18 Days Epic Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Adventure

This 18-day Epic Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Adventure will give you a great wildlife experience that you will remember forever with thrilling moments exploring the most visited Uganda National Parks full of great wildlife. Request a Quote You will get to meet many primates from monkeys to chimpanzees and gorillas in their habitat. Enjoy lovely adventures at the Nile as you cruise over the waves. You will go for the thrilling hikes, and raft across the Nile.

Nothing will reward you more during your stay at Entebbe, than fishing and bird watching on the shores of Lake Victoria. You also visit and meet the local community. Community encounters, and coming into contact with the local African natives, will give you a local taste. Eat and have a taste of the local African food which is mouthwatering, with great favor prepared from fresh ingredients. Your local guide knows the route better than anyone else. There is no rush, the program is already set, and all you need to do is bring yourself.

Day 1: Day 1: Pickup from the Airport and Transfer to the hotel

Upon arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, your driver/guide will pick you up from Entebbe airport upon arrival and transfer you to your booked accommodation brief you about your 18 Days Epic Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Adventure, then your dinner and overnight at 2 Friends Hotel. Meal Plan: Dinner

Day 2: Bird Watching at Mabamba Swamp

Your guide, will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning after breakfast, and transfer you to Mabamba Swamp for bird watching. This is the best place to spot the rare shoebill. It takes about an hour by road via Nakawuka-Kasanje. You will head for a full-day, private boat excursion, with a picnic lunch; the wetlands are home to a variety of different bird species. A canoe ride through the papyrus swamp will take you to the best spot for spotting the Shoebill bird. Spot other rare African birds like the Malachite Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatchers, African Purple Swamphen, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White-faced whistling duck, Squacco heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, African Jacana, and Saddle-billed Stork, among others.

You will spend the day, bird-watching and searching for the shoebills. If you’re lucky, you will get to see them land and watch them as they hunt or food. Later return to your hotel for late lunch, and after lunch, go for a nature walk at Entebbe Botanical Garden, where a number of bird species, can also be sighted. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge at 2 Friends Hotel. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Fishing on Lake Victoria and transfer to Jinja

Begin the day, with a great breakfast at your hotel and our guide will pick you up at 07:00 am drive to our day trip meet point in Entebbe outside UWEC (Zoo), Lugard Avenue, where you will meet your team for the day, and later head of for your Lake Victoria spot fishing excursion with a half day being approximately 4 hours on the water. Fishing is done around local islands about a 45-minute boat trip from Entebbe. The areas fished will depend upon the weather and how the fish are biting.

At certain times of the year, the lake can be very rough with large swells and so then we tend to utilize the sheltered bays for fishing. Anglers are free to bring along additional drinks required. Later return for lunch and drive to Jinja via Kampala.Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge. If you love eating, you will have to try the famous pork ribs while you’re here. Just make sure you bring your appetite. These ribs are the best in Uganda and if you want to taste those saucy, delicious, mouthwatering, slow-cooked, juicy killers, just let us know and we will be happy to provide you with anything you need. Accommodation at The Back Lantern. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Drive for a full day of white water Rafting.

Have a very early morning breakfast, and drive off to meet your team for the white water rafting. After you are briefed about rafting, rafting starts for 5 – 31kms – 5/6 hours and you will have the chance to watch the local fishermen and the fantastic birdlife. Alternatively, choose to go for wild or mild. Here you choose to raft in the paddle-powered boats for one of the wildest raft rides on the planet, or opt to be rowed downstream by our professional guides in the safety raft. After a picnic, and lunch you will hit a series of wild rapids, thereafter an evening BBQ before heading to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation at The Back Lantern. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Drive to Kapchorua with a stopover in Jinja. Travel time +6

Today you will be picked up from your hotel at 7:00 am and transferred to a boat ride at the source of the Nile. This town is famous as the historic source of the River Nile. The Nile River is your starting point, there are a number of bird species that can be spotted as well before you take a drive to Kapchorua, grab a Rolex in Jinja Street, and drive off enjoying the famous Ugandan Rolex. You will have an en-route lunch in Mbale town before you proceed and check in to your booked accommodation. You will later head for an abseiling adventure at the Sippi Falls, which takes place at the falls, later return for dinner and overnight at RafikiSippi Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Sipi Falls hike and coffee tour

Prepare yourself for a beautiful day in paradise, hiking the Sippi Hills with the great scenery of the falls. The Sipi River flows over the foothills of Mount Elgon, forming a series of waterfalls – these culminate in a spectacular drop, which is surrounded by pretty walking trails and lush green hills. A local guide will accompany you on your hike. You will later return from the hike and have lunch. After lunch, head for a community coffee tour, and have a crop-to-cup coffee experience, as this region, is known for producing one of the African finest coffee. Dinner and overnight at Rafiki Sippi Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park. Travel time +6

In the morning after your breakfast, jump into your jeep and head off for a transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park which is a 6-hour drive away. Kidepo Valley National Park lies hidden away in a lost and not frequently visited corner between Uganda’s borders with South Sudan and Kenya. It is a long but very rewarding journey to get to this area with some of the most beautiful scenery in Uganda. You will enjoy the beautiful looks of the Karamajong Manyattas in Moroto en route as you proceed with your scenic drive to Kidepo. Dinner and overnight stay at Kidepo Savannah Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Wild Game drive & foot safari

After an early morning breakfast, you will drive and head off for a nature walk. Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the few parks in Uganda where you can do a walking safari. An armed ranger is joining you for your safety and you will explore the wilderness on foot. During this activity, you get the chance to experience the wildlife up close, a different experience than game-viewing by car. Buffalo, waterbuck, giraffe, warthog, zebra, bush-buck, and of course the naughty baboons can be seen all year round as well as many different bird species. The guide stops regularly, not merely searching for a game, but telling you about birds, insects, trees, animal droppings, the medicinal use of plants, and which animals eat which plants.

Today in the afternoon you will go for another game drive in this amazing national park. The savannah is ringed by mountains and rocky ridges. It has a profusion of big game and hosts 475 bird species and over 80 mammal species, of which 28 were not known to occur (or very rarely) in any other Ugandan park. For example; ostriches, zebras, bat-eared foxes, aardwolves, caracals, cheetahs, and greater and lesser kudus. Kidepo Valley National Park ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses and is ranked number 3 on the list of CNN’s best national parks in Africa. Let’s try to get that famous Lion King picture of a lion on a rock before you spend another night. You will also have a visit to the Nuru valley, where you will take some foot walking safari here. Dinner and overnight stay at Kidepo Savannah Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Kidepo to Murchison Falls National Park. Travel time +5

Today have breakfast, head for a brief game drive, and later continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park one of the oldest and most visited conservation areas in Uganda. This is a long but rewarding journey through various landscapes of Northern Uganda, with a beautiful view of the countryside with a wonderful village setting of local huts, clustered around a family compound. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s best-known and biggest nature reserve. With the impressive and powerful Murchison waterfall and its remarkable animal populations, this is a must-visit in the Pearl of Africa.

There are superb activities on offer such as a boat safari or Delta safari on the Nile. The river divides the park between a Northern and Southern section as it makes its way through multiple rapids and waterfalls to Lake Albert. Unfortunately, during the war years, poachers and troops wiped out the majority of wildlife. Except for the park’s rhino population, fortunately, all other wildlife has recovered fast since. A game drive in the park allows you to be eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom and you will be amazed by the amount of elephants. Also, giraffes, lions, antelope, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles can all be spotted. Game drives take place on the tracks in the northern section which you reach by taking a ferry across the river. This park guarantees adventure! Dinner and overnight stay at Pakuba Safari Lodge.Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Game drive and Boat cruise along the Nile

After an early breakfast, it is time to explore the park in great detail on both land and water. On your game drives you of course need a fair share of luck and very good eyes to try and spot as many animals as possible. While driving through the park you can come eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom. Hopefully, you see them all; elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope, and many tropical birds. They are all there!

You will have lunch before, the afternoon boat safari towards the Murchison Falls is a very special activity, it takes approximately 2 hours and goes along the Victoria Nile to the base of the Falls. Carefully watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys, and all the other (also thirsty) wildlife that the Nile attracts you go to the bottom of the powerful Murchison Falls. If you like hiking, the boat can drop you near the waterfalls and you can hike up to the top (the hike is roughly an hour). The view is stunning and quite amazing here as you will have the whole look of the 7 m gorge of the waterfall. You will later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11: Murchison to Kibale Forest: Travel time +5hrs

Today, you will undertake a brief morning game drive and later take the journey to Green Kibale Forest. The drive is incredibly scenic, passing through tea plantations and the lush green countryside that characterizes so much of Uganda. Upon arrival at the tropical forest, you will enter a completely different world… some serious monkey business! We are in the home of primates.

Kibale Forest National Park lies just outside the colonial town of Fort Portal and is made up of dense tropical rainforest. This park is considered one of the big highlights of Uganda and is known as the primate capital of the world having over 13 primate species. A large number of primates residing can be found here and particularly a visit to one of the habituated chimpanzee groups is a very memorable experience. The rare red colobus as well as the black and white colobus, red-tailed monkey, olive baboon, blue Monkey, and l’hoest’s monkeys are also regularly seen here. Where can you find a better spot to experience encounters with nature? Smell the forest and listen to the many sounds. You will spend an overnight here at Turaco Treetop. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking & Swamp Walk

After having a cup of African coffee, you will head to the visitor’s center for briefing and prepare for serious primate trekking. Kibale forest has over 1450 chimpanzees and the habituated group has over 120 individuals that are fully habituated. The trekking can last for 2 to 4 hours depending on how close the chimps are. You will be given an hour of interaction with the chimpanzees as you take several photographs. Later you will return from the trek and head for lunch. After lunch ready for a swamp walk, at Bigodi Bird Sanctuary to explore this great amazing community swamp harboring many bird species and primates. You will later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Turaco Treetop. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13: Visit Semuliki National Park and Amabeere Caves

After an early morning breakfast, you will drive off to visit one of the hidden Uganda’s national parks, Semuliki National Park known for harboring some bird species, is the number one top birding destination, and its beautiful hot springs. You visit the hot springs and later head for a brief nature walk and drive back to Fort Portal for lunch at Fort Motel and later drive to visit Amabeere caves, patched with a lot of historical stories. The nature walk here is thrilling and awesome worth a visit. You will visit the beautiful waterfalls and later drive back to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight at Turaco Treetop. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 14: Drive to Queen Elizabeth for a boat ride

After having your early morning relaxed breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the most visited national parks in Uganda, joined by the Kazinga channel in between Lake Gorge and Edward. This park will give you a great opportunity to do a game drive and boat trip to see wildlife and bird species in abundance.

You will head for lunch before you proceed for an afternoon boat ride in the Kazinga channel known for having the largest number of hippos in the whole world. The boat ride may take 2 to 3 hours, with a great chance to spot Nile crocodiles, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, and much more. You will later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight with a brief evening game drive along the way. Accommodation at Bush Lodge.Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 15: Transfer to Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions later proceed to Bwindi

Early in the morning, you will drive in about 2,5 hours to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This part is famous for its’ tree-climbing lions. While lion cubs around the world frequently climb trees for fun, adults rarely do. However, these lionesses enjoy spending the hot afternoons snoozing in fig trees to get away from the tsetse flies and to enjoy a cool breeze. This is the most memorable sight in the park as you have never seen such photogenic lions posing for your camera before. During a game drive, try your look at getting a pic! Meanwhile don’t miss the stunning scenery and superb birdlife in this southern remote section of the park either.

You will later drive to Bwindi with an en-route lunch. The park to find your way through the rolling hills of the countryside to Bwindi, which is known for harboring half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Your drive may take 3 to 4 hours with a beautiful view of the countryside. You will have an en-route lunch in the early afternoon, then stop for dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 16: Gorilla Trekking + canoe at Lake Bunyonyi

Wake up with a warm cup of coffee and get ready to meet these shy gorillas in the jungle. You will pack some snacks and soft drinks as a lunch to carry with you as you head to the park headquarters for gorilla trekking. This magnificent forest dates back over 25,000 years, even surviving the last Ice Age (most forests disappeared). Bwindi forest has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna and is the only forest in Africa that can claim to host both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Half the world’s population of gorillas live here, divided into nine habituated family groups.

Also, 5 other primate species, 120 species of mammal, over 220 butterflies, and 360 bird species call Bwindi home. A trek to see the mountain gorillas always marks the entire safari highlight of our client’s visit. Make sure you’re in good shape to hike and see these beautiful. You will later return to your lodge for lunch. After lunch drive to Lake Bunyonyi for a canoe ride on this beautiful lake, patched with a number of bird species, and beautiful islands. Later head to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Bird Nest Resort. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 17: Transfer to Kampala. Travel time +8 hrs

Today, you will have breakfast at your lodge and later drive off to Kampala, with an en-route lunch, you will reach in the afternoon, do some shopping, and visit the local market around. Later head for a local cuisine (famous luwombo) for dinner. Accommodation at Cassia Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 18: Transfer to the airport.

Early morning cup of tea, and depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight to your home country. This will be one of the best safaris you will have ever taken in your lifetime. A great experience, ranging from the city center to a rural setting, patched with a lot of cultural and adventurous experiences, with a lot of sightings. We look forward to your next visit or recommendations to families and friends.

End of 18 Days Epic Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Adventure

18 Days Epic Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Adventure package includes. Request a Quote

All airport transfers
Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
Accommodation and meals as specified
1 Gorilla permit, ($700) per person
Chimpanzee permits
Mabamba swamp excursion
White water rafting
En-route lunches
Abseiling
Visit to hot springs at Semuliki
Visit Amabeere caves
Hike to the top of the falls
Boat cruise as listed
Local canoe ride at Lake Bunyonyi
Sippi falls hike
Fishing on Lake Victoria
Visit to local market
Bigodi nature walk
Game drives at listed in the itinerary
Park entrance fees
Services of English-speaking driver/guide.
Excursions as listed in the itinerary
Bottles of mineral water during safari

18 Days Epic Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Adventure excludes expenses of a personal nature like Airfare, Uganda Visa, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, personal shopping bills, and cigars.