7-Day The Ultimate Primate Trekking Expedition: Uganda

Your journey begins at Entebbe International Airport (EBB). After disembarking, proceed directly to the immigration hall. Have your passport, Uganda e-Visa (or $50 USD for visa-on-arrival), and Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate ready for inspection. The e-Visa line is typically faster. After clearing immigration, collect your luggage and pass through customs. Your private guide will be waiting in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name. They will assist with your luggage and escort you to a private vehicle for the 15-20 minute transfer to your boutique hotel.

Today is entirely yours to relax, acclimate, and explore Entebbe at your own pace after your international travels. This buffer day is highly recommended to ensure you are rested and ready for the upcoming primate trekking adventures.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES (Not Included, Bookable via Hotel Concierge):

1. Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) & Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary Combo Tour:

o Details: Visit the former Entebbe Zoo, now a conservation education center, before taking a 45-minute boat ride across Lake Victoria to Ngamba Island. This sanctuary cares for over 50 rescued chimpanzees. Observe feeding sessions from a platform and learn about chimpanzee conservation.

o Duration: Full Day (approx. 7-8 hours).

o Estimated Cost: $150 - $190 per person (includes entry fees, boat transfer, guide, and lunch).

2. Entebbe Botanical Gardens Walk & Lakeside Lunch:

o Details: Enjoy a guided walk through the historic Entebbe Botanical Gardens, established in 1898.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Entebbe Airport's domestic terminal for your scheduled morning flight to Kasese. Check-in opens 90 minutes prior. Baggage allowance is strictly 15kg (33lbs) per person in soft-sided duffel bags. The 1-hour flight offers stunning aerial views as you cross the Equator and approach the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains, the fabled "Mountains of the Moon." Upon landing at Kasese Airstrip, your dedicated safari guide will meet you. The approximately 2-hour road transfer to Kibale Forest begins on tarmac before turning onto a scenic dirt road through tea plantations and rural villages, offering your first ground-level glimpse of Ugandan life.

ACCOMMODATION – CHIMPUNDU LODGE

• Location & Setting: Built on a hillside overlooking a dramatic crater lake and the dense canopy of Kibale Forest National Park. The lodge is designed for privacy and immersion in nature.

• Room Configuration: Stay in luxurious, standalone bandas (thatched-roof cottages).

This is a regulated activity managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

• Schedule: 7:00 AM arrival at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. 7:30 AM mandatory briefing on rules and safety. 8:00 AM start of the trek in groups of max 8 persons.

• The Trek: Duration is 2-5 hours round-trip through dense tropical rainforest (altitude 1,100-1,600m). Expert trackers lead the way. Success rate exceeds 90%.

• The Encounter: You are granted one full hour with a habituated chimpanzee family. Strict rules apply: maintain a 7m distance, speak softly, no flash photography. You may observe feeding, grooming, tool use, and dramatic social interactions.

• Fitness & Health: A moderate fitness level is required. You must be free of any transmissible illness (cold, flu, etc.); rangers will ask and can deny participation to protect the chimps.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITY – BIGODI WETLAND SANCTUARY WALK

• Managed by: The community-based Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED).

After breakfast, return to Kasese airstrip for your scheduled 1-hour flight south to the airstrip serving Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (typically Kihihi or Kisoro). This is one of Africa's most scenic flights, passing over the volcanic Virunga Mountains.

SECTOR ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER

Bwindi is divided into four tracking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Your specific lodge is determined by the availability of your gorilla permit in a given sector. The 1-2 hour road transfer from the airstrip winds through breathtaking, terraced hillsides cultivated by the local Bakiga people.

ACCOMMODATION – LODGE IN BWINDI (Sector Specific)

Your lodge will be a premier property in the sector of your permit. For example, in the Buhoma sector, you may stay at Mahogany Springs Lodge or similar.

• Mahogany Springs Example: Luxurious stone-and-thatch cottages with fireplaces, freestanding bathtubs, private decks, a heated pool, and a spa. It is situated on the Munyaga River

This is a world-class, exclusive experience with only 96 permits issued daily across Uganda.

• Schedule: 7:00-7:30 AM arrival at sector park headquarters. 7:30-8:00 AM mandatory briefing and group assignment (max 8 visitors). 8:00 AM start of trek with guides, armed rangers, and porters.

• The Trek: Duration is highly variable (1-8+ hours round-trip) in steep, muddy, dense rainforest at altitudes of 1,500-2,500m. Hiring a local porter ($20-$25) is highly recommended to carry your pack and assist you—it greatly enhances your experience and provides direct income.

• The Encounter: One precious hour with a habituated gorilla family. Rules are strict: 7m distance, no sudden movements, speak softly, turn away if you cough/sneeze, and absolutely no flash photography.

• Fitness & Health: Good to excellent fitness is required. Any contagious illness will lead to denial of participation to protect the critically endangered gorillas.

ACCOMMODATION: Lodge in Bwindi (as per previous night)

Enjoy a leisurely final breakfast amidst the mountain mists. You will then be transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled return flight to Entebbe. Upon arrival in Entebbe, You will be transferred to Hotel No.5 for your day room. In the evening you will be transferred to the airport and assisted in connecting with your onward international departure flight.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel No.5

MEALS: Day Room (No Meal)