More information on Uganda gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours to see chimpanzees:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Mgahinga
Following a family of gorillas and their silverback males is a life-changing experience. However you do need to be reasonably mobile to walk through these steep equatorial rainforests in search of them, as they are constantly moving. Expect to walk 1 to 4 hours each way, in steep and sometimes muddy conditions. Once you reach a gorilla family all the effort of the trek will be forgotten, as the encounter is almost without fail a very moving one.
You must be over 15 years to track gorillas and not have any colds or infections, as they have little immunity to human germs. On Uganda gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours, it is essential to wear good walking boots, long trousers and gloves for protection, as you scramble through the forest. Plan to pay a porter to carry your backpack as you need to carry 2-litres of water, a packed lunch, rain gear and light fleece, as early mornings in the rainforest can be chilly. A walking stick will be provided to help with the steep ascents, if you don’t bring your own.
The family of gorillas that you track are habituated and are remarkably relaxed about the presence of humans, but important rules should be observed, such as remaining 7 metres from any gorilla – although some of the younger ones may let their curiosity get the better of them! On Uganda gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours you will have strictly one hour to observe the behaviour of the gorillas, a rare privilege indeed.
Murchison Falls National Park
This outstanding wildlife reserve is situated in the northwest of the country, on the shores of Lake Albert, and is divided into two sections by the mighty Nile River that flows through it. This is the premier wildlife reserve in Uganda and one of the finest in the world. It is home to predators such as lion, hyena and leopard as well as huge herds of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest, warthog, baboon and waterbuck – all easily seen on the open terrain. Observing these rolling hills alive with the movement of thousands of Uganda kob (an antelope similar to an impala) is truly unforgettable on Uganda gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours.
A boat ride to the base of the Murchison Falls is a must, followed by a hike to the top of the falls. Here the upper Nile dramatically plunges 40 metres through a narrow gorge, before widening into a fast flowing river. Birdlife is abundant and you will see many pied kingfisher fishing and nesting along the river banks, as well as numerous pods of hippo.
Murchison Falls is most easily accessed by light aircraft from Entebbe. However you can also travel overland with your own driver/guide, stopping along the way at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is home to the only wild rhino in Uganda.
Kibale Rainforest
Chimpanzees are our closest animal relatives, sharing 98% of our DNA, so observing their behaviour in the wild is another thrilling primate experience on Uganda gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours. Chimpanzees spend much of their time nesting high in the forest canopy, but as the day warms up they drop to the cool forest floor to feed and this is where the most exciting encounters occur – as chimps are more boisterous than their larger gorilla cousins. Seeing the chimps is never guaranteed, but your best opportunity is in Kibale Rainforest, which has a success rate of over 90% and relatively easy terrain.
Almost 1,500 chimpanzees live in Kibale, as well as 12 other primate species including the Black-and-white colobus, Red colobus, Red-tailed monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Blue monkey, Bush baby, Vervet monkey, L’ Hoest’s monkey and Olive baboon. The forest is rich in birdlife, with over 300 recorded species. Chimpanzees can also be tracked in Budonga Forest, Kyambura Gorge and Semuliki National Park. Expect to walk up to 3 hours, as the chimps move very quickly through the trees.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This is Uganda’s most visited game reserve, due to its proximity to the gorillas and relatively easy access from the capital of Kampala. It is bordered by Lake Edward and the Ishasha River to the west, with the Kazinga Channel dividing the park as it flows from Lake George in the northeast. On Uganda gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours, a highlight of any visit to this park is a boat ride on the Kazinga channel where you will see thousands of buffalo, hippo and elephant cooling off along its shores. The channel is also a magnet for great flocks of water birds which gather to fish – including a variety of pelican, eagle, vulture, kingfisher, stork, spoonbill, cormorant, ibis and many others.
Almost 100 mammals can be found here, including 20 predators and many antelope including the Uganda kob, bushbuck, topi and semi-aquatic sitatunga. During the dry season most of the wildlife migrates from the Kasenyi Plains to the lakes and rivers, but patience will be rewarded with sightings of lion, hyena and maybe even leopard. The Ishasha Plains in the southwest of the park are renowned for their tree-climbing lions.
Lake Mburo National Park
On Uganga gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours, Lake Mburo is the usual stopover if travelling overland back to Entebbe with your own driver/guide. Lake Mburo offers excellent plains game viewing and is the best place in the country to see eland, zebra, topi and impala. You can also enjoy horse riding and walking safaris here.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Less visited, the rugged and semi-arid savanna of this park in the far northeast of the country offers an another big game fly-in safari experience that complements all Uganda gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours.
Jinja
Uganda's second largest city, Jinja is the place to go for adrenalin activities. Here the Nile River has its source and its thundering rapids, up to grade 5, offer some of the safest white water rafting in the whole world, as there are no submerged rocks, hippos or crocodiles. Afterwards visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Ngama Island and relax on the shores of Lake Victoria, with over 3,000 islands - the perfect end to Uganda gorilla trekking safari holidays and primate tours.