Country: Uganda
Destinations: Entebbe, Kibale National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park and Lake Bunyonyi.
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale National Park
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 6: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park for Batwa cultural experience
Day 7: Golden monkey habituation experience and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 8: Canoe ride and leisure at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 9: Return to Entebbe
Day 10: Departure
Trip Overview
Your 10 days Uganda primate habituation experience safari will give a total wild primate habituation experience in the thick impenetrable forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is one of the hot spot to trek the gorillas, known for harboring half of the word famous mountain gorillas and Kibale National Park, which home to over 1500 chimpanzee, thus making it crown the primate capita, with over 13 primate species and Mgahinga National Park, which is another park famous for gorilla trekking but this time, you will be undertaking golden monkey habituation experience. Uganda is the only place in the world where gorilla habituation, chimpanzee habituation and golden monkey habituation exercise is done. You will enjoy an incredible experience of primate habituation exercise, having enough time to share a moment with these incredible primates. The habituation exercise only allows 4 trekkers per day, an early permit booking is advised and recommended, so as to get the permits in advance. At the end of the tour, you can opt to fly out in the morning, or take on an optional activity in Entebbe as listed on the itinerary.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla habituation experience
- Chimpanzee habituation experience
- Golden monkey habituation experience
- Batwa cultural experience
- Countryside experience
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Optional activities in Entebbe
- Road drive experience
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport and passing through the immigration process, you will be welcomed by our safari driver who will, brief you shortly and transfer you to the booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay
Overnight at: Entebbe Forest Lodge (Luxury) or Karibu Guest House (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park. Travel time + 5hrs
Day Itinerary
After early morning breakfast, you meet your guide and drive off heading to Kibale Forest National Park; you will drive through a scenic lush green countryside. On arrival at Kibale forest; you will enter a completely different world… some serious monkey business. The forest is home to at least 12 Primate Species including: The Red-Tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Black and White Colobus plus Blue Monkeys. The bird life in the forest is also prolific and includes the beautiful Great Blue Turaco. If you are very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the meandering herd of Forest Elephants.
In the late afternoon, transfer to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay at: Kyaninga Lodge (luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale National Park.
Have an early breakfast by 5:30 am, grab your picnic lunch boxes and drive towards the park tourism headquarters’ at Kanyanchu visitor’s center, for a briefing before embarking on a trek through the forest for your Chimpanzee habituation experience.
Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park is an opportunity for visitors to spend a full day in the company of wild chimpanzees, learning about their behavior and social dynamics. Habituation is the process of getting the chimpanzees used to the presence of humans, and it typically takes several years before they are relaxed enough to be approached by visitors. During a habituation experience, visitors join a team of researchers and guides who are working to habituate a specific community of chimpanzees. Participants follow the chimpanzees through the forest, observing their behavior, and learning about their biology and habitat. This is a rare and immersive experience, offering a unique and intimate look at these fascinating primates in their natural habitat. Visitors should bring enough water, snacks, and a packed lunch, as well as appropriate clothing and footwear for a full day of hiking in the forest. Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is not to be missed by serious wildlife enthusiasts and primatologists. Chimpanzee Habituation is $250 per person per day.
Later in the evening, you will return from the jungle and drive to your lodge, for refreshment, dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Kyaninga Lodge (luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Travel time +4 hrs
Day Itinerary
Today after taking your early morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the magnificent route via Queen Elizabeth National Park to your booked accommodation. Arrive at the lodge/camp in time for lunch. But if time doesn’t allow, a warm delicious lunch can always be had at the restaurant along the route.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Uganda. It’s known for its diverse flora and fauna, with over 350 bird species and over 400 gorillas. Bwindi offers a unique birding experience for bird enthusiasts, as well as gorilla trekking for wildlife enthusiasts. The park’s thick forest makes for an exciting and immersive adventure, attracting tourists from all over the world. It’s best to visit during the dry season for optimal bird watching and gorilla trekking experiences.
Overnight stay at: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day Itinerary
Early morning cup of coffee, have your packed picnic lunch and at 63:30 am, head towards the park headquarters for a briefing before embarking on a trek through the forest for your mountain gorilla habituation experience.
Gorilla habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is home to over 400 gorillas, and the habituation process involves familiarizing gorillas with human presence so that they can be safely viewed by tourists. Habituation takes at least 2 years and is led by park rangers and researchers. During a habituation experience, visitors have the opportunity to spend 4 hours with a habituated gorilla group, observing their behavior and interactions in their natural habitat. Habituation experiences are limited to a maximum of 4 visitors per day and are more strenuous than regular gorilla trekking, as they require hiking through the forest. However, the unique opportunity to spend extended time with gorillas and learn about their behavior makes it a truly unforgettable experience. To ensure the safety of both visitors and gorillas, strict rules and guidelines are in place, and it is essential to follow the instructions of park rangers at all times. Gorilla Habituation is $1,500 per person per day.
You will later return in the late afternoon and drive back to your lodge, for refreshment and later dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park for Batwa experience
Day Itinerary
After your relaxed breakfast at your lodge, you will drive to Kisoro, where you will proceed to Mgahinga National Park, where you will catch up with batwa experience, to learn more about the social life of batwa, who used to live in the forest, before they were evacuated due to gorilla conservation move. You will later return and drive to your lodge for lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight stay at: Mount Gahinga Lodge (Luxury) or Lake Mulehe Gorilla Safari Lodge (mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Golden monkey habituation and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day Itinerary
Today, you will head for golden monkey habituation experience, which is just the same as gorilla and chimpanzee habituation. You will meet your crew of researchers and ranger guides at the park office and set off for the golden monkey habituation experience. You will be allowed only 4 hours upon finding the golden monkeys, have enough time to learn about their social life, and how the habituation experience is done through. The golden monkeys are easy to habituate and are always in a big troop led by an alpha male. You will later return and drive off to Lake Bunyonyi, catch up with hot lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure at your lodge.
Overnight stay at: Bird Nest Resort Bunyonyi (Luxury) or Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Leisure and Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi
Day Itinerary
After your relaxed morning breakfast, you will head for a canoe ride adventure, to explore some of the great hot spots of Lake Bunyonyi, a beautiful lake hidden within the great valleys of Kisoro. The lake has a number of beautiful islands that have become home to numerous bird species. You will later transfer to your lodge, have lunch and retire in the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight stay at: Bird Nest Resort Bunyonyi (Luxury) or Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9: Drive back to Entebbe.
Day Itinerary
Early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and jump into your jeep, find your way back to Entebbe, which is roughly an 8 hour’s drive back, depending on traffic jams along the way. You will enjoy an en route lunch along the way. You will reach in the afternoon, and transfer to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Entebbe Forest Lodge (Luxury) or Karibu Guest House (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Note:
You can as well as opt to exit/ connect via Kigali, where you cross over through Gatuna/ Cyanika border and fly out through Kigali, with shorter driving distance and opportunity for Kigali city tour, with a visit to Kigali genocide memorial or fly using a local domestic flight back to Entebbe, to avoid the long drive. The flight is roughly 2 hours to Entebbe
Day 10: Airport transfer
Have a relaxed early morning breakfast, and depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to Entebbe airport for your early morning flight or opt for Mabamba swamp shoebill excursion, or fishing excursion on Lake Victoria, or Entebbe zoo visit or visit to Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary or just relax at leisure at the lodge at leisure. When flight time reaches, you will be transferred to the airport to catch up with your flight back home. End of service!
Meal Plan: Breakfast only.
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4 x 4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- 1 Gorilla Habituation Permit ($ 1500), per person
- Chimpanzee habituation experience
- Golden monkey habituation experience
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- En-route lunches
- Batwa cultural experience.
- Services of an English speaking driver/ guide.
- Unlimited mineral water per day per person during safari
- Fun and other excursions as mentioned in the itinerary.
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Tips for guides
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations & tests
- Health test requirements
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can change or upgrade the lodge options. Write to us with more details about your safari.