Detailed 7 Days Uganda Birding & Primates Tour

Day 1: Pick up & drive to Kibale

Meet with your safari guide for briefing and after, drive along Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal tourism city route to Kibale Forest National Park. The park is lying in Western Uganda, accessible from 5 to 6 hours’ drive. Kibale alone has a record of 13 primate species including a total of 1500 chimpanzees; red colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and 375 bird species.

Once you have reached at the park, check in at the respective lodges for relaxation and lunch break. After, leave the accommodation for a guided Bigodi Wetland walk inclusive of birding expedition. This wetland has a record of over 138 species of birds, and during the afternoon. The bird record in Bigodi Wetland include collared apalis, papyrus gonoleks, yellow rumped tinker birds, black and white casqued hornbills, yellow spotted and double-toothed barbets, western nicator, brown chested alethe, little greenbul, grey winged robin chat, purple breasted sunbird, black bee-eaters, white spotted fluff tail, yellow billed barbet, white tailed ant thrush, brown crowned tchagra and more.

Accommodation choices

• Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge/Rweteera Guesthouse
• Midrange: Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Primate Lodge
• Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge

Day 2 of 7 Days Uganda Birding & Primates Tour: Chimpanzee tracking & drive to Semuliki

Enjoy a delicious breakfast; you will be transferred to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing and clearing with park officials. You will set off for the actual trek to see chimpanzees starting at 8:00 am taking about 2 to 4 hours which includes one hour of a close encounter. Kibale is a rich primate destination, comprising of 13 different species of primates and besides chimpanzees, other primates to see include red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, etc.

After tracking Kibale chimpanzees, have lunch at leisure and later transfer to Semuliki National Park, 2-3 hours’ drive. Semuliki is most popular not only for its Sempaya hot springs but also abundant bird species. You will check in at the classic lodge pre-booked for you by our team.

Accommodation choices

• Budget: Bugama Cottages
• Luxury: Ntoroko Game Lodge
• Luxury: Semuliki Safari Lodge

Day 3 of 7 Days Uganda Birding & Primates Tour: Birding in Semliki & evening game drive

After breakfast, you will embark on the Sempaya trail to visit the Sempaya hot springs which features female and male. This natural wonder can boil up to 100 degrees celsius and you can come along with some plantain or eggs to carry out your experiment. Its powerfulness is incredible and believed in just minutes, your plantain can be ready for consumption.

From the Sempaya trail, connect to the birding trail (preferably the Nkulengu trail) expecting to sight a variety of birds. Semuliki is endowed with over 441 bird species and along Nkulengu trail, the birds to expect to be spotted include orange cheeked waxbill, yellow throated nicator, Iyre tailed honey guide, Congo serpent eagle, Sassi’s olive greenbul, red rumped tinker bird, red billed helmet shrike, long-tailed hawk, red eyed puff back, ross’s turacos, great blue turacos, piping hornbill, Maxwell’s black weavers and more.

Retreat from the walking and birding expedition, enjoy a leisurely lunch then later in the evening, and embark on a game drive. Semuliki is renowned for its rewarding night game drives as you get a chance to encounter most of the nocturnal species.

Accommodation choices

• Budget: Bugama Cottages
• Moderate: Ntoroko Game Lodge
• Luxury: Semuliki Safari Lodge

Day 4 of 7 Days Uganda Birding & Primates Tour: Semuliki to Queen Elizabeth N/Park (Western Uganda)

Set off from Semuliki to Queen Elizabeth NP, home to the distinct tree climbing lions and other abundant wildlife and birds. You will spend about 4 hours to drive to Queen Elizabeth Park, and once you have arrived, settle for a leisurely lunch. In the afternoon, exit the lodge for a rewarding launch cruise on Kazinga channel 2 hours and expect to come across several of aquatic life including crocodiles, hippos, and birds.

Accommodation choices

• Budget: Simba Camp/Pumba Safari Cottages
• Midrange: Elephant Plains Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge

Day 5 of 7 Days Uganda Birding & Primates Tour: Game drive & drive to Bwindi National Park

Wake up early; have a delicious breakfast followed by a game drive through Kasenyi plains. The 2-3 hours of guided game drive includes viewing plenty of wildlife species such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and several birds. Return to the lodge for an early lunch and proceed to Ishasha with a chance to see tree climbing lions as you drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Accommodation choices

• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Midrange: Haven Lodge or Engagi Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge or Mahogany Springs

Day 6 of 7 Days Uganda Birding & Primates Tour: Gorilla trekking safari experience

After breakfast, transfer to Buhoma trailhead for briefing from Bwindi Park officials starting at 7:00 am. Buhoma has 4 fully habituated gorilla families (Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe), and today, the park official will assign to you one to visit in your group of 8 visitors. The actual tracking begins at 8:00 am, lasting for 2-6 hours which include one hour of getting up close and personal with the massive mountain gorillas.

Start descending back to the lodge after photography and have time to relax, regain some energy before you visit the Batwa community. At the Batwa, you will have a memorable cultural experience –explore in depth the ancient ways of Batwa pygmies who once lived in Bwindi as hunters and gatherers for many years.

Accommodation choices

• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Midrange: Haven Lodge or Engagi Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge or Mahogany Springs

Day 7 of 7 Days Uganda Birding & Primates Tour: Pick up at the gorilla lodge & drive back to Kampala

Pick up at the lodge in Bwindi and drive back to Kampala 8-9 hours, but includes en-route lunch at Igongo cultural center and equator for photography. After, continue to Kampala or Entebbe to be dropped off to the hotel for relaxation.

End of 7 Days Uganda Birding & Primates Tour