8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Experience

The 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Experience by Deks Safaris and Tours combines primate encounters, classic game drives, and cultural discoveries into a single, unforgettable journey. This carefully designed itinerary leads you through three of Uganda’s most iconic destinations Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest each offering unique experiences that showcase the country’s diverse landscapes and wildlife.

The 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari journey begins in Entebbe, where a warm welcome and relaxation prepare you for the adventures ahead. You then venture into the lush rainforests of Kibale Forest, home to the largest concentration of chimpanzees in East Africa. Here, the rare chimpanzee habituation experience allows extended time in the company of these intelligent primates. From Kibale, the adventure transitions to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where sweeping savannahs and crater lakes provide the perfect backdrop for thrilling game drives, boat cruises, and guided walks. This park is a haven for elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo, and an impressive diversity of birdlife.

Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Forest

The 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari then culminates in the mystical jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you embark on the once-in-a-lifetime gorilla habituation experience. Spending four hours with a gorilla family offers one of the most intimate wildlife encounters on earth. To balance the adventure, cultural visits with the Batwa people provide meaningful insight into Uganda’s indigenous heritage, while a serene evening at Lake Bunyonyi delivers tranquil reflections amid breathtaking scenery.

Seamlessly blending adventure, culture, and relaxation, this safari is ideal for travelers who desire to experience the very best of Uganda’s primates and wildlife within a carefully curated timeframe. Every detail from expert guides and well-selected lodges to immersive experiences ensures a safari that is both enriching and memorable.

8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Experience

Day

Activities

Accommodation

Day 1

 Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Check-in the Hotel for Relaxation Airport Guest House

Meal Plan: Half Board

Day 2

 Morning Road Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Afternoon Bigodi Swamp Walk Turaco Treetops Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3

 Go Chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale Forest (Spend 4 Hours with the Chimps) and Afternoon Cross to Relaxation at the Lodge Turaco Treetops Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4

 Adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Game Drives and Nature Walks) Enshama Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5

 Another Day in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Game Drives and Boat Cruise) Enshama Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6

 Morning Road Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Afternoon Batwa Cultural Experience Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7

 Go Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Afternoon Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi with a Sunset Boat Cruise Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8

 Morning Road Transfer to Entebbe Airport and Flight Back Home None

Meal Plan: Half Board

 

Tour Quotation Based on 4 People Sharing on Mid-Range Basis

  • Rate Per Person: US$4,359
  • Total for 4 People Sharing: US$17,436

 

Detailed 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Gateway to the Pearl of Africa

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you are warmly welcomed by a representative from Deks Safaris and Tours. After a brief introduction, you are transferred to your hotel for check-in at Airport Guest House, a comfortable retreat close to the airport. The serene environment provides the perfect start to your 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari, allowing you to rest after your international journey.

Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax at the hotel gardens, take a short walk around the vibrant town, or simply enjoy a quiet evening. The lodge offers personalized service, ensuring you feel at ease from the moment you arrive. Dinner is served with a selection of both local and international cuisine, paired with refreshing drinks to set the tone for the adventure ahead.

This first day is designed for relaxation and acclimatization. It prepares you physically and mentally for the days of exploration and discovery awaiting you in Uganda’s wilderness. As night falls, you retire to the comfort of your room, ready to begin your primate and wildlife safari in earnest the following morning.

 

Day 2: Scenic Transfer to Kibale Forest and Bigodi Swamp Walk

The morning begins with a hearty breakfast before embarking on a road transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. The journey is a scenic introduction to Uganda’s countryside, passing through green plantations, rural homesteads, and the rolling foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. Along the way, you may stop for photography or light refreshments, capturing the landscapes that highlight Uganda’s natural beauty.

Upon arrival in Kibale, you check into Turaco Treetops Lodge, a charming lodge nestled at the edge of the forest. After lunch and relaxation, you embark on a guided exploration of the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-driven conservation project. This swamp is home to an impressive array of primates such as red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys, as well as numerous bird species including the great blue turaco.

Walking through the swamp, your 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari guide interprets the ecosystem’s importance while sharing stories of how the community benefits from sustainable tourism. By evening, you return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation, surrounded by the soothing sounds of the forest.

 

Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale Forest

This day is dedicated to the extraordinary chimpanzee habituation experience, one of the most immersive wildlife activities in Uganda. After an early breakfast, you join researchers and rangers for a trek deep into Kibale Forest National Park, home to over 1,500 chimpanzees.

The experience allows you to spend up to four hours with a chimpanzee community. You follow them from the moment they leave their nests in the morning, observing how they feed, socialize, play, and care for their young. The extended time offers intimate insights into their complex behaviors and remarkable similarities to humans. Beyond chimpanzees, the forest is alive with other primates, forest elephants, and colorful birdlife, ensuring a rich and rewarding day.

After returning to Turaco Treetops Lodge, the afternoon is left free for relaxation. You may choose to enjoy the lodge’s views, take a nature walk, or simply reflect on the profound encounter with our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. Dinner is served as you prepare for the next stage of your 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari adventure.

 

Day 4: Journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drives and Nature Walks

After breakfast, your 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari journey continues with a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most diverse safari destination. The drive showcases spectacular views of crater lakes and the Rwenzori Mountains, making it a scenic transition from rainforest to savannah.

Upon arrival, check into Enshama Game Lodge for lunch and relaxation before heading out on your first game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Here, lions are often seen hunting Uganda kobs, while herds of elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes roam freely. Later in the afternoon, a guided nature walk offers a slower-paced exploration of the park, bringing you closer to the details of the landscape, from tracks to bird calls.

The evening concludes with dinner and overnight at the lodge. Surrounded by the park’s wilderness, you enjoy a restful night with the anticipation of another full day of exploration ahead.

 

Day 5: Wildlife Adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive and Kazinga Cruise

Today is reserved for a full exploration of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The morning begins with a game drive through the Kasenyi sector, famous for its predators and large herds of grazers. The wide savannahs make for spectacular wildlife photography, with the Rwenzori Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop.

In the afternoon, you embark on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lakes Edward and George. This channel is renowned for its dense concentration of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and buffaloes, all viewed at close range from the boat. Birdlife is equally remarkable, with fish eagles, pelicans, and kingfishers dotting the shores.

The combination of land and water safaris ensures a diverse experience of the park’s ecosystems. Returning to Enshama Game Lodge in the evening, you enjoy dinner and relaxation, reflecting on a day filled with thrilling encounters and unforgettable views.

 

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Batwa Cultural Experience

After breakfast, the 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari continues with a scenic road transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The journey takes you through rolling hills, tea plantations, and villages, offering a glimpse of Uganda’s rural beauty.

Upon arrival in the Rushaga Sector, you check into Rushaga Gorilla Lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, you participate in the Batwa cultural experience, an enriching encounter with Uganda’s indigenous forest people. Once hunter-gatherers of Bwindi, the Batwa share their traditions through music, dance, storytelling, and demonstrations of survival skills.

This cultural immersion provides a meaningful perspective on how humans have lived in harmony with the forest for centuries. By evening, you return to the lodge for dinner and overnight, surrounded by the misty atmosphere of Bwindi.

 

Day 7: Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi and Sunset at Lake Bunyonyi

This day delivers the highlight of the 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari: the gorilla habituation experience. After an early breakfast, you join rangers and trackers for a trek deep into Bwindi’s dense jungle. Once the gorillas are located, you spend up to four hours observing them as they feed, interact, and nurture their young. The experience is profoundly moving, offering one of the rarest wildlife encounters in the world.

After the trek, you transfer to the serene Lake Bunyonyi, often called the “Switzerland of Africa.” At Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort, you enjoy relaxation and a sunset boat cruise across the lake’s 29 islands. The tranquil waters, dramatic hills, and cool breeze provide the perfect balance after the forest adventure.

Dinner and overnight at the resort complete this day of contrasts—intense adventure followed by peaceful reflection.

 

Day 8: Return to Entebbe and Departure

After breakfast, you begin the road transfer back to Entebbe International Airport, passing through the scenic landscapes of western Uganda. The drive offers time to reflect on the incredible experiences of the past week, from chimpanzees in Kibale to gorillas in Bwindi and the savannah wildlife of Queen Elizabeth.

Depending on your flight schedule, you may enjoy a brief stop at the Equator for photography and souvenir shopping. Upon arrival in Entebbe, you proceed to the airport for your international flight, marking the end of your 8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Experience with Deks Safaris and Tours.

 

8-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

Safari Inclusions

  • Accommodation as per the itinerary
  • Meals and drinking water as specified
  • Ground transport in comfortable safari vehicles
  • Services of a professional English-speaking guide
  • Park entry fees and permits (chimpanzee and gorilla habituation included)
  • All game drives, boat cruises, and guided walks
  • Cultural experiences and community visits

 

Safari Exclusions

  • International flights and entry visas
  • Travel insurance and medical expenses
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, and souvenirs
  • Porter services during gorilla trekking
  • Extra meals or services beyond the specified plan

 

Tour Quotation Based on 4 People Sharing on Mid-Range Basis

  • Rate Per Person: US$4,359
  • Total for 4 People Sharing: US$17,436