5 Days Uganda Safari
This 5 Days Uganda primates safari includes both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. The Uganda tour is based on a 4-night stay at 2 specially selected Uganda primate parks: Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Beginning and ending in Kampala, the tour begins with a transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of the world that harbours the greatest variety and concentration of primates not found anywhere else in the world. Kibale National Park covers 795 km² and consists mostly of a vast tract of equatorial rainforest. Kibale is home to numerous forest wildlife species. Primate species here include rare L’Hoest’s monkeys, black-and-white colobus and Uganda red colobus monkeys, red-tailed and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and bushbabies.
The next visit is to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the home to almost half the world’s population of mountain gorillas. This national park is home to more than 500 mountain gorillas and offers the most exclusive gorilla trekking experiences in Africa and the world at large.
On the last day, we return to Kampala and Entebbe in time to catch flights onwards, bringing this 5 Day Uganda primates safari to Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to an end.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking
Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and transfer to Kibale National Park
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport in the morning, meet and greet your safari guide and embark on your journey to Kabale National Park. This park is Africa’s best primate destination, with about 13 different primate species, including the chimpanzees. The park is located in the western part of Uganda, taking about 5-6 hours’ drive on the road with an en-route stop in Fort Portal town for your lunch. This drive is exciting, with great views of the countryside and the people. Connect to your booked lodge for check-in, have dinner and overnight
- Luxury option: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
- Mid-range option: Chimpanzee Guesthouse
- Budget option: Isunga Lodge/Rweteera Guesthouse
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking – Queen Elizabeth National Park
After your breakfast, connect to the park headquarters with your trekking gear and water. Meet with other trekkers and gather for a briefing from the park officials, where you will be guided on the expectations of chimpanzee trekking. Thereafter, only a group of 12 people and ranger guides/researchers set off for chimpanzee trekking. The search may take 2-5 hours, depending on their location. The chimpanzees in Kibale are quite easy to find, and you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with them on finding them.
Connect to visit Bigodi Swamp. The swamp has been recognised to host about 138 bird species, and one can be able to see over 50 birds a day. Several primates can also be spotted in the wetland, including the black and white Colobus monkeys, blue-grey-cheeked monkeys, vervet monkeys, and red Colobus monkeys, to mention a few. After the nature walk, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s about a 3-hour drive from Fort Portal town. Upon arrival, check in to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at
- Luxury accommodation option: Mweya Safari Lodge
- Mid-range option: Parkview Safari Lodge/Enganzi Safari Lodge
- Budget accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages/Kisenyi Safari Lodge
Day 3: Morning game drive – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After having breakfast early in the morning, connect and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a home to the mountain gorillas. This is a 4- to 5-hour journey depending on which gorilla trekking sector you booked your gorilla permits for. Drive via the Ishasha sector for chances of spotting the tree-climbing lions and other available animals. Upon arrival, check in to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs Hotel
- Mid-range option: Buhoma Haven Lodge
- Budget option: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 4: Gorilla trekking
Wake up very early, enjoy your breakfast and drive out of the lodge to connect to the park headquarters with your trekking gear and packed lunch and water. Meet with other trekkers and gather for a briefing from the park officials, where you will be guided on the expectations of the gorilla trekking experience. After you are allocated a group in groups of 8 people, head into the forest for your trek to the only gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park.
Gorilla trekking takes 2 to 8 hours, depending on the movement of the gorilla family being visited. These primates roam the park freely, and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular period. On finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates before you descend back to meet your driver/guide. After trekking, return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury option: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs Hotel
- Mid-range option: Buhoma Haven Lodge
- Budget option: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe
Wake up and enjoy your breakfast. Meet your driver to drive back to Kampala. It’s an 8-9-hour drive with an en-route lunch in Mbarara town and a stop at the equator for the equator experiment. Upon arrival in Entebbe, you will be dropped off at a location you advise. Marking the end of the 5 Days Uganda primates safari.
