Uganda Primates Safari and Tour | 10 Days

Your adventure begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel for the drive north to Murchison Falls National Park. Before reaching your lodge, you will stop at the top of the falls to see the Nile River squeeze through a narrow seven-meter gorge and tumble 43 meters below. As you cross the river by ferry, watch for buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles along the banks. Stay at Paraa Safari Lodge. Other options include Sambiya River Lodge or Red Chilli Camp.

After breakfast, set out on a forest walk in Kaniyo Pabidi, a beautiful part of Budongo Forest Reserve. Here, you’ll search for chimpanzees moving through ancient mahogany and ironwood trees. The forest is also alive with colorful birdlife like the Puvel’s illadopsis and the white-thighed hornbill. In the afternoon, board a boat for a scenic cruise along the Victoria Nile. Overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Camp, Sambiya River Lodge, or Red Chilli Camp.

Following breakfast, head south to Kibale National Park. This journey takes you past the dramatic Albertine Escarpment and through green hills and valleys. Stop for lunch along the way and arrive in Fort Portal by late afternoon. Spend the night at Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge, Rwenzori View Guest House, or Kanyanchu Ecological Bandas.

Rise early for a special day with the chimpanzees. After a briefing at the park headquarters, follow the trails to where the chimpanzees nested the night before. Spend the day in their company, watching how they feed, play, and build new nests as evening approaches. Return to your lodge for the night.

After breakfast, drive west to Semliki Wildlife Reserve, traveling along the eastern edge of Lake Albert. This reserve lies in the Western Rift Valley basin and is one of the most diverse wildlife habitats in Africa. Elephants, lions, buffaloes, and chimpanzees roam here alongside colorful birdlife. In the evening, take a night game drive to see nocturnal creatures like genet cats and white-tailed mongooses. Stay at Semliki Safari Lodge.

Begin the day with a morning trek into the rainforest to track chimpanzees, guided by local researchers. These early excursions offer the best chance to see them as they move through the trees. Return for lunch at the lodge, relax by the pool, and later enjoy an evening game drive, pausing to watch the sunset over the savanna. Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge.

After breakfast, continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in the afternoon. This park features a mix of open savanna, crater lakes, rainforest, and swamps. Look for buffaloes, elephants, hippos, leopards, and over 600 bird species. If you wish, take a walk around the Mweya Peninsula. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, or Institute of Ecology.

Start the morning with a trek into Kyambura Gorge, a lush valley that is home to a group of habituated chimpanzees. As you descend into the gorge, search for these intelligent primates along with red-tailed monkeys and black-and-white colobus. After lunch at your lodge, visit the salt mines in the afternoon. Return for dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Wake early for a game drive across the park’s savannas. Keep an eye out for the Big Five and many smaller animals that thrive here. Return for a late breakfast and some rest. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel to watch hippos, crocodiles, and birds at the water’s edge. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, or Institute of Ecology.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading back to Kampala. Stop for lunch en route and visit the Uganda Equator for a photo opportunity. Later in the day, transfer to Entebbe Airport for your flight home.