End of the 8-Day Uganda Primates Safari Itinerary