13-Day Amazing Wildlife and Primate Trekking in Uganda
Overview
The 13-Day Amazing Wildlife and Primate Trekking in Uganda is one of the most comprehensive safari experiences in the Pearl of Africa. This journey takes you through Uganda’s most iconic wildlife and primate destinations including Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, and Lake Mburo National Park.
The safari offers exceptional opportunities to track mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, encounter rhinos on foot, enjoy thrilling game drives, cruise along the Nile and Kazinga Channel, search for tree climbing lions, and experience Uganda’s diverse landscapes ranging from tropical rainforests and savannah plains to crater lakes and scenic highlands.
Safari Highlights
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Golden monkey trekking
- Nature walks
- Game drive
- Boat cruise
- Cultural encounter
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Hotel
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet your safari guide and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, relax and prepare for your Ugandan adventure.
Accommodation: ViaVia Entebbe / 2 Friends Beach Hotel / Airport Guesthouse Entebbe
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, begin the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking experience on foot.
Continue to Murchison Falls National Park and visit the top of the falls where the Nile River forces its way through a narrow gorge before plunging dramatically below.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge / Fort Murchison / Murchison River Lodge / Hornbill Bush Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise
Enjoy an early morning game drive across the northern plains of Murchison Falls National Park.
Look out for elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, leopards, hartebeests, and Uganda kobs. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge / Fort Murchison / Murchison River Lodge / Hornbill Bush Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Delta Boat Cruise and Evening Game Drive
After breakfast, enjoy a Nile Delta boat safari, one of the best birdwatching excursions in Uganda. You may spot shoebill storks, crocodiles, hippos, and a variety of water birds.
In the afternoon, enjoy another game drive in search of wildlife not seen during previous excursions.
Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge / Fort Murchison / Murchison River Lodge / Hornbill Bush Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, drive south through scenic western Uganda to Kibale Forest National Park.
Arrive in the afternoon and relax at your lodge surrounded by lush forest vegetation.
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Turaco Treetops / Kibale Forest Camp / Isunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, participate in a chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest National Park.
Later, enjoy a guided walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, famous for birds, monkeys, and beautiful vegetation.
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Turaco Treetops / Kibale Forest Camp / Isunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game Drive
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the crater lakes region.
After lunch, enjoy an evening game drive in the Kasenyi Plains where wildlife is often active before sunset.
Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Twin Lakes Safari Lodge / Elephant Hab Lodge / Enganzi Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start the day with a sunrise game drive in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, leopards, and antelopes.
In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, home to one of Africa’s largest concentrations of hippos.
Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Twin Lakes Safari Lodge / Elephant Hab Lodge / Enganzi Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha Sector
Travel through the Ishasha Sector while searching for the famous tree climbing lions.
Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and check into your lodge.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge / Bakiga Lodge / Buhoma Community Haven Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking Experience
After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning your gorilla trekking adventure.
Spend one unforgettable hour observing a mountain gorilla family in their natural habitat before returning to the lodge.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge / Bakiga Lodge / Buhoma Community Haven Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, one of the most beautiful lakes in East Africa.
Spend the afternoon relaxing, canoeing, birdwatching, or enjoying the breathtaking scenery.
Accommodation: BirdNest Resort Bunyonyi / Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi / Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort / Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Game Drive
After breakfast, depart for Lake Mburo National Park.
Enjoy an evening game drive in search of zebras, impalas, elands, buffaloes, giraffes, topis, and warthogs.
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge / Kigarama Wilderness Lodge / Mpogo Safari Lodge / Mihingo Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Walking Safari and Return to Entebbe or Kampala
Begin the day with a guided walking safari, one of the unique activities offered in Lake Mburo National Park.
After breakfast, start the journey back to Entebbe or Kampala with a stop at the Equator for photographs and lunch before arriving in the evening.
Accommodation: No Overnight Accommodation
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Optional Activities
Murchison Falls National Park
- Hot Air Balloon Safari
- Sport Fishing on the Nile
- Bird Watching Safari
- Night Game Drive
- Nature Walks
Kibale Forest National Park
- Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
- Crater Lakes Tour
- Coffee Experience Tour
- Community Cultural Visit
Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Lion Tracking Experience
- Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge
- Maramagambo Forest Walk
- Katwe Salt Mining Tour
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Batwa Cultural Experience
- Gorilla Habituation Experience
- Waterfall Trail Walk
- Community Village Visit
- Coffee Tour
Lake Bunyonyi
- Canoeing
- Island Hopping
- Ziplining
- Nature Walks
- Bird Watching
Lake Mburo National Park
- Boat Cruise
- Horseback Safari
- Mountain Biking
- Bird Watching Safari
- Night Game Drive
Popular Uganda Safaris
- 1 Day Bwindi Gorilla from Kigali
- 2 Days Bwindi trek from Kigali
- 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Tour
- 3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Tour
- 3 Days Queen Elizabeth safari
- 3 Days murchison falls safari
- 3 Days habituation from Kigali
- 4 Days kidepo Wildlife safari
- 4 Days Bwindi gorillas & Mburo
- 4 Days gorillas + Queen Elizabeth
- 5 Days Gorilla & Lion tracking
- 5 Days Gorillas + chimp Tracking
- 6 Days uganda safari
- 7 Days uganda safari
- 8 Days Uganda gorilla tour
- 10 Days Uganda safari
- 15 Days Uganda afari
Tour Includes
- Travel in a 4×4 car
- Professional guide
- Park fees
- Accommodation
- Meals
- All Activities In Itinerary
Tour Excludes
- Alcoholic drinks
- Laundry
- Tips
- Shopping
- Insurance
- Anything not included per itinerary
A Thirteen Day Wildlife and Primate Circuit
This thirteen-day itinerary combines Uganda’s primate trekking highlights, gorillas in Bwindi and chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, with savannah wildlife destinations such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, giving a well-rounded, unhurried picture of the country’s forest and plains ecosystems.
At this length, the itinerary balances higher-intensity trekking days with lower-key game drives and travel days, avoiding the compressed pacing that a shorter version covering the same destinations would require.
Practical Notes
A Uganda e-visa or East Africa Tourist Visa, arranged before travel, is required for most nationalities, along with a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of transmission. Travel insurance covering trekking or wildlife activities and medical evacuation is strongly recommended, and malaria prevention is worth discussing with a travel health clinic ahead of your trip.
US dollars printed after 2009 are widely accepted for park fees, permits and lodge bills, while Ugandan shillings are more practical for tips and smaller day-to-day purchases. Mobile network coverage is generally reliable at lodges and along main routes but becomes patchy inside the parks themselves.
Because permits and lodge availability are limited, particularly during the June to September and December to February peak seasons, we recommend booking this itinerary well in advance given its length and the number of destinations involved.
Tipping is customary though not compulsory. Rangers and trackers typically receive a tip at the end of any trekking activity, scaled to group size, while your driver-guide, who accompanies you throughout the trip, is usually tipped separately at the end. We’re glad to advise on typical tipping ranges when you book.
A private 4×4 safari vehicle with an experienced English-speaking driver-guide accompanies you for the entire trip, handling both park game-viewing tracks and the longer road transfers this itinerary involves.
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All in Africa Safaris arranges tours to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania
3 Days Murchison Falls Safari
Discover the Wildlife in the Murchison Falls National Park with engagement with a boat cruise and game drives which lead to a nature walk on top of the falls
4 Days Gorillas & Queen Wildlife
Visit the magical national parks of Uganda known as Bwindi Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park including gorilla trekking and wildlife views for travelers
5 Days Gorillas & Chimps Track
Explore the great Mgahinga National Park conserving and protecting the endangered Mountain gorillas & chimpanzees in the pearl of Africa
6 Days Uganda Safari
Visit the magical national parks of Uganda known as Bwindi Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park which include the gorilla trekking and wildlife views
1 Day Bwindi Gorilla Tour from Kigali
A fast-paced day trip from Kigali into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for a single unforgettable hour with a mountain gorilla family
3 Days Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale
Track chimpanzees through Africa’s primate capital, Kibale Forest, alongside a community walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
4 Days Kidepo Valley Wildlife Safari
Venture into Uganda’s most remote wilderness for cheetahs, ostriches and dramatic mountain scenery few visitors ever see
7 Day Kidepo and Sipi Safari
Combine Kidepo Valley’s wild plains with waterfall hikes and coffee tours in the Sipi Falls region
10 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
A complete circuit through Volcanoes, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale for gorillas, chimps and classic wildlife
12 Days Uganda Leisure Holidays
An unhurried two-week journey through Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo
14 Days Uganda Northern Circuit
Explore Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls and Sipi Falls on this off-the-beaten-path northern adventure
15 Days Uganda Safari
Uganda’s full highlight reel across two relaxed weeks of gorillas, chimps, wildlife and scenic countryside