17 days Uganda primate and wildlife Group safari

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our representative. Depending on your flight time, you will take a short drive to Mabamba Wetlands, one of Uganda’s most important birding sanctuaries. Here, you’ll board a canoe with a local guide and explore the papyrus channels in search of the rare and iconic Shoebill Stork, alongside colorful bird species such as Malachite Kingfishers, African Jacanas, and Swamp Flycatchers. Later, you’ll transfer to your hotel in Entebbe for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive towards the foothills of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda. Passing through Jinja, the source of the Nile, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the countryside, sugarcane plantations, and local markets. Arrival at Sipi Falls in the late afternoon offers a refreshing change of scenery, with cool mountain air and breathtaking views of the cascading waterfalls. Check into your lodge perched on the cliffs overlooking the falls.

Today you’ll set out on a guided hike to explore the three stunning waterfalls of Sipi. The trails meander through lush farms, coffee plantations, and caves, with panoramic views over the Karamoja plains. In the MIDMORNING, drive northeast to Moroto, the heartland of the Karamojong people. On arrival, you’ll visit a traditional Karamojong homestead (manyatta) to learn about their pastoral lifestyle, unique customs, and vibrant cultural heritage. Overnight in Moroto.

Depart Moroto after breakfast and drive through rugged savannah landscapes into the remote Kidepo Valley National Park, one of Africa’s last true wilderness areas. This stunning park is characterized by dramatic mountain ranges, sweeping valleys, and rich wildlife diversity. On arrival, settle into your lodge surrounded by unspoiled nature, and prepare for the exciting adventures ahead.

Today is dedicated to exploring Kidepo’s vast savannahs. With its large herds of buffalo, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and predators such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards, Kidepo offers exceptional game viewing. You’ll take time enjoying wildlife taking pictures and videos, the day ends with a sundowner,  your guide will organize every detail, after your sundowner and this memorable moments, your will head back to your lodge, later, dinner and overnight relaxation

After an early morning game drive to catch predators returning from the hunt and grazers beginning their day, you’ll depart Kidepo and head southwest to Gulu. Along the way, enjoy the transition from rugged wilderness to Uganda’s bustling northern town. Arrive in Gulu in the evening for dinner and rest.

This morning you set off for Uganda’s largest national park, Murchison Falls. Arrive at your lodge inside the park in time for an evening game drive through the savannah. Expect to see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, and possibly lions as the sun sets over the Nile.

Start the day with a thrilling morning game drive across the Buligi Circuit, offering prime chances to spot big cats, elephants, and abundant antelope species. In the afternoon, take a memorable boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. Hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds line the riverbanks, while elephants come to drink. The sight of the Nile forcing its way through a narrow gorge before plunging 43 meters is simply spectacular.

After a final 1-2 hours game drive, you’ll visit the “Top of the Falls,” where the Nile squeezes through a 7-meter gorge with incredible power and thunderous sound. Afterwards, depart for Hoima, driving through rural villages and rolling countryside. Check In at your lodge, later head out for an evening walk, visit a local market to interact with traders and experience Uganda’s vibrant daily life. Later return to your lodge before dark, evening local cultural dance from Bunyoro kingdom culture, diner and overnight in Hoima.

Today’s journey takes you through the lush tea estates of western Uganda en route to Kibale National Park, the primate capital of East Africa. In the afternoon, set out for an exciting chimpanzee trekking experience. With the guidance of experienced rangers, you’ll follow the calls and movements of a chimpanzee troop, observing their playful behavior, feeding habits, and complex social structures up close. The walk is relatively flat and easy, however here it’s a tropical rain forest, you have to take the right gears, it can rain any time, at times you have to cross water catchment areas, so water proof shoes and rain gears are a necessity.

After breakfast, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run conservation project rich in birdlife and primates. A guided nature walk here offers sightings of colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and hornbills. In the afternoon, enjoy a hike to the “Top of the World,” a panoramic viewpoint overlooking crater lakes, tea plantations, and the Rwenzori Mountains in the distance. Overnight near Kibale.

Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where savannah meets volcanic craters and the Rwenzori Mountains form a dramatic backdrop. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lakes Edward and George. The channel teems with hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and hundreds of bird species, making it one of Uganda’s richest wildlife spectacles.

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Continue into the misty highlands of Bwindi, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Arrive at your lodge nestled on the edge of the forest, ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

Today you’ll embark on one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on earth: trekking the mountain gorillas of Bwindi. After a briefing, you’ll be led by experienced guides through dense forest in search of your assigned gorilla family. The trek may take several hours, but the reward of observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat—watching them play, feed, and interact—is an unforgettable and deeply moving experience.

The day starts with a drive to the park office, here you will start with registration, which will be done by your guide. You will start with short entertainment for the local community of the Batwa who used to live in the forest as food gatherers and hunters, after with a general detailed activity briefing from the rangers, after the briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family that you will visit. You will also be assigned a ranger guide, plus two armed rangers for security incase of forest elephants, buffaloes of wild chimpanzees, after this, with your parked lunch, you will enter the forest, and begin your adventure in search of the mountain gorillas, your hike will depend on the location of the days gorilla family, and access, how far close can your safari jeep drive. Your ranger guide will be in touch with the trackers, to ensure you use shortcuts and make the hike shorter as much as possible, when you he finally locates the family, you will be informed and you will have a preparation stop over before going face to face with these beautiful creatures.  During this stop, you will sip water, of if its already late, you will have your lunch, after the break, you will head face to face with the gorillas, your stay with them will be 1 hours. You are free to take as many pictures and videos as you want. With no camera flash. Cause this can irritate the gorillas. After a 1 hour stay with them, your will embark on your walk back to the starting point. You will find your guide waiting for you, get into the car, drive back to your lodge with beautiful memories.

After the intensity of the gorilla trek, you’ll transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, “the lake of little birds.” Surrounded by rolling hills and dotted with over 20 islands, this tranquil lake is perfect for relaxation.  Spend the day at leisure: swimming, later in the evening, enjoy an evening relaxing boat cruise, as you learn about the history of the islands like the leprosy island, and the punishment islands,  later return to your lodge and spend the rest of the evening  enjoying the peaceful setting from your lodge.

Today you’ll journey to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah park but home to unique wildlife not commonly found elsewhere, such as impalas, elands, and Burchell’s zebras. On arrival, head out for an evening game drive across the park’s acacia-dotted plains, an evening sundowner, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Start the day with a guided walking safari, offering a chance to experience the bush on foot while tracking giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. Afterwards, begin your return journey to Entebbe, with a stop at the equator for photos and souvenir shopping. Depending on your flight schedule, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight home.