9 Days Uganda Apes Safari

Chimpanzees share 98% of human genes making our closest living relative.
Chimpanzees give birth every 3-7years and look after their infants for 10 – 12 years before they are old enough to survive on their own.
Chimpanzees live in communities that split up and join again later unlike gorillas who stay together. Chimpanzees have cultural differences –communities have different life styles. Chimpanzees can use tools, they use rocks to crack nuts, sticks to fish for termites, and make sponges from leaves to soak up water for drinking from hollows in trees.

Under this itinerary visit Bwindi for mountain gorilla trekking, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale national park for chimpanzee and variety monkeys viewing and wildlife Plus Ngamba Island for close chimp viewing where possible walking with chimps on one to one walk.

Day 1 :

Airport Transfer

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport will be met by Travel Hemispheres representative who doubles as your driver and guide, will drive you to Kampala city. To your hotel for overnight

Day 2:

Kampala – Bwindi. National park

In the Morning, you will be picked by your driver/guide from hotel around 7.00 am and proceed to the south western part of the country. Stop at The equator for land mark photo taking and continue to Mbarara. Break for lunch on the way then precede to Bwindi National Park the home of Mountain Gorillas. It is estimated to half of the world’s surviving population of mountain gorillas –300 live within these boundaries shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The drive is long but enjoyable. Proceed south to Buhoma viewing the terraced hills of Kigezi Highlands once known as Switzerland of Africa.

Arrival at Buhoma will be in the evening. You will then settle in at your lodge for dinner and overnight as you prepare for tomorrow’s event! FB

Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas: Bwindi View Bandas: Nkuringo campsite tents: Virunga Hotel : Nkuringo safari centre

Middle: Nkuringo camp site: Wagtail Eco lodge: Gorilla Mist Camp: Shongi Gorilla Resort

Up market: Lake Kitandara Lodge: Engagi lodge: Mahogany Springs Lodge: Gorilla Resort Camp: Traveler’s Rest Camp: Silver Back Lodge: Gorilla Safari lodge.

Luxury: Gorilla Forest Camp: Buhoma Lodge: Clouds Lodge: Gahinga: Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge

Day 3:

Gorilla Tracking – Bwindi

Morning after breakfast with packed lunch, you will be escorted to the starting point for briefing by your guide. You will be allocated guides to track gorillas with, and then will be off to begin your adventure. A briefing from your local guides and then it’s off! The time taken and the terrain varies (1- 8 hours) this depends on the movement of these gentle giants. The thrill of meeting face to face takes away the pain of some times long and arduous trek. Each encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in delightfully playful manner.

After tracking, you will walk back to your lodge for overnight stay FB.

You will need to carry long pants like light type, sturdy shoes to help you hiking steep and slippery slopes, long sleeved shirts and blouses to protect your bodies from thorns and itching plants. You may not rule out raining on you and at least a rain coat is needed to protect your bodies and any equipment carried along with like cameras. Also carry insect repellants and sun cream

Day 4:

Bwindi to Ishasha – Queen Elizabeth park

After early breakfast head for Ishasha, which is the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, carry out a game drive where you may sight tree-climbing lions. Ishasha is dominated by acacia woodland and scrubland and features the meandering Ishasha River, banked by a riparian forest. After this you will continue driving to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Budget – Albertine Camp, Farmland Resort/

Moderate – Hippo Hill Camp/Simba Safari Lodge/ Bufallo Safari Lodge/ Bush Lodge

Up market – Mweya Lodge standard rooms/ Katara Lodge

Luxury – Mweya Safari lodge/ Jacana safari lodge/ at Ishasha Wilderness Safari Camp

Day:5:

Queen Elizabeth National Park.

After breakfast, you will go for Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge where you will see not only the chimpanzee but also other primates like the colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys plus baboons.

Then take an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel where you will see a variety of game mostly marine animals. This waterway joins Lake Edward and Lake George and it is filled with schools of hippos, buffaloes, with elephants at the banks and a wonderful diversity of birds. Because of the different habitats of the lakeshores and the broad Savannah, the variety seems endless. Catch a glimpse of water birds diving for fish, the Marabou stork, bee-eater and cheeky bronze-tailed starling as well as the majestic crowned crane. Retire to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight

Day 6

Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast carryout game drive viewing herds of elephants, buffaloes and antelopes and some predators- lions leopards hyenas etc. Watch different species of birds. Over 500 species have been identified here making it a Mecca for bird -watchers. They include Black-bee eater, 11 different species of Kingfisher, several falcons, eagles and raptors. Depart this interesting unique part of the world and head to Kibale Forest National Park another primate concentrated families. Check in at your Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Luxury – Ndali Lodge / Primate Lodge Kibale

Up market – Fort Motel/Mountains of the moon Lodge/Kibale Guest Cottages

Moderate- Rwenzori view guest house/ Ataco

Budget – Toro Reort/ Nyinabulitwa Country Resort

Day 7:

Kibale Forest – Chimpanzee tracking
After breakfast visit Kanyanchu the park headquarter offices for your chimpanzee tracking of habituated families where you will see other primates like the colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys plus other primates that share this forest with chimpanzees. The park also hosts over 320 species of birds including the yellow spotted nectar, yellow rumped tinker birds etc

Kibale Forest is rich in animal life, including an astonishing 12 species of primates including chimps in this park have been recorded, the very localized red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys. Tracking the chimpanzee our ‘cousin’ is a very interesting experience. The way they feed, climb trees, respond to humans, caring for their young ones leaves an imaginative dream to tell.

In the afternoon visit the surrounding- Bigodi swamp eco tourist site or enjoy unique view of crater lakes and other volcanic features. Overnight will be at your lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 8 :

Kibale – Kampala
ay 8: After breakfast drive to Kampala or Entebbe via Mubende stopping at interesting forest and swamp spots with lunch on the way. Over night stay at your hotel. .

Day 9:

Ngamba Island – Airport transfer Entebbe

Morning will take tour to Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria to view orphanage chimps at this island where they were introduced in the wild after rescuing them from captivity. Will take boat cruise to the island. View chimps from a platform at the time of feeding. Participate in the feeding exercise. Enjoy their different behaviors similar to those of human beings. Then will be taken through a lecture of how these primates are habituated. After picnic lunch will proceed back to the mainland. Will then be transferred to the airport for your flight. (Avail us flight details to be above 5.00pm)

END OF SAFARI

Notes: On day 8 special arrangement can done instead of overnight in Kampala will instead be taken to overnight at Ngamba Island. Then on day9 view chimps even can arrange one to one walking with chimps in the wild at Ngamba! Then coming back to Entebbe will be 1245 .Alternatively can have other special transfer with speed boat.

Please Note the safari cost will include:

Meals and accommodation at full board for the agreed dates
Gorilla permits 1permit per person
Game drives, park fees, 2 tracking chimpanzee permit,
Visit to Ngamba chimps on lake Victoria
safari driver /guide and 4×4 vehicle
Park fees
Applicable government taxes
Drinking bottled water while driving on safari

Excluded are:

Beverages and bar bills, phone alls, personal insurance and any other services of personal nature like souvenirs, tips, laundry etc