6 Days Primates Safari in Uganda

After meeting your driver-guide, you'll begin the journey west toward Kibale Forest National Park, passing through Uganda's countryside and agricultural landscapes.

The drive takes you through towns and rural communities, with opportunities to enjoy views of farms, plantations and the changing scenery of western Uganda.

Depending on the route and timing, you can make a stop around Fort Portal for lunch before continuing toward Kibale.

You can also include a short visit to the crater-lake region if time allows.

Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon or evening, check in and relax.

Since chimpanzee trekking starts early the following morning, the evening is kept relaxed.

After an early breakfast, you'll travel to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for registration and briefing.

Your ranger guide will explain the trekking guidelines before you enter the forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community.

Kibale is one of Uganda's premier chimpanzee destinations, and the trek also provides opportunities to encounter other primates, birds and forest wildlife.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you'll spend time observing them as they feed, groom, communicate, climb through the canopy and move through the forest.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, you can take an optional Bigodi Wetland walk, a community-run experience known for primates, birds and other wetland wildlife.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, check out and begin the journey toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

This is one of the longer transfer days of the safari, but the journey is highly scenic.

You'll travel through western Uganda, passing rolling hills, agricultural communities, crater lakes and highland landscapes.

Lunch will be taken along the way.

As you approach southwestern Uganda, the landscape becomes increasingly mountainous and green.

Depending on the Bwindi trekking sector selected on the gorilla permit, you'll continue toward Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo.

Arrive at your lodge, check in and relax.

Your guide can also brief you about the following day's gorilla trekking experience.

After an early breakfast, you'll head to the Rushaga or Nkuringo trekking headquarters for briefing before entering Bwindi's ancient rainforest.

Spend the morning trekking through the forest in search of your assigned gorilla family. Once the gorillas are located, you'll have your designated viewing time to observe them in their natural environment.

After completing the trek, return to the park headquarters and have lunch.

Rather than spending another night in Bwindi, your safari continues toward Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The drive takes you through the dramatic Kigezi highlands toward Kisoro and the Virunga volcanic region. From southern Bwindi, Mgahinga is relatively close, making this a practical afternoon transfer.

Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, check in and relax after your gorilla trek.

After breakfast, spend the day exploring the Mgahinga area.

If you want to keep the itinerary strongly focused on primates, this is an excellent opportunity for golden monkey trekking. Mgahinga is one of Uganda's key destinations for this experience, giving the traveler a second distinct primate encounter after the gorillas.

Alternatively, you can make this a more relaxed day with a nature walk, cultural experience or an excursion around the Kisoro/Lake Mutanda area.

After breakfast, check out and begin your journey from Mgahinga toward Kampala or Entebbe.

The drive takes you from Kisoro through the mountainous Kigezi region and onward toward central Uganda.

Depending on the departure time, you can stop for lunch along the way. Travelers with a late international flight can continue directly to Entebbe International Airport.