Uganda · 8 days · 7 nights · Year-round · driest Jun – Sep & Dec – Feb
8-Day Uganda Primates Safari
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.
From $6,237 per person
Specimen itinerary for planning purposes only — not a confirmed booking document.
Logistics & transport
- Pickup
- Confirmed 24 hours before departure on WhatsApp
- Guide language
- As selected at booking
- Group
- Private / small group · max 12 guests
Where you'll stay
Lodging varies by trip — tented camp, safari lodge, beach hotel, or city hotel as your package requires. The property for this package is confirmed in writing after you book — ask us on WhatsApp if you want options before paying.
Included in your package price — exact camp, lodge, or hotel confirmed after booking.
Indicative schedule — day by day
Planned rhythm for your trip — your guide may adjust on the day for conditions, light and wildlife.
Day 1: Kampala → Jinja → Kampala
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.
Day 2: Kampala → Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary → Murchison Falls
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.
Day 3: Murchison Falls game drive & Nile cruise
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.
Day 4: Murchison Falls → Queen Elizabeth
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.
Day 5: Kasenyi Plains & Kazinga Channel
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.
Day 6: Kyambura Gorge chimps → Bwindi
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.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
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.
Day 8: Bwindi → Equator → Entebbe Airport
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.
Trip inclusions
- 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
Trip exclusions
- 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
Preparation & packing
Before you go
- This section is general Kenya travel guidance — not a substitute for official advice or your doctor.
- We confirm trip-specific details (property, pickup times, park rules) with you on WhatsApp before departure.
- Questions about 8-Day Uganda Primates Safari? Message us anytime — we'd rather you ask than guess.
Visa & entry
- Most visitors need a Kenya eTA before travel — apply at etakenya.go.ke and check the current fee and rules.
- Passport usually needs 6+ months' validity and blank pages — verify with your airline and immigration.
- Keep a printed copy of this itinerary and your eTA approval for border control.
Health
- Yellow fever certificate may be required depending on where you are travelling from — check Kenya's latest entry rules.
- Malaria prevention is commonly recommended for safari areas — ask your doctor well before you fly.
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended.
- Bring personal medication in original packaging.
Weather & clothing
- Safari mornings and evenings are often cooler than midday — layers work better than one heavy coat.
- Neutral colours (khaki, olive, beige) are standard for game drives.
- Rain can appear in any season — a light waterproof layer is worth packing.
- We send a short weather note for your dates once your trip is confirmed.
Packing list
- Comfortable closed shoes for walking + sandals for camp or lodge
- Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Binoculars if you have a pair (optional — ask us if you'd like a recommendation)
- Power bank + travel adaptor (Kenya commonly uses Type G plugs, 240V)
- Soft bag often works better than a hard suitcase if your trip includes light-aircraft legs — we'll confirm luggage limits for your routing
- Some cash in USD (clean, newer bills) or KES for tips and small purchases
- Insect repellent
Money & connectivity
- Cards work in Nairobi and at many properties; cash is still useful for tips and markets.
- M-Pesa is widely used in Kenya — we can walk you through it on arrival if helpful.
- Wi‑Fi varies by property (lodge, camp, or hotel) — signal on game drives is usually limited.
- Tipping customs vary by property and guide — we share current guidelines for your trip before you travel.