7 DAYS PRIMATE AND WILDLIFE UGANDA SAFARI
Introduction
This 7 Days Primate and Wildlife Uganda Safari carries you deep into the heart of the Pearl of Africa tracing a breathtaking route through its most treasured ecosystems. From the thunder of Murchison Falls to the misty depths of Bwindi’s ancient forest, this journey invites you into the wild soul of Uganda. You will walk beside rhinos in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, marvel at the Niles explosive descent through a narrow gorge, and cruise past pods of hippos and sunbathing crocodiles. In Fort Portal, you will step into myth and memory at the Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves before following the jungle calls of Kibale Forest, home to man’s closest cousins – the chimpanzees. Along swamp trails, forest paths and crater lakes, your days will unfold into rhythm with the natural world. The climax of your adventure brings you face to face with mountain gorillas in the emerald labyrinth of Bwindi. This is followed by a cultural exchange with the Batwa, the forest’s first people. This is a journey not merely of distance, but of spirit – one that draws you into the pulse of Uganda’s wild heart.
Activities
- Rhino tracking on foot.
- A guided walk to the top of Murchison Falls.
- Boat Cruise on the Nile.
- Game Drives.
- Visit to Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves.
- Bigodi wetland sanctuary walks.
- Chimpanzee tracking.
- Gorilla trekking.
- Batwa cultural experience.
Safari overview
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Rhino Tracking – A walk to the top of the Falls.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Cruise.
Day 3: Transfer to Fort Portal – Amabeere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking – Transfer to Bwindi.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking – Batwa Cultural Experience.
Day 7: Transfer to Entebbe.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Rhino Tracking – A walk to the top of the Falls.
You will depart for your safari after breakfast, setting out on a scenic drive north through rolling countryside vast plantations and bustling roadside towns. Your first stop will be the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you will track the endangered southern white rhinos on foot. Walking quietly across the savannah, you will observe these majestic creatures grazing and interacting up close. After a picnic-style lunch near the sanctuary, you will continue your journey toward Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, you will embark on a guided walk to the top of the falls. Here, the mighty Nile is forced through a narrow 7-meter gorge, exploding into a thunderous curtain of spray and light. The power of the falls is both thrilling and awe-inspiring, a perfect prelude to your wilderness adventure. As dusk sets in, you will be driven to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation
Pakuba Safari Lodge.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Cruise.
This day will begin with the soft amber light of dawn as you head out for a morning game drive through the northern savannah plains. You will spot Rothschild giraffes moving gracefully through the acacia trees, elephants lumbering in the mist, and prides of lions resting on termite mounds. Warthogs, oribis, waterbucks and possibly even elusive leopard will all form part of your early morning sightings. After returning to the lodge for a breakfast and rest, you will enjoy lunch before boarding a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile. This slow, powerful voyage drifts past pods of hippos, crocodiles basking on sunlit rocks and abundant birdlife including the African Fish Eagle and Kingfishers. The Cruise culminates at the base of the Murchison Falls where you will feel the thunder and spray of the Nile as it crashes into the river below. Afterward, you will return to the lodge for dinner under the skies and a serene night.
Accommodation
Pakuba Safari Lodge.
Day 3: Transfer to Fort Portal – Amabeere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves.
After breakfast, you will begin your long but scenic transfer southwest to Fort Portal, winding through Uganda’s rural heartland dotted with tea plantations, crater lakes and small farming villages. You will arrive in time for lunch in the town famed for its coolness and views of the Rwenzori Mountains. Later, you will explore the legendary Amabeere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves, a place steeped in local folklore. As you walk beneath draping vines and behind waterfalls into limestone chambers, your guide will share tales of ancient kings, forbidden love and the myth of Nyinamwiru, whose breasts still drip with milky-white water. You will then proceed to your lodge for a freshly prepared dinner and peaceful rest.
Accommodation
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk.
After your breakfast, you will be driven to Kibale National Park, a tropical haven rich in biodiversity and famed for its primates. After checking into your lodge and enjoying lunch, you will set out for a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community-run conservation area teeming with life. As you walk along the wooden boardwalks and forest trails, you may spot colobus monkeys swinging overhead, sitatungas grazing in the swamps, and up to 200 species of birds, including the great blue turaco and papyrus gonolek. The walk also gives you an intimate view of rural life, passing through homesteads and banana plantations. Afterward, you will return to your lodge where a warm meal and forest breezes await.
Accommodation
Turaco Treetops.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking – Transfer to Bwindi
Your day will begin with an early lunch and the excitement of chimpanzee tracking in the cool, misty forests of Kibale. After a briefing at the visitor centre, you will follow your ranger into the jungle, listening to hoots and rustling leaves as you search for the troop. Once located, you will spend a precious hour observing the chimps’ behaviour – grooming, feeding, vocalizing and sometimes displaying bursts of wild energy through the canopy. The experience is intense and unforgettable, a glimpse into a mind unlike our own. After returning and enjoying an early lunch, you will embark on a scenic transfer southward to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, passing through hills, crater lakes, and lush highland farms. Upon arrival, you will check into your lodge for a freshly prepared dinner and peaceful night in preparation for your mountain gorilla encounter.
Accommodation
Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking – Batwa Cultural Experience
After an early breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a briefing before venturing into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search for mountain gorillas. Ascending moss-draped trails and ducking beneath ancient trees, you will hear rustles and grunts as the forest parts to reveal a silverback, calm and immense, surrounded by his family. You will spend a magical hour watching them forage, play, breastfeed, groom and rest. After your return and a well-earned lunch, you will visit the Batwa community, the original forest dwellers. Through storytelling around campfires, dance and guided walks, you will learn about their spiritual connection to the forest and their adaptation to modern life. As night falls, you will enjoy your final safari dinner, the jungle humming all around.
Accommodation
Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge.
Day 7: Transfer to Entebbe
Following breakfast, you will check out and begin your journey to your desired destination. The drive will wind through beautiful rural landscapes and banana plantations, and roadside markets where you may stop to stretch and shop for local crafts and snacks.
End of Safari
Includes
- Park entrance fees.
- Rhino tracking permit.
- Gorilla trekking permit.
- Chimpanzee tracking permit.
- All mentioned activities.
- English-speaking professional driver guide.
- Full board accommodation.
- 4 × 4 safari vehicle with fuel.
- Bottled drinking water.
- All local taxes.
Excludes
- International and domestic flights.
- Extra activities.
- Accommodations not mentioned.
- Personal insurance.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Laundry services.
- Snacks and other beverages.