Africa | Uganda | Wild Uganda Primate Safari

Upon arrival into Entebbe you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. If you arrive early in the day, a visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens is possible.

About Karibu Guest House

This charming boutique hotel is within close proximity to the airport (10 minutes) and offers the perfect respite prior to embarking on your exploration of Uganda. With international managers and a staff of 20 Ugandan’s this vibrant little guest house places a premium on guest satisfaction. Seven comfortable rooms are all individually decorated with fun vibrant colors such as mango, azure and bordeaux. Enjoy free wi-fi while enjoying a welcome beverage or Mediterranean-style meal on the open air veranda with sunset views out over Lake Victoria.

Driving time: Approx 7.5 hours on mostly paved roads.

Morning drive westward to Kibale Forest. The route slowly ascends from the Lake Victoria basin into the lush rolling foothills of The Ruwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon). Pass through villages and farmland where every imaginable fruit and vegetable of the tropics can be seen growing and if you’d like stop to try some new things and chat with the locals. Birding is excellent with varying ecosystems including rain forest, agricultural land, papyrus swamps, scrub land, and the famous tea growing area around Fort Portal and Kyanjojo.

About Primate Lodge

Primate Lodge is situated in Kibale Forest National Park and is the perfect gateway for tracking the primates of Uganda. The lodge is committed to the conservation of nature and culture and is constructed using local materials and makes use of solar power electricity in order to minimize the impact on the environment. Primate Lodge features eight luxury safari tents and seven cottages. All the rooms are privately situated within the forest, making it an ideal place to unwind and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you. The luxury tents are on a raised wooden platform and covered by a grass thatched roof, blending perfectly with the natural environment. The interior is tastefully decorated in African style, with queen sized beds, brightly colored bedspreads, and large windows to take in the forests. The en suite bathrooms are furnished with a natural touch of stone and bamboo.

Today we get the opportunity to explore Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species and a guided forest trek can be taken in search of one of the most popular primate species in the world – the chimpanzee. There are nine diurnal primates, include, vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked managebey, 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 higher than 90%. Whilst trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, you will be surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least five or six other types of primate, most probably the grey-cheeked managebey, the red-tailed monkey and of course the chimpanzee. The walking is fairly easy thanks to the well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. You will get another chance to trek with the chimpanzees in the afternoon, allowing for observation of the chimpanzees during a different section of their daily lives.

Spend the morning visiting the Bigodi Wetlands, situated in the highlands of western Uganda, in the shadow of the Ruwenzori Mountains. Hike on well-maintained footpaths through the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, part of the Magombe wetlands, with community guides. This afternoon prepare for a scenic drive (approx. 3.5 hours) to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, situated in the western region of the Great Rift Valley.

About Mazike Valley Lodge

Mazike Valley Lodge is a new luxury lodge situated on the eastern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park with stunning views over the park and Kyambura Gorge. Accommodation is provided in 8 spacious and tastefully decorated self-contained grass-thatched cottages, with bath tubs/showers with views to the park, running hot and cold water, and electricity. Each cottage has a lovely wooden balcony from which the diversity of wildlife in the park can be viewed and enjoyed. The lodge also has a beautiful swimming pool and camp fire around which local traditional dancers will entertain you as you relax after the day’s activities. The restaurant and lounge area open towards a sundowner deck overlooking the park – the perfect place to enjoy the sunset with the drink of your choice. The kitchen features both international and local cuisine and meals are prepared using organic vegetables from the lodge’s garden. From the lodge you can immerse yourself in wildlife, with game viewing from your private balcony or by going on a bird walk from the lodge down into the valley. There are also community walks and walks around the crater lakes available from the lodge.

This park includes a remarkable variety of eco-systems from semi- deciduous tropical forests to green meadows, savannah, crater lakes and swamps. Within the park a vast array of wildlife can be found including elephant, buffalo, hippo, leopard and lions. Along the shores of Lake Edward and the Kasinga Channel are over five hundred bird species, including the Shoe-bill stork, black bee-eater, eleven different species of kingfisher and several eagles and other raptors. Hippo and crocodiles line the shore, and herds of buffalo often come here to drink. A private boat trip on the Kasinga channel is included.

Enjoy a scenic drive to the Ishasha region, still within QENP. This region is known for tree climbing lions, who nap in the branches of fig and other trees during the heat of the day. Other species include buffalo, elephants, kob, topi, and other antelope species. Depart by vehicle to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas and designated as a World Heritage Site. Some of the gorilla families have been habituated to human presence, and it is possible to visit them in their natural habitat within the forest. Bwindi also contains many other primate species and offers interesting and more relaxing walks for visitors around the lower levels of the forest.

About Mahogany Springs Camp

Set back on the pristine waters of the Munyanga River and facing the Impenetrable forest, Mahogany Springs is an ideal setting to begin your unforgettable experience with the gorillas of Bwindi. All seven rooms are suites with large double doors and beautiful windows. Each suite has its own private terrace with panoramic views of the surrounding area. There are electrical outlets in the rooms as well as a dressing table/desk. All suites have large en-suite bathrooms with an open terracotta shower. Mosquito nets are available for added comfort and peace of mind.

In the main dining area enjoy an a la carte menu providing endless dining options and a wide range of cuisines to cater to all palates. Head chef Subedi has been cooking in top hotels for over 15 years and his food combines flavours from all over the world, Asian, African, Middle Eastern and European. For an extremely memorable dining experience Mahogany Springs offers a private bush breakfast or dinner by the river (subject to availability, pricing on request)

Spend today visiting the mountain gorillas who reside in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Prior to trekking, you will have an orientation at the park headquarters to become familiar with gorilla tracking ethics. It is very important that under no circumstances are the gorillas to be touched by humans. This is to protect the animals from communicable diseases to which they are very susceptible. The trek, with experienced trackers leading the way, can take up to eight hours although the gorillas are usually found after two to four hours. Once located, your group of 8 trekkers will spend one hour with the gorillas. Gorilla viewing is not guaranteed, although since the trackers set out early in the morning to locate the gorilla families the probability of viewing gorillas is extremely high. Some hiking areas lie at altitudes above 7,500 feet over rough and muddy terrain. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trek worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as the most profound natural history experience in the world. Picnic lunches are provided and it is important to take plenty of water. It can rain at a few minutes’ notice, hence water proof clothing is a good idea, also zip lock bags for cameras. Return to camp for the evening meal and relaxation.

Today you have the option to rest at the lodge, experience a second gorilla trek or experience the lives of the Batwa pygmies. The Batwa pygmies were the original dwellers of the ancient forest and were known as the ‘keepers of the forest’. The Batwa lived in harmony with the forest and survived by hunting small game using bows and arrows and gathering plants for both food and medicinal purposes. A day spent with the Batwa gives you the opportunity to hike through the forest with a Batwa guide trying out hunting techniques with a bow and arrow, visit a Batwa homestead and learn how to cook and serve a meal, and talk to a medicine man and hear about medicinal properties of the forest as well as ancient legends and traditional songs.

Driving time: 6-7 hours with stops on a paved road.

Morning departure for the drive through southwestern Uganda, a stunning scenic area, to the Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo is comprised of five different lakes, and is home to zebra, topi, and eland. A game drive in the Park is an option for this afternoon, or you might just want to rest at your lodge and watch wildlife at the watering hole and salt lick below the pool. Mihingo Lodge is a peaceful and luxurious retreat adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park.

About Mihingo Lodge

Adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park, this peaceful retreat has all the necessary amenities to provide comfort in the Ugandan wilderness. Ten luxury tented rooms covered by thatched roofing stand on wooden stilts at the edge of the property. Each room offers a different feel of the Ugandan wild by being situated in the forest, above the lake or on rocky outcrops. Electricity and hot water are provided by solar energy and the natural water catchment system. The eco-friendly main lodge and restaurant were built from local materials found on the land. Duck below the dining area for a refreshing swim in the magnificent pool that stretches out from the rocks into seeming vastness. Both the dining area and pool benefit from a stunning view of the Uganda landscape. Your Uganda safari Adventure may include boat trips on Lake Mburo, savannah walks, game drives in the National Park, or horseback safaris. The area provides amazing game viewing opportunities, including zebra, eland and impala, which are not found in most other National Parks in Uganda.

Driving time: approx. 5 hours.
You have an opportunity for a morning game drive before continuing the drive to Entebbe. A day room at the Karibu Guest House is provided in anticipation of an evening transfer to the airport for your international flight.