17 Days Uganda Primate and big 5 safari
17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari: This 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari as stated is one of the adventurous Uganda safaris that combines both primate tour and wildlife viewing safari to encounter with the big 5 game. The major activities to enjoy while on this 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari include; White Rhino trekking at Ziwa white Rhino sanctuary, Wildlife viewing in Kidepo valley national park, Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, and Lake Mburo national park, Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park, visiting the hot springs in Semliki national park and Explore the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. This 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari starts and ends in Kampala and includes 17 days and 16 nights.
Highlights of 17 days Uganda Primate and big 5 safari
- Day 1: White Rhino trekking and transfer to Gulu
- Day 2: Drive to Kidepo valley national park
- Day 3: Full day in Kidepo valley national park
- Day 4: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
- Day 5: Morning game drive and afternoon launch cruise
- Day 6: Transfer to Kibale forest national park
- Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Transfer to Semliki national park for night game drive
- Day 8: Visit the hot springs and afternoon boat cruise on Lake Albert
- Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 10: Morning game drive and afternoon launch cruise
- Day 11: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 12: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 13: Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 14: Full day excursion at Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 15: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
- Day 16: Walking safari and afternoon boat cruise
- Day 17: Morning game drive and Transfer to Kampala for departures
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: White Rhino trekking and transfer to Gulu
- White rhino trekking and drive to Gulu: Early in the morning on day 1 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kampala/Entebbe and start the journey to Ziwa white Rhino trekking where you will spend 2-3 hours trekking these endangered white rhinos in their natural habitats in the sanctuary. After trekking the Rhinos, you will be driven to the hotel for an enroute lunch then proceed the journey to Gulu where you will spend your overnight.
Day 2: Drive to Kidepo valley national park
- Transfer to Kidepo valley national park: After breakfast in the morning on day 2 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, checkout of your lodge and start the drive from Gulu to Kidepo valley national park situated far in Northeastern part of Uganda bordering with Kenya in the East and South Sudan in the North. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the stunning vegetation cover with plenty of wildlife making it the best savanna park in Uganda the pearl of Africa almost similar as Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya. Proceed for hotel check-in, have lunch and finally set off on a game drive as you ought not to miss out any opportunity while in this beautiful park. Amongst possible sightings while on a game drive include Buffaloes, Elephants, Zebras, leopards, lions, and leopards among others.
Day 3: Full day in Kidepo valley national park
- Full day excursion in kidepo valley national park: On day 3 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, you have a full day exploring the beauty of Kidepo valley national park starting with an early game drive to view the nocturnal wildlife and hunters that are always active in the night and hiding during the day and the game drive will moves on till late in the evening. You may pack a lunch box to avoid driving back to the lodge for lunch.
Day 4: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
- Transfer to Murchison falls national park: Wake up on breakfast on day 4 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, checkout and be driven from the wilderness of kidepo valley national park to Murchison falls national park another awesome destination to visit for wildlife viewing adventure. Lunch will be enjoyed along the way in Gulu and then proceed with the drive to the largest national park in Uganda.
Day 5: Morning game drive and afternoon launch cruise
- Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise: After breakfast on day 5 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, meet your safari driver and head out for a game drive in the northern part of the park which thrills with the largest population of wildlife species that are easily seen while on a game drive and these include Elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, Uganda kob, zebra and several bird species. After game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and embark on an afternoon launch cruise upstream to the base of the waterfall while watching aquatic wildlife and other mammals along Nile River. There is an option of top of falls hike.
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale forest national park
- Transfer to Kibale forest national park: Breakfast will be served in time on day 6 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, check-out of the lodge and be driven from Murchison falls national par to Kibale forest national park one of the best primate destination in Uganda with 13 species of primates. This is considered a full day drive with an enroute lunch. Upon arrival at the park, you will proceed to check in at your booked hotel, have dinner, freshen-up and have a splendid night sleep.
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Transfer to Semliki national park for night game drive
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and transfer to semliki national park: On day 7 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, you will wake up as early as possible, have breakfast, pack some snacks and drinking water then wear an appropriate trekking attire to be driven to Kanyanchu at the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts and finally penetrate the forest to search for the troop of habituated Chimpanzee family for trekking that will take about 30 minutes to 4 hours. During chimpanzee trekking, lookout for different species of primates including Monkeys, baboon, bush babies, Pottos among others that thrill in Kibale forest. After finding chimpanzees, you have an hour with them taking photographs and interacting with them then return to the lodge for lunch.
- Transfer to semliki: Later in the afternoon, you will checkout of the lodge and meet your driver to be driven to Semliki national park where you will arrive late in the evening. Check in your lodge and embark on a night game drive to as semliki offers the best night game drives that opens the closed doors to an encounter with nocturnal wildlife such as Hyenas, Leopards, bush babies, Pottos among others.
Day 8: Visit the hot springs and afternoon boat cruise on Lake Albert
- Visit hot springs and afternoon boat cruise: After breakfast on day 8 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, you will head out on a walking adventure with the armed rangers and guides to visit the major tourist attractions in Semliki national park and these are none other than the hot springs that are known of boiling water up to 100oC. The best way to test this water is not by using your hand or leg, but by dropping in a raw banana plantain or an egg which will be boiled within 10minutes and ready to eat. During the way to the hot spring, there are a lot of attractions encountered including primates, mammals, birds, butterflies and flora species that make this park one of the best destinations to visit while on a Uganda safari. After visiting the hot springs, you will return to the lodge for lunch and embark on a boat cruise along Lake Albert where you will view more aquatic wildlife and other mammals that visit the lake in search of water.
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park: On day 9 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari after breakfast, checkout and set off from Semliki national park to Queen Elizabeth national park. Another famous destination in Uganda best known for harboring the tree climbing lions and the kazinga channel that has a large concentration of Hippos. During the way, you will enjoy an enroute lunch and a stopover at the crater lakes before proceeding to check in your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Morning game drive and afternoon launch cruise
- Morning game drive and afternoon Kazinga channel boat cruise: Enjoy your breakfast early in the morning on your lodge on day 10 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari then meet your safari driver to head to Kasenyi plains which is the best sector of Queen Elizabeth national park that thrills with the best vegetation cover good for wildlife viewing safari. Be sure to encounter at least the big 4 out of big 5 games and these include; Elephants, Lions, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Uganda kob and many more. After the game drive, you will be driven back to the lodge for lunch and embark on an afternoon kazinga channel boat cruise where you will come closer to a huge population of Hippos and other aquatic wildlife.
Day 11: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Game drive in Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park: On day 11 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, wake up on breakfast, pack your lunchbox and checkout of the lodge to start the journey to Ishasha sector for another game drive to watch the tree climbing lions as they hung lazily in tree branches of fig trees and acacia trees overlook other mammals in the park. After spending time with the tree climbing lions, you will sit under the tree shade for a picnic lunch then exit Queen Elizabeth national park to start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park one of the most visited park in Uganda and a home to the largest population of endangered mountain gorillas. While at the park, you will head to the lodge for check in, dinner and overnight rest.
Day 12: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi: On day 12 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, arise fully energized for breakfast, pack anything that you need for a successful gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Be driven to the park headquarters for a pre gorilla trekking briefing where all the information about gorilla trekking will be availed to you including the dos and don’ts during the trek and many more. After briefing, you will start the journey in the impenetrable forest to search for the habituated mountain gorilla families. The trek lasts from 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the movement of gorillas, trekking speed in favor of the slowest trekker amongst the group and the nature of the terrains. Spend one with gorillas upon finding them and return to the lodge for a relaxed evening.
Day 13: Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park
- Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park: On day 13 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, you need to arise as early as possible, have breakfast and checkout of Bwindi impenetrable national park to start the journey to Mgahinga gorilla national park for a briefing before starting Golden money trek. After briefing by the park rangers, you will then start the search of habituated troop of Golden moneys as they roam the bamboo forest in search of bamboo shoots. Golden monkey trekking lasts between 30 minutes and 5 hours with one hour of close vicinity and interaction with these cheerful primates. After trekking the golden monkeys, you will enjoy your packed lunch at ease then be driven to Lake Bunyonyi for a relaxed evening at the shores of the lake, dinner and overnight.
Day 14: Full day excursion at Lake Bunyonyi
- Full day excursion at Lake Bunyonyi: Begin day 14 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safaris with a relaxed breakfast overlooking the stunning Lake Bunyonyi and the rolling hills and terraces in its background then head out for a canoe ride to explore some islands since Lake Bunyonyi has 29 islands. During the canoe ride, you have a lot of attractions to see including the birds as the lake is known as the Lake of several little birds. Enjoy your lunch and return to the lake for a nature walk, birding among others that will keep your day very busy yet fascinating.

Day 15: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
- Drive to Lake Mburo national park: Wake up on a relaxed breakfast along Lake Bunyonyi on day 15 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, then checkout and meet your safari driver to start the journey from Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale to Lake Mburo national park with an enroute lunch in Mbarara city at Igongo cultural hotel. After lunch, you will explore areas along Igongo cultural center such as the Ankole museum, the craft shop, the bookshop or even hike up the eclipse among others then later in the evening proceed with the journey to Lake Mburo national park for dinner and overnight.
Day 16: Walking safari and afternoon boat cruise
- Walking safari and afternoon boat cruise: After breakfast on day 16 of 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, meet the rangers and the local guides to start an adventure within Lake Mburo national park on foot. There are various walking trails in the park that offer unique encounters including both fauna and flora. After the walk, you may enjoy optional bicycle cycling, horseback riding or any other sport activity in the park as you await lunch. Later in the afternoon after lunch, embark on a thrilling boat cruise on one of the lakes within the park.
Day 17: Morning game drive and Transfer to Kampala for departures
- Morning game drive and transfer to Kampala: Being the last day of your 17 days Uganda primate and big 5 safari, you will wake up for breakfast and embark on an early game drive in the park amidst grazing Zebras, buffaloes, Uganda Kob and many more. After the brief game drive and depending on your departure time, you will return to the lodge for an early lunch, check out and start the journey to Kampala for airport drop off as you close your Uganda safari.
END OF 17 DAYS UGANDA PRIMATE AND BIG 5 SAFARI