Compare Uganda Primate Explorer by Audley Travel vs 10 Days Primate Experience And Queen Elizabeth Safari by Kent Safaris

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Entebbe.

Day 2 : Kibale Forest Reserve

Upon landing you will be met by your driver-guide who will be with you throughout your stay in Uganda. He will drive you to Kibale Forest, a journey of around six hours, stopping for a picnic lunch en route. The journey will take you past tea plantations, through rolling hills, open savannahs and colourful villages. Arriving at your lodge, you can relax and unwind after your journey.

Day 3 : Kibale Forest Reserve

After breakfast today you'll be driven to the Kibale National Park for your morning of chimpanzee trekking. The trek departs from Kanyanchu at 08.00, and whilst it's not guaranteed you'll see the chimps, there's a 90% success rate of seeing them - far higher than any other location which offers chimpanzee trekking in Uganda or Rwanda. The walk will lead you through the Kibale Forest, and there are good chances of seeing red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys on the way. If you're lucky to find yourself in the company of the chimps, you'll have an hour to enjoy their behaviour and take photos to your heart's content!

Day 4 : Queen Elizabeth National Park

This morning you will set off with your driver-guide for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey should take a couple of hours, and you can settle into your room at Katara Lodge before enjoying some lunch. In the afternoon you'll take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel - see buffalo cooling off in the water along with hippos and crocodiles. In the late afternoon, you'll often see elephants coming down to the shore to drink as well; a nice change from being in a vehicle.

Day 5 : Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast you will set off with picnic lunches for the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Enjoy game-view on the way, exploring the Ishasha region which is famous for tree-climbing lions. The journey continues through rolling hills and colourful villages before you eventually reach the Bwindi Forest and Engagi Lodge.

Day 6 : Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today you will set off early after breakfast for the park headquarters, where you will register for your gorilla trek. Once you've been assigned a group, you will be driven to the trailhead for your group and follow your guide into Bwindi National Park. You start your trek at the top of the hills, descending to find the gorillas, walking for between two and four hours before you reach the gorillas. Once you find the first gorilla, you have an hour with them - the time will fly by so make the most of every minute. The trek back to the top of the hills can be fairly strenuous, but the exhilaration of seeing the gorillas makes it all worthwhile.

Day 7 : Lake Mburo National Park

This morning you will be driven eastwards to Lake Mburo National Park - the drive will take between four and five hours depending on road conditions. The scenery is really beautiful, starting with steep, winding hills, covered in a patchwork quilt of fields and then opening out into flatter plains. After you've settled into the camp you can go out on a game-drive with your driver-guide or simply relax and enjoy the views from the camp.

Day 8 : Entebbe

You will set off after breakfast back to Entebbe, a drive of around five hours, passing through the bustling capital of Kampala on the way, where you can stop to buy some souvenirs if you wish. You will have the afternoon at leisure to do whatever you wish at Entebbe, either relaxing at the guesthouse or exploring.

Day 9 : International return flight

You will be driven to Entebbe Airport today to meet your onward flights.

Day 10 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.

Day  1:  Arrive  Entebbe.   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be transferred to the Boma Guest Lodge. Depending on your arrival time, a half day trip to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary may be arranged. This evening, you will receive a short pre-trip briefing at the hotel. 

Day 2:  Entebbe  to  Bwindi   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bwindi. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred by vehicle to your lodge. The Park is in South-western Uganda, covering parts of Rukungiri, Kisoro, and Kabale Districts. It is situated in a hilly countryside, which, together with some remnant lowland forest outside the boundary, constitutes an important water catchment area for many rivers, supplying the agricultural land of the surrounding region. This is the  richest forest in Uganda, in terms of the number of plant species, as the  area is one of the few large expanses of forest in East Africa where  lowland and montane community's merge. The valley bottoms contain a  dense ground cover of herbs, vines, and shrubs with only a few trees  hence its name, the impenetrable forest. This is one of the richest  faunal communities in East Africa. There exists about one half of the  world's population of the endangered mountain gorillas. There are also  several endangered species of birds with limited ranges. Gorilla tracking  began on 1st April 1993. It is advisable to make reservations at least 3-6  months before your intended date of visit. 

Day 3: Gorilla  Tracking   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You will be escorted to the National Parks headquarters to meet your guides for your gorilla tracking experience. An early morning trek into the forest on the slopes of the volcanoes, led by experienced trackers will bring you amongst a family of Mountain Gorillas. These massive primates are extremely rare, only approximately 650 remaining. You will get within meters of the family and be privileged to spend time amongst them. The trekking may be strenuous; up to six hours or  longer is common - at relatively high altitude. Mountain Gorillas are  wild animals, as such sightings cannot be guaranteed; however, the  success rate is well over 95%. The trekking may be strenuous; up to six hours or longer is not  uncommon-at relatively high altitude. Mountain Gorillas are wild  animals and as such, sightings cannot be guaranteed 100%. 

PLEASE  NOTE: on certain departures, due to Gorilla Permit availability, this leg of your safari may be undertaken in Rwanda. A similar standard of accommodation will be utilized in Rwanda, but there may be a  surcharge depending on availability. Please check at time of booking. 

Day 4:  Bwindi   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you will have the option of a second Gorilla Trek or Forest  Walk in Bwindi. Please inform at the time of booking. In the afternoon  relax or explore the local area on foot.  

PLEASE  NOTE: on certain departures, due to Gorilla Permit availability, this leg of your safari may be undertaken in Rwanda. A similar standard  of accommodation will be utilized in Rwanda, but there may be a  surcharge depending on availability. Please check at time of booking.  

Day  5:  Bwindi  and  Queen  Elizabeth  National Park.   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you will head in a northerly direction to the Ishasha area of  Queen Elizabeth National Park, from Bwindi 3 hours' drive, to be  welcomed to your established tented camp nestled under trees  alongside a river. On a sunny day views from the area stretch to the  ice-capped Rwenzori Mountains to the north, and the Virunga  volcanoes to the south, there are few places on earth to rival the  scenery in this park. 'Birders' will not be disappointed with the  enormous range of species in the area. The Park spreads over an area  of 1978 km2 in the western arm of the Great East Rift Valley. It is a  home to a variety of wildlife including elephant, lion, hippo, buffalo, and  Uganda Kob, baboon, and birds, all typical of riverine and savannah habitats. In the southern part of the park is the Ishasha are with tree  climbing lions and the Maramagambo, one of the largest surviving  natural forests in Uganda. The northern part of the park is traversed by  the equator and is dominated by the scenery of crater lakes with lots of  flamingos on some of them. 

Day 6: Queen  Elizabeth  National  Park   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A second day in Queen Elizabeth National Park with more game  viewing opportunities available to you. The northern part of the park is  traversed by the equator and is dominated by the scenery of crater  lakes with lots of flamingos on some of them. A launch trip from  Mweya along the Kazinga channel, which joins Lake Edward and Lake  George, provides one of the most memorable experiences of the park.

Day  7:  Queen  Elizabeth  National  Park   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

From Ishasha, you drive 2 hours to the Mweya region of Queen  Elizabeth National Park. During your visit here you will have time to  enjoy game drives, a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and an  opportunity to trek chimps in Chamburu Gorge (subject to permits  being available and group size). Located on a peninsula overlooking the  Kazinga Channel on one side and with spectacular views towards the  Ruwenzori Mountains on the other, this upgraded and renovated lodge  provides some of the best accommodation and service facilities in  Uganda. 

Day 8:  Kibale  Forest   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Today you will travel on a 2-3-hour drive from Queen Elizabeth  National Park (north) on good roads. On a sunny day you may get  views of the Rwenzori's in the distance. Two nights spent in the area to  allow time for chimpanzee tracking in the forest, (permits must be pre  purchased). You can also do a forest walk (guided) during your stay, or  simply enjoy the area and visit the Bigodi Swamps, or the Vanilla Farm  close to Ndali. Kibale, 766 km2 is one of Uganda's enchanting, forested  parks. Here, you can hike in the park for hours observing the drama of  life in a rain forest. The Park contains pristine lowland tropical rain  forest, montane forest, and mixed tropical deciduous forest. In addition  to forest, you will also notice areas of grassland and of swamp. The  forest is rich in wildlife. It is most noted for its primate population.  Some of these are red-tailed monkey, diademed monkey, olive baboon,  chimpanzee and black and white colobus. Some of the other mammals  you might see are bushbuck, Harvey's red duiker, blue duiker, bush pig,  and African civet. More difficult to spot are buffalo, waterbuck, hippo,  warthog, and giant forest hog. Herds of elephant once travelled back  and forth through the area. These elephants have become increasingly rare, and now are seldom seen. The birdlike in the forest and  grasslands of the forest is abundant. There are 300 species, which have  been identified here. One particularly worth noting is the endemic to  Kibale forest. There are 144 species of butterfly in the park and a  diverse population of moths and other insects. A system of trails has  been developed within the park, and tour guides are available to guide  visitors. 

 Day 9:  Kibale  Forest   

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This activity will take place in the morning. You will either be driven or  walk down to the Kibale Forest National Parks' headquarters to meet your guides for your morning's chimp tracking experience (depending which lodge you are staying at). The forest is alive with noise, and you should be lucky enough to see the habituated chimps during your trek. 

Day 10:  Return  Entebbe.   

Meal: Breakfast and Lunch 

After an early breakfast for the drive back to Entebbe, stopping for  curio shopping on the roadside and a quick photo stop at the Equator.  Arriving back in Entebbe, late afternoon. The remainder of the day is at  leisure. (Departing flights to be booked to depart for after 8pm)