Overview.
This is an exclusive 16 days primate safari in Uganda; one of the countries in the world with a collection of only sought-after primate species. Both trekking and habituation will be done, with each day with its activity, and stories.
You will have a chimpanzee habituation experience at Budongo forest, Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale forest national park, golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga Gorilla national park, and Gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Other additional activities to refresh your minds include; Exploring Lake Bunyonyi, Batwa cultural experience, tree-climbing lion trekking, and cultural encounter. The trip starts and ends at Entebbe international airport.
Detailed safari.
Day 1: Arrival.
Today, our company representative will gladly pick you up from the agreed point; starting with a welcome briefing, and response to all the quarries, before proceeding to Kampala; Uganda’s capital for a city tour; visiting the local markets to purchase a few missing items and then proceed for lunch, tour Uganda national Museum and finally to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.
Today; you will greet your intestines with a lip-smacking breakfast meal at the hotel. Forward; checkout for a transfer to Murchison falls national park; home to Budongo forest; a place for chimpanzee habitation.
En route to the park, you will have an en-route stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a one-hour Rhino trekking, and the other stopover at Masindi town for lunch, everything is ticked after checking in to the lodge at sunset for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Chimpanzee habituation experience in Budongo forest.
After breakfast, you will be briefed at the headquarters about chimpanzee habituation experience, the dos and don’ts, and then escorted to where they are for a four-hour interaction; studying their unique way of life, taking photos, and asking as many questions as you so wish.
Also; Budongo forest is one of the only mahogany forests in Africa, and the only place offering a habituation experience. Afterwards, you will return to the lodge for lunch, and then an optional top of the falls Hike; with an experienced guide. End the day with fun, dinner, and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.
From Bed, Breakfast is next, before hitting the road on a 7-9-hour drive; with great views of breath-taking landscapes, plantations and homesteads. You will have lunch en-route, while arriving at the lodge late in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi forest walk.
After an early morning cup of coffee, you will go for briefing and registration by UWA rangers at the park headquarters. Thereafter the trekking starts, with a walk through the jungle, not only harboring the chimps but also over 12 primate species, which will come your way. The park is covered with echoes of different residents from all angles, nests and birds.
You will spend a maximum of one hour with the chimps, before returning for lunch, and then a complete evening at Bigodi forest; walking by several other primates such as baboons, natives carrying on with their daily chores and so much more. Close today’s chapter with a mouthwatering dinner and a nap.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After a lip-smacking breakfast meal at the lodge, you will check out of the park for an epic drive to Queen Elizabeth national park; one of the most gifted national parks in Africa, not only will you enjoy the dust-free drive, but also take a look at the mountain backdrops, green vegetation and scattered homesteads. You will have Lunch en route, whereas dinner and overnight at the lodge at the end of the day
Day 7: Tree-climbing lion tracking and boat cruise.
At daybreak, you will head to the Ishasha sector to track the tree climbing lions; some of the rarest creatures on earth. On the tree branches, you might chance to sight one or more resting during the 3-4-hour game drive.
Thereafter, lunch follows, before heading for a rewarding 2-3-hour boat cruise at the vast Kazinga channel; with hopes of watching the crocodiles, hopes, water birds, and some mammals quenching their thirst at the shoreline. The day comes to an end with dinner and a nap.
Day 8: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Wake up to a heavy breakfast meal at the lodge, and then checkout for a transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla national park; a perfect destination for primate trekking. You will need to admire the plants, shimmering waters, African-style homesteads and the beautiful weather en route to the park. On arrival, check-in to the lodge for lunch, followed by dinner and overnight stay at sunset.
Day 9: Golden monkey trekking.
Today, you will have your breakfast very early in the morning, and then checkout to the park headquarters for briefing by the park rangers and the ultimate trekking exercise. The golden monkeys are very beautiful, but also shy. They love playing, and this makes photographing them on camera very hard, thus a call for full attention and observation. You will return to the lodge after this 1-6-hour experience for Lunch and rest. Dinner and overnight at sunset.
Day 10: Full day bird watching.
After having the first meal of the day; breakfast, you will spend roughly 6 hours of the day in the jungle; identifying different bird species, their sounds, names, sizes and age. This is done through the help of an expert birder who leads in the search. When all is done, return to the lodge for lunch, followed by dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Batwa trail walk and cultural encounter.
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge for a Batwa experience. The Batwa people understand the forest more than any other person, and they visit also understand this world, through their trail. Led by an expert, clad in his cultural attire, some spirits of protection are evoked, to have a safe walk to and from; different plants are identified and their uses mentions; primates encountered and the sound of birds felt.
The experience lasts for roughly 2 hours but the memories forever, after which lunch follows, and then the ultimate entanglement with the Batwa people in their community, visiting their caves, listening to the ancient songs and joining in their dance. The day ends vibrantly with dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge for a transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park; home to half of the world endangered mountain Gorilla population. There will be flourishing vegetation and undulating hills to see all way to the sector where gorilla trekking is set to take place. Check-in to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Gorilla trekking adventure.
At sunrise, there comes an energy-giving cup of coffee, followed by a rewarding 1-6-hour gorilla trekking experience after the briefing. Mountain gorillas live in families deep in the jungle, accompanied by several other primates; notably chimps and monkeys.
After locating the Gorilla family assigned to you, a maximum of one hour will you be given to closely watch and study their unique behavior, body sizes, and many more features. Thereafter, you will return to the lodge for lunch, followed by a free evening; from meditation, relaxation, and fun.
Day 14: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
At daybreak, you will have a relaxed breakfast meal at the lodge, after which checkout for a transfer to Lake Bunyonyi; second Switzerland in Africa gifted with a cool climate, birds, and over 29 islands of historical significance. The drive to the lake lasts for roughly 3 hours.
You will check in for lunch and then spend the rest of the evening enjoying the cool ambiance, riding a bike if you so wish, and several other optional activities. This day ends with dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Full day Lake Bunyonyi exploration.
Today you will enjoy a lip-smacking breakfast meal at the lodge, and then head for Lake Bunyonyi exploration. Over 29 islands are surrounding this lake; including the famous punishment island which you will visit on a canoe ride. Other activities you will enjoy this day include; birdwatching, photography, and swimming. You will have lunch at the set time, as well as dinner and a nap.
Day 16: Departure.
Start this day with a delicious cup of coffee, after which you will check out for a transfer to Entebbe international airport, but with an en-route stopover at the equator for lunch and watching the geographical demonstrations.
End of trip.
