Kalinzu Forest Reserve Home of Chimpanzees!

Detailed Itinerary of the 12 Day Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your professional safari guide. After a brief introduction and trip orientation, you will be transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or simply relax and recover from your flight. Distance: 5 km to 45 km depending on hotel location.

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Rhino Tracking and Transfer to Murchison Falls Your journey begins with a drive north toward Murchison Falls National Park. Along the way, you will stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is the only place in Uganda where you can track southern white rhinos on foot with an experienced ranger. After lunch, you will continue through the park gates to your lodge. Distance: 310 km (approximately 6 hours).

Day 3: Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls Game Drive and Boat Cruise Start the day with an early morning game drive in the northern sector of the park. You will look for lions, leopards, elephants, Rothschild giraffes, and various antelope species. In the afternoon, you will take a boat cruise up the Nile River to the base of the Murchison Falls. From there, you will take a guided hike to the top of the falls to witness the Nile squeezing through a narrow 7-meter gorge.  Localized driving within the park.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park This is a scenic transit day as you head southwest toward the primate capital of the world. You will pass through the Albertine Escarpment, offering views of Lake Albert and the Rift Valley. The route takes you through the lush green tea plantations of Fort Portal before arriving at the edge of Kibale Forest. Distance is  250 km (approximately 7 to 8 hours).

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland

Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland In the morning, you will head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing before entering the forest to track habituated chimpanzees. After spending an hour with these primates, you will return for lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a community-led nature walk, which is excellent for spotting monkeys and the Great Blue Turaco. Distance: 40 km round trip.

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park After breakfast, you will drive south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. This route takes you past the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon) and across the Equator. You will enjoy an evening game drive in the Kasenyi plains, a primary breeding ground for Uganda Kob and a great place to spot predators. Distance: 120 km (approximately 3 hours).

Day 7: Game Drive & Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel

Kazinga Channel Cruise and Kalinzu Area The morning begins with another game drive to catch the early hunters. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a 2-hour boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. This waterway connects Lake Edward and Lake George and boasts one of the highest concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in Africa. Later, you will transfer to the nearby Kalinzu Forest area. Distance: 40 km (approximately 1 hour).

Day 8: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kalinzu Forest

Kalinzu Forest Chimpanzee Trekking Today you will explore the Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve. This forest is famous for its high biodiversity and successful chimpanzee sightings. Please note that a 30 dollar service fee is required to book and secure these permits in advance. After your trek, you will have the afternoon to relax or take a guided walk through the tea estates. Distance: Localized driving.

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park

Ishasha Sector to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest You will drive through the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is world-renowned for its tree-climbing lions, which can often be seen resting in the branches of large fig trees. After a game search, you will continue south into the high-altitude mountains of Bwindi. Distance: 160 km (approximately 6 hours).

Day 10: Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi Forest

Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi This is the most anticipated day of the safari. After an early briefing at the park headquarters, you will enter the ancient rainforest in search of a mountain gorilla family. The trek can be physically demanding but rewarding. Once the gorillas are found, you will spend exactly one hour observing them. Afterward, you may choose to visit the Batwa pygmy community for a cultural experience. Localized driving.

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park You will leave the mountains behind and head toward Lake Mburo, Uganda’s smallest savanna park. It is the best place to see zebras, elands, and impalas. Upon arrival, you will take an evening game drive or a boat trip on Lake Mburo to see the diverse birdlife and hippos. Distance is 210 km (approximately 5 hours).

Day 12 : Departure to Kampala/ Entebbe

Guided Nature Walk and Return to Entebbe In the morning, you will go for a guided nature walk with an armed ranger, allowing you to get close to wildlife on foot. You will then begin the return journey to Entebbe. You will stop at the Equator crossing for lunch and souvenir shopping before being dropped off at the airport for your departure flight. Distance is  290 km (approximately 5 hours).