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16 Days Uganda Primate, Game and Cultural tour

Overview

This 16 days Uganda primate, game and cultural tour offers an immersive exploration of Uganda, known as ‘The Pearl of Africa.’ You will journey through four of Uganda’s savannah parks: Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. This adventure includes thrilling game drives and scenic boat cruises, providing ample opportunities to spot diverse wildlife such as antelopes, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards. Highlights include a boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls, a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a boat ride in Lake Mburo National Park, and a canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to trek for the great apes, including three chimp treks in Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and Kibale Forest National Park, culminating in a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. To enhance your experience, the safari includes village and community walks to learn about local cultures.

Key Highlights on this 16 Days Uganda Primate, Game and Cultural tour

Chimpanzee Trekking: Budongo Forest, Kibale National Park, and Kyambura Gorge.
White Rhino Tracking: Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Game Drives: Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.
Boat Cruises: River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo, and Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Cultural Interactions: Village walks to engage with local communities and learn about their cultures.

Additional Information

Start Date: Flexible, can start any time.
All-Inclusive: Activities, meals, chimp and gorilla permits, park fees, lodges, vehicle hire, and guide fees.
Group Size: Minimum of 2 people, maximum of 6 people.
Age Limit: Suitable for participants aged 15 years and above.
Starting and Ending Point: Safari starts and ends in Uganda.

TRIP ITINERARY

Tour Plan

Day 1

Arrival and Transfer to Entebbe

Upon your arrival, our Trek Africa Expeditions guide will meet you and transfer you to your guest house or hotel for an overnight stay. Depending on your arrival time, you may opt for an additional activity such as a boat excursion to Ngamba Island, a visit to the Entebbe Botanic Gardens, or a tour of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. These activities are optional and not included in the main itinerary.

Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast
Accommodation: Secrets Guest House

Day 1

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Begin your 16-day primate, game, and cultural tour with a drive to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track the endangered white rhinos being restocked in Uganda. After tracking, continue to Budongo Forest in the Murchison Falls National Park Conservation area. Overnight at Budongo Eco Lodge on a full board basis.

Drive time: Approximately 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Budongo Eco Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2

Budongo Chimpanzee Trekking and Top of the Falls Visit

After breakfast, head to the forest headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. Embark on a guided primate walk in Budongo Forest, encountering various primates, birds, and plant species. Spend an hour observing and photographing the chimpanzees. Afterward, drive to Murchison Falls National Park for a brief game drive and a visit to the top of the falls to witness the powerful Nile waters. Overnight at Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge.

Drive Time: Approximately 2 hours
Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3

Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Nile

Start early with a game drive on the northern banks of the Nile (Paraa), where you can spot antelopes, hippos, buffaloes, giraffes, and possibly lions and leopards. After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls, spotting buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos, and various bird species. Return to the lodge for overnight.

Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4

Morning Game Drive and Late Afternoon Delta Cruise

After breakfast, head out for another game drive on the northern bank of the Nile. Return for lunch, then embark on a late afternoon boat cruise to the Albert Delta. Keep an eye out for elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and possibly the rare shoebill stork. Return to the lodge for overnight.

Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5

Hoima Town for a Cultural Walk

Drive to Hoima town, approximately 3 hours from Murchison Falls National Park. Depending on road conditions, you might pass via Lake Albert for a scenic drive. After checking in at your hotel, you can either take a cultural walk or enjoy cultural performances at the lodge, learning about local traditions.

Drive time: Approximately 3 hours
Accommodation: Kontik Hotel or Hoima Cultural Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 6

Transfer to Kibale National Park

Travel to Kibale Forest National Park via Fort Portal town, with a lunch stop in Fort Portal. Check in at Rwenzori View Guest House. If time allows, explore Fort Portal town.

Drive time: Approximately 4 hours
Accommodation: Rwenzori View Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7

Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk

After breakfast, head to Kibale National Park headquarters at Kanyanchu for a briefing before your chimpanzee trek. Spend an hour with a habituated chimpanzee community, observing and photographing them. After lunch, visit Bigodi Village for a wetland walk managed by the local community, with fees benefiting local conservation efforts.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Isunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Dinner

Day 8

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive from Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through small towns, Rwenzori foothills, and crossing the Equator at Kikorongo. Check in at Bush Lodge, then head out for a late afternoon game drive in Mweya, where you can spot antelopes, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, and possibly lions and leopards. Return to the lodge for overnight.

Drive Time: Approximately 3-4 hours
Accommodation: Elephant Hab or Pumba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 9

Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Start with an early morning game drive in Kasenyi plains, aiming to spot lions and leopards on the hunt. Return to the lodge for lunch or head directly to Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This two-hour cruise offers sightings of water birds, antelopes, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and hippos. Return to the lodge for overnight.

Accommodation: Elephant Hab or Pumba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 10

Kyambura Chimp Trekking and Katwe Salt Mines

Drive to Kyambura for a briefing and chimpanzee trek in the gorge. Spend an hour with the chimps before returning for lunch. In the afternoon, visit Lake Katwe salt mines, where a local guide will explain the salt extraction process and its challenges. Return to the lodge for overnight.

Accommodation: Elephant Hab or Pumba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 11

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda, spanning the districts of Kabale, Kanungu, and Kisoro. Your journey will take you through rolling hills with terraced gardens of Irish potatoes and sometimes tea. Arrive in the late afternoon for an overnight stay at the lodge. Bwindi is home to nearly half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas and is the only park where wild chimpanzees coexist with gorillas.

Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Trekkers Tavern Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 12

Gorilla Tracking and Village Walk

After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters to join other trekkers and be allocated a gorilla family to track. You will receive a briefing on the dos and don’ts before starting your trek into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The trek can take between 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the gorillas' location. Once you find the gorillas, you will have one hour to observe and photograph them. Although the time is limited, the experience is unforgettable. After the trek, return to the park headquarters to receive a certificate recognizing your contribution to gorilla conservation. Later, take a village walk to learn about the local communities living around the park and their conservation efforts.

Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Trekkers Tavern Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 13

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Drive from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale District, one of Uganda’s three lava-dammed lakes. Formed by lava blocking a river channel, Lake Bunyonyi is known for its depth and the abundance of small birds, giving it its name, which means "place of many little birds." The lake is the deepest in Uganda and the second deepest in East Africa. It's an ideal place to relax after your gorilla trek.

Approximately 3-4 hours
Accommodation: Birdnest Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 14

Canoeing or Hiking

After breakfast, enjoy the beauty of Lake Bunyonyi and its surrounding hills. Choose between a canoe ride to explore the lake’s islands, such as Punishment Island, or a hike on one of the nearby hills. Encounter Africa Safaris supports community projects around the area, offering an opportunity for volunteer work. Return to the lodge for overnight.

Accommodation: Birdnest Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 15

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park, stopping at the Great Lakes Museum or Igongo Cultural Center to learn about the cultures of western Uganda. Have lunch en route and arrive at Lake Mburo in time for an evening game drive. The park is known for its impalas, giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife. Overnight at the lodge.

Drive time: Approximately 6 hours
Accommodation: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge or Rwakobo Rock
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 16

Return to Entebbe International Airport

After breakfast, you'll begin your journey back to Entebbe International Airport. Depending on your flight schedule, you can take a morning walking safari or begin your journey to Entebbe International Airport. Stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photos and a break, though this is optional and not included in the main itinerary.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

INCLUDES & EXCLUDES

Includes

Airport transfers on the first and last day
Gorilla Permits
Kibale Chimpanzee Permit
Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
Services of an English-speaking driver/guide
Fuel for the entire trip
Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
All Park entrance fees
Drinking water while in the vehicle

Excludes

Pre and post tour accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala
International airfares
Uganda Visa (USD50.00 which can be paid on arrival at the Airport

TOUR MAP

GENERAL FAQs

General FAQs

Can I reschedule or cancel this trip?

Rescheduling: You can reschedule this trip as a private tour to any date within 12 months at no additional cost.
Booking Deposit: A 30% deposit of the total tour price is required to secure your booking. The remaining balance is due 45 days before the tour departure date. Bookings not secured with the appropriate deposit will be released.
Cancellation Policy:
- Cancel between 90 and 45 days before departure: 20% penalty of the tour price.
- Cancel within 45 days of departure or no show: 100% penalty of the tour price.

Availability and Accommodations

Reservations: Accommodation and activity availability is not guaranteed until reservations are confirmed with the final itinerary and deposit payment. If any quoted accommodations are unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute them with suitable alternatives, which may affect the final quoted price.

Insurance

Requirement: All clients must have medical and travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances.

Rates

Subject to Change: Tour rates are subject to change without notice. We will make every effort to maintain rates, but changes in government taxes or operating conditions may be passed on to clients.

Permit Cancellation Policy

Uganda Gorilla Permit Cancellation Policy

Guarantee: A Gorilla Permit is guaranteed only upon receipt of the deposit ($800 per person per trek) as it must be paid immediately to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Cancellation Fees

More than 90 days before tracking: 25% cancellation fee.
89 to 46 days before tracking: 50% cancellation fee.
45 to 9 days before tracking: 75% cancellation fee.
8 to 0 days before tracking: 100% cancellation fee.

Important Information

Age Requirement: The minimum age for gorilla tracking is 15 years.
Health: Visitors with flu or other airborne diseases will not be allowed into the rainforest jungle to see the gorillas.
Safety Protocols: Masks must be worn at all times, and a distance of 10 meters must be maintained between you and the gorillas.

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