6 Day Uganda Primates Safari

This 6 Day Uganda Primates Safari is designed for travellers who want a focused primate trekking experience covering chimpanzees, golden monkeys, and mountain gorillas in one route. The safari starts in Entebbe or Kampala and travels to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking and the Bigodi Wetland nature walk before continuing to southwestern Uganda for golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The itinerary is ideal for travellers who want Uganda’s best primate experiences without adding long savannah game drive days. It combines forest walks, community experiences, scenic countryside, crater region landscapes, Lake Mutanda or Kisoro area stays, and optional cultural visits. The safari can end in Entebbe by road, with a domestic flight from Kisoro, or through Kigali in Rwanda for travellers who want a shorter exit route.

Safari Highlights

Pick-up from Entebbe or Kampala
Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Bigodi Wetland nature walk and community experience
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Transfer to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park area
Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi
Optional Batwa community experience
Return to Entebbe or Kampala by road
Optional domestic flight from Kisoro to Entebbe
Optional exit through Kigali, Rwanda

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1, Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi Wetland Walk

Guided walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary — Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Your 6 Day Uganda Primates Safari begins with pick-up from Entebbe, Kampala, or your confirmed location. After a short briefing from your driver guide, you will start the journey to Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda. The drive takes you through towns, countryside, tea-growing areas, and the Fort Portal region, with stopovers for lunch and stretching depending on timing. On arrival, you will continue to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk and community experience. Bigodi Wetland is known for birds, butterflies, plants, monkeys, and community tourism projects. During the walk, you may see species such as the Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and other wetland wildlife. After the walk, proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Budget Isunga Lodge, Mid-range Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, Luxury Kibale Lodge. Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 2, Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, you will drive to Kibale Forest National Park headquarters for a briefing about chimpanzee trekking rules and forest safety. After the briefing, you will enter the forest with ranger guides and begin trekking in search of chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The trek can take about 2 to 5 hours depending on the location and movement of the chimpanzee group. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will spend one hour observing them as they feed, move, call, groom, and swing through the forest canopy. After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. The rest of the day can be spent at leisure around the lodge or with an optional community activity if available. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest Uganda

Day 3, Transfer from Kibale Forest National Park to Kisoro

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and start the journey to Kisoro in southwestern Uganda. This is a long but scenic drive through western Uganda’s hills, towns, farms, and highland landscapes, with lunch en route. Kisoro is a practical base for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and also connects well with the southern sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On arrival in the late afternoon, you will check in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Budget Travellers Rest Hotel, Mid-range Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Luxury Lake Mutanda Safari Resort. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4, Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After breakfast, you will drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for golden monkey trekking. You will first attend a briefing from the park team before starting the trek with ranger guides. Golden monkeys are usually found in the bamboo forest zone of Mgahinga, and the trek can take several hours depending on their movement. Once the golden monkeys are found, you will spend one hour observing them as they feed, jump through the bamboo, and move in their group. After the trek, you will meet your driver guide and transfer to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park area for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Budget Rushaga Haven Lodge, Mid-range Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Luxury Four Gorillas Lodge. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Batwa Community Experience

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters for the gorilla trekking briefing. The ranger guides will explain trekking rules, safety guidelines, and the gorilla family assigned to your group. You will then enter the forest with ranger guides and trackers. Gorilla trekking can take 2 to 8 hours depending on the location and movement of the gorilla family. The walk can be steep and demanding in some areas, so a reasonable level of fitness is helpful. Once the gorillas are found, you will spend one hour observing them as they feed, rest, move, and interact in the forest. After the trek, return to the meeting point where your driver guide will be waiting. Later in the afternoon, you may take an optional Batwa community experience, depending on time and energy after the trek. This visit introduces you to Batwa cultural stories, music, traditional forest life, and community heritage. Dinner and overnight stay will be at your lodge. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6, Transfer to Kampala or Entebbe for Departure

After breakfast, you will start the journey back to Kampala or Entebbe. This is a long drive of about 9 to 10 hours depending on road conditions, lodge location, and stops along the way. You will have lunch en route and may stop at the Uganda Equator for photos before continuing to Kampala or Entebbe. On arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at your hotel, residence, agreed location, or Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight.

Route options: To reduce the long road transfer, you may take a domestic flight from Kisoro to Entebbe if available and included in the final arrangement. Another option is to end the safari in Kigali, Rwanda, which can be a shorter exit route from the Bwindi or Mgahinga region depending on your lodge location and border arrangements. Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch