7Days trip Uganda All Primates Tour: Gorilla Trek, Wildlife, Chimps Tracking and Golden Monkeys
The 7 days tour allows you track Bwindi gorillas, Kibale chimps Wildlife in queen Elizarbeth with golden monkeys tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
This is the ideal safari to Africa for travelers who would love more of primates than anything else. You will start with two primates walks in Kibale National Park (AKA East Africa’s Primates’ capital with over 11 primates species), then proceed to Bwindi for gorilla tracking in Bwindi before ending with golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The tour is private and you can start on any day you want. On the treks however, other trekkers might join you. We can start from Entebbe, Kampala or Kigali (extra charges might apply).
- Day 1: Kibale National Park, guided primates walk in Bigodi Swamp
- Day 2: Chimps and other primates tracking,evening with a night walk in the forest
- Day 3 Transfer to queen elizarbeth National park afternoon boat cruise and evening game drive in the Northern sector.
- Day 4:Afterbreakfast transfer to the southern sector ishasha for the tree climbing lions and later transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Day 6: Golden monkey tracking exercise in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Day 7: Return to Kampala – Entebbe or Kigali
UGANDA GREAT APES & GOLDEN MONKEYS TREKKING SAFARI
Day 1: Kibale National Park, Guided Primates walk in Bigodi
More primates like black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey red tailed monkeys , bush babies, pottos and many bird species like the yellow spotted nicator, rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, green breasted pitta, the crowned eagle, black bee eater and mammals like elephants can be seen in this walk.
Early morning after breakfast we continue driving through the undulating highlands of south-western Uganda on our way to the greener and beautiful Fort Portal area. The lush rolling hills of this region provide good photo opportunities.
As you approach Fort Portal in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, you enter Uganda’s famous tea plantation region. A carpet of green spreads before you, as far as the eye can see, and seems an unusual contrast to the countryside through which you have just passed.
In the afternoon we visit a nearby forest swamp that is excellent for viewing primates and other forest animals. At the eastern edge of Kibale forest is Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is maintained by the local community. You will expect birds like the great blue turaco, blue monkeys, baboons, otters, mongoose, bushbucks, and bush pigs and among others.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge | Crater Safari Lodge
Moderate: Isunga Lodge| Kibale Forest Camp | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (self-contained cottages)
Low Budget: Kibale Forest Camp (in tents) | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Day 2: Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking Experience and night walk Other Primates
Assemble at Kanyankyu River camp at 08:00 hours to go for the most popular activity in this park which is chimpanzee tracking.
Chimpanzees are man’s closest cousins though they are one of the most threatened primate species. More primates like black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, pottos and many bird species like the yellow spotted nicator, rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, green breasted pitta, the crowned eagle, black bee-eater and mammals like elephants can be seen in this walk.
Kibale National park, which averages about 3,300 feet in elevation, is an extension of the great rainforests of Central Africa. It is inhabited by three large communities of chimps, each numbering more than 100 individuals. Each community has a complicated social structure. The big adult males dominate the group and defend the community territory against incursions by male outsiders; the females usually wander in small family groups.
Typically, we locate the chimps by listening for their pant-hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling. We get to observe them as they feed in fruiting trees, lounge, and socialise with each other, or even, occasionally hunt.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge | Crater Safari Lodge
Moderate: Isunga Lodge| Kibale Forest Camp | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (self-contained cottages)
Low Budget: Kibale Forest Camp (in tents) | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Day 3: Transfer to queen elizarbeth National park, Boat cruise in the afternoon and evening gamedrive
In the afternoon we will go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippos huff and spray at a mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others evening gamedrive( sundown safari)
Day 4: Transfer to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National park for Tree climbing lions in evening move to Bwindi
Early Morning set off to the southern sector of queen Elizabeth National park and have lunch at your lodge and In the afternoon you will proceed to Ishasha Sector. Drive along the deep and wide dry craters that are occupied by savanna grasses and acacia. The drive takes you through the unique western rift valley escarpment and the (southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park) Ishasha sector where you will search of tree climbing lions in the afternoon and evening. And late in the afternoon head to Bwindi arriving in the afternoon
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Chameleon Hill Lodge,
Moderate: Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Rushaaga Gorilla camp
Low Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel| Rushaga Gorilla Camp | Gorilla Valley Lodge
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking Experience, Trekking Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip – gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day.
We trek through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 metres from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes.
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It’s difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Chameleon Hill Lodge
Moderate: Nkuringo Gorilla Camp , Rushaaga Gorilla camp
Low Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel| Rushaga Gorilla Camp | Gorilla Valley Lodge
Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After an early breakfast set off for the national park for the golden monkey tracking experience.
The monkeys are primarily to be found in the bamboo forest that skirts the lower slopes of the volcanoes. The monkeys are very active in the canopy of the bamboo where your guides mimic their calls to follow the group.
With only a small number remaining in the world, the Golden Monkey can be found in the foothills of the volcanic mountains of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Characterized by its bright golden body, cheeks and tail, with contrasting black limbs, crown and tail end, these playful primates are a pleasure to watch. Whether you choose to do this on the Rwandan or Ugandan side, the walk will take you from the bamboo stands and forested gorge on the lower levels of the volcanoes, to the elevated heath and moorland higher up. There after you have the canoe trek and have a chance depending on the weather you can also go swimimg on one of the best and deepest lake Lake Bunyonyi.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Birdnest hotel
Moderate: lake Bunyonyi hotel, Bunyonyi eco Resort,
Low Budget: Bunyoni overland camp, Crater bay resort.
Day 7: Return to Kampala/ Entebbe or transfer to Kigali
Early breakfast before embarking on our return to Kampala, driving down the grassed and terraced escarpments of southwestern Uganda while taking in the breathtaking sights of the hills of the region dubbed ‘the little Switzerland of Africa’.
This area is a highly fertile, mountainous region with steep sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced cultivated rows. Not to miss as we traverse Mbarara are the impressing longhorn Ankole cattle.
A remarkable highlight of this journey is the Equator line and surely you will cross it as we have a brief stop here. We will be in Kampala in the evening before for your flight back home.
Included
- Bwindi gorilla trek experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Chimpanzee Tracking Experience in Kibale National Park
- Golden monkeys tracking experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Accommodation with meals indicated on programme
- Bottled drinking water on the vehicle
- Services of a good experienced English speaking tour guide/driver
- Transport on tour as well as hotel transfers in safari land cruisers
- Four wheel drive car super custom well modified for asafari
- Wifi in the car
- Canoe trekking
- Swimming
- Hot lunches on the highways.
Excluded
- Tips for drivers and other staff
- Flight tickets and departure taxes
- Travel documentation (visas)
- Travel and medical insurance
- Optional excursion
- Beverages other than mineral water in the vehicle