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Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Welcome to Uganda
Your primate adventure begins at Entebbe International Airport, where you are warmly received by your safari guide. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore the botanical gardens or simply rest at your hotel. As night falls, anticipation builds for the week of exploration that lies ahead.
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Day 2: Drive to Kibale National Park – The Primate Capital
After breakfast, you set out on a scenic drive to Kibale National Park, known as the primate capital of the world. The road winds through tea plantations and rural villages, offering glimpses of Uganda’s lush countryside. By afternoon, you arrive at your lodge near the forest, surrounded by rich greenery and the calls of birds. This evening is for rest and preparation for the chimpanzee tracking experience.
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Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale – Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
The day begins with an early briefing before venturing into Kibale’s rainforest to track wild chimpanzees. The excitement builds as you follow their calls through the trees until you encounter them feeding, grooming, or swinging through the canopy. Spending time with these intelligent primates is a thrilling and humbling experience. In the afternoon, you explore Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run project rich in birdlife and smaller primates such as red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys.
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Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Evening Game Drive
After breakfast, the journey continues southward to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes you through the crater lakes region, with stunning views of volcanic landscapes. By afternoon, you arrive in the park and head out for an evening game drive, where elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and perhaps lions reveal themselves as the sun dips over the savannah.5
Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
The fifth day begins with an early game drive across the Kasenyi plains, where wildlife is most active in the cool morning hours. You may spot herds of elephants, grazing antelopes, and big cats. After lunch, the adventure continues with a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, famous for its dense concentration of hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds. The experience of drifting past elephants wading into the channel while fish eagles soar overhead is unforgettable.
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Day 6: Ishasha Sector – Tree-Climbing Lions & Transfer to Bwindi
This morning, you drive through the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, renowned for its population of tree-climbing lions. If luck is on your side, you’ll witness these majestic cats lounging on fig tree branches. The journey then continues to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
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Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today marks the highlight of your safari. After an early breakfast, you set off for a briefing before heading into the dense forest. Trekking through steep slopes and thick vegetation is demanding, but the reward of standing in the presence of a gorilla family is beyond words. Watching the silverback’s strength, mothers nursing their young, and juveniles playing is an awe-inspiring experience. After an hour with the gorillas, you return to your lodge, filled with emotion and unforgettable memories.
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Day 8: Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga – Return to Kigali or Entebbe
Your final day takes you to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where you track the playful golden monkeys that thrive in the bamboo forests. Their energy and vibrant golden coats make for a delightful encounter. After the trek, you begin your return journey, either crossing into Rwanda’s Kigali or driving back to Entebbe for your onward flight, closing a remarkable adventure that has immersed you in the world of Uganda’s primates.
