7 Days Uganda Primates, Entebbe to Kigali

This thrilling short Uganda Round Trip focuses on visiting Gorillas and Chimpanzees combined with safaris. The tour starts at Entebbe Airport in Uganda and ends at Kigali Airport in Rwanda. The tour can start at any date of your choice and includes Kibale with Chimpanzee Tracking, Queen Elizabeth with game drives and Kazinga Channel Boat Safari, Bwindi with Gorilla Tracking. It starts in Entebbe and ends in Kigali. The accommodations are all in the superior midrange category. LOW SEASON RATES: In the months April, May and November the Primate Permits are reduced.

Highlights

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

Day by Day Program

Day 1 – Entebbe

The moment you've been waiting for has finally arrived: Your Uganda safari begins. Entebbe and its international airport offer a wonderful introduction to this country full of natural treasures. The airport is practically surrounded by the waters of Africa's largest lake, and the jungle-like surroundings of the city give it a special atmosphere. You can already encounter vervet monkeys and observe fantastic birds here in Entebbe – fish eagles and ibises circle screeching, and turacos chatter in the trees.

• After arrival: Transfer by Road, Entebbe International Airport to Secrets Guest House Transfer time; about 20 Minutes

Accommodation: Secrets Guest House — Breakfast & Dinner

Day 2 & 3 – 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.

• After Breakfast: Transfer by Road, Secrets Guest House to Ensiko Primates Lodge Kibale Transfer time; about 7 to 8 hours
• Guided Nature and Birding Walk Ensiko Primates Lodge Kibale to spot monkeys and birds or relax in this beautiful lodge in the jungle and watch the animals from your private veranda.
• 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

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

Day 4 – 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, Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park Transfer time; about 3 hours net driving time
• 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 5 & 6 – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Supporting 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.

• After very early breakfast: Transfer by Road, Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Transfer time; about 4-6 hours
• In Queen Elizabeth National Park, your early morning game drive gets you close to the wildlife when they’re most active, and the landscapes are at their most beautiful.
• 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: 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. The happy visitors take the shortest route out of the beautiful rainforest with their ranger, the security rangers, and the porters and return to civilization. Completely elated—we know that feeling ;-)

Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge — Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 – The end of your safari with us

This is when your tour with us draws to a close. As we go our separate ways, we've no doubt that you leave us with new friends and with so many wonderful experiences that will live long in your memory. We also feel sure that you'll return to travel with us once again in the not-too-distant 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.

• TBD: Transfer by Road, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Kigali International Airport Depending when you need to arrive at Kigali some side activities can be added this day. As visit the view point of Lake Bunyonyi or passing by Cyanika Border and visiting the Diane Fossey Gorilla Museum. 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. Transfer time; about 5 to 6 hours

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.