8 DAYS CLASSIC PRIMATE SAFARI

STARTS: ENTEBBE ---- ENDS: ENTEBBE

 

This amazing adventure takes us to ‘Bwindi Impenetrable Forest’ where you have the opportunity to track
mountain gorillas and then to Kibale National Park, with the highest density and diversity of primates in Africa, to track chimps, our closest relative.

 

SPECIALLY CREATED FOR:
? Nature lovers
? Primates lovers
? Walking enthusiasts
? Adventure travelers
? Perfect for those guests who like to take their time to fully enjoy the hike across Bwindi
Impenetrable Forest (short or long hike) and get to know also the “other” side of the park.

Itinerary

Arrival in Entebbe and transfer to the Guest
House – Excursion to Mabamba Swamps
(Optional Extra)

 

Papyrus Guest House – Mid range
No.5 Boutique Hotel – High end

Drive Entebbe to Lake Mburo NP via the
Equator. Game drive & boat ride.

 

Rwakobo Rock Lodge – Mid range
Mihingo Lodge – High end

Early morning game drive and departure to
Nkuringo via Mbarara, Kabale and Kisoro.
Buninga Forest Trail Walk (encounter with
the Batwa)

 

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Deluxe
Cottage) – Mid range
Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Forest Suite)– High end

Gorilla Tracking - Nkuringo or Rushaga gorilla
groups

 

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Deluxe
Cottage) – Mid range
Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Forest Suite)– High end

Hike across Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to
Buhoma and continuation to QENP.

 

Katara Lodge - Mid Range
Elephant Plains Lodge – High end

 

 

QENP: game drive and boat safari in Kazinga
Channel. Continuation to Kibale Forest NP via
Fort Portal.

 

Turaco Tree Top – Mid range -Primate Lodge – High end

Chimp tracking in Kibale NP and excursion to
Bigodi Wetlands

 

Turaco Tree Top – Mid range
Primate Lodge – High end

 

 

Drive to Entebbe airport.

(Day 1) Arrival in Entebbe as per your international flight, meet up with a representative from Kiboko Safaris and transfer to Papyrus Guest House.
Optional Extra: In the afternoon (departure from the hotel must be max at
14.30/15.00 hours) departure by car and local canoe to Mabamba Swamp, one of the best places for spotting the rare shoebill storks. Of course, some fortune is needed but rarely does one leave the swamp without seeing one! Many other water birds have chosen this area as their home so birding is always very interesting. Enjoy a relaxing sundowner on Lake Victoria and then return to the Guest House.

Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House (Garden Room)/ Bed & Breakfast – Mid range
No.5 Boutique Hotel (Luxury room)/ Bed & Breakfast – High end

 

(Day 2)  Enjoy an early breakfast then travel to Western Uganda across the beautiful landscape of central Uganda made of rolling hills and cultivated terraces. Stop- over en-route at Mpambire, to watch drums being made using old traditional methods, and at the equator. After lunch at the lodge, game drive in the park and 1-hour boat ride on Lake Mburu N.P. to admire the beautiful landscape and in search of close encounters with the local fauna: bushbucks, bush duikers, crocodiles, hippos, plenty of water birds, etc. The drive takes about 5-7 hours.

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Cottage) – Mid range
Mihingo Lodge (Luxury Safari tent) – High end

 

(Day 3) Enjoy an early morning game drive in the park, then continuation to Western Uganda: rolling hills, tea plantations, tropical rainforests and, towards the end, the majestic chain of the Virunga Volcanoes. Pass via the towns of Mbarara, Kabale and Kisoro before reaching Nkuringo, on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive takes about 5-7 hours.

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Deluxe Cottage) – Mid range Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Forest suite) – High end

(Day 4) After breakfast, at around 7:45 am, with packed lunch and drinking water you will be transferred to the National Park Head Quarters for the briefing on the dos and the don’ts while with the gorillas. You then continue to the forest for the start of the actual gorilla tracking. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular. The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous  animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary as per the movements of these great primates. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome exciting experience to be long savored. Many find it to be a rare and moving opportunity. The tracking can take place at Nkuringo or at Rushaga (1hr drive from Nkuringo), as per the gorilla permits obtained. Upon return, relax at the lodge and, for those who like, at 5.00 pm either stroll through the community center or drive up to the “Top of the World” - the name given to the football field which offers amazing views over the peaks and forests around Nkuringo. A great way to stretch your legs after the gorilla tracking and to enjoy a sundowner.

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Deluxe Cottage) – Mid range Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Forest suite) – High end

 

(Day 5) After an early breakfast, drive along the Nteko Ridge till the junction of the Ivy River Trail with the forest (7 km) and then start the unforgettable hike across Bwindi Forest (13km – 4/5 hours). Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a vast unique natural reserve - monkeys, duikers, bush pigs and some of Bwindi's world-renowned bird species plus many butterflies can be sighted. If you are very lucky you may even encounter gorillas! Once part of a much larger forest that included the Virunga
Volcanoes in neighboring Rwanda, the park is nowadays an ecological island within a sea of villages and farmland, its conservation importance is immense.The emphasis of this activity is for your walking guide to share his knowledge of the forest with you, it is not simply an A to B hike. The trail is also an important footpath for local people, particularly on market days, travelling from Nkuringo and Nteko to Buhoma, on the northern boundary of the park. There is no road through Bwindi so vehicles driving between the two locations have an incredible 170 km bone jarring journey taking 5 to 8 hours. Upon arrival at the park headquarters in Buhoma, meet with the vehicle and continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The southern area of Ishasha is notably recognized for its resident ‘tree climbing’ lions that are an exceptional attraction and one of the highlights of all safaris taken within the park. With a bit of luck, the lions can be spotted hanging on the branches of huge fig trees while the Uganda Kobs (which is the major food to these lions) graze on the plains below. The drive takes about 4 hours (180km)

Accommodation: Katara Lodge (Cottage) – Mid range
Elephant Plains Lodge (Luxury Cottage) – High end

 

(Day 6) Morning dedicated to game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and to the boat trip on the Kazinga Channel - the 36 km waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward, which allows special viewing of game and birds on the river banks, as the boat passes through pods of hippos. Crocodiles have only recently been seen in the Channel, they disappeared for 8,000 years after they were eliminated from Lake Edward by toxic ash from local volcanoes. QENP is one of Uganda’s oldest parks, being officially declared in 1952. The park was initially known as ‘Kazinga National Park’ before it was renamed in 1954 to commemorate the visit by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. QENP hosts 95 species of mammals - more than any other park in Uganda - and 619 bird species - the second highest of any park in Africa, the sixth highest of any park worldwide. In the afternoon continuation to the lodge in Kibale National Park via the town of Fort Portal. Time permitting late afternoon hike to the ‘Top of the World’ to enjoy
fantastic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, the crater lakes, the tea plantations and local villages. The drive takes about 3hours (180km)

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (Luxury Cottage) – Mid range
Primate Lodge (Luxury cottage) – High end

 

(Day 7) Morning chimpanzee trek. The density and diversity of primates in Kibale National Park is the highest in the whole of Africa. The most well-known of its 13 species is the chimpanzee, our closest relative. Kibale’s 1450 chimpanzee
population of this threatened primate is Uganda’s biggest. Additionally, Kibale is home to the uncommon I’Hoest’s monkey as well as East Africa’s biggest population of the endangered red colobus monkey. The black & white colobus, red tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, grey cheeked mangabey, bush baby and potto are among the other primates living in the forest. Afternoon excursion to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a great example of a community-based approach to natural resources management which can bring good economic benefits to the local residents. This sanctuary is a paradise for bird watchers - skilled birders can spot up to 50 new species on a bird list. At today 138 species of birds have been recognized within the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, among which the Great Blue Turaco. Bigodi is also regularly visited by a diverse number of primate species from the nearby national park.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (Luxury Cottage) – Mid range

 

(Day 8)  After breakfast start the drive back to Entebbe airport - lunch break en-route. Arrival expected around 17.00. End of services. The drive takes about 5 - 6 hours (315 km).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch; Dinner on own’s account.

Depending on your departure flight either book a day room/overnight at Papyrus Guest House or wait for your departure flight at the Airport. To be on the safe side we recommend to overnight in Entebbe or book night flights.