12 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Fly-in Safari
Embark on our uniquely hand-crafted journey that takes you to Uganda’s most popular national parks as we discover untamed Adventure Spirit. Embrace the wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park on game drives, and trek into the tropical jungles of Kibale forest to meet the endangered chimpanzees and Bwindi impenetrable forest to trek the rare mountain gorillas in their native habitat.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe, Karibu! Welcome to Uganda
Karibu—a very warm welcome to Uganda! Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked up by a representative of Nyumbu Beyond Journeys and transfer to your lodge in Entebbe or Kampala. You’ll have a safari briefing and time for last questions regarding your adventure across Uganda. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 2: Shoebill Birding at Mabamba Swamp
After breakfast, you’ll head out on a remarkable birding excursion at Mabamba Swamp, a renowned bird-watching destination near Entebbe, famed for its population of the elusive shoebill stork. This early morning adventure begins with a scenic boat ride through the tranquil papyrus marshes, where expert local guides lead you to the prime spots for observing these prehistoric-looking birds. The swamp is not only home to the shoebill but also hosts a diverse array of bird species, making it a paradise for bird enthusiasts. As you navigate the waterways, you’ll have ample opportunities to capture stunning photographs and witness the unique behaviors of the shoebill in its natural habitat. This unforgettable experience at Mabamba Swamp offers a perfect blend of serenity and excitement, providing a captivating glimpse into Uganda’s rich avian life.
Later, you’ll return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After a delicious breakfast, your voyage starts from Entebbe to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. After being briefed by the ranger, you will drive to a place where the rhinos can be seen; the remaining distance to this area will be on foot. In most cases, you will be able to see the rhinos from very near, but always listen to the rangers! After rhino tracking and lunch, you will drive to Murchison Falls National Park where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Day 4: Guided Safari Game Drive & Nile Delta Cruise
Murchison Falls National Park is the biggest park in Uganda offering fulfilling game viewing. After an early breakfast, we will start the day with a game drive on the northern bank of the River Nile. Look out for giraffes, elephants, hartebeests, buffaloes, leopards, lions and different bird species.
Indeed, it is a privilege to watch wild animals in their habitat as they eat, play, and protect the young. In the afternoon, the safari will continue on River Nile. The relaxed boat safari provides more opportunities for spotting a variety of animals and birds. Watch the water the Murchison Falls, the ‘devils’ cauldron’. This kind of boat cruise is only found in Uganda in the whole of Africa.
Day 5: Fly Murchison falls to Kasese and journey to Kibale Forest
Enjoy an early morning game drive before transferring to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to the Kibale Forest region. Upon arrival, transfer to the lodge for a leisurely afternoon.
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Community Tour
You will start the day with an early breakfast and prepare to meet our cousins in the wild. It is recommended that you carry enough drinking water in case you opt to go for chimpanzee habituation rather than tracking.
A packed lunch will be a better option. Your tour begins with a briefing where a ranger gives you rules and regulations for encounters with chimpanzees, birds, and monkeys. In the afternoon, you’ll embark on a community tour that will take you through the small communities, swamps, and tea plantations.
The locals here will teach you how to make crafts and herbal medicine. You will have the opportunity to taste some of the finest locally made coffee, gins, and beers. Nevertheless, the highlight of these walks is the transition to see at least five different species of monkeys and catch a glimpse of the blue turaco.
Day 7: Exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park
The day begins with a relaxed drive as we leave Kibale and head towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. As we journey towards the park, the incredible scenery of the “Mountains of the Moon” unfolds before us. In the afternoon, explore the Kazinga Channel by boat for an opportunity to see the stunning variety of wildlife at the water, including hippos, elephant, and crocodiles. Birdlife in the park includes the African fish Eagle, Broad-billed roller, Red-chested sunbird, and Yellow-throated cuckoo, among others. Before returning to the lodge for dinner, embark on an evening game drive.
Day 8: Game Drive and Sundowner Experience
You’ll have an early morning breakfast and go for a game drive on the Kasenyi side of the park. You have chances to spot hyenas, lions, leopards, buffaloes, water back, Pumba, Uganda cobs, elephants, forest bush hogs, brushbacks, monkeys, baboons, and a variety of bird species. When you get back from the game drive, your guide takes you to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will visit the crater twin lakes where you will experience the magic during the sundowner over the vast plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your overnight stay will be at the lodge.
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a morning game drive in Ishasha it is time to move to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home of the famous mountain gorillas. Check in at Bakiga lodge and prepare for yet another highlight of this amazing trip: tracking mountain gorillas!
Later in the afternoon, we will take a visit to the Batwa community to learn about their way of living and historical ways of living with the mountain gorillas.
Day 10: Mountain Gorilla trekking
You’ll have breakfast and with a packed lunch, go for gorilla tracking for 4 to 5 hours. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park inhabits almost half of the world’s 650 mountain gorillas. You’ll start climbing early with a tracker even though seeing gorillas depends on their day’s movements. Gorillas are naturally reserved and non-violent animals. It’s a memorable and thrilling moment to watch them and possibly photograph these mild giants at a close range. After the gorilla trek, the guide will transfer you to Lodge for relaxation. You’ll enjoy a relaxed evening as you sip a cold drink. Later, you will have dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 11: Golden Monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park
Early morning drive from Bwindi and head to Mgahinga gorilla national park. This is about 2 hours’ drive. Embark on golden monkey trekking. This trek will take you to the golden monkeys, an endemic species of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda, you will trek through the jungles of Mgahinga National park, consisting of bamboo and a variety of indigenous plants like giant lobelia. Your ranger guide will tell you about the national park’s history and the fauna and flora that the park holds during the trek. The trek takes about 2-3 hours, Get back to your reserved accommodation for an overnight stay.
Day 12: Departure to Kisoro Airstrip & Fly into Entebbe
Return to Entebbe via a scheduled flight from Bwindi, arriving at Entebbe International Airport in time for your outbound flight.
End of 12 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Fly-in Safari