The 6 Days Uganda safari offers a mixed blend of primate tracking and game viewing experiences. Track chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in Kibale national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park respectively and enjoy a game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park. This tour can also be customised to focus more on primates depending on the interest of the visitors.
Trip highlights:
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrabele national park
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale national park
- Game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park
- Bigodi nature walk
- Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Trip summary:
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe and transfer to Kibale national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and exploring Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and afternoon game drive
Day 4: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park and a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 6: Gorilla trekking and return to Entebbe/Kampala
Option 1: 6 Days Uganda safari (Starting and ending in Entebbe/Kampala)
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe and transfer to Kibale national park
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and get welcomed by your driver guide who will transfer you to Kibale national park (5-6 hours drive). The park is popularly known at the “primate Capital of the World,” because it is home to over 12 primate species. Enjoy a scenic drive to the park viewing plantations, local villages, rolling hills and more. Arrive and check into your lodge as you prepare for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and exploring Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Have your early breakfast and transfer to the headquarters of Kibale national park for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking. Enter the jungle of Kibale forest searching for the chimps led by guides and rangers. Pay close attention along the way as you are likely to encounter other primates such as baboons, colobus monkeys and mangabeys.
Spend one hour tracking chimpanzees in the forest as you take their photos and videos. After the experience, return to your lodge to relax and refreshments. In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk where you will encounter a variety of birds, more primates as well as swamp-dwelling animals. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park & afternoon game drive
Have your morning breakfast and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park (2-3 hours drive). Enjoy captivating views along the way including villages, towns, plantations and the mighty Rwenzori. Enter the park and embark on a game drive right away viewing a variety of wildlife species while on the way to your lodge.
After checking in and relaxing at your lodge, enjoy an afternoon game drive through the park. Look out for amazing game species including elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, leopards, and a variety of bird species. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Morning game drive, Kazinga Channel boat cruise and Ishasha sector
Enjoy an early morning game drive along the Kasenyi plains for an opportunity to see big cats such as lion, leopard and other predators. In the afternoon, embark on a thrilling boat cruise along Kazinga Channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward.
Watch a variety of wildlife along the channel including crocodiles, hippos, elephants, and numerous waterbirds. If interested in tracking the tree-climbing lions, make an early morning visit to the Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Early breakfast at the lodge and embark on a scenic drive Bwindi impenetrable national park (3-4 hours drive) with views of the beautiful Kigezi highlands. Arrive and check in at your lodge getting ready for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking and return to Entebbe/Kampala
Have an early morning breakfast and head to the park headquarters of Bwindi impenetrable national park for a briefing about gorilla trekking. You will also get assigned one of the habituated gorilla groups in the park to visit. Head into the forest accompanied by rangers and guides searching for your gorilla group.
This trek may last between 1-6 hours depending on the location and movement of gorillas. Spend a full hour tracking gorillas as you photograph them feeding, playing and resting. Return to park headquarters at the end of the hour and receive a gorilla trekking certificate. Begin your return drive back to Entebbe/Kampala (9-10 hours) with a stopover for lunch. Arrive in the late evening for your departure flight or accommodation at your hotel.
Option 2: 6 Days Uganda safari (Starting and ending in Kigali) with more focus on primates
This option puts more emphasis on primate experiences including gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking. It also includes a game drive in Lake Mburo national park. This itinerary offers a shorter drive time than option 1.
Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Arrive at the Airport, meet your driver guide and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda (3-4 hours drive). The lake is known for its numerous beautiful Islands. Arrive and check into your lodge overlooking the lake. Enjoy a relaxed boat trip on the lake and explore its Islands and the surrounding communities. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Explore Lake Bunyonyi experiences and transfer to Bwindi
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and embark on thrilling activities around the lake including canoeing, hiking, birdwatching, community visit and more. After lunch, embark on a scenic drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park and check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience
Early breakfast and transfer to park headquarters of Bwindi impenetrable national park for a briefing on gorilla trekking. Enter the forest searching for the gorillas led by guides and park rangers. Spend the magical hour in the presence of gorillas, watching how the feed, play and rest.
Return to park headquarters to receive your gorilla trekking certificate before returning to your lodge to relax. In the afternoon, you may go for a cultural tour around the community for an experience with the Batwa pygmies. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 4: Golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga and transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Early breakfast and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park (2-3 hours) for a golden monkey tracking experience. Enter the bamboo forests and meet the beautiful golden monkeys and watch them play in their natural habitat.
In the afternoon, head north to Lake Mburo national park (4-5 hours drive). Check into your lodge and relax with refreshments. In the evening, you may choose to go for a night game drive for a chance to see the nocturnals in the park. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 5: Game drive in Lake Mburo national park
Have breakfast and embark on an early morning game drive in Lake Mburo national park known for its variety of zebras, impalas, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, and numerous bird species. The park also offers a chance for a walking safari. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing boat trip on Lake Mburo and view hippos, crocs, buffaloes and waterbirds. If interested, you can also enjoy a horseback safari in the park. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 6: Return to Kigali
Enjoy breakfast and a morning game drive through the bark before embarking on your return drive back to Kigali (4-5 hours) for your departure flight or overstay at a hotel.
Important considerations for the 6 Days Uganda safari
Permits for primate experiences such as gorilla trekking – $800, chimpanzee tracking – $250, and golden monkey tracking – $60 per person should be booked at least 6 months in advance through a reputable tour operator. Transport, accommodation and guiding services will be arranged for you by your tour operator.
The packing list for experiences like gorilla trekking includes hiking boots, pair of gloves, pair of khaki trousers or jeans, long-sleeved shirt and a camera. You need a relative level of fitness to enable you trek through the montane rainforest without much difficulty. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years