On this 8 days journey, you will immerse yourself in Uganda’s remarkable primate World. Travel through lush tropical forests and breathtaking landscapes as you encounter some of Africa’s most fascinating primates, including chimpanzees in Kibale National Park and endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Along the way, you will enjoy scenic drives, rich birdlife, cultural encounters, and the tranquility of Uganda’s pristine wilderness. Designed for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers, this safari offers an extraordinary opportunity to experience the “Pearl of Africa” through its most iconic primate adventures.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to your Hotel for rest
As you arrive to Uganda for your 8 Days Safari, you will be picked up at either the Airport or your Hotel, by our professional driver guide and then you will transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax after your flight or explore some of Entebbe’s attractions. Situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe offers a pleasant introduction to Uganda with its botanical gardens, lakeside sceneries and also abundant birdlife. The shores of Lake Victoria attract numerous bird species which include African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, great cormorants, grey-headed gulls, and various herons. The evening is spent at leisure as you prepare for your safari adventure.
Day 2: Transfer from Entebbe to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, depart Entebbe and journey westward toward Kibale Forest National Park. The scenic drive takes you through Uganda’s fertile countryside, passing rolling hills, tea plantations, traditional villages, and vibrant local markets. Along the way, enjoy views of the Rwenzori Mountains, whose majestic peaks dominate the western horizon.
Arrive in Kibale Forest in the afternoon and settle into your lodge. Known as the “Primate Capital of the World,” Kibale Forest protects one of Africa’s most biologically diverse tropical forests and hosts the highest concentration of primates on the continent.
The forest is home to thirteen primate species, including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and olive baboons. Birdlife is equally impressive, with species such as the African pitta, crowned eagle, black bee-eater, yellow-spotted barbet, African grey parrot, and green-breasted pitta recorded within the forest ecosystem.
Dinner and overnight stay near Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Following an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing before embarking on an exciting chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale Forest. Accompanied by experienced rangers, venture into the dense rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities. As you walk beneath the towering forest canopy, listen for the distinctive pant-hoots and calls that signal the presence of these fascinating primates.
Once located, spend an hour observing the chimpanzees as they feed, groom, communicate, and interact within their family groups. The forest often provides additional sightings of grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and a remarkable variety of butterflies and forest birds.
After lunch, visit the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a renowned community conservation area celebrated for its rich biodiversity. The guided wetland walk offers excellent opportunities to observe primates such as vervet monkeys and olive baboons, while bird enthusiasts may encounter the spectacular great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, white-winged warbler, blue-throated roller, and several species of hornbills and sunbirds.
Following the Bigodi experience, continue south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes you through the scenic crater lake region, characterized by beautiful volcanic crater lakes surrounded by rolling hills and lush vegetation. Arrive at your lodge in the evening and enjoy dinner while overlooking the park’s stunning landscapes.
Dinner and overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
Rise early for a morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, one of the most productive wildlife viewing areas within Queen Elizabeth National Park. The cool morning hours provide ideal conditions for observing wildlife as animals emerge to feed before the day’s heat intensifies.
The vast savannah supports large populations of Uganda kob, buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, and warthogs. These herbivores attract predators including lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas. Lions are frequently sighted patrolling the plains or resting after a night of hunting, while elephants often move in family groups across the grasslands.
Birdwatchers will appreciate sightings of secretary birds, martial eagles, African wattled lapwings, crowned cranes, white-backed vultures, and numerous species of weavers and bee-eaters that thrive within the park’s varied habitats.
After lunch, embark on an unforgettable boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. This channel supports one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in East Africa and offers exceptional close-range viewing opportunities.
Large pods of hippos dominate the waters while Nile crocodiles bask along the shoreline. Herds of buffaloes and elephants regularly gather at the water’s edge to drink and cool off. The channel is also a paradise for birdlife, with common sightings including African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, saddle-billed storks, yellow-billed storks, African spoonbills, pink-backed pelicans, great white pelicans, and numerous species of herons and egrets.
Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector for Tree climbing lions
After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel south through the famous Ishasha Sector, one of Uganda’s most unique wildlife destinations. Ishasha is internationally renowned for its tree-climbing lions, a rare behavioural adaptation observed in only a few lion populations across Africa.
A game drive through this remote wilderness offers opportunities to search for these remarkable lions resting on the branches of large fig trees. The open savannah and acacia woodlands also support elephants, buffaloes, topis, Uganda kob, bushbucks, and numerous bird species.
The transition from the open plains of Ishasha to the mist-covered mountains of Bwindi is one of the most scenic journeys in Uganda. As you approach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the landscape becomes increasingly mountainous, with terraced hillsides, dense forests, and spectacular views across the Albertine Rift region.
Arrive at your lodge in Bwindi during the afternoon or early evening and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of one of Africa’s most ancient rainforests.
Dinner and overnight stay near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today marks the highlight of your safari experience. Following an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing before setting off into the forest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protects nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Accompanied by experienced trackers and rangers, trek through dense rainforest, bamboo zones, and steep mountain slopes as you follow signs left behind by the gorillas.
When the gorilla family is located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Watch dominant silverbacks overseeing their families, mothers caring for infants, and playful juveniles interacting with one another. The experience of sitting quietly among mountain gorillas is often described as one of the most profound wildlife encounters on Earth.
Beyond gorillas, Bwindi is home to forest elephants, giant forest hogs, duikers, and several primate species. The park is also one of Africa’s premier birding destinations, hosting more than 350 bird species including the African green broadbill, Rwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, black-faced rufous warbler, and numerous Albertine Rift endemics.
Return to the lodge for relaxation and reflection on this extraordinary experience.
Dinner and overnight stay in Bwindi.
Day 7: Transfer from Bwindi to Entebbe for your Evening Departure
After breakfast, begin your return journey to Entebbe. The drive offers a final opportunity to enjoy Uganda’s beautiful countryside, passing through rolling hills, agricultural landscapes, traditional villages, and bustling trading centers.
A stop at the Equator crossing provides an opportunity for photographs, refreshments, and souvenir shopping before continuing eastward. Throughout the journey, enjoy panoramic views of Uganda’s diverse landscapes while reflecting on the incredible wildlife experiences encountered during the safari.
Arrive in Entebbe in the late afternoon or evening and transfer to your hotel or Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight.
This remarkable journey combines Uganda’s finest wildlife experiences, from tracking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and exploring the savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park to searching for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and encountering endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.