7-Day Uganda Primate Safari with Gorillas, Chimps and Big Game

You will be picked up on arrival, either from your hotel or from the airport. Your driver-guide for the tour will be an English-speaking professional, and together you will begin the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the loud rapids of Murchison Falls and the wide open plains of Uganda's biggest national park. Along the way, you may spot lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, elephants, and other wildlife. There will be a lunch break during the journey.

If time allows, you can enjoy a late afternoon to evening game drive. If you are staying at the hotel or leaving the airport early, you may also take a slight detour to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and spend an hour tracking rhinos. This visit is optional and costs an additional $50 per person. Otherwise, you will continue directly to Murchison.

After breakfast, set out on a morning game drive through the wide plains of Uganda's biggest national park. Keep your eyes open for wildlife such as lions and leopards, although leopards can be difficult to spot. Bird lovers will also have the chance to see many different species during the drive.

Return to your accommodation to relax and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, take a boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls, where you may see more wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. If you wish, you can also hike to the top of the falls at an extra cost. The hike can be challenging, but reaching the summit is a memorable experience. Afterwards, return to your accommodation and relax.

Wake up early and drive to Budongo Forest Reserve, about 1 hour and 15 minutes away, arriving in time for the 8:00 am briefing. After the meeting, head into the forest to search for chimpanzees, the closest relatives of humans, in their natural habitat. Enjoy a supervised walk through the beautiful tropical forest as you look for a habituated group of chimpanzees.

Along the way, your guide will share information about the animals and plants you encounter. After the trek, relax and have lunch at Budongo Eco Lodge. Later, continue on a short drive to Hoima City, where you will spend the night at your pre-booked accommodation.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your accommodation before driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will arrive in time for lunch, a short rest, and then an evening game drive. During the drive, look out for wildlife such as reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions, and buffaloes, among others.

Alternatively, you may choose the stunning drive through the explosion crater area. This route offers a great opportunity to enjoy beautiful views and striking scenery in and around Queen Elizabeth National Park. Wildlife can also be seen along the way, with Cape buffaloes and elephants being the most common sightings. Afterwards, return to your accommodation to relax, have dinner, and stay overnight.

Wake up early and go on a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Keep your eyes open for Cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, lions, and leopards, although leopards can be difficult to see. Afterwards, return to the lodge and check out.

Then continue to the Ishasha sector in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. You have a good chance of seeing them, around 70%, although they can sometimes be hard to spot, especially when they are down in the grassland searching for food. If you do see them, it is a beautiful sight and one you will remember. After leaving Ishasha, continue to your accommodation near Bwindi National Park in the Ruhija sector, arriving in the evening at around 6:00 pm.

After breakfast, head to the ranger station for an important briefing on the dos and don'ts of gorilla trekking. Afterwards, enter Bwindi Forest for this exciting experience. This rainforest is truly beautiful, with steep and densely forested terrain filled with animal trails for visitors to explore.

The duration of the trek and the terrain covered will vary depending on where the gorillas have moved. Once you find a gorilla family, you will spend one hour with them. Watching these gentle giants, which are sadly at risk of extinction, is an unforgettable and thrilling experience. After the trek, return to your accommodation, check out, and continue to Lake Mburo National Park for an overnight stay.

Enjoy breakfast before setting out on a morning walk in Lake Mburo National Park. You will be accompanied by an armed ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. During the walk, you may see zebras, giraffes, eland, topi, other antelope species, and Cape buffaloes up close.

Continue along the trail to the highest point of the hills for views over Lake Mburo and beyond. From here, you can see 9 of the 12 lakes surrounding Lake Mburo National Park. Afterwards, return to your accommodation, check out, and begin the journey back to Entebbe.