Primates and Safari in Uganda: 9-Day Uganda Primate Safari

🛏 Stay: Ndali Lodge (Cottage) · Full Board

✈️ International arrival in Entebbe · Drive to Kibale (5 hours)

Your Uganda primate safari begins in the lush tropical rainforest of Kibale National Park, which has one of the highest diversities and densities of primates in Africa: 13 species, including more than 1,000 chimpanzees, our closest living relatives.

Kibale chimpanzee trekking is the main reason to visit. Unlike gorillas, which usually don’t move much, chimpanzees move swiftly, either on the forest floor or in the treetops. Early in the morning or in the afternoon, you’ll walk into the forest with an experienced ranger to track one of the chimpanzee families.

Activities: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park

🛏 Stay: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge (Tented Room) · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (2 hours)

Three nights give the savannah side of your Uganda primate safari plenty of time. Set majestically in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains and flanking Lake Edward and Lake George, the lush savannah of this Queen Elizabeth National Park safari offers prime grazing to buffalo, elephant and various antelope.

The northern Mweya Sector is more densely vegetated than the southern Ishasha Sector and offers diverse activities, including game drives, a Kazinga Channel boat safari, chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge and exploring the beautiful crater lakes.

On the open plains of Ishasha, enjoy wonderful game drives among many elephants and giraffe, large herds of buffalo, antelope, waterbuck and bushbuck, and, if you’re lucky, leopards and the famous tree-climbing lions.

Activities: Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park

🛏 Stay: Engagi Lodge · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (5–6 hours)

The highlight of every Uganda primate safari is Bwindi gorilla trekking. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to more than half of the world’s highly endangered mountain gorillas.

Sitting face to face with a 160 kg silverback in the impenetrable rainforest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A team of trackers and a ranger will guide you up and down the steep, rainforest-covered slopes to find a gorilla family.

Activities: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

🛏 Stay: Mantana Tented Camp (Tented Room) · Full Board

🚙 Drive to Lake Mburo (4–5 hours)

With rolling hills, open grassy valleys, acacia grasslands and marshes, Lake Mburo National Park is home to a huge array of flora and fauna. Its five lakes are known for their rich birdlife, notably the secretive African finfoot. The surrounding acacia woodland harbours dense populations of zebra, warthog, buffalo, impala and other grazers, including eland, Africa’s largest antelope.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive or guided game walk, during which you might also come across hyenas and leopards, followed by a spectacular sundowner in the park.

Activities: Game drive or guided game walk at Lake Mburo National Park

🚙 Drive to Entebbe International Airport (5–6 hours) · International departure

Enjoy your last day on safari before driving back to Entebbe International Airport for your flight home.

End of itinerary.

9 days and 8 nights: 2 nights in Kibale, 3 in Queen Elizabeth National Park, 2 in Bwindi and 1 at Lake Mburo, starting and ending at Entebbe.

Mountain gorillas in Bwindi and chimpanzees in Kibale, which is home to 13 primate species in total. Chimpanzee trekking is also possible in the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Gorillas usually don’t move much, while chimpanzees move swiftly on the forest floor and in the treetops. Both treks are led by experienced rangers, with trackers guiding gorilla treks through Bwindi’s steep slopes.

Yes. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and chimpanzee trekking are included, along with all national park and conservation fees.

In the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, which this safari visits. Sightings depend on luck, as with all wildlife.

By road in a top-quality 4×4 safari vehicle with a qualified English-speaking driver-guide. Drives between parks take between 2 and 6 hours.