6 Days Uganda Primates Tracking and Wildlife Safari
This 6 Days Uganda Primates Tracking and Wildlife Safari will first take you to Western Uganda in Kabarole district (308kms away from Kampala), particularly in Kibale Forest National Park which is famous for especially Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. It covers 795kms squared protecting the most evergreen rainforests. Then there is Queen Elizabeth National Park located in Southwestern Uganda, covering an area of 1,978 square kilometers and is home to 95 mammals and 612 bird species. It is one of the treasures of Uganda. The park’s diverse ecosystems which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sprawling lakes, and fertile wetlands, make it an ideal habitat for the classic big game, primate species including chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge, and over 600 species of birds.
The 6 Days Uganda Primates Tracking and Wildlife Safari will end still in Southwestern Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas-roughly half of the world’s population including several habituated groups which can be tracked.
Highlights – 6 Days Uganda Primates Tracking and Wildlife Safari
- Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 3: Morning Game drive and afternoon boat cruise
- Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 5: Gorilla Tracking
- Day 6: Back to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary – 6 Days Uganda Primates Tracking and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Meet and greet with your driver/guide very early in the morning after breakfast and head to Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda with an en route lunch. On reaching, check-in at Primate Lodge / Ndali Lodge (upmarket accommodation) or Mountains of the moon / Chimp Nest (Midrange accommodation).
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Do breakfast in the morning and then you will embark on the chimp trek. It involves passing through the jungle of Kibale well known as the primate capital of the world with over 13 species of primates some of which come across during your Chimpanzee trekking including colobus monkeys, velvet monkeys, olive baboons, Red-tailed monkeys among others and the birds will be singing along. Once you find the chimpanzees also dubbed man’s close relatives, you will be allowed just an hour with them. Watch them eat, play, socialize and swing in tree branches as you take as many photos as you can. After lunch, reach out into the Bigodi wetland Sanctuary for the rewarding swamp walk with amazing bird sights including the Ruwenzori Turaco and swamp animals like sitatunga. The communities around Bigodi offer a close touch of tourist-host interaction. Have refreshments then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park Dinner and overnight at Mweya safari lodge / Katara Lodge (Upmarket accommodation) or Twin Lakes Lodge / Ihamba Safari Lodge (Midrange accommodation).
Day 3: Morning Game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Wake up very early for a cup of coffee before setting off for the game drive activity in the savannah game park of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The early departure at 07:00 is gives you an opportunity to see night hunters like hyenas getting back to their hiding places and early risers setting off to look for what to eat. The drive through the Kasenyi tracks gives a probable opportunity to see a range of game including; Lions, buffalo, elephants, elusive leopard (if lucky), and antelopes among other wildlife. You will pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you have chances of spotting tree climbing lions lying on tree branches in the midmorning warm sunshine.
After lunch, go for a launch cruise leaving at 02:00 pm taking 2 hours exploring the magical offerings of Kazinga Channel including the sights of water birds and wild game drinking on the channel side, the Nile crocodile and the Hippos. The 45m channel that stretches from Lake George to Lake Edward has tranquil waters that always give pleasure and psychological satisfaction to any traveler on Uganda safaris. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge.
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a cup of tea/coffee, check out of Queen Elizabeth National Park with packed lunch and head for Bwindi National Park. Have a free evening as you prepare yourselves for the following day (gorilla tracking experience). Your dinner and overnight will be at Gorilla Safari Lodge / Silverback Lodge / Buhoma Lodge (Upmarket accommodation) or Chameleon Hill Lodge / Gift of Nature Lodge (Midrange Accommodation)
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking
This is a great day that you will get up close and personal with the mountain gorillas. After breakfast, you will be taken to the ranger station by your driver-guide, gathering at the respective park headquarters for a briefing in the morning where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track which may last for 6 to 8 hours.
Track the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. The walk is beyond the ordinary as it involves traversing the dense jungle whose thickness would at some points necessitate using a machete to make a path, hiking the challenging landscapes some of which are steep and slippery at times under the canopy of the mature forest which forms darkness even during the day. When the gorillas are sighted, you will be guided to be within 6 meters from them, and sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes. Gorilla tracking is unpredictable-it’s difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. Upon approaching gorillas, their reaction is not predictable as it can include them giving you a courteous welcome. After tracking, go back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Back to Kampala
Have a leisurely breakfast in the morning then you check out of the lodge to transfer to Kampala with lunch en-route arriving early evening. If your flight is that very evening, your driver will drive you straight to the airport.
End of the 6 Days Uganda Primates Tracking and Wildlife Safari
