7 Nights, 8 Days of Primates and Big 5 safari in Uganda

Little is known about the beauty of Uganda and yet ranked among the top destinations in the world that offer memorable experiences. A visit to the pearl of Africa (Uganda) is like winning a lottery! As it is written in one of the books by the famous British explorer Sir Churchill Winston Spencer “My African Journey” that was published in 1908 after traversing Africa, it’s when he concluded by describing Uganda the Pearl of Africa. This was because of how exhilarated and surprised he was by the beauty of motherland Uganda! In his words he said, ‘For magnificence, for variety of form and color, for profusion of brilliant life; birds, insects, reptiles, beasts for vast scale, Uganda is truly the Pearl of Africa.”
This is exactly the reason why you should visit to witness for yourself! 

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Your Tourist Guide will be waiting for your arrival at the International Airport of Uganda; Entebbe. He’ll be carrying a placard written your names. From the Airport to your hotel is a 15 minutes’ drive. 
Depending on the time of your arrival, after relaxation, a visit to the botanical gardens is worth it! You are to encounter different species of primates on foot like the black and white colubus Monkeys, Vervet and Red tailed Monkeys, squirrels, different colorful bird species and a serene environment covered by indigenous trees. The gardens have existed since 1898 and cover 40 hectares of different species of natural vegetation.
Accommodation 
Protea Hotel Entebbe
 

Day 2: Rhino Tracking and Visit to the Top of Murchison Falls

After breakfast, the journey to the wilderness resumes as you are headed to the north western part of Uganda for a wildlife experience. Your first encounter will be with the rhinos! Guided by a ranger on foot, the experience gets real as you walk in the wilderness in search of the second largest mammals on land! When sighted, they are usually viewed at a closer range of 10 to 15 meters. Other animals to encounter are, warthogs, bushbucks, Oribis, and Uganda Kobs among others. 

Visit to the Top of the Murchison Falls

After lunch, the journey will continue to Murchison falls National Park. Through Budongo forest, primates like Black and White Columbus Monkeys, Red Tailed and Olive Baboons are likely to be encountered. On arrival at the falls, your guide will direct you at different scenic points to your satisfaction before embarking on the journey to the Lodge. Murchison falls are regarded as the most powerful falls in the world. This is witnessed at the rapids and violent roar of the Nile water forcing its way through a narrow gorge of 7 meters wide plunging beneath 43 feet creating a trademark of a rainbow at the Falls. 
Accommodation
Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise

Your day starts early in the morning as you are driven in the park for wildlife viewing. During your safari, animals to encounter are Lions, hyenas, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, and Giraffes among others. A picnic Bush Breakfast will be arranged so as to spend more time in the wilderness.
 

Afternoon Boat cruise

The afternoon will get better as you head out for a sunset boat cruise on the Nile. Abundant wildlife is to be sighted in the comfort of your seat as you enjoy the fresh breeze of the Nile. Animals to encounter on the shores of the Nile are hippos, Crocodiles, Giraffes, Buffaloes, a variety of bird species and of course viewing the falls from the bottom. The boat cruise takes three hours. The experience is fascinating and surprising on how close you get to wildlife like Elephants as they take water, Hippos swimming, crocodiles sunbathing and flocks of different bird species flying around while others parched. After the cruise, a short evening game drive will commence while driving back to the lodge.
Accommodation
Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 4: Kibale National Park

After breakfast, the journey resumes to south western part of Uganda. Along the way beautiful sceneries of tea plantations, the mountain ranges of Rwenzori and natural forests are inevitable to see! It is a six hours Journey therefore you will stop en route for lunch in Fortportal and later embark on your journey to Kibale National Park. Olive Baboons and different species of monkeys are likely to be encountered.
Accommodation
Kibale Forest Camp
 

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking- Kibale National Park and Community experience

Chimpanzees are one of the closest relatives to mankind, they are believed to be 98% related by DNA. A visit to their natural habitat will leave you mesmerized and yearning for more. Deep in the dense Jungle they call home, you will find our cousins either up in the trees feeding, playing, hunting or relaxed on the ground.
Chimpanzee tracking begins at 8 AM and lasts between 2-5 hours depending on how close or far they may be sighted.
During tracking, you are advised to carry enough water, packed lunch, wear nature blending clothes (long sleeved shirt or blouse, trouser and closed shoes), huts and a face mask.

Community experience

After tracking, you will relax and prepare to visit Bigodi community. The experience is meant to showcase the culture of the local people. Activities to participate in are Banana Brewing, visiting coffee plantations, learning Basket weaving, Traditional dances and tasting of different local cuisines. 

Later in the day you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Depending on the time of your arrival, you could either decide to go for an evening game drive or relax at the Lodge.

Accommodation
Enganzi Lodge

Day 6: Morning Game drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

As it has always been the norm, the morning game drive is to resume early so as to have better chances of viewing cats like Lions, Leopards and other nocturnal animals. other animals likely to be encountered are Elephants, Buffalos, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Hippos and Uganda Kobs among others. Queen Elizabeth National Park is famously known for the tree climbing lions, en route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will drive via Ishahsa to test your luck.

Accommodation

Buhoma Haven Community Lodge. 
 

Day 7: Gorilla Tracking

 The day resumes with early breakfast before attending briefing from the Ranger guide. Your driver guide will have briefed you on the eve of the tracking day, requirements of the activity like the dressing code, carrying a passport copy with you, face musk, packed lunch, rain gear and enough drinking water. Depending on the location of the Gorilla group allocated, you may trek for an hour or four in the jungle with one hour of viewing after locating them. Hiring a porter is highly recommended so as to help in carrying your backpack to relieve you of extra weight and concentrate on walking fully through the dense jungle. It is as well one way of supporting the community surrounding the park to earn a living. It looks like hard work not until you encounter these adorable gentle giants that we share DNA of 98%. It is an experience that is almost indescribable due to the overwhelming joy! Viewing Gorillas is like visiting a cousin! This is because of how they Handle themselves just like humans. Depending on your wish, later in the afternoon, you could visit “Ride for a Woman,” an organization that empowers women through craft making, Tailoring and basket weaving.

Accommodation

Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

Day 8: Departure
Depending on the time of your flight, your driver guide will drive you back to Entebbe International Airport. The drive is estimated to take 8-10 hours. Along the way, you will stop for Lunch and the Equator  experience.

Thank you for travelling with us, we look forward to hosting you again!