8 Days Great Apes Uganda safari

Arrive at Entebbe International airport, meet and greet and transfer to your Hotel in either Entebbe or Kampala. No meals are included.

Drive to Kibale Forest national park the drive is a full day of approximately seven hours. After leaving the Lake Victoria Basin pass through the beautiful agricultural countryside where every type of fruit and vegetable imaginable is grown. Upon reaching Kyanjojo, in the lower foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains {Mountains of the Moon}, we drive through beautiful tea plantations and into Kibale tropical rain forest.
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale forest camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today we get the chance to explore Kibale Forest, National Park. Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species and a guided forest trek will be taken in search of one of the most popular primate species in the world – the chimpanzee that is famous in this rain forest. There are 9 diurnal primates, these include, the vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red colobus, black and white colobus, olive baboon and the most famous of all, the chimpanzee. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, the odds are good with the chance of encountering them standing at a higher per cent. This morning you will go on a forest walk in search of primates. Whilst trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, you will be surrounded by bird songs and can expect to see at least 5 or 6 other types of primate, most probably the grey-cheeked manage-bey the red-tailed monkey and of course the chimpanzee. The walking is fairly easy due to the well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. You will get another chance to trek the chimpanzees in the afternoon, allowing for observation of the chimpanzees during a different section of their daily lives.
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale forest camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We head to Bwindi via Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive passes through Fort Portal and then south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains {Mountains of the Moon} with the hope of seeing the glaciated peaks. The drive is a full day gently descending into The Great African Rift Valley to Queen Elizabeth National Park and continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, passing through the scenic area known as The Switzerland of East Africa. The drive today is about 7 ½ hours.
Luxury: Mahogany Springs
Mid-range: Silverback Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Picnic lunches are provided and it is important to take plenty of water. Cameras and plenty of fast speed film are recommended. It can rain at a few minutes notice; hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras and film. N.B. We cannot guarantee seeing Gorillas.
Luxury: Mahogany Springs
Mid-range: Silverback Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Second gorilla tracking day.
Luxury: Mahogany Springs
Mid-range: Silverback Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Continue to Lake Mburo National Park, game drive. The drive today is 6 to 7 hours. Lake Mburo National Park is a small park, excellent for birding, antelope and other grazers, one of the only places to easily see Impala and zebra in Uganda. Game drives offer particularly picturesque game viewing with the Parkʹs mixture of Savannah, acacia woodlands, grassy valleys, rocky outcrops, swamps, lakes and rolling hills. Herds of impala (found nowhere else in Uganda), buffalo and zebra, plus waterbuck and eland are amongst the variety of wildlife to be seen. Birders will enjoy the Parkʹs 310 recorded water and dry land species. In this valley, we can operate night drives and walks. It is an excellent place for walking and exploring a nearby Khopji to perhaps see Klipspringer. Game drive to the lodge.
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Mid-range: Rwakobo rock Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning we drive back to Entebbe, this takes approximately 5 hours – road and weather dependent. If time permits it is possible to stop in Kampala city for shopping. You are then transferred to Entebbe International airport to connect with your departure flight. Please note the departure flight must be in the late afternoon or evening, alternatively, we can arrange another overnight in Entebbe.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch