It was in June 2024 when I had my 5 day Uganda primate safari to Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda with the help of Nature Adventure Africa Safaris who worked on the booking and reservation of my permit, accommodation and transport.
On this 5 days safari, I enjoyed the best primate trekking experience of gorillas and chimpanzees in the forests of Bwindi and Kibale respectively.
Upon my arrival at Entebbe International Airport, I was picked up by Emma a driver guide from Nature Adventure Africa Safaris. Emma briefed me about the safari and later we embarked on our journey to Kibale National Park passing via Mityana-Mubende road with a stopover in Fort portal town for lunch. After lunch, we paid a visit to Muhoma Falls. Muhoma Falls is located in western Uganda in Fort-Portal – Kamwenge road. The water falls are set up in a very peaceful, beautiful and yet very scenic area of Ruteete, characterized with cool temperatures. After wards, we proceeded to Kibale forest and on arrival I just checked-in at Chimpanzee Forest guest house for dinner and overnight stay.
On my 2nd day of the safari, after having breakfast, I reported to the Kanyanchu park offices for briefing about the guidelines followed during chimpanzee trekking. In the briefing we were divided into groups of 6 members and then entered the forest with the experienced guides to search for the chimpanzees. Upon finding the chimpanzees, we spent only 1 hour in their natural habitats as we were watching them playing, feeding little ones, fighting among other and also taking photos for unforgettable memories.
We trekked back to the Kanyanchu center to receive our certificates and later I met my driver to get back to the guest house for lunch. After lunch, I went for a nature walk in the Bigodi wetland sanctuary where I spotted a variety birds and this place is actually good for bird lovers.
Among the species I saw within this swamp are: the Black-crowned Waxbill, White-spotted Flufftail, White-breasted Negrofinch, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black Bishop, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Yellow-billed Barbet, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Black & white Shrike-flycatcher, Western Nicator, Superb Sunbird and many others as they were described by the guide. Later returned to guest house for sleepover.
On the 3rd day, early in the morning we embarked on our journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park passing through the Ishasha sector (Queen Elizabeth National Park) known for the tree climbing lions.
We had our lunch enroute in Ishasha sector and later continued to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in evening just to check-in at Wagtail Eco Safari Camp for dinner and sleepover.
My 4th day was for the long-awaited experience. I had breakfast and headed to the park’s headquarters where I met with other fellow tourists for briefing about gorilla trekking and the right way to behave and here a senior ranger gave us detailed information about dos and don’ts while in the presence of the gorillas. In groups of 8 members, we headed to the starting and entered into the forest of Bwindi with a ranger guide to search for gorillas. The trek through the verdant forest took us about 2 to 6 hours to locate the gorillas since they had moved far to search for food. On the trek we saw other primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and many birds.
Upon locating the gorillas, we spent one hour with them taking pictures and observing their behaviors and trails which is similar to that of humans, watched the babies playing with each other among others.
We trekked back to the park’s headquarters to pick our gorilla certificate and then I returned to the lodge to rest. In the evening me and my driver we head to the Batwa Community village for a cultural experience. At the village we interacted with these formerly forest people and they told us on how they used to hunt, gather fruits in order to survive in the forest. Here we enjoyed cultural dances and songs from the locals. After wards I returned to the lodge for dinner and sleepover.
On my last day of the safari after having breakfast, we embarked on our journey back to Kampala with an enroute stopover in Mbarara at Igongo cultural center for lunch and also learning about the Rwandese culture. We proceeded to Equator where we had some photography to create memorable moments. From equator, we moved straight to Entebbe International Airport to catch up with my flight back home.
