9 Days Great Apes Of Uganda And Best Wildlife Adventure 2025

Tour Overview: 9 Days Great Apes Of Uganda

The 9 days great apes and wildlife magical adventure starts in Entebbe and ends in Kigali. It covers 2 primate destinations, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale Forest National Park. The trip will take you to Kibale Forest National Park which is the primate capital and while there, you will have a chance of seeing quite several primates. The safari will continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is famous for the tree-climbing lions and the Kazinga channel boat cruise. The safari will continue to Bwindi’s impenetrable forest which has half of the world’s mountain gorillas that share 99% DNA with the humans. Finally, you will transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. While at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you will have a wonderful time meeting the golden monkeys.

Safari Gallery: 9 Days Great Apes Of Uganda

Detailed itinerary: 9 Days Great Apes Of Uganda

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met and greeted by our friendly and Professional driver/ guide. He will brief and take you through your trip plan then transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe for relaxation and dinner in preparation for your 9 days great apes of Uganda Adventure.

Accommodation: Papyrus guest house (Midrange)/ Via Via Entebbe (Budget)

Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and drive to Kibale Forest National Park. You will be able to enjoy an impressive sight of the legendary “mountains of the moon” which you will see on the road to Fort Portal. You will also pass through many traditional villages as you enjoy local people carrying out agriculture.

You will also enjoy Fort Portal which is in the foothills of mountain Rwenzori filled with tea plantations filled with tea plantations, after enjoying this platform of green tea, you will continue to Kibale Forest National Park which is one of the great rain forests in Africa. This forest is mainly famous for around 13 primate species with chimpanzees being the main tracked chimpanzees. The other primate species include the golden monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys, as well as the bird species. The park is also next to Bigodi Wetland which is managed and owned by the local people in the area, this place is famous for primate watching as well as birding.

On arrival at the park, you will check into your lodge for relaxation.

Accommodation: Turacco treetops (Midrange)/ Kibale forest camp (Budget)

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth.

Wake up so early and head to Kanyanchu by 8:00 am to start your chimpanzee trek in the Kibale forest. Chimpanzees are considered to be the closest relatives of human beings since they share 98% of their DNA with that of human beings. As you proceed with the search of these beautiful chimps, you will view many other primate and animal species including the LHoests monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bush babies, and many bird species including yellow-spotted nictor, ramped tinker, crowed eagle, as well as the elephants which are mammals.

This national park is on an average of 3,300 feet in elevation and it’s a rainforest with many chimpanzee communities, each troop of these chimpanzees has over 100 individuals which is a competed social structure. In their groups, the adult males dominate the group and always defend the whole community against any danger and incursions by the females from outside. These primates are located by listening to their pant-hooting calls and then hurrying to the place where they are calling from. You get a chance to observe them as they play, feed; socialize as well as jump around the trees.

Immediately after the long trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch, and after lunch, you will check out of the lodge for your transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation:  Aardvark safari lodge (Midrange)/ Bush lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 4: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise.

Arise early enough to continue with your 9 days great apes of Uganda, enjoy a morning game drive where you will see various animals like elephants, elands, antelopes, buffaloes, and lions among others. After having your lunch at the lodge, you will transfer to Ishasha to see the famous tree-climbing lions which can only be sighted at Queen Elizabeth in the Ishasha sector. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will do the afternoon set out for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel where you will see various animals like crocodiles, hippos, water bucks, and buffaloes as well as birds like storks, and kingfishers among others.

Accommodation:  Aardvark safari lodge (Midrange)/ Bush lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Have breakfast then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda (harboring an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population) including several habituated groups, which you will trek. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, and relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Accommodation: Ichumbi lodge (Midrange)/ Gorilla hills eco-lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Talks Experience

Encountering the rare and endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an experience of a lifetime. Half of the world’s population of gorillas lives under the mist-covered canopies of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest. In the company of an experienced park ranger, you will be tracking the whereabouts of one of the nine habituated family groups who live in the park.  Your tracking experience will be an exciting, yet challenging, journey along forested (often muddy and slippery) slopes, tangled vines, thick vegetation, and bamboo forests before you reach the territory of these gentle giants.

En route, your ranger will point out telltale signs of previous gorilla activity like dung, nests, and chewed bamboo shoots. Depending on the location of the gorillas on any given day the walk can take anything from 2 to 7 hours. Once the family of gorillas has been located, settle into your surroundings and enjoy the hour you have to quietly observe these fascinating primates whose habits and mannerisms remind us so much of our own.

Encountering mountain gorillas in the wild is a truly humbling and emotional experience, one that you are sure to remember for the rest of your life.

Accommodation: Ichumbi lodge (Midrange)/ Gorilla hills eco-lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 7: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Continuing with your 9 days great apes of Uganda, After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge with the help of your guide and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Accommodation: Ikoro hotel (Midrange)/ Travelers rest hotel (Budget)

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 8: Golden monkey habituation

Leave for the morning golden monkey habituation experience which will make you stay longer with the golden monkeys than the normal golden monkey trekking, you enjoy an almost full day with these great apes right from the time when they are still in their nest up the time, they will be breastfeeding their young ones and other daily activities, you stay with them for 4-6 hours. After the golden monkey habituation, you will transfer back to the lodge for an overnight stay and dinner.

Accommodation: Ikoro hotel (Midrange)/ Travelers rest hotel (Budget)

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 9: Transfer to Kigali International Airport

On this day have your relaxed breakfast, and thereafter you will be taken to Kigali International Airport for your flight back home.

End of 9 Days Great Apes Of Uganda Tour

Inclusions:

• Transportation
• Accommodation
• Meals as specified above
• Gorilla permits
• Golden monkey permits
• Chimpanzee permits
• All entrance fees
• An English-speaking guides
• Cultural tour
• All activities mentioned above

Exclusions

• Tips & gratuities
• Activities that are not mentioned above
• Alcoholic drinks
• Visa fees
• Air tickets