Classic Primate Tour Uganda

Trip Highlights: Mainly primates including gorillas, chimpanzees, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, Black and white colobus, Red Colobus monkeys, a boat trip in Queen Elizabeth and Ngamba Island.

Day One: Arrival - Entebbe -Kampala - 42km.

On arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your representative from BUSHMEMORIES who will then transfer you to Kampala for the overnight at either Serena Kampala Hotel (High end/luxurious accommodation), Hotel Africana (Medium class accommodation) or Namirembe Guest House (Low budget/basic accommodation).B/B.

Day Two: Kampala - Kibale Forest (450 km approx. 5-6 hours).

After breakfast, you will depart Kampala for Kibale Forest National Park arriving in the afternoon. Kibale Forest is a large protected block of rainforest, which has the highest number of primates in Africa such as Chimpanzees, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, and Red Colobus. In the afternoon, you will go for Chimpanzee tracking in the forest returning in the evening. Seeing the way our “cousins” feed, climb trees, respond to humans, caring for the young ones is a very interesting experience.

Dinner and overnight at either Ndali Lodge, a stunning location overlooking a dramatic Crater Lake and the fabled "Mountains of the Moon"/ Mantana Tented Camp (High end/luxurious accommodation), Rwenzori View Guest House/Ataco Guest House (Medium class accommodation) or Primate Lodge Kibale Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.

Day Three: Kibale Forest.

This morning, you will go for chimp tracking and be part of the habituation team that studies the behavior of these primates to make them get used to human beings. Spend the whole morning in the forest returning to the lodge in time for lunch. Later in the evening, you will have the opportunity of a guided walk through Bigodi Swamp. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is managed by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Organisation formed in 1992 to achieve social and economic development for local communities. This swamp is home to approximately 137 bird species and it is also rich in vegetation, such as wild palms, polita figs, and the dominant papyrus.

Dinner and overnight at either Ndali Lodge, a stunning location overlooking a dramatic Crater Lake and the fabled "Mountains of the Moon"/ Mantana Tented Camp (High end/luxurious accommodation), Rwenzori View Guest House/Ataco Guest House (Medium class accommodation) or Primate Lodge Kibale Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.

Day Four: Kibale - Queen Elizabeth National Park. (Approx. 3-4 hours drive)

After breakfast, you will depart Kibale and then head for Queen Elizabeth National Park to have a game drive while entering the park and arriving in the afternoon. Relax around the pool after lunch and later go for an early evening game drive.

It is little wonder that Queen Elizabeth boasts one of the highest bio diversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world, - from the open Savannah to Rain Forest, dense Papyrus Swamps, and brooding Crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward.

Almost 100 mammal species include Lions, Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Elephants, and the elusive Giant Forest Hog plus remarkable 606 bird species that include the Black Chested Eagle, and the Swallow Tailed Bee Eaters, to mention but a few.

The Primates include Chimps, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black Faced Red Colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and Olive Baboons.

Reptiles are the amazing huge Rock-Python, Puff adders, Spitting Cobras, Gabon Rippers, Green Mambas, Turtles, etc. All these are regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula and all this makes a superb safari territory.

Overnight at either Mweya Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation), King Fisher Lodge Kichwamba/Hill Top Camp (Medium class accommodation), or the Institute of Ecology Cottages (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.

Day Five: Queen Elizabeth.

This morning, we will go for Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge returning to the lodge in time for a hearty breakfast.
Relax and then later go out for the afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel. Hippos huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, Buffalos linger in the shallows, and a tremendous variety of birds grace the grasses on the shores. Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Great and Long-Tailed Cormorants, Open-Billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite, and Pied Kingfishers are commonly seen.

Spend the night at either Mweya Lodge/ Jacana Safari Lodge (High end/luxurious accommodation), King Fisher Lodge Kichwamba/Hill Top Camp (Medium class accommodation), or the Institute of Ecology Cottages (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.

Day Six: Queen Elizabeth - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. (Approx. 4 hours drive).

After breakfast, you will have a game drive as you depart Queen Elizabeth for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Best known for its Mountain Gorillas, the Montane Forest also attracts spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the African Green Broadbill, Bar Tailed Trogon, and other beautiful forest species. You may decide to relax in the afternoon or take a nature walk ( at an extra cost of $10 P.P) which will lead you to the Munyaga Waterfall and a chance to see primates such as the Grey grey-cheeked mangabey Blue Monkeys and other species.

Spend the night at either Gorilla Forest Camp / Mantana Tented Camp (High end/luxurious accommodation), Lake Kitandara’s Tented Camp/ Buhoma Homestead (Medium class accommodation), or the Community Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.

You will need to have a good night’s rest to get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking.

Day Seven: Gorilla Tracking - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. (There is an option of tracking in Rwanda as well).

This morning you will have to wake up very early to get ready for Gorilla tracking. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. There are now only 650 left in the world! The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours but it's well worth the effort. There are always park guides with you who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas.

In the afternoon relax at the camp or go for a Village walk to visit the Local Batwa Community returning to the Camp in the evening. Dinner and overnight at either Gorilla Forest Camp / Mantana Tented Camp (High end/luxurious accommodation), Lake Kitandara’s Tented Camp/ Buhoma Homestead (Medium class accommodation), or the Community Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.

Day Eight: Bwindi - Lake Mburo National Park. (Approx. 6.5 hours drive).

After breakfast, you will proceed to Lake Mburo National Park passing through the Switzerland of Uganda (Kabale) with beautiful scenery and terraced farming arriving at Lake Mburo National Park in the afternoon.

After lunch, you may decide to go on a boat trip or relax in your room. Lake Mburo is an extension of the Tanzanian Plains with big herds of Zebra, Impala, Eland, and other savannah species. For birders, this is one of the best places to find African Fin feet, Papyrus, Bush Shrike, etc. Go for an evening game drive and overnight at Mihingo Lodge (High-end/luxurious accommodation), Mantana Tented Camp (mid-class), or UWA’s Tents (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.

Day Nine : Lake Mburo - Kampala - Entebbe.

After breakfast, have a game drive and then proceed to Kampala having a stop to look at the Royal Drum makers, the Equator - where you will be able to stand and be on both hemispheres at once arriving in Entebbe in the evening. Dinner and overnight at either Imperial Resort Beach Hotel (High-end/luxurious accommodation), Boma Guest House (Medium class accommodation), or the Golf View Inn (Budget/basic accommodation). Bed and Breakfast.

Day Ten: Ngamba Island.

After breakfast, you will take a boat at 10:30 am from Entebbe pier and then head for Ngamba Island returning at 5 pm. This is an Island that was set up for orphaned chimps. There are people on the Island who look after them and also do various interpretations to the visitors. Viewing of the chimps is at 11 am and 8 pm respectively when they are feeding.

Dinner and overnight at either Imperial Resort Beach Hotel (High-end/luxurious accommodation), Boma Guest House (Medium class accommodation), or the Golf View Inn (Budget/basic accommodation). Bed and Breakfast.

Day Eleven: Departure

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport and later fly out depending on International flight departure times.

Quotation:

High-end/luxurious accommodation: Please contact us for the price.

Medium class accommodation: Please contact us for the price.

Low budget/basic accommodation: Please contact us for the price.

1.1 Gorilla Permit per person.
2. All Meals and accommodation as per the itinerary.
3. All ground transportation in a comfortable 4x4 vehicle.
4. Park entrance fees.
5. Services of a full-time English-speaking driver/guide.
6. Water, coffee, or Tea while on safari.
7. All boat trips.
8. All game drives.
9. All airport pick-ups and drops.
10. All activities at stipulated in the itinerary.
11. And all government taxes/levies.

Excluded Are:

1. Bar Bills
2. Phone calls
3. Personal Insurance
4. Laundry
5. Airfare
6. All other Services of a personal nature.
7. Driver guide’s gratuity.

Important:

Please note the gorilla tracking in this itinerary can be done in Rwanda as well if permits/accommodation can’t be got in Uganda at the time of your booking.

Gorilla tracking is dependent on the permit's availability at the time of your booking. Gorilla permits in all parks are in very high demand and we advise that you book them as early as possible.