Uganda Primates & Big 5 Safari

Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be greeted by our safari guide, who will assist you with your transfer to your accommodation in Kampala. Prepare for your upcoming adventure, as the next morning marks the beginning of your Uganda primates and Big 5 safari.

On the morning after your breakfast at the hotel in Kampala, you will be transfered to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an opportunity to track rhinos. This sanctuary is the sole location in Uganda where one can observe these endangered animals in their natural environment. Following this remarkable experience, you will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, arriving in the evening for a game drive en-route to your lodge, where you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

On the third day of your Uganda primate and big 5 safari, you will embark on an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, with a packed breakfast conveniently placed in your vehicle. During this drive, you will have the opportunity to observe the early risers, including the iconic Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes.

After an extensive game drive, you will return to the lodge around noon for a hearty lunch, followed by a boat cruise on the Nile River, where you can encounter hippos, crocodiles, various fishing birds, elephants, and other wildlife.

Following the cruise, you will arrive at the base of Murchison Falls and then hike to the top for a breathtaking view of the falls.

Finally, you will transfer back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Depart in the morning after enjoying breakfast at the lodge, then embark on a morning game drive as you make your way from Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest National Park, renowned as the hub of primate tracking in Africa.

Kibale National Park is home to an impressive array of 13 primate species, including the Chimpanzee, L’Hoest Monkey, Coppery-Tailed Monkey, Blue Monkey, Velvet Monkey, Black and White Colobus Monkey, Red Tailed Monkey, Red Colobus Monkey, Olive Baboon, Thick-Tailed Bushbaby, and Lesser Galago.

Upon your arrival at Kibale National Park, you will check in at the lodge for an evening of relaxation. If you arrive early, you may choose to participate in a community walk and a swamp walk before returning to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

On this day, you will rise early in the morning to enjoy breakfast before proceeding to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing and group assignment. You will be placed in a group accompanied by a ranger guide. The guide will navigate you through the forest in search of the elusive chimpanzees, our closest relatives, sharing over 99% of our DNA. The duration of the trek will vary based on the chimps’ location, as they continuously move in search of food. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will have approximately one hour to observe them, during which you may take photographs (without flash) to capture the memories for your return home.

Following lunch at the lodge, you will embark on a drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through expansive banana plantations, fields of maize, cotton, and sunflowers. You will arrive at the lodge in the evening, where you will check in and prepare for the adventures that await you the following day.

Start your day with an early morning game drive that reveals a variety of wildlife, including members of the Big Five such as elephants and buffalos, as well as big cats like lions and leopards, which are more frequently observed in the evening. Warthogs and hyenas, often referred to as hunchbacked carnivores, can be seen along the circuits as you navigate through the park, which is home to numerous other species. The area boasts a rich avian population, particularly storks found in wetland regions, leading to the flamingos at the salt lakes of Kasenyi.

After lunch, prepare for the classic highlights, which include a two-hour boat cruise on the renowned Kazinga Channel, a 36-kilometer waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. During this cruise, you will observe land and water-adapted hippopotamuses yawning, the formidable Nile crocodile basking along the banks, and the savannah-dwelling warthog, a distinctive feature of this wildlife habitat. In the evening, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will proceed to the southern region of Queen Elizabeth National Park, specifically Ishasha. This area is the most secluded part of the park and sees fewer visitors, yet it is abundant in wildlife. It is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, and other notable species include the elusive leopard, hyenas, giant forest hogs, topi, and large herds of Uganda kob.

You will take a break for lunch before continuing your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will arrive at the lodge in the evening, where you can unwind, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.

In the early hours of the day, you will embark on a journey to track gorillas in Bwindi. This trek, while physically challenging, is also enchanting as you navigate through a variety of plant life and immerse yourself in the serene ambiance of the forest. The length of the trek may fluctuate depending on the movements of the gorillas, yet the opportunity to witness these magnificent creatures instills a profound sense of peace, making the moments spent in their presence feel all too brief.

Following your encounter with the gorillas, you will be transfered back to the lodge for a relaxing evening, or, if time and energy permit, you may choose to explore the Batwa Pygmy trail. Later, you will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner and settle in for an overnight stay.

Embark on your journey to Lake Mburo National Park, passing through the towns of Kanungu, Rukungiri, and Ntungamo. Upon arrival, check into the Agip Hotel in Mbarara for a timely lunch break.

Your safari experience at Lake Mburo National Park will commence with a two-night stay at Mihingo Lodge, where you will have the chance to observe a diverse array of wildlife, including klipspringers residing near the lodge, as well as zebras, impalas, warthogs, Defassa waterbucks, and reedbucks. There is also a possibility of encountering leopards during a night game drive. Like many national parks in Uganda, Lake Mburo offers game drives in both the morning and afternoon, allowing you to see numerous herbivores and potentially spot predators such as hyenas and lions.

Night drives present a unique opportunity to observe the park’s nocturnal wildlife. Additionally, guests can partake in various activities such as horseback safaris, biking, wild running, and boat trips on the lakes, which offer chances to view aquatic birds, hippos, and crocodiles.

After breakfast in the morning, you will embark on a brief two-hour walking safari in the park, accompanied by a knowledgeable game ranger. This experience allows you to connect with nature in a way that is non-threatening to the wildlife, unlike being in a safari vehicle, which would cause them to flee. Following the walk, you will return to the lodge to check out, then proceed to Kampala or Entebbe, enjoying lunch along the way and stopping to visit the Uganda equator. You are expected to arrive in Kampala in the late evening, where you will either be taken to your pre-arranged accommodation or directly to the airport for your subsequent travels.