16 Days Primates Wildlife and Culture Safari
The 16 Days Primates Wildlife and Culture Safari is an amazing and extraordinary safari that starts and ends in Entebbe Uganda. The safari will take you to the most interesting destinations in Uganda including Murchison falls national park, Kibale forest national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo national park. During the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will be able to spend time with the endangered gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees in their natural habitat, view different animals including elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, hippos, giraffes, Jacksons hartebeest, Nile crocodiles, hippos, warthogs, zebras, topi, elands, impalas, oribi, bushbucks among others during the game drives and boat cruise.
Highlights of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to a hotel in Entebbe
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park via Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and top of the falls
Day 4: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale forest national park
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 8: Morning game drive/lion tracking and afternoon boat cruise
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking experience
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park via Ishasha sector
Day 11: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 12: Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
Day 13: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 14: Boat ride and transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Day 15: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 16: Walking safari and departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to a hotel in Entebbe
Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe international airport on day 1 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to a hotel in Entebbe for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park via Ziwa rhino sanctuary
After breakfast on day 2 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture, our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel to start the journey to Murchison falls national park which is located in north western part of Uganda. On the way you will have a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking where after you will continue the journey with another stopover in Masindi for lunch. After lunch you will proceed the journey to Murchison falls national park and upon arrival you will connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and top of the falls drive
After an early breakfast on day 3 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Budongo forest for chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest in search of the chimpanzees which takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on their location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the chimpanzees have been located, you will spend one hour with them in their natural habitat where you will be able to learn more about their life style, behaviors, watch them feed, play, breastfeed, fight, rest, take photos and record videos.
After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the top of the falls where you will be able to view the most powerful waterfall, enjoy the beautiful water splashes among others. From the top of the falls, you will drive to the loge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive,
After an early breakfast on day 4 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive where you will be able to view the early risers. During the game drive you will be able to spot large herds of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, lions, leopards, view several bird species among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise, after lunch you will go for an exciting boat cruise to the bottom of the falls where you will get a chance to view large herds of hippos and crocodiles in water, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes along the shores, view aquatic birds like kingfishers, cormorants, bee-eaters, hornbills among others. After the boat ride you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale national park
After an early breakfast on day 5 of the 16 days primates, wildlife culture safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kibale National Park. It’s a whole day journey and on the way you will have en-route lunch and enjoy spectacular views of the local people, farmlands, traditional homesteads, Rwenzori Mountains, tea plantations with stopovers to take photos and stretch your legs. Upon arrival in Kibale national park you will continue to the lodge, check in for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park and Bigodi swamp walk
Chimpanzee trekking,
After an early breakfast on day 6 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kanyachu Visitors Centre for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where they are location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their life style, behaviors, watch them feed, enjoy the juveniles playing up in the trees, take photos and record videos with a flash less camera. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Bigodi swamp walk,
After lunch you will go for an interesting swamp walk in Bigodi sanctuary where you will be able to view variety of bird species like the great blue turaco, black crowned waxbill, yellow billed barbet, view mammals like otters, bush pigs, sitatungas, bushbucks, several primates like black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’ hoest monkeys among others. After the Bigodi tour you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park-cultural tour
After a relaxed breakfast on day 7 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda. On the way you will enjoy spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains, Lake George, tea plantations among others. Upon arrival in the park you will continue to check into the lodge for lunch where after you will either relax at the lodge and later go for a cultural tour in the neighbouring community where you will be able to interact with the local people, learn about their culture, tradition, way of living, enjoy their ancient stories among others. After the game drive you will drive to the lodge check in, have dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Morning game drive/ lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive,
After an early breakfast on day 8 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive or lion tracking experience in Kasenyi plains. During the game drive you will have great views of the sunrise, big four mammals which are lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, other animals like waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, views of different bird species among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise, after lunch you will drive to the landing site near Mweya safari lodge for an incredible boat cruise along Kazinga channel which is a 40km long channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the boat trip which lasts for about 2 hours you, will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view buffaloes, elephants, warthogs drinking water along the banks, view water birds like yellow billed stork, cormorants, hornbills, African skimmer, kingfishers, fish eagles among others. After the boat cruise you will go for an evening game drive where you will be able to view some of the animals that you missed in the morning and later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking experience
After an early breakfast on day 9 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kalinzu forest or Kyambura gorge for chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest in search of the chimpanzees which takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on their location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will be able spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn more about their life style, behaviors, watch them feed, play, breastfeed, fight, rest, take photos and record videos.
After the one hour encounter with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will spend the rest of the day at leisure, dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast on day 10 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park. On the way you will have a stopover at Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. Ishasha sector is famously known for the tree climbing lions which will be viewed lying up in acacia/fig tree branches during the game drive and other animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs among others. After the game drive you will have lunch and later proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park, upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking,
After an early breakfast on day 11 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will carry packed lunch and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is knowledgeable about the gorillas and well conversant with trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other wildlife species, different bird species among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, observe their behaviors, take great photos and record the breath-taking moments to show people back home.
After the one hour encounter with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Cultural tour and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
On day 12 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will have breakfast at leisure, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to go for an interesting cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the Batwa people, learn about their culture, lifestyle, way of living, visit their homesteads, enjoy their traditional performances among others. After the cultural tour, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park. Upon arrival, you will check into your lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After an early breakfast on day 13 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for golden monkey trekking briefing. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest in search of the golden monkeys which takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on their location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the golden monkeys are found, you will be able spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, play in tree branches, take photos and record videos.
After the one hour with the golden monkeys, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district which is the deepest fresh water lake in Uganda. The journey to Lake Bunyonyi takes about 3 hours’ drive and upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 14: Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi and transfer to Lake Mburo national park
On day 14 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will enjoy a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your guide to go for an amazing boat ride on the Lake where you will be able to explore some of the 29 islands such as the punishment island, view bird species, animals, enjoy spectacular views of the terraced farmlands, Kigezi hills, traditional homesteads among others.
After the boat ride you will return to the lodge for lunch where after to you will check out and transfer to Lake Mburo national park with great views of the beautiful scenery, Kigezi hill, roadside markets among others and upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Morning game drive and Afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive
After breakfast on day 15 of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will meet up with your guide to go for a morning game drive in the park where you will be able to view various wildlife species including zebras, warthogs, giant forest hogs, waterbucks, impala, giraffes among others along the road. After the game drive you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise,
After lunch you will go for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo which gives you an opportunity to view animals like buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes drinking water along the shores of the lake, hippos and crocodiles in water and water birds such as cormorants, kingfishers, fish eagles among others. The boat ride takes about 2 to 3 hours and after the boat cruise you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 16: Walking safari and departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 16 days primates, wildlife and culture safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to go for a walking safari in the park where you will be able to get up-close and personal with different wildlife species, spot various birds among others. After the nature walk, you will drive out of the park and start the journey back to Kampala. On the way you will have en-route lunch at the Equator where after you will continue the journey to Kampala arriving early evening and upon arrival your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of advise.
End of 16 Days Primates Wildlife and Culture Safari.
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permits
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Rhino tracking fees
- Lion tracking experience
- Park entrance fees/ game drives
- Boat cruise fees
- Nature walk
- Cultural tour
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
