Uganda's Primates & Wildlife Adventure

After landing in Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, you will be met and transferred to the nearby Karibu Guesthouse Entebbe for the night. Take this opportunity to relax and unwind following your travels – high-pressure showers, spa and massage facilities, and a swimming pool are all on hand to help with this.

Following a restful night, and an early breakfast, a guide will pick you up in a 4WD vehicle for your journey to Fort Portal, found in the northern foothills of the Ruwenzori Mountains. Although the drive will take approximately five hours, the route traverses rolling hillsides and tea plantations as well as various rural towns, ensuring there’s always something interesting on the horizon.

After a stop in Fort Portal for lunch, the final sprint to your destination commences and by early afternoon, the Ndali Lodge team are ready to welcome you.

Time permitting, take a refreshing dip in the lodge swimming pool or venture out on a guided walk around the rim of Crater Lake. Whatever you choose, be sure to take a moment to admire the magnificent views over the lake and across to the dense foliage beyond. A candlelit dinner brings the day to a close and your secluded en-suite cottage awaits. The following morning, following a restful slumber, take in striking views of the snow-capped Rwenzori mountains from the comfort of your private veranda before heading to the main lodge. Despite having no electricity – to ensure nothing impedes the natural forest atmosphere – a comprehensive breakfast is served on the lodge veranda overlooking the lake, the best way to start a day.

From there, the day’s adventure begins as you depart Ndali Lodge and journey to the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for an unforgettable Primate Walk. This incredible community-run initiative is committed to conserving the area’s unique biodiversity and has created a safe space to encounter several primate species, other interesting mammals, and over 200 aviary species. Following your guided tour, a hearty lunch is on the menu before your next adventure, the Chimpanzee Track.

Step foot into the legendary Kibale Forest for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The forest is known to have the greatest variety, and highest concentration, of primates in East Africa, making it almost impossible not to locate a group. Meander through rich foliage and listen to the chatter of chimps while watching them interact – how babies cling to their mothers, how older males protect their troop, and how boisterous youngers play. After an enthralling afternoon, return to Ndali Lodge and share stories of the day while watching the sun set over the mountains.

Bid farewell to Ndali Lodge and begin the approximately three-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. As your driver navigates their way around the Ruwenzori Mountains, admire the well-loved agricultural landscapes and quaint towns before crossing the Equator.

Upon entering the national park, an abundance of Ugandan Kobs can be seen, as well as the odd elephant and buffalo in the distance. Take a respite from the drive and enjoy a light lunch before continuing your journey through the park in a more game drive style before reaching your destination, Kyambura Gorge Lodge. This eclectic former coffee plantation is the perfect place to relax and unwind for the remainder of the day before retiring to your Banda after dinner.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s premier big game park and is home to a host of incredible wildlife, including lion, leopard, buffalo, and even the odd crocodile – not to mention the primate species. Enjoy scintillating game drives with exceptional guides and breathtaking boat cruises along the famous Kazinga Channel, which links Lake George and Lake Edward. Keep your eyes peeled for exciting wild- and birdlife drawn to the channel and see how many hippos you can spot - the area has one of the world’s highest concentrations of these hefty river-dwellers year-round.

In addition to wildlife-based activities, the local community projects are also worth visiting during your stay. The Omwani Women’s Coffee Cooperative is an initiative to provide vocational training to women for sustainable women to tend to Arabica and Robusta coffee plants spanning 100 acres of land. The coffee is grown organically and processed by hand, all of which can be seen on the coffee tour before enjoying a sample of ‘the best cup of coffee in Uganda’.

Bid farewell to the northern sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and head towards the Congolese border. As part of your approximately five- to six-hour journey, enjoy a thrilling game drive in the Ishasha Plains, best known for its tree-climbing lions. Depart Ishasha for a spectacularly scenic drive traversing rolling hills and terraced fields before arriving at Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge, your home for the next few nights.

Step foot in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with seasoned guides for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Gorilla Tracking. Trek through the forest following the telltale signs of these gentle giants and meet their expressive gaze from a polite distance. Watch as the troop interact and go about their daily life and marvel at the privilege of witnessing their world without a filter.

On your last full day, choose to spend the day at leisure at Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge overlooking the forest canopy, enjoying a well-deserved massage, or venturing along the Munyanga River tail to a nearby waterfall. This picture-perfect pocket of primeval forest has exceptional biological diversity so keep an eye out for forest-dwelling birds and butterflies while at the lodge. Alternatively, tour the local tea plantation or visit the Ride 4 a Woman Project, an empowerment initiative that teaches women skills to earn a living.

Spend the evening feasting on fresh, wholesome meals that expertly combine local cuisine with western favourites while admiring dramatic views across the valley.

Your primate adventure reaches its finale today. After an early breakfast, a transfer will transport you to the Kihihi Airstrip for a light aircraft flight back to Entebbe International Airport. Upon landing, you will be transferred to The Boma Hotel Entebbe for lunch before heading back to the airport for your next flight.