This 6-Day Great Apes safari takes you to Kibale Forest National Park – a lush expanse of wilderness that is home to 13 primate species – chief among them the Chimpanzees – man’s closest relatives.
Upon arrival in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport, located on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Victoria, Africa’s biggest fresh water lake, you will be welcomed and greeted by your driver/guide. He will be standing at the Arrivals Hall holding a placard with your name so you cannot miss him. You will then be transferred to the hotel/ guest house you have chosen and check-in for dinner and overnight stay. Your driver/ guide will brief you about your safari at some stage (either before dinner or first thing after breakfast the next day).
For those that arrive early in the day – there are optional activities around Entebbe especially if you intend to stay active and not rest after long overseas flights. You can visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or head out to trawl Mabamba bay for a chance to see the prehistoric and mythical shoebill. Or, your guide will be on hand to take you to the local markets or one of the malls to shop for some essentials.
After a delicious breakfast this morning, you commence the drive right across central Uganda heading west towards the enchanting Kibale Forest National Park. You drive through the central region’s green belt where locals grow green bananas (a major staple), coffee and tea as key cash crops, a lot of tropical fruits and lots of other food crops given the fertile rich soils of the region you traverse this morning. As you continue west, you’ll pass through major towns of Mityana and Mubende, making a delightful stopover in Fort Portal town for a scrumptious lunch.
Optional: For visitors that are active and love a bit of culture and myth, from lunch, you can make a de-tour and visit the Amabere Ganyinamwiru, a cultural site famous for its stunning stalagmites, caves and a picturesque waterfall. The Batoro people who inhabit this area have a strong belief attached to these caves with an interesting story told through the generations about them. From here, visitors can hike Nyakasura hill which will give you views of three different crater lakes as well as panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountain’s foothills. If you choose not to visit the stalagmite caves, from lunch, you will complete the drive to Kibale Forest National Park, where you arrive – with troops of cheeky olive baboons forming a large welcome party. When you arrive at the lodge you have chosen, check-in and have the rest of the day to yourselves. Later, dinner and overnight stay.
Today you are in for some real monkey business! After breakfast, you head to Kanyachu, the headquarters for Kibale Forest National Park. Reputed for having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa, Kibale Forest National park teems with wildlife and is also home to 13 other primate species. After a comprehensive briefing, venture into the wilderness in search of these fascinating creatures, known for their intelligence and social behaviors. Given the diversity of the place, keep your senses attuned as you might spot the rare L’Hoest monkey or red-tailed colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many others. Perhaps you will hear rare bird calls or the playful cries of olive baboons. The guides and rangers will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates, but also on all the forest fauna and flora and will ensure that your walk is both informative and enjoyable. However, what you are roaming the forest for are the chimpanzees. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full 1-hour in their presence. You watch them go about their day, see the young ones play and the mature ones grooming each other or looking for food. You either find them atop the big fruit trees or on the ground. It is a most exhilarating experience if you are lucky to find them on the ground. After the mandatory 1-hour is finished, your guides/rangers will lead you back to the trail-head from where you come back to the park HQ. You receive your certificates and can take pictures to capture the moment. From here, return to the lodge for a hot lunch.
Afternoon: After lunch, set out for a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community project. The swamp offers visitors a platform to see more primates, swamp and forest birds, all the while supporting local conservation efforts. On your tour, you will likely see several kinds of monkeys including black and white colobus, red colobus etc. Other wetlands mammals include baboons, Sitatunga (an increasingly endangered swamp antelope), bush pigs, civet cats, mongooses, bush bucks and an occasional chimpanzee appearance. The walk is 4.5 kilometres in length and lasts 3 hours and should not be missed by avid birders. Money generated from the activities in Bigodi is used to fund community projects including a school and a clinic. Later, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Optional Activity: Chimpanzee Habituation
This drive to Bwindi via the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is picturesque given the diverse habitats you transition through from Kibale to Bwindi. On a clear day, you can see the snow-capped Magherita peak of the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes dot the land, rolling green hillsides and you drive close to Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you journey through Ishasha – the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, bring out binoculars and keep your gaze trained on the horizon as you search for the iconic tree-climbing lions that inhabit this unique region. If you are lucky to find them, marvel at the sight of these majestic predators perched atop ancient sycamore fig trees or acacia trees, surveying their kingdom with regal poise.
There are about four prides of lions in the area numbering more than 40 in total. Look out for the males with their black mane, which is a notable attribute. Also, there are about 1000+ elephants present in the area and you normally see large herds. There are Topi (savannah relatives of the world-famous Wildebeest) and Uganda Kob antelopes in large numbers. The drive is a fantastic opportunity to take pictures. You continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a realm of mist-shrouded mountains and dense vegetation. Along the way, feast your eyes on the scenic beauty of the landscape, from vast banana plantations to lush valleys and towering forests. As the day draws to a close, arrive at the lodge you have chosen in Bwindi, where you can unwind amidst the tranquil surroundings and prepare for the extraordinary adventure that awaits tomorrow.
After breakfast, with your packed lunch, lots of water in your rucksack, your guide will take you to the park HQ before 8:00am for registration and briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority staff. Once the formalities of what to do and not to do while tracking the gentle giants are communicated, you will head to the trail-head of the gorilla family you have been allocated. At the trail-head, you will commence the trek, pushing your way through the undergrowth, to track the gorillas. (the trek can last from half an hour to 8 hours – a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes). When you finally locate the family that you are tracking, take in everything as you watch the gorillas go about their day – feeding on the green leaves, bamboo shoots, wild celery, stinging nettle and wild fruit. If there are juvenile gorillas, enjoy them play about and take it all in. Take lots of pictures (and a selfie if you happen to have a gorilla in your selfie frame) and video as the one-hour will be over before you know it. It is an extraordinary feeling being in the presence of these majestic apes, sitting/standing in the dense rainforest with the knowledge that you are in the presence of the few remaining wild mountain gorillas. After the mandatory one hour is up, the rangers will lead you back to the starting point/trail-head where you will find your driver/guide. Once back at the trail-head, your driver/guide will be waiting to take you back to the park HQ where you receive your tracking certificates (evidence of your contribution to the conservation of the majestic gorillas). From here, you will commence the short drive to the picturesque Lake Bunyonyi. On arrival in Lake Bunyonyi, check-in at the resort you have chosen for a hot lunch. After lunch, relax and can use the time to look back on your awe-inspiring encounter with the gorillas through the lens of your camera. Later, dinner and overnight at the resort.
What to bring for gorilla tracking/trekking: light but sturdy hiking shoes, light rain jacket, daypack, 2 litres of water, gardening gloves, long trousers either jeans/khakis, long-sleeved shirt/blouse, wide-brimmed hat, sun glasses, insect repellent and an energy bar.
Alternatively: Gorilla Habituation, boat trip at Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, check-out and commence the 7-hour drive to Entebbe. You will make two stops including one for an early lunch. After lunch, continue with a stop at the Equator point. Here, you can purchase some crafts and souvenirs from your Uganda safari and take fun photos at the Equator monument. You should arrive in Entebbe in the late afternoon/ early evening where you are dropped-off at the airport for you to check-in for your onward flight home. If your flight is much later, you can use the facilities at one of our partner Guest Houses to freshen up ahead of check-in. At the appropriate time, you will be dropped off at the airport in time for you to check-in for your onward flight to bring to an end what we believe will have been an awe-inspiring Uganda safari whose memories will stay with you for a long time.
This 6-Day Great Apes safari takes you to Kibale Forest National Park – a lush expanse of wilderness that is home to 13 primate species – chief among them the Chimpanzees – man’s closest relatives. The park is home to the largest of Uganda’s chimpanzee populations, which stand at more than 1,500 members and is the best place to trek to see wild habituated chimpanzees in Africa.
From Kibale, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – home to Africa’s largest apes the Mountain Gorillas. From Kibale to Bwindi, you transition across a scenic area that is ecologically diverse – crater lakes, dense forests and bushland, rich grassy savannah plains, rolling green hills and swamps that are all rich habitats for Africa’s wildlife. On a clear day, you will also be able to see the snow-peaked Magherita peak of the Rwenzori Mountains. You then arrive in Bwindi, a realm of mist-shrouded mountains and dense vegetation. American zoologist George Schaller, one of the first people to study gorillas in the wild, once said: “No one who looks into the eyes of a Gorilla, gentle and vulnerable, can remain unchanged.” And so this trip will leave you with an indelible mark on your conscience and the satisfaction that you will have added to the legacy of Dian Fossey – the trailblazing primatologist who brought light to the plight of Africa’s largest apes – that they were endangered. From Bwindi, you make a de-tour to the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. You then complete your Uganda nature adventure with the drive to Entebbe for your onward flight home.
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Chiara M2024-03-05Best safari experience! Great experience! Great professionality from our guide and the tour operator. Vincent, our guide and amazing human being, knew all the good places and times to check out a big variaty of animals and landscapes. He was very patient and gave us enough time to spend with the animals and take pictures. I highly recommed the experience. Good price/quality relation.Paul H2024-02-14A Fantastic Gude and Driver and a Memorable Experience We were privileged to to have Joachim as our driver and guide for the seven day tour of Uganda. He was knowledable, personable and a careful steward in driving on the roads and in the parks. He is well versed in mammals and birds, along with the past and current history of his remarkable country. He was attentive to our health and safety, and adept at finding the animals we sought. He was a pleasant breakfast and dinner companion, and genuinely nice man. We enjoyed and benefited from all aspects of the itinerary and appreciated the diversity of landscapes and the fact that different animal poulations were situated in different parks. We were fortunate to have participated in game "drives" in the company 4x4 (comfortable and capable), a boat tour, and several walking experiences (notably chimpanzees, mountain gorillas and a close encounter with a tower of giraffes). Arranging the trip with Edris was easy. The materials were clear and illustrative, the arrangements as we arrived and departed clearly articulated and accomlished with a smile by Joachim, and the accomodations - a delightful variety - exemplary. I highly recommend this team and this trip. Thanks!Stefan T2024-01-17Great safari to Kidepo and Murchison with Uzuri Safaris We had a wonderful 11-day Uganda safari with Uzuri, to Kidepo and Murchison Falls with some additional activities. Edris who runs the company was very easy to communicate with and offered great advise for how we should tailor our trip. He stayed in touch with us throughout our safari to make sure everything was good. Our guide was Sam Wako and he was excellent. A super pleasant person to spend time with (and you do spend a lot of time with your guide), very knowledgeable about the country and wildlife, a very keen sense for what we were interested in, a good planner and very punctual, great at spotting game. We've been on quite a few safaris in different countries and have fairly broad experience from safari guides and Sam is top notch.Laura K2023-12-17Unforgettable journey We went on a tour through Uganda with a safari and gorilla trekking. Our guide organized everything very well, drove very safely and told us a lot about the country and the animals. With his eagle eyes he spotted lions, leopards and elephants from a great distance on the safaris. He simply made sure that we were doing well and felt totally comfortable. Everything was perfect.Lyrock2023-12-05Perfect vacation with Uzuri Uganda. Safe yet thrilling adventures, best food and lodges. Our Uganda Trip with Uzuri was a blast!!! A requested package proposal was straightforward without a long wait, the messages very polite, and our contact (manager) Edris was easygoing and very flexible due to (our) flight options. Our guide Joachim was the most wonderful human being. He was calm in the most annoying traffic and crazy road conditions. We were well informed about the schedule, there were daily briefings at all meals - we would respectfully discuss personal wishes, realistic options and circumstances and mutually set travel / tour-times. We could always rely on Joachim's suggestions to be only in our interest, safety and well-being, and to have the best time. His network is significant and he seemed to be a respected and much liked colleague to other guides on the way. His knowledge of his country and nature is endless, his enthusiasm and tirelessness is very catching. He is a practical problem solver (two slight car problems, fixed within the next hour, mostly by himself and/or due to his perfect network). Also he quietly prepared all next tour steps in the background making it all seem to heavenly fall into place. The lodges were absolutely fantastic, the food choices were fresh, tasty and healthy. Thanks to you, Team Uzuri. We will keep you in our hearts!!!brett B2023-11-273 day Uganda Gorillas Via Rwanda After contacting many different tour companies I decided to go with Uzuri Uganda Safaris as the price point and level of accommodation offered was better than most others I looked at. Edris was very helpful before hand with Visa information and last-minute date changes so we could get the accommodation we wanted. We stayed at Mutanda Lake resort and Bird nest resort. Both resorts were amazing but we wish we added an extra night so we could have more time to enjoy and explore Mutanda resort. Our guide was great and helped us with the boarder crossing and made sure everything went smoothly. Seeing the Gorillas was a highlight of our 6 week trip through Africa and I Highly recommend booking with Uzuri Uganda Safaris as it was everything we had hoped for.ZA2023-09-28Unforgettable experience in the pearl of Africa Gorillas were definitely on top of our must see list whilst visiting Africa and our experience went indeed beyond expectations. We booked a 4-day gorilla trekking in Uganda: landing in Entebbe, we hit the road to Mbarara where we spent the first night. The day after we made it to Kisoro and prepared for the gorilla trekking, which took place on the third day in Mgahinga National Park. The experience cannot be put in words. It’s true that we spent long hours in the car, but the colorful and authentic landscapes of Uganda made it quite short - we got a glimpse of Ugandan culture and we spontaneously stopped to lunch and even have some tasty bananas. Abdala was an extremely kind guide and driver - he taught us a lot about Uganda and ensured everything went smooth during the whole experience. He also showed us local cuisine places which we would never have found on our own - I think we tried the best brown rice in our lives in Kisoro! And the GORILLAS were the real star: we were so close to them that we really felt no boundaries. It is a once in a lifetime experience that is really worth the permits price, the road and all the efforts. You could tell how passionate Solomon, our gorilla trekking guide, was. And he definitely transferred it to us! Besides, it was not only about the trip, it was about the preparation: Edris, the Uzuri Safaris Manager, was there to answer all our questions and requests (and we had a lot !!) whilst we were preparing for our tip and he was also there to solve any last minute and on the spot issues. With Uzuri safaris we had a breathtaking experience in Uganda, we recommend it 100000% to anyone willing to discover a country full of beautiful corners, beautiful and smiley people and beautiful gorillas. Five stars to them 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟75019Bitte2023-09-24The best travel and tour guide we hoped for - all exceeded our expectations Often a trip starts with an idea, you build expectations, then you decide to go ahead. We had for several years wanted to go to Afrika to see animals and experience the culture. We finally decided to go Uganda to see Gorilla, Chimpanzees and all the other animals they have. We got in contact with “Mit Afrika” in Aalborg. They and their partner (Uzuri) put together a tour which exceeded our wildest expectations. We saw the animals we hoped to see, we experienced the culture, stayed at great lodges … you name it - we tried it and got it all. A plan is important, but the execution of a plan is what brings the value. Our tour guide Vincent deserves all the credit we can give him. He really took us by the hand, made things happen, used his positive mind and approach, his knowledge about animals, trees, birds, what a great experience. He was also very open to shared details about Uganda, what to do and not to do. We had several good talks about differences between countries, approaches, mindsets etc..Vincent made the trip very educational for us. Visiting the pearl of Afrika, having a plan made by Uzuri and a tourguide like Vincent is most probably the best you can ask for. It was us a fantastic experience. A warm and heartfelt thanks from DenmarkSarah S2023-09-18Amazing Experience with Uzuri Uganda Safaris We had an amazing experience traveling through Uganda with Uzuri. Abdallah was very welcomming and helpful. He went above and beyond to show us all the animals this beautifull country has and we did see everything from elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos, hippos, pumbas, buffaloes, even a leopaed and a python. We can also highly recommend the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. Abdallah is an excellent driver and provided us with snacks and water at all times. The prebooked accomodations were far better than expected with big rooms/tents, private bathroom (hot water in the shower!) and mosquito nets. All accomodations were very clean. The served food was very tasty and portuin sizes are huge. There is always an option if you don't like something or if you have allergies. Staff is very friendly and helpfull. Only point off negativity is the airport as it is the only place where they are not friendly and helpfull. So calculate enough time to get throu border controll. All in all our travel to Uganda exceeded our expectation and we can highly recommenf Uzuri as your travel agent.Andrea G2023-08-20The Best Experience! I am writing this review from the best vacation trip ever!! Last year, I went on a Safari with Uzuri Uganda Safaris, with Edris, Joachim and Ronnie. I was with my two daughters who joined me on my number one bucket list experience, Africa.......the Chimps and Gorillas. Going to Uganda was both exciting and bit nerve racking for me, as we were three females, going into a place that I was not sure what to expect. From the very first minute we were on the Safari, Edris took fantastic care of us. We always felt safe. The lodging that he selected was exactly as we requested and the experiences met our utmost expectation. Of course the time spent with the chimps and gorillas will never leave our hearts. I am so grateful to Edris and his team for making my dream to go Africa the best it could ever be!!! I can not recommend Uzuri Uganda Safaris high enough, they are the BEST!!Tripadvisor rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 43 reviews