8 Days Classic Primates safari
This 8 days classic primates safari is an incredible adventure that will take you to Kibale forest national park where you will engage in an interesting chimpanzee trekking, the misty forest of Bwindi impenetrable national park in southwestern Uganda where you will have a face to face interaction with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, Mgahinga gorilla national park where you will engage in hiking and Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda.
Highlights of the 8 days classic primates safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale forest national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 5: Nature walk and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
Day 6: Hiking mount Gahinga and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7: Canoeing and community tour
Day 8: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale forest national park
Depending on your location on the first day of the 8 days classic primates safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Kibale forest national park also known as the primate capital. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive and on the way you will have en-route lunch in Fort Portal and after continue the journey to the park with stunning views of the beautiful scenery, Rwenzori mountain ranges, Lake George, crater lakes, tea plantations among others. Upon arrival in Kibale national park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Chimpanzee trekking
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 8 days classic primates safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kanyachu visitors Centre for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be sub divided into groups of 6 people and start trekking in the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzee family. During the trekking you will be able to view different wildlife species including mammals like forest elephants, buffaloes, other primate species like red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, grey checked baboon, view different bird species, tree species among others. Once the chimpanzees under habituation are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, hunt, play, fight, mate, rest, take photos and record the moments to show people back home after the safari. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide and return back to the lodge for lunch.
Bigodi swamp walk
after lunch you will go for an amazing nature walk in Bigodi swamp where you will be able to view variety of bird species like the great blue turaco, view mammals like bush bucks, sitatunga, primates like l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, view different plant and tree species, enjoy the cool breeze among others. After the Bigodi swamp walk you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast on the sixth day of the 8 days Uganda primates tour, you will check out of the lodge and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park. On the way you will have en-route lunch and then proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park and upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking,
After an early breakfast on the seventh day of the 8 days Uganda primates tour, you will carry packed lunch and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will be sub divided in groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from place to place in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species like l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, view variety of forest birds, different plant species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, playing, observe their behaviors, habits, take photos and record the breathtaking moments. After the one hour with the gorillas you will return back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Nature walk and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
After breakfast on the fifth day of the 8 days classic primates safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the starting point for a nature walk briefing. After the briefing you will start hiking in the jungle with a park guide who is well conversant with different nature walk trails. During the guided nature walk you will be able to view different primate species, birds, mammals, view different plant and tree species, colorful butterflies, enjoy the cool breeze among others. After the nature walk you will transfer to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park which is located in Kisoro district. The journey takes about 4 to 5 hours drive and upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Hiking mount Gahinga and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After an early breakfast on the sixth day of the 8 days classic primates safari, you will carry packed lunch, enough drinking water and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing. After the briefing you will be given a walking stick, allocated a ranger guide and then start hiking mount Gahinga. During mount Gahinga hike, you will be able to view different primate species, birds, plant and tree species among others, upon arrival at the summit, you will enjoy stunning views of the caldera swamp which stands on top of mount Gahinga, view other Volcanic mountains like Sabinyo, Muhabura, Rwenzori mountain ranges, take beautiful pictures among others.
After the breathtaking moments at the summit you will start descending back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale which is the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest lake in East Africa. Upon arrival you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight
Day 7: Full day a Lake Bunyonyi
On the seventh day of the 8 days classic primates safari, you will enjoy breakfast and meet up with your driver guide to go for an interesting boat cruise/canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi where you will be able to explore some of the 29 islands on Lake Bunyonyi, view different bird species, animals on Kyahugye island among others.
After the boat ride, you will return back to the lodge for lunch where after you will either relax at the lodge or go for an optional community tour where you will be able to interact with the Bakiga and Batwa/ pygmies who live in the neighboring villages. During the community tour you will be able to learn more about their culture, lifestyle, visit their farmlands, homesteads, enjoy their traditional entertainment among others. After the community tour, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 8 days classic primates safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to Kampala. On the way you will have a stopover in Mbarara town for lunch and another stopover at the Equator to take photos and buy souvenirs. From the Equator you will proceed to Kampala arriving in the evening and upon arrival you will be dropped off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 8 days classic primates safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Nature walk
- Hiking mount Gahinga
- Boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
- Community tour
- Full time English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off to Kampala
- 4WD pop up safari vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Life insurance
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
