8 Days Uganda Primates and Safari from Kigali

This thrilling short Uganda Round Trip focuses on visiting Gorillas and Chimpanzees combined with safaris. As the destinations for these activities are in the South Western Part of Uganda it is recommendable to fly in and out Kigali / Rwanda. The tour can start at any date of your choice and includes Lake Mburo NP with walking safari, Kibale with Chimpanzee Tracking, Queen Elizabeth with game drives and Kazinga Channel Boat Safari, Mgahinga or Bwindi with Gorilla Tracking. It starts and ends at Kigali. In the months April, May and November the Primate Permits are reduced.

Highlights

• Lake Mburo National Park with Walking Safari
• Kibale Forest NP: with Bigodi Wetland Walking Safari and Chimp tracking
• Queen Elizabeth National Park: Game Drives and Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
• Gorilla Tracking in Mgahinga or Bwindi

Day by Day Program

Day 1 – Kigali

Kigali, nestled in Rwanda's green hills, offers a clean and easy-to-navigate experience. At the heart of the country, it's a half-day drive from major attractions. The center buzzes with modern African life, and markets sell colorful fabrics and crafts. Quieter leafy suburbs have garden restaurants with global cuisine. Museums and memorials share Rwanda's story with honesty and hope. The arts scene is growing, showcasing contemporary African creativity. Kigali's hills offer views of green valleys and ridges stretching to the horizon.

• After arrival: Transfer by Road, Kigali International Airport to The Manor Hotel Transfer time; about 20 Minutes

Accommodation: The Manor Hotel — Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 2 – Lake Mburo National Park

Although it isn't a classic Big Five destination (elephants and rhino are absent, and lion and leopard scarce), Lake Mburo National Park hosts a varied selection of African wildlife, including several iconic species not found elsewhere in western Uganda. The park’s acacia-swathed slopes and valleys are home to giraffe, zebra, buffalo, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck and various other grazers and browsers. Hippos, crocodiles and aquatic birds thrive in an extensive network of lakes and other wetlands.

• At 7 am: Transfer by Road, Kigali to Lake Mburo National Park Transfer time; about 6-7hours
• Late afternoon Game Drive, Lake Mburo National Park

Accommodation: Kigarama Wilderness Lodge — Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 & 4 – Kibale National Park

Today, you continue to the prime chimpanzee country of Kibale National Park. This immense forest is renowned for its rich diversity of primates, but it is chimps – humankind's closest genetic relative – that top the wish list of most visitors. On a good day in Kibale, you might also see half-a-dozen different monkey species, including the extremely localized Uganda mangabey. Other attractions include a bird checklist of 370 species, a kaleidoscopic variety of butterflies, and a scattering of beautiful crater lakes.

• Early Morning: Walking Safari In Lake Mburo Best time as early as possible in the morning: We organised one game drive as walking safari guided by a park ranger for you. This means as soon as a herd is spotted, you leave behind the vehicle and guided by the ranger you walk among the animals. Don't worry, it's safe and an amazing experience to be so close to the animals. Giraffes, in particular, offer a whole new perspective.
• Transfer by Road, Lake Mburo National Park to Kibale National Park Transfer time; about 3-4 hours
• Guided Nature and Birding Walk At Ensiko we invite you for a free of charge guided nature walk around the lodge where you can spot plenty of birds, black colobus monkeys, mangabeys, red tailed monkeys and more or you can choose to stay in your room and watch them from your balcony.
• After Breakfast: Guided Walk, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary After breakfast, you will walk through the Bigodi Wetlands to see monkeys, birds and a diverse range of flora. Be careful, it can get muddy and wobbly, the "walkways" often consist of loose boards laid over the muddy areas. If you are lucky, you will see red or black and white colobus monkeys and the stately blue turacos.
• Local Lunch at TINKA For lunch today we are organising a typical Ugandan meal at Tinka's in Bigodi. A selection of delicious dishes with explanations of Ugandan food traditions awaits you.
• Chimpanzee Tracking, Kibale National Park The highlight of the day comes at around 2 p.m. You walk into the rainforest with a ranger in search of our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. Good hiking boots, a rain poncho, a face mask and drinking water should be part of the basic equipment here, as well as a camera. Since the chimpanzees are visited in the morning, your ranger knows roughly where the animals are and chimpanzees often give themselves away with their loud roars. As soon as you have found the great apes, they can spend an hour with you. They are used to human visitors and are not disturbed by our presence. After an hour, you return to civilization.
• Visit some community activities in Bigodi depending on the time, you can join these either after Bigodi Walking Safari or after the Chimps Tracking. You have these options: a women cooperative weaving baskets, ⁠the Banana Man, explaining for what bananas are used in Uganda, the coffee experience from the plant to the cup When time is too short you can still add one of them next morning after breakfast.

Accommodation: Ensiko Primates Lodge Kibale — Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park (QE NP) is located in western Uganda. It was established in 1952 and was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain during a visit to the Commonwealth country. The park covers an area of approximately 2000 square km and borders Lake Edward and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, separated from it by the Ishasha River, and the Rwenzori Mountains to the north. Parts of the park lie in the districts of Kasese, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, and Bushenyi. The elevation above sea level ranges from 1,000 to 1,300 m, rising to 5,110 m in the Rwenzori Mountains. Annual rainfall varies from 700 mm in Mweya, in the center of the park, to 1,250 mm in the north and in the Maramagambo Forest. The best-accessible area is around the Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga Channel flows gently from Lake George in the east to Lake Edward in the west of the national park. Boat trips along this natural waterway offer excellent opportunities to observe hippos and pelicans, as well as migratory birds that spend the European winter here.

• After Breakfast: Transfer by Road, Ensiko Primates Lodge Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park Transfer time; about 3 hours net driving time
• Equator Memorial West At Queen Elizabeth National Park, you cross the equator. An impressive new monument was installed there in 2024. Time for a photo stop.
• Boat Safari, Kazinga Channel from Mweya to Lake Edward We have once again organised a wonderful boat trip for you. This time on the Kazinga Channel from Mweya half peninsula to Lake Edward. Many animals on the banks and hundreds of pied kingfishers, nesting in the cliffs along the banks will be spotted. A dreamlike scenery awaits you.
• With this late afternoon game drive we try to give you the opportunity to spot lions and leopards. The big cats often doze in the heat of the day, hidden in bushes or tall grass, and start to become active towards evening.

Accommodation: Acacia Wilderness Mweya — Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 & 7 – Mgahinga Gorilla or Bwindi National Park

Depending on the availability of Gorilla Permits, you might track in Mgahinga or BwindiMgahinga Gorilla National Park sits on Uganda's southwestern border, where three volcanic peaks rise dramatically from the landscape. The park protects part of the Virunga Mountains, a range that reaches 4,127m at its highest point and stretches across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo. This is one of only four places in the world where mountain gorillas roam through dense bamboo forests and rainforest. We might also encounter golden monkeys, a rare primate found only in this region. The park covers just 33 square kilometers, making it Uganda's smallest national park, but the terrain varies significantly from the entrance to the volcanic summits. Buffalo and bushbuck live here too, along with colorful high-altitude birds like the Rwenzori turaco. The views are striking, with volcanic cones visible from miles away and lakes Mutanda and Mulehe below the approach road.BwindiSupporting almost half the world's mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is arguably the best place anywhere in the world to track these charismatic gentle giants through their misty forest home. But there is far more to this Unesco World Heritage Site than just gorillas. The lush forest interior is also home to a diversity of other mammals, ranging from L’Hoest’s monkey and chimpanzee to elephant and the yellow-backed duiker. A total of 350 bird species, 23 of which are unique to the Albertine Rift Valley, ensure that Bwindi ranks among East Africa's most rewarding bird-watching destinations.The fees for gorilla tracking are largely used to preserve the mountain gorillas' habitat - to finance the staff, the gorilla doctors, research projects, and support for the local population to prevent further forest clearing for their needs. A small portion goes to wildlife conservation in other national parks that receive few visitors and therefore hardly any income.

• Early Morning: Get up before the sun and go on an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s when animals are active and the light is at its most beautiful.
• Transfer by Road, Queen Elizabeth National Park to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Transfer time; about 4-6 hours
• Visit Twin Lakes View Point - Kichwamba Can be done by car as a short Photo Stop or by a guided community walk
• The Elephant Dung Project is a women's cooperative supporting farmers. Since the farmers' fields are repeatedly infested by elephants, this project offers a small compensation by buying up the manure. Handmade paper is then made from this. During the visit the project and the manufacturing process will be explained. You can buy products made from 'elephant' paper there, but also others such as cold-pressed avocado oil for the skin. They expect that you buy something or leave a donation.
• Kitagata Hotsprings A photo stop at the Kitagata Hotsprings is worth a small detour, if you have enough time…on Uganda's roads, you never know exactly how long it will take. The hot springs serve as an open-air spa for locals.
• Morning to possibly afternoon: IF YOUR GORILLA TRACKING IS IN MGAHINGA OR BWINDI: Important for gorilla tracking: good waterproof hiking boots, gaiters if necessary, muted colors, long pants and sleeves, gardening gloves, sunscreen, and rain gear. A briefing by the rangers begins at 7:30 a.m. and includes a cultural performance. Afterwards, visitors are divided into groups of up to eight people, each visiting a gorilla family. Our clients are usually back at the lodge between 1 and 3 p.m. at the latest. The ranger trackers go into the forest early in the morning in groups of three people and begin searching for the gorillas, starting from the sleeping areas where the apes were abandoned the previous evening. A ranger and two security guards set out with their group of visitors after the briefing. There will be frequent breaks along the way, as the trail includes steep uphill and downhill sections, often on the elephant trails, which can be slippery depending on the weather. To ensure a safe and relaxed arrival at the gorillas, we recommend booking a porter/supporter. Young women and men from the surrounding, very poor communities accompany the visitors, carry their backpacks, and provide support in difficult areas. A helping hand on steep, slippery terrain, when balancing over streams, and in muddy areas can be very helpful. Once you reach "your" gorillas, your magic hour begins. These mighty animals are unbothered by us humans. It is incredibly fascinating to observe the mighty gorillas so closely and in their natural habitat. Their mostly leisurely but powerful movements, their interactions, their facial expressions. You almost feel like you can read their emotions on their faces. What an experience! After an hour, you must bid a heavy hearted farewell to these impressive great apes. The trackers stay in the forest—they accompany the gorillas until they prepare their night camp—and then receive their tips in the forest, with the ranger and security guards receiving their tips at the end when they hand over their certificates.

Accommodation: Imbogo Safari Lodge — Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 – The end of your safari with us

It's a pity that it has to end, but this is where your safari will draw to a close. We're sure that you will return home with so many exciting and happy memories, and we hope that you will join us again on safari sometime in the future.

If your departure flight leaves after 3 pm we can transfer you directly to the Airport. If your departure flight is more early, you need an extra night at the Manor Hotel.

• After Breakfast: Transfer by Road, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to Kigali International Airport Transfer time; about 4-5 hours
• Optional Visit Volcanoes NP Visitor Center, Gorilla naming place (Kwita izina - KinigiKong) if there is time enough before your departure flight
• if there is time enough before your departure flight: Optional Visit of the Diane Fossey museum is officially housed at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, located near Volcanoes National Park in the Musanze District of Rwanda. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, it features state-of-the-art exhibits, original artifacts, and immersive virtual reality.

Fully customisable

This trip is fully customisable to your preferences and can be booked as a private trip as well as a group trip. We offer accommodation packages from budget midrange to superior midrange; luxury and high-end lodges are available on request.