Day 2: Kibale Primates Tour & Chimpanzee Tracking
You will an early morning breakfast then proceed for the tracking of the noisy chimps and other primates crashing through the high canopy of the Kibale tropical rain forest. Take note of the colorful birds squawking in through the tropical forest canopy. Have packed lunch and then take an afternoon nature walk through the Bigodi swamp to wetland birds as well as some of the projects run by local community. Return in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Kibale – Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Tour
After breakfast drive to Queen Elizabeth national park. Remember the game seen will depend on the season. Visit the local community salt works at Lake Katwe, a salty lake in Uganda. Testing the waters of this lake is a wonderful experience for those who have never tasted salty waters. Have lunch and later go for an afternoon game drive. Return in the evening for dinner and overnight at Mweya/Jacana (FB)

Day 4:  Kyambura Chimp Trek
After breakfast, you will take an excursion to the Kyambura gorge nearby to track the fast moving and elusive chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are one of man’s closest relatives and therefore seeing them is a wonderful adventure. Alternatively, you will go for a nature walk in the Maramagambo Forest to see different tree species, primates, the bat colony and the blue lake. After lunch take a launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel where different animals such as hippos, elephants, buffaloes, and an array of water birds can be seen. Go on the hunt for the tree-climbing lions lounging on old fig trees in the Ishasha region. Dinner and Overnight at Jacana/ Ishasha Wilderness Camp /Ishasha Bandas.

Day 5: Queen-Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest passing either via Ishasha, the home of the tree climbing lion, or take the alternative route through cultivated expanses. This will depend on the road situation. Explore the village and the native communities if time permitting. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma homestead / Buhoma Community bandas

Day 6: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable
Take an early morning breakfast and proceed to the Impenetrable forest for gorilla tracking. Remember you need jungle boots since tracking involves walking up steep densely forested hills before finally coming across the endangered gorillas camouflaged in the dense tropical vegetation. If time allows, you will go for a leisurely community visit to the local communities living around the park. Dinner and overnight Buhoma homestead / Buhoma Community bandas

Day 7: Return to Kampala
Early depart for Kampala passing you through the ever green and beautiful countryside of Western Uganda. En route lunch and arrival in Kampala late afternoon.

END OF UGANDA TOUR

For more information on tour availability, tour quotaion, tour dates or safari booking please write to us through info@ugandan-safari.com

You will be met by our company guide at your Hotel to transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is known to harbour half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas and located in a hilly country side, together with some remnant lowland forest outside the boundary. You will reach Bwindi mountain gorilla forest late in the afternoon. You may go for a welcome entertainment in some of the cultural dances of the surrounding communities. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla resort or Buhoma community Bandas. Full board

Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Tour

Wake up for an early breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for briefing before setting off to the forest to track for gorillas. The guide will brief you and at 9:00 am you will set off to the forest for these apes. The time taken to trek these humble apes is unpredictable however, it ranges between 2-9 hours depending on their movement. The activity requires you to go through steep rocks climbing up and down making it tiresome. However, the thrill of encountering these giant primates erases the bad memories you went through in trying to find them. Dinner and over night at Gorilla Resort / Buhoma homestead.

Day 3: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park.

Have breakfast and transfer to Kibale chimpanzee National park from Bwindi mountain gorilla forest. Kibale Forest National Park is known to harbour the greatest variety and concentration of primates found anywhere in East Africa. The park protects a large block of rainforest that offers some excellent forest for bird watching. You will reach in the late afternoon and visit the crater lakes region in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge.

Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking Tour

You will go track chimpanzees in the forest and this will enable you view other primates like the colobus monkeys, Mangabeys, baboons, Bushbabies and many more. You will move with a guide who will make your walk informative and productive making it interesting. He will provide information on both flora and fauna. Have lunch and then in the afternoon you will go for a walk to Bigodi sanctuary for plenty of birds and rare fauna and flora. Dinner and overnight at Ndali lodge or Rwenzori Travelers Inn.

Day 5: Drive Back To Kampala

Have breakfast and drive back to Kampala. You will have stops for lunch and at the Equator for photographs. You will reach Kampala in the late afternoon to be transferred to your Hotel. Dinner and overnight at Serena Hotel / Hotel Africana.

Uganda is a unique tourist destination to tourists interested in cultural tourism. Abacus Uganda Tours organizes different cultural tours to Uganda. Our list of culture tours in Uganda is available below. If you are interested in any of these Uganda cultural tours, please contact us directly with any questions. Our travel experts will give you free advice and a suggested tou itinerary that will suit your needs and aspirations. Whether it is a short cultural excursion or a long Uganda Holiday, we are ready to give you the best deal ever that you cannot easily get elsewhere.

Uganda Cultural Tours

Kampala Cultural Tour – 1 day tour of Uganda’s cultural sites found in Kampala. These include Kasubi tombs, a world heritage site, the Uganda Museum with, a collection of the past historical, cultural and unique materials, the Kabaka’s Lake, the Bulange & the Kabaka’s palace, Religious Sites including Namugongo Martyr’s shrine & the Bahai Temple, African Markets etc. INQUIRE ABOUT THIS CULTURAL TOUR

Jinja Tour - 2 days safari takes you through Jinja town the second commercial centre in Uganda. Established in 1907 growing from a simple fishing village, Jinja is a unique safari destination. The safari will start with a visit to the human-born Sezibwa Falls and later take you briefly to the Mabira Forest, a well developed ecotourism site. The safari will later take you to Jinja town which is well endowed with historical sites which include the Source of the Nile, the Bujagali Falls, old Styled Indian buildings among others. White water rafting at the 5 grade rapids of the Nile is another unforgettable experience which is part of this tour. INQUIRE ABOUT THIS CULTURAL TOUR

For more information on tour availability, tour quotation, tour dates or safari booking please write to us through info@ugandan-safari.com

Uganda offers a unique opportunity to track the chimpanzees in their spectacular wild forest habitat at Kibale, Budongo, Kasyoha-Kitomi and Kyambura River gorge. Abacus Uganda Tours offers a great opportunity to travellers interested in carrying out chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. We offer different Uganda Chimpanzee Tours ranging from short chimpanzee tours of 1-3 days as well as long tours combined with mountain gorilla tracking tours and other wildlife adventures. A visit to the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary where orphaned chimpanzees have been habituated is simply magical and interesting.

Apart from the chimpanzees, Uganda offer great opportunities to track the rare and endangered mountain gorillas from Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Uganda is also a home to a number of other primates including the black and white monkeys, red colobus monkey, Blue and red-tailed monkeys, the Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, the Rare Golden Monkey and the Olive baboon. These can be seen from nearly all national parks and tropical rainforests found in Uganda.

Uganda Chimpanzee Tours

Ngamba Chimpanzee Tour – 3 days chimpanzee trek to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is found 23 Kilometers off shore from Entebbe on Lake Victoria, located on a beautiful forested island and is home to approximately 40 chimpanzees rescued from poachers and other forms of private captivity. The semi-wild environment allows for close viewing of the animals in their natural habitat. Optional extra: a day’s forest walks with the mischievous chimps as they play in the forest. DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY

Kibale Chimpanzee Tour – 3 days chimpanzee tracking tour in Kibale Tropical Rainforest. Kibale Forest National park the park is probably the highest primate density conservation Area in Africa. The park boasts of thirteen species of primate which include the chimpanzees, Red colobus monkeys, the blues, black and white colobus monkeys, galagos among others. DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY

Uganda Chimpanzee Safari - 5 days chimpanzee tracking tour to Kibale and Semuliki Forests. Tracking the noisy chimpanzee families playing in the verdant forest canopy is a thrilling experience while the Bigodi swamp presents the most unforgettable nature walk where you can see many bird species along the trail. DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY

Uganda Chimpanzee Tour – 6 days chimpanzee trekking in Semuliki Forest and Kibale Forest. DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY

For more information on tour availability, tour quotation, tour dates or safari booking please write to us through info@ugandan-safari.com

Day 1: Kibale Chimpanzee National Park
You will have breakfast and then drive through Hoima to Fort portal. You will pass through farms, traditional homestead and reach the town that is located amidst the mountains of the moon. You will reach late in the afternoon and visit the craters lakes regions near Ndali and later dine and be entertained in some of the cultural dances of the country. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge /Rwenzori travellers Inn.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking Tour
After an early breakfast, you will go for the chimpanzees tracking tour in the forest and this will enable you view other primates like the colobus monkeys, Mangabeys, baboons, Bushbabies and many more. You will move with a guide who will make your walk informative and productive making it interesting. He will provide information on both flora and fauna. Have lunch and then in the afternoon go for a walk to Bigodi sanctuary for plenty of birds and rare fauna and flora. Dinner and overnight at Ndali lodge or Rwenzori Travelers Inn.

Day 3: Drive to Semliki Chimpanzee National Park
Very early in the morning, you will depart Kibale chimpanzee forest for Semliki national park.  The drive will take you down the eastern side of Lake Albert. Situated in the basin of the western Rift valley, Semliki National Park is one of the parks with many habitats ranging from Riparian forests, rain forests to short and high grass savannah. It is also know for its night game drive that reward you with nocturnal dwellers like the white tailed mongoose and slender mongoose, standard and pennant winged nightjars, cats, hyenas, leopards and many more. This is the only place in Uganda where you can do a spot lit night drive. The park generally offers lots of surprises because you never know what you might find. Overnight at Semliki safari Lodge/Kanyanchu Ecological site (FB)

Day 4: Wild Chimpanzee Tracking And Game Drive Safari
Have a cup of tea and go down into the beautiful gallery rainforest to track wild chimpanzees. These are usually tracked at dawn or dusk due to the fact that these chimpanzees tend to disappear in the middle of the day. There are also a number of bird species which are found in this picturesque forest. Retire from the chimp tracking and then in the afternoon you may relax at the pool or go for a game drive as you watch the sun dip. Overnight at Semliki safari Lodge/Kanyanchu Ecological site (FB

Day 5: Drive Back To Kampala
This morning have breakfast and go back to Kampala. You will carry packed lunch with you to reach in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Sheraton Hotel / Serena Hotel.

For more information on tour availability, tour quotation, tour dates or safari booking please write to us through info@ugandan-safari.com

Ngamba Chimpanzee Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Entebbe-Ngamba island
Our tour guide will meet you and briefe you about the tour and then take a boat ride off from Entebbe to Ngamba Island. Depending on time of arrival, walk to the neighboring local communities and later go for chimpanzee viewing on Ngamba islands.

Day 2 Ngamba island
After breakfast, for those with medical inoculations- have a forest walk through the forest. Have a wonderful adventure with the playful chimpanzees. These closest ancestors of man can climb on you, pull your hair, or just walk along holding your hand! Lunch. It’s really a fascinating experience! Take a walk in the forest in search for birds or Relax at the lake shores. Dinner and Overnight at Ngamba Island Camp.

Day 3 Ngamba-Entebbe
After a morning nature walk in the forest, have a boat transfer to Entebbe.

END OF THE CHIMPANZEE TOUR

Abacus Uganda Tours also organize Excursions to Ngamba Islands and 2 days Chimpanzee Tours to Ngamba Islands. If interested in taking a tour to Ngamba Islands, please write to us and we will suggest a possible tour itinerary that will meet your needs and also fit your budget.

For more information on the availability of this tour, tour dates or safari booking please write to us through info@ugandan-safari.com

Kibale Chimpanzee Tour Itinerary

Day !: Kampala-Fort portal
Get briefed about the camping safari and then start off for Fort Portal passing via Mityana and Mubende. Have a stop over at Mubende to see the Nakayima tree. Picnic lunch en route and continue for Fort portal reaching it late afternoon. Relax and explore the nearby crater lake. Overnight dinner and accommodation at your preferred campsite.

Day 2: Kibale national park
Early morning breakfast and then proceed for the tracking of the noisy chimps and other primates crashing through the high canopy of the Kibale tropical rain forest. Take note of the colourful birds squawking in through the tropical forest canopy. Have packed lunch and then take an afternoon nature walk through the Bigodi swamp to wetland birds as well as some of the projects run by local community. Retire in the evening, Dinner and Overnight.

Day 3: Kibale- Kampala
After breakfast, depart for Kampala passing you through the ever green and beautiful countryside of Western Uganda. En route lunch and arrival in Kampala late afternoon

END OF THE CHIMPANZEE TRCAKING TOUR

Day 2: Departure for Queen Elizabeth NP
You will be picked from your hotel in the morning after breakfast and depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes you through the country side and it is filled with captivating attractions en route. While enroute, you will have a look at royal drum makers, have a brief stop at the Equator, drive past the roadside markets fizzy with fruit and vegetables. Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving late in the afternoon, keeping an eye out for the game. Overnight Mweya Safari Lodge/Jacana Lodge

Day 3: Queen Elizabeth Tour
Wake up for an early morning game drive which will reward you with a lot of game, rest during the afternoon and then go on an evening game drive. The game seen will depend on the season; the Kasenyi plains are good for lion and the Mweya peninsula for a variety of animals. Overnight Mweya Safari Lodge/Jacana Lodge

Day 4: Drive to Kyambura Gorge for Chimpanzee Tracking
Drive to the Kyambura Gorge, a deep natural narrow valley in the surrounding plains. Descend into the floor of the gorge; track the fast moving and elusive chimpanzees, one of man’s closest relations. The chimp population is quite mobile and viewing is unpredictable but the walk is enchanting. Alternatively go for a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest to see other primates and to visit the bat cave and the blue lake. In the afternoon take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel where the wildlife and a vast array of birds come to drink. Overnight Mweya Safari Lodge/Jacana Lodge

Day 5: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You can either drive via Ishasha, the home of the tree-climbing lion, or take the alternative route through cultivated expanses. Incase time permits; you will go for a guided nature walk. Overnight at Buhoma Homestead

Day 6: Gorilla Tracking
Wake up early morning and go for gorilla tracking carrying a packed lunch. You will be accompanied by a guide and safari porters who will carry your shoulder pack for you. You will then set off to the thick forest in search of gorillas. The terrain can be difficult, with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation that gives the park its name. The time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 9 hours before one returns to camp. It is difficulty though not impossible and coming face to face with the great primates is worth it! Overnight at Bwindi Gorilla Resort (FB)

Day 7: Guided Walks
Following breakfast you will go for guided nature walks in the thick forest which is rich in birds, butterflies and monkeys. Alternatively you can go for a stroll around the Lodge or for a community walk. Overnight at Bwindi Gorilla Resort (FB)

Day 8: Depart to Rwanda
Drive to Rwanda and have lunch on arrival. Go for a simple community walk and have a look at the different cultural settings in Rwanda, the handicrafts, and may also buy some souvenirs. Overnight at Gorilla Nest Hotel (FB)

Day 9: Gorilla tracking in Parc des Volcans
Following breakfast, you will go for gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virungas is a supernatural experience. If you are lucky you can get to sit with the gorillas, spend an hour with them, and be back at the base in time for a late lunch! Some gorilla families however are more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy. Overnight at Gorilla Nest Hotel (FB)

Day 10: Golden monkey tracking
You will visit the golden monkeys or drive to Gisenyi, visit Ross Carr’s orphanage and Lake Kivu or climb the Visoke/Muhavura volcanoes, or trek to Dian Fossey’s grave. Overnight at Gorilla Nest Hotel (FB)

Day 11: Kigali City Tour
Depart for Kigali and go for a tour of the city including a visit to the market, a pottery project, handicraft shops, the Franco-Rwandan cultural centre and the genocide memorial. Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

For more information on tour availability, tour dates and safari booking please write to us through info@ugandan-safari.com

Day 1: Kampala City tour
After breakfast the safari guide will pick you from your hotel and go for a city tour around Kampala.  You will be able to visit the different heritage sites within Kampala. These include Namugongo matyres shrine, Bahai temple, Uganda Museum, Makerere University, Kasubi tombs, Iteso cultural dance near Kasubi, Namirembe and Rubaga cathedral, Kabaka’s lake, shopping arcades in town and craft shops including National theatre. Dinner and over night stay at Hotel Africana.

Day 2: Depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Drive early morning towards the west from Kampala and have a stopover at the equator for photographs, proceed to Bwindi via Maramagambo and Ishasha sector following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain range for much of the journey. As you drive along the road via Ishasha sector, animals such as the waterbucks, elephants, antelopes, buffalo, kobs, can be seen along the road. Relax around the camp. Dinner and over night at the luxurious Gorilla Resort Camp (High-end), Lake Kitandara Camp (Mid range) /Basic Buhoma community Bandas.

Day 3: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Gorilla Park
Following an early morning breakfast, you will proceed to the gorilla sanctuary. The rainforest is spectacular as it offers a dramatic, heavily forested and dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access for tourists. Recorded mammals here include the endangered mountain gorilla, the rare golden monkey, buffalo, elephants, black-fronted duikers, bushbucks, leopards, giant forest hogs as well as other animals. This park is best known for the fascinating gorillas, where the time taken and terrain varies according to the movements of these marvelous primates. The thrill of spending time with and observing these gentle giant gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure that will leave you with long lasting memories of a truly unique experience. The gorillas are shy and peaceful animals and it is an unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact with each other. Dinner and over night at the Camp.

Day 4: Bwindi Primate Walks
Following breakfast, you will go for a forest walk and pass through this spectacular rainforest, heavily forested and crisscrossed by numerous animal trails. You will be able to see various primate species and mammals and you might get a chance to see animals that you missed seeing the day before. You will have lunch and relax for the evening. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.

Day 5: Depart for Lake Mburo.
Following an early breakfast, you will drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Have an afternoon game drive which will take you along the lakeshore track, and with its own system of game trails and cleared walkways, you will find the “Kigambara Loop” which offers interesting guided lakeside walks. Here you can find herds of zebra, cape buffalo and eland, and Pribi and topi are easy to approach. Along with the game drive, you will also enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo and self-guided nature trails. For the bird watchers, they will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found in Lake Mburo including Papyrus Gonolek, Brown-faced Lapwings, Carruther’s Cisticolas, the extraordinary White winged Warbler and Bare-Faced Go-away bird. After the activities in the park drive to Masaka for your dinner and over night at Brovad Hotel

Day 6: Drive to Kampala
Following breakfast, you will head to Kampala and arrive early enough for your lunch. You will have stops at the Mpigi Royal Drum Makers. Here you will be able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through generations. There will also be time to stop at the equator for photographs and then arrive in Kampala in the evening.
END OF THE GORILLA KINGDOM TOUR

For more information on tour availability, tour quotation, tour dates or safari booking please write to us through info@ugandan-safari.com

Accessibility

From Kampala there are two major roads; Kampala-Fort portal via Mubende (4-5 hours drive) and Kampala-Fort portal via Masaka, Mbarara and Kasese (7-8 hours).

Safari activities

Scenic viewing Semuliki national park has got fantastic scenery made up of hot springs, tropical forests, Semuliki river meanders and many other ideal attractions. At ‘Mungu Ni Mukubwa’ while in the mountains, the road offers breathtaking scenic views of the meandering Semuliki River, fuming hot springs and the tropical rain forests extending up to Ituri forest in DRC. Two Hot springs situated in a tract of hot mineral encrusted swampland is rich in visible birds, insects and mammalian life. These two meters jet of hot water (130oC) and a pool (12 m diameter) of oozing boiling water (106oC) can boil food especially eggs in the natural boiler within only ten minutes.

Nature walks

Jungle life in Semuliki is breathtaking especially for birders, primate, butterfly and plant lovers. Jungle walks always starts from Sempaya Gate and takes about 2 hours ending to the Hot Springs of 10m diameter through the rainforest with Palm Trees and partly muddy ground. On the walk, tourists have a chance to see primates like Mangabeys and Blue Monkeys, mammals such as forest buffaloes, elephants, sitatungas, leopards, pygmy hippopotamus, as well as birds such as Hornbills, Honey guides and Palm nut Vultures. There are also 305 species of trees recorded, of which 125 species are restricted to this park alone.

Local community visits

Near the park, there are “Batwa”, a local pygmy Ituri ethnic group of people. They were the inhabitants of Semuliki Forest. Their livelihood basically depends on fruit gathering and hunting in the forest. Today there is a mixture and cultural exchange with other ethnic groups started. A community visit to the pygmy village near Sempaya Gate will enable you witness their lifestyles, traditions, dances, as well as an opportunity to buy souvenirs.

Bird watching

Given the rich biodiversity of the park in terms of birdlife, birding is another tourism activity that can be carried during the safari. The varying vegetation types offer birders the chance to see different birds which include forest birds, wetland birds, grassland birds as well as water birds. The area around the geothermal hot springs at Sempaya is not only very scenic but also offers some great birding most especially during nights.