- +256 751 955671
- info@wonderuganda.com
Uganda is the “Primate Capital of the Universe” with close to 54 % of the global and critically endangered primates and man’s closest relatives – the Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Bwindi and Kibale forests respectively. The duo has been fully habituated over years and now full tourism products in Uganda. Other primates that have been fully habituated over time and available for tracking include the Grey-cheeked Mangabeys (Ugandan Mangabey) in Mabira Forest Reserve in Central Uganda and the Golden Monkey in Mgahinga National park in South-western Uganda. Other rare species of primates that can be comfortably seen in Uganda are the Red, Black and White Colobuses, Blue and L’Hoest’s monkeys in Bigodi Wetland swamp near Kibale Forest National Park.
Wonder Adventures Uganda Limited through her tailor-made itinerary can exclusively take you to enjoy these incredible creatures deep in their habitats!
Several major airlines provide service to Entebbe, including United, Delta, Emirates, Ethiopian, KLM, and others. Note, you book your flight depending on your country of origin. Usually, day 1 is usually planned as just a day of rest; for those arriving in time we gather for a welcome dinner at a hotel. For those that arrive early in the day, you can rest and, in the afternoon, enjoy a city tour of Entebbe site tours of the Kasenyi Landing site on Lake Victoria, the site seeing of the Legislative Council (Uganda’s first Parliament), The Bugonga Church, Independence tree, the State House, Old airport Control Tower among others
The hotels are close to the airport, and provide dependable and convenient shuttle services.
Early morning drive from Entebbe town through the suburbs of Kampala City to Mabira Forest, the forest is the largest remaining block of the low land rainforest in Central Uganda, it covers 306 sq km with the highest number of Ugandan Mangabeys (lephocebus albiginea ugandae) in Uganda, there are two active troops that have been fully habituated for tracking here and their individuals are steadily increasing ranging from infants, juveniles, sub-adults to matures. this Ugandan near endemic Grey-cheeked Mangabey is canopy dwelling specie living in troops commanded by alpha males! Males execute different roles like mating and security among the groups. The specie is largely frugivore and herbivore and specialize in feeding on young leaves/buds, figs and seasonal mushrooms. They also scantly eat insects, and ants rendering them to be omnivores to a certain extent!
the forest supports two other species of primates; the red-tailed and Vervet monkeys which can be viewed while one is on the tracking trails.
An optional Afternoon drive to Jinja for an evening boat cruise to the source of the longest River on earth- The Nile, a spot which was discovered by one of the earliest European explorers of Eastern Africa – John Speke. The point marks the start of the Nile River from the biggest inland fresh water lake (Victoria) in Africa snaking its way through the heart of African continent for over 6,650 km before emptying in the Mediterranean Sea. From the boat the guides narrate the river’s history as chronicle of human civilisation, innovation and dependence on the lifeblood of Uganda and the continent at large. In the evening retire from the boat and drive to the lodge for dinner
Accommodation around River Nile in Jinja town
Early morning on a tarmac road, the drive takes a couple of hours through Kampala City, Mityana ,Mubende, Kyenjojo and Fortportal towns to Kibale Forest. Rural and semi-urban settings are also experienced along the way, plantation tea growing is a lucrative business on this stretch because of the rich-nutrient volcanic soils which are characteristic of Kibale Forest environs. Fortportal the only town in Uganda with an English name is the last city before reaching Kibale Forest, it is a tourism city because it’s the home of traditional King Oyo Nyimba of the Toro kingdom and lies in the centre routes to Semuliki, Queen, Kibale and Mount Rwenzori national parks and closer to the numerous tourist crater lakes of the region.
Accommodations near Kibale National Park
After breakfast, we drive to Kibale National Park, Kibale is the best safari destination for Chimpanzee tracking in East Africa. It contains one of the loveliest and most varied remnants of all tropical forests in Uganda. Sitting on an area of 776 sq kms, the forest hosts 15 species of primates, including the Chimpanzee rendering it as the ‘’primate capital’’ of the world. The population encountered on this expedition is among the estimated 1450 Chimpanzees, Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate.
At the Park visitor centre, we are briefed on the rules and regulations chimpanzee tracking. The activity lasts a few hours to several hours. It is an extraordinary experience, and just like the Gorillas, Chimpanzee require advance payments for tracking permits, hiking for Chimps here is gentler than at Bwindi. You enjoy the antics of these fascinating apes!
It is also home to the rare L’hoest’s Monkey and East Africa’s largest population of the threatened Red Colobus Monkey. Other primates that you may see include the Black-and-white Colobus, Blue Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon and luckily Bush Baby, and Potto.
Kibale’s lush forest cover predominates in the northern and central parts of the park. Kibale’s highest point is at the park’s northern tip, reaching around 1600 metres above sea level.
There are chances of missing some primates in the park in the morning because Chimpanzees are most prioritized, therefore a visit to the Bigodi community wetland, a proximate habitat to the park in the afternoon is worthwhile. The wetland with its open canopies gives good views of these primates
Accommodations around Kibale Park
Early morning drive from Kibale to Bwindi Forest. The drive takes us through the crater lakes of the area, the drive on the highway gives us good views of the Mountains of the Moon (the Rwenzoris) with flowing rivers from the mountain glaciers that empty in the rift valley water bodies of Lake George, Kazinga channel and Lake Edward that form the hydrological system of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth Park lies in the bottom of the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley and sits on an area of >1900 sq kms, the second biggest to Murchison Falls Park. Chances are there to peep at the numerous savanna mammals enroute to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We drive straight to one of the sectors of the impenetrable forest where Gorilla tracking is carried out as directed by the Wildlife Agency. The drive interestingly takes us from hot savanna temperatures and ushers us into cooler montane conditions of Bwindi environs because of the regional and habitat overlap. We finally retire in our comfortable lodge around Bwindi Forest
After an early breakfast, we report to the park headquarters for a briefing prior to the Gorilla tracking expedition. This activity may take anywhere from 2-8 hours, so a reasonable degree of fitness is required. The hike starts about 8:30 – 9:00 AM and we are back anytime of the day. It may be just be 2 hours or several hours. It is a wonderful experience to stare into the eyes of these gentle giants; watch them in awe as they play and go about their daily activities. It is indeed a “once in a lifetime experience”
Each encounter is different and has its own rewards; we are likely to enjoy close
view of adults feeding, grooming, and resting as the youngsters play and swing from lianas in a delightfully joyful display. Only a limited number of people are allowed in to see the family groups each day, so the earlier we purchase the permits
the better. The forest ecosystem is fascinating, with lush greenery and of course, a repository of birds. Visits to the gorilla groups support their conservation and
rangers who work hard to pace the hike for you to have success in finding them.
Optional visit to the indigenous people (Batwa Pygmies) to experience their ways of life; foods, drama, demonstrations of their past life while they lived in the Bwindi jungles
Accommodations near Bwindi.
Drive from Bwindi Forest to Mgahinga Forest Park this journey bumps you into the rolling hills of south-western Uganda code named the “Swiss Alps of Africa”
We go through and edge along the once part of a much larger forest that included the Virunga Volcanoes in neighbouring Rwanda and DR Congo, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is now an ecological island within a sea of human settlements and cultivation and therefore of big conservation importance. Continue to Kisoro, a border town near Rwanda and Congo for accommodation
Golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the most amazing activities one can do while in the park for a primate safari. These monkeys are an endangered specie with 3000-4000 individuals still left in the world. They have a number of colours on like black, grey and a beautiful shade of Orange-gold rendering them to be called Golden Monkeys. They live in large groups of up to 100 individuals led by alpha male and do not move as much for they stay in one location for a time, unlike the Gorillas, Golden Monkeys feed on bamboo leaves, seasonal fruits, flowers, sprouts, leaves, lichens, and small vertebrates all that are abundant in the forest.
The activity starts at 8am with an orientation of what is to be expected and trackers then head out in search of the golden monkeys using the Gahinga trail. The forest comes to life with the noise and monkey activity that the golden monkey exhibit, they jump from one bamboo tree to another as they play and eat. Trackers are allowed only one hour with the monkeys once encountered and after which they track back to the starting point. The activity altogether isn’t strenuous and it can take about 3 hours as the monkeys live in lower areas.
Accommodations in Kisoro town
Early morning drive from Kisoro to Kampala/Entebbe town through Kabale, Mbarara and Masaka towns.
End of trip
