Compare Chimps & Gorillas of Uganda by Exodus Travels vs 14-Day Uganda Birding and Primate Safari by Nature Travel Namibia

Day 1 Arrive Entebbe

Our adventure begins in Entebbe, a city on the north shore of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. Today is all about settling in after your journey, so head to the hotel and relax for the evening.   Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel, Papyrus Guest House or Boma Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 Drive to Kibale Forest

This morning, we have breakfast and your leader will run a welcome brief before we leave Entebbe. The drive time depends, in large part, on traffic in Kampala but should take approximately seven hours. Upon arrival, we can relax at our lakeside lodge. Kibale Forest National Park is home to 13 primate species: there are nine diurnal primates, including vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s, red colobus, black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys, plus grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and, the most famous of all, chimpanzees. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, the odds of encountering them are very good. Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (or similar)

Day 3 Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale; visit Bigodi wetlands

Today we explore the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary in the Magombe wetland. The sanctuary is a major tourist attraction in the Kibale Forest area and is operated by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED), a local community-based organisation. We also go on a forest walk in search of primates. While trekking in the depths of the lush green forest, we are surrounded by bird song and can expect to see at least five or six types of primate, most probably grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys and, of course, chimpanzees. The walking is fairly easy with well-maintained trails and reasonably flat terrain. The order in which we do these activities may vary. Accommodation: Turaco Treetops (or similar)

Day 4 Optional second chimpanzee trek; to Queen Elizabeth National Park

There is the option of doing a second chimp trek this morning to increase the probability of seeing them (due to limited permit availability, we recommend you prebook the second chimp trek). In the afternoon, we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). The drive goes south along the eastern length of the Rwenzori Mountains, where we can see the glaciated peaks, weather permitting. We gently descend into the Great Rift Valley and QENP. The park resides in a fertile, equatorial area and has beautiful scenery. It is the most popular and accessible savannah reserve in Uganda, with a total area of 764sqmi (1,978sqkm). It is primarily associated with grassy savannah plains, but this impressive park also includes leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including 95 recorded mammal species and more than 610 bird species. Accommodation: Simba Safari Camp (or similar)

Day 5 Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park; boat safari on the Kazinga Channel

This morning, we explore Queen Elizabeth National Park on a game drive in search of wildlife, including elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, hyenas, jackals, topis, kobs and bush bucks. In the afternoon, we have a boat trip (about two hours) along the Kazinga Channel to view some of the largest concentration of hippos in the world (reported to be about 30,000) and other animals with excellent birding. Accommodation: Simba Safari Camp (or similar)

Day 6 Game drive in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park; to Buhoma

Today we drive through the park to the Ishasha region. We game drive in search of tree-climbing lions and other wildlife. This afternoon, we head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, a World Heritage site, passing through the scenic area known as the Switzerland of East Africa. The driving today is about 5hr 30min (not including game drives). Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)

Day 7 Mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

For many, observing a wild mountain gorilla is one of the most emotional wildlife experiences possible. Tracking these gentle giants can take anything from under an hour to more than six, depending on where the family is located. The number of permits allocated daily are limited so we recommend early booking. If the permits for gorilla families close to where we stay are unavailable, there are more permits for another area of the park, though this will mean a long drive to the trek start point. The trek itself can be along steep, slippery trails and through the bush so you should be in reasonable physical condition, but the rewards of spending an hour with our close cousins more than makes up for the effort of getting to them. Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)

Day 8 Optional second mountain gorilla trek

Today is a free day and there is the option of getting a second gorilla permit for this day, though due to the limited number of permits, this should be obtained at time of booking. For those who choose not to go on a second gorilla trek, there are other walks you can do nearby or you can relax at our lodge, reminiscing about the previous day’s encounters. On some departures, due to the availability of permits, we may have to swap these two days over with the free day (and optional second gorilla trek) on Day 6 and the included gorilla trek on Day 7 or we may have to split the group to trek with gorillas across both days. Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma (or similar)

Day 9 To Lake Mburo National Park

Leaving the forests, we head towards Lake Mburo National Park. En route, we stop in Kabale near the Rwandan border for lunch. The drive should be about five hours (not including stops). Lake Mburo is the only place in southern Uganda where you can see zebras, giraffes and impala and is a great place to try to see leopards. It is also home to more than 300 bird species and offers the possibility of game walks and game drives. Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock (or similar)

Day 10 Game drive; optional game walk or boat safari

Today we go on a final game drive looking for plains wildlife. The park has a network of game tracks in the eastern part of the park passing a variety of landscapes: acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rocky outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors. The early morning and late afternoon are the best times to roam the park in search of wildlife. There is also the option of tracking game on foot through the savannah and going on a boat excursion, particularly good for birdlife. You also have the option of going on an early morning game walk. Accompanied by a ranger guide, you walk to a salt lick where many animals are attracted to the salty rocks. At this time of day, you may encounter hyenas returning to their dens and hippos retreating to the lake. The lake itself is rich with a diversity of animals and plants, and these can be viewed clearly on a boat trip. These include crocodiles, hippos and birds, such as pelicans, black crakes, herons, cormorants and fish eagles, but you may also see the rare shoebill stork if you are lucky. Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock (or similar)

Day 11 Drive to Entebbe; trip ends

Today is our final day and we return to Entebbe and the shores of Lake Victoria. The driving time will depend on the amount of traffic in Kampala, but we make regular stops to break up the journey. En route back to Entebbe, we visit Mabamba Swamp (Mabamba Bay Wetland System), which lies about 25mi (40km) from Entebbe. The swamp, said to support more than 190,000 birds, is the perfect spot in Uganda for watching the globally threatened shoebill stork and the papyrus yellow warbler. We arrive into Entebbe in the early evening, if time permits, you guide will take you for dinner (own expense) before dropping you at the airport.

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda

Meals : Breakfast & dinner

Accommodation:The Boma Nairobi

Main Destination: Entebbe

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by a company representative and transferred you to your Hotel. But depending on your time of arrival we may go for optional birding in either the botanical gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education centre which will give us a great overview of the more common and widespread species found in Uganda.

Drinks not included

Day 2:Mabamba Swamp

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kabalega Resort

Main Destination: Mabamba Swamp

After breakfast, we will embark on the birding journey to Mabamba swamp, a large wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria in the west of Kampala. The magical offering of this destination is the endangered Shoebill, Uganda’s most famous avian resident. The canoe paddle along the narrow channels of the swamp will give you chances of sighting other bird species like: Lesser Jacana, Black-winged Kite, Blue Swallow, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Carruther’s Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher, Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers as well as several species of herons, egrets and waterfowl. We will stop for lunch and then transfer to Masindi town where we will relax, have dinner and stay overnight at our lodge.

Drinks not included

Day 3: Budongo Forest

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Murchison's Falls River Lodge

Main Destination: Budongo Forest

Best Time to Visit: Dec to March and June to July (Easy chimp trekking)

Early morning we will transfer to the adjacent Budongo forest. Budongo Forest is the largest natural forest area in East Africa. The forest offers opportunities of spotting birds like Nahan’s Francolin, White-thighed Hornbill, Sabine’s and Cassin’s Spinetails, Blue-throated Roller, Forest Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Ituri Batis, Tit Hylia, Forest Robin, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Grey-throated, Yellow-billed, Yellow -spotted and Hairy-breasted Barbets, Black-billed and Great Blue Turaco, Plain, Spotted, Slender-billed, Little Grey, White-throated and Little Greenbul, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-capped Apalis and Red-tailed Bristlebill among other species. Primate species that may also be spotted are Black-and-white colobus monkeys, Red tailed and blue monkeys. After our walk, we will drive towards the top of the falls. Here you have chances of viewing birds like the Pel’s Fishing-Owl and the Red-winged Grey Warbler.

Drinks not included

Day 4:Murchison Falls National Park and transfer to Masindi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kabalega Resort

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Best Time to Visit: December to February (Easier to spot animals)

The mixed habitats of Uganda’s largest park, Murchison Falls National Park, are the perfect environment for a variety of birds, with 451 species recorded within the Park. Some of the species that can be seen during the boat ride on the Nile include: Shoebill, Swamp Flycatcher, Blue-headed Coucal, Squacco Heron, Sandpipers, African Jacana, Denham’s Bustard, Black-billed Barbet, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Weaver Birds, Pied, Piapiac, Silver bird, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eater, African Quail-Finch and Speckle-fronted Weaver. The boat ride will be followed by a birding drive with chances of spotting a range of game like Elephant, Rothschild giraffe, Buffalo, the Jackson’s Hartebeest, the Oribi, Uganda Kob, Lion, and Leopard amongst others. We will then cross with the ferry and transfer to Masindi. A stop will be made in Kaniyo Pabidi forest en route to look out for the Puvel’s Illadopsis.

Drinks not included

Day 5:Kibale National Park and Forest Birding

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp (Safari Tent)

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

Best Time to Visit: December to February and June to July

After breakfast, we transfer to Kibale National Park. We will be birding en route across low lying water logged environments in Kagadi and Kagorro forest reserve near Kyenjonjo. Upon arriving in Fort Portal Area, we will stop for lunch and proceed to Kibale Forest National Park for afternoon birding. Kibale National Park offers great flora concentration with 351 Species of trees some of which are 200 years old and over 55m tall. The park also supports 70 species of mammals and 13 species of Primates among which include the common chimpanzee, Black-and-white colobus and Red-tailed monkey. The 375 Species of birds thriving in the park include the impressive Western Green Tinker bird, two species of pittas (African and green-breasted), Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Grey Parrot and the endemic ground thrush (Turdus kibalensis). Another great birding day comes to an end and we transfer to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and our overnight stay.

Drinks not included

Day 6: Kibale National Park and optional Chimpanzee trekking

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

This day is designed to enable you to explore the birds of Kibale Forest National Park. We have a chance of spotting the Green-breasted Pitta along with other species like Afep Pigeon, Crowned Eagle, Red-chested Owlet, White-naped Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Western Nicator, Little Greenbul, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Brown-chested Alethe, African Grey Parrot, Brown Illadopsis, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Black-capped Apalis, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Blue-headed Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Little Greenbul, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush and Black-eared Ground-Thrush.

Kibale National Park is also known as the Primate capital of the world and presents an amazing opportunity for guests to engage in optional Chimpanzee trekking in the afternoon. Briefing starts at 2pm after which you head to the forest in search of these amazing apes.

After the Chimpanzee trekking we will drive to Fort Portal for our overnight stay at the hotel.

Drinks not included

Day 7: Birding Semliki National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Main Destination: Semuliki National Park

After an early breakfast embark on the transfer to Semliki Forest National Park. The forest tract of Semliki is an extension of West African jungle that stretches from Equatorial Guinea through Congo forming a habitat for Guinea Congo biome species that do not exist in other areas of East Africa. The encounter in Semliki offers you chances of spotting specialties like Congo Serpent Eagle, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Bate's Nightjar, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Rufous-sided, Black-winged Broadbill, Black-throated Coucal, Icterine Greenbul, Nkulengu Rail, Spot-breasted Ibis, Long-tailed Hawk, Capuchin Babbler, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Red-chested Owlet, Black-collared Lovebird, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, White-bellied Kingfisher, Zenker's and Lyre-tailed Honey guides, White-throated Blue Swallow, Blue-billed Malimbe, Chestnut Bellied and Pale-fronted Negrofinch, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Piping, Black Dwarf, Red-billed Dwarf, White Crested, African Piculet among other bird species.

Drinks not included

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Bush Lodge - Bandas

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Best Time to Visit:January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

Early morning we will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, where we will bird in the savannah and Kazinga Channel exploring some of its 600 bird species including Temminck's Courser, Rupell's Griffon, Martial Eagle, White Headed, Lappet Faced Vultures, Blue Quail, Harlequin Quail, Small (Common) Buttonquail, African Crake, African Skimmer, Black Headed Gonolek, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Amur Falcon, Lowland Akalat, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Greater and Lesser Flamingo among others. The sights of wildlife like Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopard and Antelopes among others may not be missed. We will embark on a private boat ride at Kazinga Channel late afternoon.

Drinks not included

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation:  Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Best Time to Visit: June to August and December to February

After breakfast we will make our way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park but first we will explore the Ishasha section in the often climb the fig trees of Ishasha with the low lying branches of the fig trees offering the lions a great vantage point. From a birding point of view we hope to see birds like Palm-nut Vulture, Hooded Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, Long-created Eagle, Martial Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Grey Kestrel, Helmeted Guineafowl, African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, African Wattled Plover, Senegal Plover, African Green Pigeon, Ross’s Turaco, Striped Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Double-toothed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Greater Honey guide, Grey Woodpecker, White-browed Robin-Chat, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Green Crombec, Cisticolas, Grey-backed Fiscal and Yellow-billed Oxpecker.

Drinks not included

Day 10: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After your early morning breakfast, we will gather at the Park Headquarters for a briefing from the park rangers about the conduct of gorilla trekking. After the short briefing, we will embark on the challenging trek through the impenetrable jungle of Bwindi with its rugged landscape involving valleys, swamps, steep slopes and rocky areas amidst amazing jungle sounds and bird song. Once we came across these incredible creatures we will spend about an hour with them observing them going on with their daily routine. The activity ranges between 2 – 8 hours and if time allows we will bird in the afternoon around the lodge. We will spend the evening relaxing at the lodge chatting about this incredible experience.

Drinks not included

Day 11: Birding Ruhija via Neck

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early morning after breakfast we will go birding in the Ruhija area and look out for birds like the Grey-throated Barbet, Red-tailed and Shelley’s Greenbul, Common Buzzard, Red-throated Alethe, African Shrike-flycatcher Ayres’s Hawk-eagle, Black Bee-eater and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater to mention but a few. Transfer to our lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Drinks not included

Day 12: Ruhija and extension to Umubwindi Swamp

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a true birders’ paradise. The forested hillslopes of Ruhija offers birds like Macknon’s Fiscal, Augar Buzzard, Tropical Boubou, Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, Mountain Buzzard and Wagtail, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Barred and Dusky Long Tailed Cuckoo, Black-faced Rufous-warbler, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Ducky Tit, Ludhur’s and Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Grey-Green Bush-Shrike, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Streaky Seed-eater, White Starred Robin and Stripe-breasted Tit. Umubwindi swamp offers us the chance to see Olive, Elliot’s and Fine-banded Woodpecker, Black-billed Turaco, African Hill Babbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Mountain Illadopsis, Mountain Greenbul, Red-faced Woodland, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Chestnut-throated, Collard and Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, Mountain, African Green-Broadbill, Regal Sunbird and Rwenzori Batis.

Drinks not included

Day 13: Lake Mburo National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation : Rwakobo Rock

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park

Best Time to Visit: June to August and December to February

After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Mburo National Park (235km). We will pass through the scenic hill sides of south western Uganda, lunch at the lodge and afternoon birding in the savannah. The afternoon birding offers you a chance of spotting a range of acacia associated birds including the Mburo’s endemic Red-faced Barbet and the unique Tabora Cisticola amongst others. The park is also home to Burchell’s Zebra, Rothschild giraffe, the Topis, Eland, Waterbuck, Buffalo, Impala and Warthog amongst other species.

Drinks not included

Day 14:Lake Mburo and transfer to Entebbe

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park

Our early morning private boat ride on Lake Mburo will increase our chances of viewing African Finfoot, a range of Kingfishers and the African Fish Eagle. We will slowly bird through the park as we drive to Entebbe for the flight departure back home. For those with late night flights, a day room in Entebbe can be arranged.

Drinks not included