The 5 Days Primate Tracking Safari in Uganda is an intriguing package that takes visitors to the stunning Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife viewing and a revitalising boat ride along the Kazinga Channel, as well as the amazing Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking and cultural walks. Enquire Now
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Get up early, eat breakfast, and get picked up from your accommodation or hotel at 6:30 am so that you can go along the Kampala-Masaka road to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The two stopovers on the 6-7 hour journey occur at the Uganda Equator crossing in Kayabwe, where you will spend at least half an hour photographing this amazing landmark and testing the direction in which water drains (clockwise or anticlockwise) depending on whether it is placed in the northern or southern hemisphere.
Proceed to the Igongo Cultural Centre and Country Hotel to enjoy delectable regional, traditional, and international cuisine. You can also choose to take an optional tour of the nearby “Erijukiro” Museum to see some of the original Ankole people’s artefacts. The trip continues through Mbarara, the “land of milk and honey,” Bushenyi, where the mild climate and verdant surroundings will leave you speechless, but Queen Elizabeth National Park is where you’ll experience true paradise.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge.
Meals: (Lunch, Dinner).
Day 2: Morning Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Cruise.
The previous day’s excursion will wear you out, so you’ll need to sleep well, and the comforts of the wilderness will provide just that. Aim for an early morning wildlife drive at 6:30 am to catch a glimpse of the returning lions and leopards after their hunt. Visitors can see a variety of wildlife species on the expansive savannah plains, including side-striped jackals, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, bushbucks, waterbucks, Topis, and elands, by visiting the Queen’s mile and Kasenyi paths.
A game drive exposes you to a wide variety of bird species, including Chapin’s flycatcher, martial eagles, black bee-eaters, and many more. It also means that your options are not restricted to just animals. Head back to the Lodge for a quick change of clothes, lunch, and relaxation. The two-hour boat ride along the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon will be full of surprises, such as seeing enormous Nile crocodiles and hippos relaxing on the channel’s banks and Ugandan kobs, elephants, and buffaloes drinking or cooling off in the scorching sun.
Large flocks of birds will also be seen during the boat trip; among the species to look for are African fish eagles, African skimmer, pink-backed pelicans, and martial eagles. After a quick supper, head back to the lodge to have a short evening game drive in search of nocturnal animals including lions, spotted hyenas, and leopards.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 3: Ishasha Game Drive – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, travel through the Ishasha sector in the southern portion of Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Travelling through the Ishasha area ensures that you will come across the enigmatic lions that climb trees, resting on the branches of fig trees, as well as other creatures, like Uganda kobs and buffaloes that graze on the expansive plains of savanna. Have lunch at the Savannah Hotel in Kihihi. Later in the day, drive to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s Buhoma region to check into the Lodge for dinner, an overnight stay and leisure.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Silverback Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Evening Cultural Visit
Breakfast will be provided early to allow you to meet up with other gorilla trekkers for a briefing at the Park Headquarters at 7:00 am. Receive instructions on appropriate behaviour and what to anticipate from the activity when you are with mountain gorillas. Assigned to a gorilla family, you will either be driven or transported to the trailhead where you will begin your two to four hour trek through the dense jungles in search of the designated gorilla family. Although the walk might be difficult and involve muddy trails, scratches, and foggy vegetation, meeting the mountain gorillas up close and spending an hour with them can be a wonderful experience.
Once you’ve had some quality time with them, make your way back to the Lodge for lunch by descending to the trailhead. Take a leisurely stroll in the evening to the neighbouring Batwa community to gain insight into their way of life in the forest prior to their expulsion, after eating your lunch and unwinding. You will witness their traditional dwellings, some of the medicinal plants they utilise, how they start fires with sticks, and be delighted by their traditional dances.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Silverback Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 5: Return to Kampala – Departure.
Before checking out and departing for Kampala or Entebbe, start the most important meal of the day earlier from the Lodge. This eight to nine-hour trip includes a lunch stop in Mbarara Town, after which you proceed directly to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport (if your return flight is scheduled for after 21:00 hours). Alternatively, you can fly out of Kigali International Airport, which is three to four hours away, if your flight is early.
End of the 5 Days Primate Tracking Safari in Uganda.
The 5 Days Primate Tracking Safari in Uganda includes;
- 1 Gorilla Trekking Permit per person.
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
- Ground Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle.
- Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise.
- Batwa Community Visit.
- Park Entrance Fees.
- Services of an English speaking tour guide.
- Tour Guide Allowances.
- Bottled Water in the car.
However, the tour cost excludes; Airfares, Visa fees, personal expenses like souvenirs, beverages, tips to local guides, laundry and any items not listed as included in the cost.