10-Days Uganda Wildlife, Culture And Primate Tour

The 10-Days Uganda Wildlife and primate safari starts and ends at Entebbe international airport in Uganda. This Uganda safari involves exclusive primate experiences such as meeting eye to eye with the magical mountain gorillas and chimpanzee tracking, general wildlife encounters, boat cruises, and horseback riding in the wilderness. It takes you to Ziwa rhino sanctuary for the rhino tracking experience, Murchison Falls national park to discover the renowned Murchison Falls, Wildlife sighting safari, boat cruise safari on the Nile River, Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee tracking, Queen Elizabeth national park for wildlife sighting, Kazinga channel boat cruise safari, Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park to encounter the magical mountain gorilla, Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation and Lake Mburo national park for a night wildlife sighting game drive and bush horseback riding. This is an ideal tour to fully enjoy nature and to explore the abundance of wildlife species, beautiful sceneries, and numerous primate species such as the miraculous Mountain gorillas, Chimpanzees among others and to see several Africa classic games such as Lions, Leopard, Elephants, African Caped buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, and many others.

10-Days Uganda Wildlife, Culture And Primate Tour

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport – Meet and greet and be transferred to your booked Hotel in Entebbe

On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be warmly met by a company representative with your professional English speaking safari guide to meet and greet and then be transferred to your booked hotel in Entebbe town to check in, freshen yourself and later meet with our company representative and safari guide at the hotel lobby to brief you about your 10-Days Uganda Wildlife and primate safari. The hotel is about 10-20 minutes’ drive from Entebbe international airport on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Later, if time allows, drive to Entebbe botanical gardens that is found on the shore of Lake Victoria for a walking safari. Botanical gardens is a home to some primates such as Vervet monkeys and several bird species. The walking safari will take you to the shores of Lake Victoria where you will spot some water birds,  enjoy the fresh breezes from the lake as well as getting used to the Uganda’s beautiful nature. Lake Victoria is the largest water body in Africa and second largest fresh water body in the world and shared by three East African Countries (Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya). Lake Victoria is also the source of the River Nile which is the longest river on the planet flowing for more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea in the north through several African countries these include Uganda, Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan. Later, return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation; Via Via Guest House (Standard), 2 Friends Beach Hotel (Mid-range), Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (Luxury)

Meal plan; Dinner

Day 2: Entebbe town – Visit Ziwa Rhino sanctuary – Drive to Murchison falls national park – Descend the Murchison falls to the bottom – Night game drive safari

Rise up very early in the morning to have breakfast (630 am), check out of your hotel to start your drive to Murchison falls national park found in northwestern Uganda about 320 km from Kampala on your way, you will visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary found in Nakasongola district for the white Rhino tracking experience. Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can meet the white rhinos in the wilderness. Once Uganda had an adequate number of Rhinos which were found in Kidepo valley and Murchison Falls national parks but they became nationally extinct due to numerous illegal human activities such as poaching and civil unrest in early 1970s. Therefore, in 2005 Ziwa Rhino sanctuary was established to re-introduction of Rhinos in Uganda’s wildlife inventory. During Rhino tracking, you will have a chance to see them close to their feet with the help of the local site guide and spend with them a maximum of one hour and you will be allowed to take as many photos as you would want so, you have to keep your camera on standby not to miss any great moment uncaptured. After you have had an unforgettable experience with rhinos, relax with a bottle of water and drive to Kabalega diner to have lunch. Later, proceed with the drive to Murchison Falls National Park and visit the Murchison falls to enjoy give you breathtaking view of the falls and to enjoy the verbal burble of the falls as drops into a pool of water. The while at the Murchison falls, you will see how the whole river Nile forces itself through a narrow gorge of only 7 meters wide and then drop 43 meters into a pool and then form a strong thunderous sound which is so lovely.

After seeing the Murchison falls, cross the River Nile and drive to your booked lodge to check in and spend your evening relaxing while preparing for your adventurous night game drive safari which will boost your chances to encounter nocturnal animals and birds of the park such as lions, Leopard, Porcupine, Civet, Spotted hyenas, the grazing hippos among others not for getting the lovely sounds of animals and to run how wildlife animals spend their night in the jungle. On a lucky day, you may meet predators hunting which is one of the great wildlife experience of the savannah. Murchison falls National Park is the best savannah national parks in Uganda for a night game drive. Dinner and an overnight

Murchison Falls National Park is a home to 76 recorded mammal species these include; Jackson’s hartebeest, Waterbucks, Hippopotamuses, Nile crocodiles, some primates like Chimpanzees, Olive baboons, Black and white colobus monkeys, Giraffes, Uganda kobs, Elephants, Caped Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Spotted hyenas, Civets, Warthogs, Oribis, Topis among others plus 450 recorded bird species such as the rare shoebill stork, Abyssinian ground hornbill, papyrus Gonolek, marabou stork, black bellied bustard, open billed stork among others. Dinner and an overnight

Accommodation; Hornbill Bush Lodge (Standard), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Day 3: Murchison Falls national park – Morning game drive safari – Afternoon boat cruise along the Murchison falls – Spend your evening relaxing

Wake up very early to have a cup of coffee, get your packed breakfast and head to the northern sector of the park where superb game drive safaris are carried out. During the game drive, your safari guide will help you to spot several animals and share with you lot of information regarding various wildlife species that you will spot such as Caped buffalo, Elephants, Uganda Kobs, Jackson hartebeest, Roth child giraffes, oribis, Lion, Common warthogs some primates species on a lucky day, you may spot a leopard, have short break to enjoy your full breakfast and later proceed with your game drive to fully explore the park and be able to spot several wildlife species. Later early afternoon, leave the jungle and return to your lodge to relax, have lunch and then drive to Paraa gathering point for an afternoon boat cruise safari on the River Nile which starts at 02:00 pm. The boat cruise safari goes upstream from the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the Murchison falls stopping few meters from the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’ of the falls which will give you an amazing views of the fall and see how the River Nile drops into a pool. The boat cruise will take you through the zones of water mammals and birds like bloats Hippopotamus, Nile crocodiles, some birds like the Egyptian goose, goliath heron, kingfisher, pelican bee-eater, hornbill, cormorant, you may see some land mammals when they have come to drink water and swimming. After the boat drive back to your lodge and spend your night while relaxing, dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation; Hornbill Bush Lodge (Standard), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Day 4: Murchison Falls national park – Drive to Kibale Forest national park – Bigodi sanctuary swamp and community tour

Today after your fantastic breakfast, check out of your lodge and slowly drive through the park, across the Nile River and then journey to Kibale forest national park. Kibale forest national park is famously known for its biggest population of chimpanzees, amounting to more than 1500 individual chimpanzees, and some of these are well habituated for tourism and research. The park is also referred to as Africa’s primate capital, with 13 primate species recorded than any national park or wildlife reserve in Africa, hence making the park a primate lover’s haven. The park is also home to East Africa’s largest population of the threatened and rare L’hoest’s monkey and red colobus monkeys. While at Kibale forest national park, you will see several primates such as the black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys, red-tailed olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and over 375 species of birds. Along the way to Kibale Forest national park, you will enjoy the spectacular views of tea estates, several forests, and the shadow of the legendary Rwenzori Mountain that forms a mystic backdrop to the beautiful volcanic landscape. Have a stopover in Fort portal city to have lunch, move around the city on foot and later continue with your journey to the park to check in at your booked lodge and later drive to Bigodi swamp for a nature walk and community experience.

Bigodi sanctuary swamp is punctuated by biodiversity and lovely sceneries, and is a paradise to bird lover’s with over 138 bird species and hosting eight species of primates these include the grey-cheeked mangabey, black-and-white colobus, l’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and olive baboons plus other mammals like Bushbucks and mongooses can also be found here. The swamp is managed by the surrounding local community wish a purpose of preserving exclusive environmental features along with the wetland for future generation. So, during this walk, you will have an opportunity to spot several monkeys, and bird species. The Bigodi community walk, will take you through the nearby community to have a chance to interact with local people to know how they harmoniously live with wildlife species, take you through how they locally to their daily activities without applying the modern technology such as making nice gins from banana, making delicious coffee and making art crafts. After the walk, return to your lodge to relax, be served dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation; Rwetera Safari Park (Standard), Isunga Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Crater Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan; Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 5: Kibale Forest national park – Chimpanzee tracking safari – Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park – Visit Katwe salt mining community

After breakfast, meet your safari guide and transfer to the park information offices to join other guests for briefing about the dos and don’ts to follow while looking for chimpanzees in the forest, and how to behave before chimpanzees. Then embark on your guided forest walk to search for the intelligent chimpanzees the human closest relatives sharing 98.8% human DNA. During your forest walk, you may encounter other wildlife species both mammals and birds species such as others primates, Bush pigs among other and your guide will be able to give you much interesting information about everything that you will encounter which will make your walk so adventurous. Once you meet chimpanzees, you will spend with them a maximum of one hour to watch how they play in the tree branches, feeding and taking care of their babies and taking as many photos as you would want. After staying with chimpanzees for an hour, return to the starting point to relax, have refreshment plus lunch and then drive to Queen Elizabeth national park a “medley of wonders”. Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its variety wildlife species with over 95 mammal species which includes four big mammals, big cats and other predators, 10 species of primates, aquatic mammals and about 600 recorded bird species and with Kazinga channel the main water stream which connects Lake Edward and George. Before checking in at your booked lodge visit Katwe community which is surrounding the salty Lake Katwe and their main economic activity is to extract salt from this lake. This is one of the most famous communities due to the traditional salt mining that has been practiced since the 16th century. While at Katwe salt mining community, you will have a chance to take part in salt mining and your local safari guide will give you much information about how they have managed to maintain their salt mining activities for decades. After the community tour, drive to check in at your booked lodge to spend you evening at leisure until time to have dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation; Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth national park – Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest – Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel – Spend the evening at leisure

After an early morning heavy breakfast, be driven to Kalinzu forest reserve head office to join other guests for the pre trekking briefings, be given a site guide and then start your second chimpanzee tracking safari from different environment. The second chimpanzee trekking safari will give you a chance to encounter chimpanzees from different and to have an extra experience of how these apes behave from different environments. Your experienced guide will help you to stop and identify several flora and fauna species resident in this forest and give you much information about everything that you will encounter. Once you find a community of the habituated chimpanzees, you will have a maximum of one hour to be with them as well as enjoying their engagements such as jumping in the tree branches, grooming their babies and you will be free to take as many photos as you would want for photography. After spending an hour with chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest reserve, return to the starting point to have a bottle of water to freshen yourself, drive back to your lodge to have lunch, relax and later depart for 2 hours’ Afternoon boat cruise safari along Kazinga channel the main water stream which goes through the park and connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. Boat cruise safari on the Kazinga Channel is one of the highly recommended adventurous activities to visitors of Queen Elizabeth national park. The cruise will bring you very close to several mammals such as the Hippos, Nile crocodiles and Buffaloes, Elephants and many others plus various water birds. The fantastic experience during 2 hours’ boat cruise safari along the Kazinga channel, makes a must do adventure to every guest to Queen Elizabeth national park. Later after the boat cruise safari along the Kazinga channel, return to your lodge to spend the evening relaxing. Dinner and an overnight back.

Accommodation; Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth national park – Morning game drive – Game drive to search for the tree climbing – Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park

While in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park you’ll wake up very early in the morning at 530 am to prepare yourself and arrange all your travel bags, at 0600am be served the tasty breakfast, get all your luggage packed in the vehicle, check out of your lodge at 0630 am and then drive to Kasenyi plains found in the northeastern parts of Queen Elizabeth national park for the morning game drive safari in search of wildlife species. Queen Elizabeth national park is an understandably one of the Uganda’s most popular national park and an ideal habitat for classic big game such as the four mammals of the big five family of the African savannah (Lions, Leopards, Elephants and Buffaloes), several antelope species, primates and many others. Your safari guide will ensure that you spot as many wildlife species as possible and give much information about everything that you well encounter during your game drive. After the game drive safari, relax and then start the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park via Ishasha sector in the southern parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive safari to lookout for the unique tree climbing lions which are only found in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda with 4 prides, Lake Manyara of Tanzania with 2 prides and Kruger national park in South Africa. After the game drive safari, have lunch and proceed with the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which is famous for being a home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and one of the Uganda’s ancient as well as the most biologically diverse rainforests that is over 25,000 years with almost 400 tree species that are forming the huge impenetrable forest that is ever green. It is a home to approximately 500 mountain gorillas, 120 mammal species such as numerous primate species and over 350 bird species.

Accommodation; Broadbill Forest Camp (Standard), Bakiga Lodge (Mid-range), Mahogany Springs Lodge (Luxury)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park – Mountain gorilla trekking –Drive to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 8 of the 10-Days Uganda Wildlife and primate safari, wake up early morning (0600am) to organize yourself, arrange the necessary equipment during while in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park for mountain gorilla trekking such as camera, binoculars, insect repellants, get well-dressed in a recommend style for mountain gorilla trekking like long khaki /jean trouser, long sleeved shirt, water proof hiking boots, a rain jacket, heavy duty gloves and round hats, have heavy breakfast, get your packed lunch boxes, get enough drinking water and meet your safari guide to be transferred to the park information offices to join other guests to be briefed about mountain gorilla trekking dos and don’ts, how to behave in the presence of mountain gorillas and the expectations, be allocated a mountain gorilla family to track, UWA ranger and the forest guide. We would recommend you to hire a porter to help you carry your packed bag other and your other items you would need during mountain gorillas. After pre-mountain gorilla trekking session, start your forest walk in search for the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

The time taken before encountering your allocated mountain gorilla family is not known however, it may be between 45mins to 4 hours depending on the movements and location of gorilla family therefore, you should be physically and mentally prepared to walk a long distance through the forest that is made of hills and with no clear walking trails that are only made on that particular time of tracking by the your guide depending on the direction that can easily lead you to the location of the gorilla family. That is why, it is recommended to carry enough water to keep you hydrated and snacks to keep you with enough energy since you use a lot of energy when walking through the forest in search for the mountain gorillas.

Once you encounter the mountain gorilla family, the excitement of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, will outweigh the hardship went through while searching for them. A mountain gorilla family can be made of several members such as the giant silverback who is always the head and protector of the family, mothers, infants and juveniles. The time you will spend with the mountain gorillas, you get to know much about their behaviors, how they socializes and be excited with their actions like the playful babies, mothers grooming their babies and the Mr. silverback watching the situation silently as he is ready to protect the family from any kind of attack. You will spend a maximum of one hour with the mountain gorillas and you will be free to capture as many photos and recording videos as you would want to keep your great memories with the mountain gorilla family in the jungle. Thereafter an hour with the mountain gorilla family, return to the trekking start point to receive your mountain trekking certificate in appreciation of your contribution to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Have refreshments and lunch and then drive to Lake Bunyonyi to relax. Dinner and an overnight

Accommodation; Bunyonyi Rock Resort (Standard and Mid-range), Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort (Luxury)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Day 9: Lake Bunyonyi – Morning boat canoeing – Drive to Lake Mburo national park – Evening and night game drive safari

Today, wake up at your convenient time, be served breakfast and then go for a morning boat canoeing safari on Lake Bunyonyi which takes approximately 2 hours of the exploring the lake and visiting different islands of the lake with a local canoe guide who is well experienced about the places and all the things around. Lake Bunyonyi is framed with 29 islands of different size across the water making it view the most magical. Each of the 29 islands on Lake Bunyonyi has its unique interesting story behind it which your local guide will narrate to you during the canoeing safari such as the Akampene island also known as the “punishment Island” which was used by the Biga community to punish girls who would get pregnant before official marriage by isolating them there to death as a way to teach a lesson to the rest not to do the same mistake. So, poor men who could not afford to pay bride price, would go on this island to get free wives from amongst those that could have been exiled to this island. In an Africa society, it a disgrace for a girl to get pregnant before her official marriage and this would cause the family to lose its community respect so, this made parents to be strict to their girl children as a way of protecting them.

After canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi return to your lodge to check out and start your journey to Lake Mburo National Park with a stopover at Igongo cultural center to have lunch, tour the Museum one of the Uganda’s richest heritage with history, traditions, and lifestyle of the Ankole people and southwest Uganda that will take you centuries back about the life of the. Thereafter, proceed with the journey to the park to check in at your booked lodge and drive to the park for your evening and night game drives to spot some wildlife of the park such as the beautiful Zebras, Impalas, Elands, Topis, other species of Antelopes, Warthogs, Caped buffaloes, Giraffes. Have a short break to relax and proceed with the night game drive safari which will boost your chances to see the nocturnal mammals of savannah such as the spotted hyenas, Leopards, Civet, African rock python, Porcupine, Bush babies among others which are very difficult to see during day game drives. It is an interesting experience out at night and Lake Mburo is one of the best parks for a night game drive safari.

Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest savannah protected area in Uganda but highly endowed with floras and faunas and other natural features. The park is has 350 recorded bird species, 68 mammals species and13 small lakes, it’s woodland and savannah plains provides good habitats and feeding ground to Zebras, Buffaloes, Elands, Impalas, Warthogs, Oribi, Defassa waterbuck, Leopard, Spotted hyena, Topi and Reedbuck, Hippopotamuses, Giraffes, Bush babies, Porcupine, White tailed, Bush pigs, African rock python and many others.

Accommodation; Rwakobo Rock Resort (Standard and Mid-range), Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Day 10: Lake Mburo national park – Morning horseback riding – Drive back to Entebbe international airport

On this day, you will have a simple breakfast in the morning and then go for your early morning jungle horseback riding in the park. Without any doubt, horseback riding safari in Lake Mburo national park is one of the most amazing activities that give visitors an outstanding experience of viewing wildlife and doing a nature walk while on top of a horse. During a horseback riding safari in the park, you will have opportunities to view animals like Zebras, Impalas, and the more shy ones like Elands, because they are curious about looking at their close relatives without black and white stripes. Horse riding is the most peaceful way to explore the park since it does not leave any footprints behind, cause noise and air pollution as it is when using a safari vehicle which will make you feel part of nature. Return to your lodge to have a full breakfast, check out and start your drive back to Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight. On your way to Entebbe international airport, you will have a stopover at the Uganda equator line located in Kayabwe, which is believed to separate the planet into two parts; the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

While at the equator landmark, you will see the water experiment which is done to show how forces move differently on each side of the planet and to prove the difference between the two hemispheres for example water drains from the funnel in a clockwise motion on the northern hemisphere whereas it drains down in an anti-clockwise motion on the southern hemisphere. Here, the sun rises and sets rapidly and the temperatures and weather is largely constant all year through, take some memorial photos with one foot in the southern hemisphere and another one in the northern hemisphere which will give you an opportunity to take a photo while standing in both sides of the world at the same time. It is also said that while standing at the equator line, your body weight is reduced by about 3kgs so, you will have a chance to prove this statement right or false. After the water experiment, have lunch, visit some craft shops to buy some souvenir which are fully designed in a Ugandan local art. After staying at the Uganda equator for some time, proceed with your journey to Entebbe international airport to prepare for your return flight. This will be the end of your 10-Days Uganda Wildlife and primate safari.

Meal Plan; Breakfast / Lunch

The package price includes;

• Return airport transfers (Pick up and drop off)
• Private transport for 10 days in a well-modified safari van / safari land-cruiser that is (4×4 WD, air-conditioned and pop up roof)
• Fuel for 10 days
• Private English / French speaking safari guide for 10-Days Uganda Wildlife
• Private standard/ mid-range/Luxury accommodation for 9 nights on full board (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
• Bottled mineral waters and all en-route meals
• All government applicable taxes
• All park entrance fees and all itinerary activities
• 1 mountain gorilla trekking per person
• 2 chimpanzee trekking permits per person (Kibale forest national park + Kalinzu forest reserve)
• Ziwa sanctuary rhino tracking experience
• Visiting the Murchison falls and sloping to the bottom of the falls
• 2 game drive safari in Murchison falls national park (Night and Morning game drives)
• 3 hours afternoon boat cruises on the River Nile
• Evening Bigodi sanctuary swamp and community walking safari
• Evening to Katwe salt mining community
• Game drive safari in Queen Elizabeth national park (Morning game drive safari)
• 2 hours afternoon boat cruise safari on the Kazinga channel
• Game drive through Ishasha sector to search for the tree climbing lions
• Mountain gorilla trekking at Bwindi impenetrable forest national park (Buhoma sector / Ruhija sector)
• A visit and boat canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
• Evening and night game drive safari at Lake Mburo national park
• 2 hours’ morning horseback riding safari at Lake Mburo national park
• A visit to Igongo cultural center
• A visit to Kayabwe equator Landmark

The package price excludes;

• International and domestic flights
• Country entry visas
• Other items of personal nature/tips/laundry/telephone charges/ souvenir shopping,
• Personal travel insurance
• Extra meals and activities
• Alcoholic and other soft drinks (Sodas, special juice order at the lodge and wines)
• Covid-19 PCR test