8-Day Uganda Primates Safari
A busy week in Uganda that packs in white-water rafting on the Nile, rhino tracking at Ziwa, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge and a gorilla trek in Bwindi.
8 days · 7 nights · Year-round · driest Jun – Sep & Dec – Feb
About this experience
This private safari suits travellers who want plenty of variety in a short time. It opens with rafting on the Nile near Jinja, then heads north to track rhino on foot at Ziwa before two nights at Murchison Falls for game drives and a boat trip to the foot of the falls. From there you travel south to Queen Elizabeth National Park for lion tracking on the Kasenyi Plains and a Kazinga Channel cruise. The last part of the trip is about primates: chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge and mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Best for
- Active travellers
- Gorillas and chimps
- Lots of variety in a week
Trip features
- Private vehicleYour own 4x4 and driver-guide
- Starts any dayPick your own date, 7+ days ahead
- Can be tailoredChange lodges, add days or parks
- Ages 15+Minimum age on this trip
- Pickup in EntebbeAirport or your hotel
- EnglishGuide language
Signature experiences
Optional extras we can add to this trip. Prices are per person and confirmed when you book.
Chilled drinks on a ridge as the sun drops and the sky turns — a quiet, golden end to a day of game drives.
A lantern-lit table set out under the stars, your own chef and a crackling fire — the safari dinner people remember for years.
Spend an hour in a working manyatta — the jumping dance, fire-making, and a look at daily Maasai life, hosted by the community itself.
On foot with an armed ranger — tracks, plants, birds and the small details a vehicle drives straight past.
Day by day
What each day looks like, from pickup in Nairobi to drop-off.
You drive to Jinja for white-water rafting on the Nile, with a choice of Grade 3 to Grade 5 rapids to suit your nerve. Afterwards there is time for local fish and a cold beer before the drive back to Kampala. This day assumes you have already arrived in Entebbe or Kampala the day before.
Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Kampala
You head north to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track rhinos with a ranger and watch them grazing at close range. Then you continue to Murchison Falls National Park and settle in for two nights.
Fort Murchison
A morning game drive on the northern circuit looks for lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and hippo, along with birds such as the secretary bird and bee-eaters. In the afternoon a boat takes you up the Nile to the base of the falls, where the river forces its way through a 7-metre gorge. You finish with a walk up to the top of the falls.
Fort Murchison
A long travel day takes you south past Rift Valley escarpments, crater lakes and village life. Your guide will point out birds and wildlife on the way, and you arrive at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park for two nights.
The Bush Lodge
The morning game drive focuses on the Kasenyi Plains, tracking lions as well as looking for elephant, buffalo, hyena and warthog. In the afternoon a two-hour cruise on the Kazinga Channel, the 36km channel joining Lake George and Lake Edward, passes hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds.
The Bush Lodge
You go down into Kyambura Gorge to track chimpanzees, with colobus monkeys, mangabeys, birds and butterflies also living in the forest. After lunch you transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, ready for the gorilla trek the next morning.
Ride 4 a Woman Lodge
After a briefing from the rangers you walk into the forest to find a mountain gorilla family, and how long that takes depends on where they have been feeding. Once you reach them you have an hour to watch them feed, rest and play with their young. You return to the lodge for the evening.
Ride 4 a Woman Lodge
After breakfast you drive back towards Entebbe through hills, banana plantations and herds of long-horned Ankole cattle. You stop at the Equator for photos, the water demonstration and a look round the craft shops before reaching the airport for your flight.
Where you'll stay
Lodges we book on this trip. If one is full on your dates, we'll offer a comparable property before you pay anything.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation in the lodges named in the itinerary
- Meals while on safari
- Park entry fees
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle and driver-guide
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from the Bookara team
Not included
- Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits (confirmed and quoted when you book)
- International flights
- Uganda visa (government fee — we help you apply)
- Accommodation before day 1
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Additional activities, drinks and personal expenses
Route & pickup
Where the trip goes, and where we meet you.
- 01 KampalaDay 1 · City
- 02 JinjaDay 1 · Lake
- 03 KampalaDay 2 · City
- 04 Ziwa Rhino SanctuaryDay 2 · National park & reserve
- 05 Murchison FallsDay 2 · National park & reserve
- 06 Queen ElizabethDay 4 · National park & reserve
- 07 BwindiDay 6 · National park & reserve
- 08 EntebbeDay 8 · City
Good to know
A 30% deposit holds your dates, and the balance is due 45 days before you travel (book closer than that and you pay in full). Cancel 90+ days before departure for a full refund, 60–89 days before for 50% back. Full terms.
Common questions
Do I need to arrive the day before?+
Yes. Day 1 starts with the drive to Jinja for rafting, so plan to be in Entebbe or Kampala the night before. If you'd like us to arrange that extra night and your airport pickup, message us and we'll quote it.
Is there a minimum age for gorilla trekking?+
Yes. The Uganda Wildlife Authority sets a minimum age of 15. Treks can involve several hours of steep, muddy walking, so come prepared with good boots and a reasonable level of fitness.
Is this a private trip?+
Yes. You have your own vehicle and guide, and nobody else joins. The route and lodges can be adjusted on request, so message us and we'll quote it.
Book on WhatsApp
Your chat opens with the trip pre-filled — no payment needed now. Our team replies between 7am–10pm EAT.
Request saved
WhatsApp is opening with your details pre-filled — just hit send.
- 1 Send the pre-filled messageYour trip details are already written for you.
- 2 Confirm in chat — or pay the deposit onlineSame reference either way. Our team replies 7am–10pm EAT.
- 3 Instant confirmationWhatsApp message + email receipt the moment your deposit lands.
Your request ref becomes your booking reference once the deposit is paid.
Book direct with the operator
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Licensed & certified
Kenya-registered operator in Nairobi with experienced driver-guides.
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Run from Nairobi
We plan and run your trip ourselves, with driver-guides we know, and stay reachable on WhatsApp throughout.
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Secure payment
Card or Apple Pay through Paystack (USD). Taxes and park fees are in the price you see.
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Flexible cancellation
Full refund up to 90 days before departure; a 30% deposit holds your dates.
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