Uganda Primate Habituation 10-Day Safari

Your exciting 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari begins with a morning pick-up from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Kampala. Our professional safari guide will brief you on your upcoming adventure before heading out on the Kampala-Gulu highway toward Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where wild rhinos can be seen. This rhino tracking experience allows you to walk alongside these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, offering a truly intimate and unforgettable wildlife encounter.

You’ll be guided by trained rangers who will share detailed knowledge about rhino conservation efforts and the sanctuary’s history. Ziwa is also home to other wildlife like antelopes, monkeys, and various bird species. After an immersive experience, you’ll proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area, known for its diverse ecosystems and dramatic landscapes. As you check in at your lodge, you’ll feel the excitement build for the 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari adventures ahead. The day ends with a relaxing evening at the lodge, where you can unwind to the distant roar of Murchison Falls. Dinner and overnight stay will be at a selected safari lodge within the park, surrounded by Uganda’s untamed beauty.

Today begins with a hot breakfast followed by an early morning game drive on the northern banks of the Nile. This region of the park is teeming with wildlife, and you’ll have the chance to see giraffes, elephants, lions, buffaloes, hartebeests, and Uganda kobs, among others. The expansive savannah provides the perfect backdrop for wildlife photography as you explore the terrain aboard a 4×4 safari vehicle accompanied by an experienced 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari guide who will help spot and interpret animal behavior.

After the game drive, you’ll return to the lodge for lunch and some rest before embarking on an unforgettable boat safari along the Nile River. This boat cruise takes you upstream to the base of the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the Nile violently explodes through a narrow gorge and plunges 45 meters into the Devil’s Cauldron. Along the riverbanks, you’ll see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and abundant birdlife including kingfishers, herons, and the iconic shoebill stork. This is one of the best river experiences in Africa.

Later, you’ll return to your lodge for dinner and a peaceful night, reflecting on the magnificent views and rich biodiversity you’ve witnessed.

After breakfast, your 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari continues southward to Kibale National Park, often dubbed the “Primate Capital of the World.” The journey offers scenic views of traditional villages, lush tea plantations, and rolling green hills that characterize Uganda’s stunning countryside. You’ll enjoy several cultural stopovers along the way, giving you a deeper understanding of rural Ugandan life.

Lunch will be served en route in Fort Portal, a charming town nestled in the shadows of the Rwenzori Mountains. Afterward, you’ll proceed to your lodge near Kibale National Park where you’ll settle in for the evening. Take time to relax, enjoy your lodge’s natural surroundings, and prepare for the extraordinary 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari encounters awaiting you the next day. Dinner and overnight stay will be provided at a carefully selected eco-lodge or forest lodge.

Today offers a rare chance to engage in a chimpanzee habituation experience, a more in-depth and immersive encounter than the standard chimp trek. After an early breakfast, you’ll meet with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers and join primate researchers in Kibale Forest National Park, home to the largest concentration of chimpanzees in Uganda.

The 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari experience begins as the forest awakens. You’ll follow a group of semi-habituated chimpanzees from their nests, observing their natural behavior – feeding, hunting, grooming, and playing – over the course of four to six hours. Along the way, your guides will educate you about chimp social structures, communication, and conservation efforts. In addition to chimpanzees, you may encounter red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and various forest birds.

This hands-on experience with wild chimpanzees is educational and emotionally rewarding, offering one of the best opportunities to understand primate behavior in depth. After your forest adventure, return to your lodge to rest and enjoy a peaceful evening in nature.

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most visited national park known for its rich biodiversity and dramatic landscapes. The drive offers panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon. As you descend into the rift valley, you’ll pass volcanic crater lakes and lush banana plantations.

Check into your lodge located within or near the park, then enjoy a leisurely afternoon or optional visit to local cultural sites. The rest of the day can be spent enjoying the serenity of your lodge, spotting birds, or photographing the scenic beauty surrounding you. Prepare for a thrilling wildlife encounter the next day.

Start your day with an early lion tracking experience in the Kasenyi Plains, accompanied by a Uganda Carnivore Program researcher. This special activity, unlike a standard game drive, allows you to track lions using radio collars and GPS. You’ll gain rare insight into lion behavior, movement, and conservation research, getting closer to these big cats than you would on a regular 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari.

After lunch at the lodge, you’ll head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat safari, where the highest concentration of hippos in Africa resides. You’ll see crocodiles basking on the shores, buffaloes wallowing in the water, and elephants coming to drink. Birds are in abundance, from African fish eagles to pink-backed pelicans and African skimmers.

Return to the lodge for dinner and a relaxing overnight stay.

Today you’ll journey through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its tree-climbing lions. This rare phenomenon is only found in Uganda and Tanzania. These lions can often be seen lounging in large fig trees, escaping the heat or surveying their territory.

You’ll have game drive opportunities in Ishasha before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Check into your lodge nestled in the forest and rest in preparation for the extraordinary gorilla habituation experience tomorrow.

This is the highlight of your 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari – a full-day gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After a hearty breakfast, you’ll meet with UWA researchers and rangers before trekking into the dense rainforest to find a semi-habituated gorilla family.

Unlike standard gorilla trekking, this unique experience allows you to spend up to four hours in the company of mountain gorillas, observing their behavior, movements, and interactions. Guided by researchers, you’ll learn about their feeding habits, social structures, and conservation needs. This is a deeply personal and awe-inspiring encounter with one of the planet’s most endangered and intelligent species.

Return to the lodge in the evening for a hearty meal and a night under the stars of the rainforest.

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda’s smallest but one of the most biologically diverse parks. It is the only park in Uganda where golden monkeys – another endangered species – are found.

Today’s activity is a golden monkey habituation experience, where you’ll accompany rangers and researchers as they follow and observe these beautiful primates. You’ll spend several hours watching them leap through bamboo thickets, feed, groom, and play. Their vibrant orange-golden fur makes for stunning photography.

This rare encounter not only enhances your appreciation of Uganda’s primates but also contributes to research and conservation efforts. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

On your final day, enjoy a leisurely breakfast before embarking on your return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. The drive offers one last chance to take in the beautiful landscapes of southwestern Uganda. Alternatively, you may choose to transfer to Kigali, Rwanda, depending on your 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari travel plans.

Along the way, stop at the Equator Line for photos and souvenirs. Upon arrival in Entebbe, your guide will drop you at the airport for your flight or at your preferred hotel, marking the end of this enriching 10-Day Uganda Primate Habituation Safari filled with unforgettable wildlife experiences.