Questions about planning - 3 weeks to meet primates in Uganda

Hello,

After having to cancel our trip to Uganda in December 2020, we finally decided to go in December/January. We leave on December 28th and return on January 18th, which gives us 20 days and 20 nights there 🙂

The main goal of this trip is to meet primates, big and small. We won’t skip the birds and other mammals or the local culture and people, but we want to maximize our chances of meeting our monkey friends.

It’ll be a self-drive road trip with lodge stays. The 4x4 is booked, as are the chimpanzee and gorilla permits, and most of the accommodations.

I’m reaching out because I have a big question mark about my itinerary. Here’s what was originally planned (with the parts I’m unsure about in bold):

1 night in Entebbe on arrival day 1 night at Ziwa Rhino & Wildlife Ranch (rhino trek and shoebill trek) 2 nights at Murchison Falls NP (Murchison River Lodge) 2 nights at Lake Albert (Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve) 2 nights in Kibale (for the chimpanzee habituation day) 2 nights in Queen Elizabeth NP (chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge) 2 nights in Bwindi, Ruhija sector (gorilla trek) 2 nights at Lake Mutanda (gorilla trek in Mgahinga) 1 night in Kisoro (golden monkey trek in Mgahinga) 1 night at Lake Bunyonyi 2 nights in Lake Mburo NP 2 nights near Mabamba Swamps (for the shoebill and to relax before flying back)

My "issue": The lodge at Lake Albert only has availability for the first of the 2 nights. So I’m hesitating between a few options (if you have other ideas, I’m all ears!):

1- Add an extra night at MFNP and make a stop somewhere between MFNP and Kibale. But where? 2- Keep 1 night at Lake Albert and do 3 nights in Kibale (but is 3 days in Kibale too much?) 3- Do 3 nights at MFNP and 3 nights in Kibale, with a long drive between the two 4- 2 nights at Lake Albert but at another lodge not in Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve (is there enough to fill 2 days? Any lodge recommendations?)

A huge thank you for your help and advice 🙂 Have a wonderful sunny weekend, Pascale

Hi Pascale,

My trip dates back to 2018 (I kept a travel journal on VF when I got back), so it’s a bit old now.

The logical stop between MFNP and Kibale is Hoima... but as far as I know, there isn’t much to do there (maybe a market, but I don’t have any info on dates, locations, etc.). Some sections of the road were in really bad condition back then, but I think there must have been some work done and improvements since. Around Kibale, there are plenty of things to do besides chimpanzees (ours was cut short): Bigodi, hikes around the crater lakes, among others. I don’t know anything about Lake Albert, though...

Anyway, you’re in for an amazing trip! 🙂

Hi Muriel,

Thanks for your reply. I’ve been dreaming of this trip for years 🙂

Between Lake Albert and Kibale, I found a nice lodge on the edge of a forest where you can also meet monkeys (Bugoma Forest Reserve). Apparently, the chances of seeing chimpanzees are only 50%, but that’s still better than nothing... especially since you can get permits on the spot last minute.

So fingers crossed the lodge has availability for our dates 😎

Have a great day, Pascale

Hi Pascale,

If our 2024 experience might be helpful, feel free to check out my comments and maybe my video: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10702377#10702377 Uganda is a beautiful, lush, and vibrant country. Best of luck! Loïc

Hi Pascale, I’m also planning to go see the chimpanzees in Bugoma. Apparently, the chances are about 80%. Plus, there are far fewer people. Could you let me know the name of the lodge you found? Thanks,

Hello Serge,

The lodge is Bugoma Jungle Lodge. An 80% chance of seeing chimpanzees—that’s not bad ;-)

Have a great day, Pascale

Hello, We’ll also be in Uganda in January, and if possible, we’d love to know the address of your lodge (or website). We’re still waiting for our visas to set the exact date, then we’ll pick up our 2CV in Dar es Salaam... Anyway, we’re leaving around December 10th and returning at the end of January. And you? Have a great weekend! PP

Hello,

Traveling by 2CV is amazing! 🙂 I envy you being able to leave for so long.

We’ll be in Uganda from December 28th to January 18th. We just submitted our visa applications. Can’t wait to be there!

et au cas où aimerions connaitre ton adresse de lodge. (ou site)

Which lodge are you talking about? The one between Murchison and Kibale? If so, we’re doing this route in two stages:

1 night by Lake Albert in the Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, at Lake Albert Safari Lodge 1 night at Bugoma Jungle Lodge, where you can do a chimpanzee trek or other types of excursions

Have a great weekend, Pascale

Personally, I can’t answer that for you since we don’t book anything in advance. But we’re also on the road for a month and a half with our 2CV Dyane. Maybe we’ll cross paths, but it might be tight—we’re waiting for our Tanzania visa (we’ve got Uganda’s) to pick up our car in Dar es Salaam, then head to Kilimanjaro and Uganda. Safe travels!