7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari
Price On Request
Tour Highlights
This 7-day wildlife primate safari Uganda is an amazing exploration adventure with Uganda’s wildlife diversity. Right from your arrival through the different communities the people are hospitable with unqic different cultural back grounds and setting. It gives you a start with Uganda’s rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola in serenity of nature and beyond. The Big 5 safari if you would refer to it with a visit to Murchison Falls National Park which is the oldest park and with the most powerful water fall in the world and of course not forgetting its diversity in wild life such as Kibale Forest National Park also known as the primate capital has a number of primates via ishasha as you drive to Bwindi.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the giant mountain gorillas and the Batwa community with their ancient norms.
Indeed, the visit to Uganda on the 7-day wildlife safari is worth it on your bucket list
With diversity in wildlife that is flora and fauna, there is a lot one can do while on the safari such as Gorilla tracking which is the main Highlight road trips, photography, cultural encounters and exploration in game viewing, bird watching, chimpanzee trekking, boat trips. Before booking for the safari one can choose favourite eco-friendly accommodation in a range of budget, midrange and luxury accommodation.
Day 1 Transfer from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park with a Stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Travel Time from Kampala to Murchison falls is 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation: Mid-range and Budget: Murchison River Lodge or Fort Murchison, Luxury: Parra Safari Lodge & Bakers Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
You will be picked up at 7:00 am from either Kampala or Entebbe. The tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive northwest of the Uganda to Murchison Falls. You will go through Kampala – Gulu road with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary home to the rhinos (3 hours drive). Seeing rhinos in their habitat and re-introduction sanctuary. The rangers will guide you to the Rhinos after a short brief where you will see them from a distance and the experience is memorable watching the rhinos on foot. We will leave the sanctuary and proceed back to the main road with a stopover for lunch at the Kabalega Dinner. We shall proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, reaching late afternoon. Check in at the park and drive into the lodge relax as you wait for dinner at the lodge
Day 2 Morning Game Drive in the Park, Afternoon Boat Cruise to the Bottom of the Falls & Hike the Top of the Falls
Accommodation: Mid-range and Budget: Murchison River Lodge or Fort Murchison, Luxury: Parra Safari Lodge & Bakers Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
You will wake up at 6.00am for your early morning breakfast then head for the morning game drive which may be a good chance for sighting cats such as Lions, Hyenas and Leopard early morning. Animals such as the Buffaloes, Elephants Giraffes, Antelopes as well as bird species. Murchison Falls National Park has the south and northern sides which are divided by the Nile River. The northern part that is covered by savannah and woodland with a number of animals as opposed to the southern side which is mainly covered by forest. After lunch drive out for a 2 -hour Launch Cruise on River Nile which sets off at Parra docking area, to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. You will sight wild animals such as hippos in a profusion of crocodiles, Land mammals such as giraffes, elephants, antelopes drinking and cooling off the heat by the banks of river Nile. After reaching the bottom of Murchison Falls, off the boat hike to the top of the falls for about 45 minutes with a scenic view of the falls along the trail. On reaching the top you will find your guide waiting to drive you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Note. If your accommodation is on the southern side of the park you will board a ferry to the northern side for the game drive and back on the side where your accommodation was booked.
Day 3 Drive from Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park
Travel Time from Murchison falls to Kibale Forest National park is 7 – 8 hours
Accommodation: Budget: Kibale Forest Camp or Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Mid-range: Isunga Lodge or Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Luxury: Papaya Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After your morning breakfast you will check out and embark on the 8-hour road trip to Kibale National Park. The road trip trails along the Albertine Rift Valley with a scenic view of the rift valley escarpment and the surrounding environment. You will make a stopover for lunch after which you will proceed to Kibale Forest National Park, before reaching the park you go through Fort Portal town in Toro Kingdom with a sight view of the Mountains of the moon (Mountain Rwenzori ranges). After checking into the lodge, you will have dinner and overnight.
Day 4 Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park in the Morning & Afternoon Nature Walk in Bigodi Wetlands
Accommodation: Budget: Kibale Forest Camp or Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Mid-range: Isunga Lodge or Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Luxury: Papaya Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
You will have breakfast in the morning with a transfer to the park visitor centre at exactly 7:00 am to meet the park ranger guides for registration and briefing about the trek, dos and don’ts during chimpanzee trekking experience. You will be assigned to a group and each group depending on the number of people available shall be given a ranger. You will then trek into Kibale forest to track the Chimpanzees in their community setting. The park has other primate species such as vervet monkeys, Colobus Monkey and birds as well, Kibale forest national park has about 300 bird species hence being a good haven for birding. Our highlight are the chimpanzees, please note this trek can take about 3-4 hours and this also depends on chimps’ movements and when you find the chimpanzee’s, you will spend one-hour observing and taking pictures of the chimpanzees through the Kibale forest. It is a thrilling but also a memorable experience. After the trek you will head back to the information centre where your certificates will be given to you. Return to the lodge for lunch in the afternoon. After lunch transfer to the Bigodi Wetlands on the edge of Kibale forest in Bigodi swamp which is a good haven for birders. Since Kibale forest is the capital of primates in Africa, other primates include olive baboons, red-tailed, black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey and l’Hoest’s. we shall do the Swamp walk where you walk into the wetlands to sight wildlife such baboons and other creatures, birds such as the great blue turacos.
You may also encounter a community walk which is usually done by the local people or guides in the community. While in the community walk, we shall encounter local coffee processing and we shall also be taught how to make local beers through brewing. You will return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 Transfer from Kibale Forest National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Stopover at Ishasha for a Game drive (Tree Climbing Lions)
Travel time from Kibale National Park to Bwindi Forest National Park is 8 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Buhoma Community camp, Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Bwindi Lodge, Luxury: Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs or Chameleon Hill Lodge
After breakfast check out and transfer to Bwindi forest national park, you will drive through Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive. While here we shall spot the tree climbing lions up on the umbrella fig trees in the savannahs and other wild animals as you drive through the park. We will have lunch and then embark on your journey to the lodge
Day 6 Gorilla Tracking at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation: Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Buhoma Community camp, Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Bwindi Lodge, Luxury: Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs or Chameleon Hill Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch (Packed Lunch) & Dinner
After your morning breakfast, you will transfer to the briefing centre by 7:30 am for registration for a gorilla trekking and be informed about the guidelines of the gorilla trekking. After being registered to a gorilla group you will meet the ranger guide and start the trek into the Bwindi Impenetrable forest. Rubber boots are ally essential on the trek. You will trek and hike through the forest before you come face to face with the giant gorillas. After seeing the gorillas and taking pictures on this memorable safari, you return to meet the driver guide and transfer back to the lodge and overnight.
The gorilla tracking experience takes about 3 to 4 hours or less and observing them will take 1 hour. You will be awarded with certificates after your gorilla trekking experience.
Brief about Bwindi
Bwindi National Park, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a home to the endangered giant mountain gorillas and it covers about 321 square km between 1,160 meters and 2,600 meters above sea level. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 4 gorilla tracking sectors that is Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east; Rushaga in the south and lastly Nkuringo in the south west. And with about 19 habituated gorilla families.
Day 7 Transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Kampala Stopover for the Equator Line Experience
Travel time from Bwindi Forest national park to Kampala is 9 – 10 hours
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
After breakfast we shall check out of the lodge with a transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and drive to Kampala. We shall have Lunch is en-route in Mbarara town with a stopover at the equator line for pictures. Your guide will drop you off to your accommodation in either Kampala or Entebbe or drop off at the Airport
Tour Costs
Tour Includes
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure or
- Meet & greet at Hotel or place of stay in Kampala or Entebbe
- Ground transport in a private well-maintained safari van or land cruiser
(Selection at time of inquiry) with a popup roof for game viewing with internet
- English speaking driver / guide
- Fuel costs as per your itinerary
- 6 nights’ Accommodation at your selected lodge or hotel
- Meals mentioned on the itinerary
- Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Activities & Park entrance fees: 6 nights 7 days
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Game Drive
- Boat Safari to Murchison falls
- Top of the Falls Hike
- Kibale Forest National Park
- 1 Chimp Permit
- Bigodi Wetland Walk
- Ishasha sector
- Bwindi National Park
- 1 Gorilla Permit
- Box of material water in your Safari Vehicle
- Drop off at your hotel or place of stay
Tour Excludes
- X International flights
- X Visa Fees and Requirements
- X Meals not listed in the itinerary
- X Optional activities during the trip
- X Medical & travel insurance
- X Tips to different service providers e.g guides, helpers and hotel staff
- X All personal expenses (Beverages/ Soft Drinks on meals, alcohol, laundry services,
- X souvenirs
General Tips on your safari:
- Health is key all trekkers as its key to have your safari and trek the gorillas in a heath condition. Usually clients with infectious diseases like flu are not allowed to track reason being it can easily affect the endangered giant chimps or gorillas.
- The age limit for gorilla tracking is 15 years and above.
- Booking of your gorilla and chimpanzee permits is done in advance in order for you not to miss out on the experience when permits are fully booked.
- A porter can be hired in case you want to be carried for trekking, bags. For the trekking porter or helper, a fee of US$ 15 is charged
- You should bring along your camera & batteries
- Flash lights of the camera should be off for wild life encounters that is rhinos, chimps and gorillas
What to bring on your safari:
- Rubber Boots, trousers and rain gears or rain coats, cloth gloves are important
- Mosquito repellent.
- This will help you repel mosquito bites
- Sun screen
- Sun screen is essential in case of scotching sunshine
- Drinking during the trekking experience
- Walking boots, long trousers and rain gears as you will be hiking through Bwindi and Kibale Forest.
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