The Primate Express
Southwestern Uganda is known for its rolling hills, lush landscape, chimpanzees and the rare mountain gorillas. Combined with the game drive experience in Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Park, you'll be surprised by the variety of nature and wildlife you encounter within easy driving distance of each other. This is our most popular route for those that have limited time and still want to see the best the country has to offer.
Scroll down below to see the day-to-day route with route description and lots of insider travel tips. The price includes car rental, accommodation in three price categories, and gorilla and chimp permits. The selected lodges are hand picked by us and the places we like to stay when we are looking for accommodation in Uganda ourselves; small-scale, good price-quality ratio and owner-managed when possible.
Check the day to day itinerary
Primate Express: What to expect on your 4x4 self-drive adventure in Uganda
Travel time and road conditions
12 days / 11 car rental days are recommended for this route, spending two nights at one location. On a travel day, you will drive on average 4-5 hours with a maximum of 7+ hours. Keep in mind that with photo and picnic stops, this can still make a full travel day. Time not on your side? Shorten the roadtrip with a day at Bwindi and/or Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Road conditions are good: asphalt with the occasional pothole and speed bumps. The most adventurous part is to get from Kisoro to Lake Mutanda (volcanic and dirt road) and from Hamurwa to Ishaha (off road). Offline navigation is easy if you download Maps.me on your smart phone before you go. More travel tips can be found at our on the road section.
Prices
Low season | 1st March - 31st May
Price is per person, in Euros.
Price includes 11 nights accommodation, mostly on the basis of Bed & Breakfast, 10 day car rental, airport pick up, gorilla permits and chimpanzee permits.
Ask us for any upper- mid range accommodation options.
Like to do The Primate Express with a driver - guide? Add €350 to your total trip amount.
RAV4 | Landcruiser | Hilux | ||||
2 pax | 4 pax | 2 pax | 4 pax | 2 pax | 4 pax | |
Budget | 1,680 | 1,590 | 1,880 | 1,670 | 1,980 | 1,720 |
Mid Range | 2,060 | 1,980 | 2,260 | 2,050 | 2,360 | 2,100 |
Car hire only?
Follow the route as a guideline and arrange your own accommodation.
Rest of the year
Price is per person, in Euros.
Price includes 11 nights accommodation, mostly on the basis of Bed & Breakfast, 10 day car rental, airport pick up, gorilla permits and chimpanzee permits.
Ask us for any upper- mid range accommodation options.
Want to do The Primate Express with a driver-guide? Add €350 to your total trip amount.
RAV4 | Landcruiser | Hilux | ||||
2 pax | 4 pax | 2 pax | 4 pax | 2 pax | 4 pax | |
Budget | 1,830 | 1,720 | 2,030 | 1,790 | 2,130 | 1,840 |
Mid Range | 2,210 | 2,100 | 2,410 | 2,180 | 2,510 | 2,230 |
Create & Book
You can book the Primate Express route as a fully accommodated safari road trip with budget, comfort or deluxe accommodation. Or simply book to secure your hire car, and use this suggested route for travel inspiration.
Book your road tripIncluded in your accomodated roadtrip
Included
- Gorilla permit ($ 600 pp)
- Chimp permit ($ 150 pp)
- Bed & Breakfast
- Airport transfers
- Comprehensive car insurance
- Roadmap and Bradt Travel Guide
Optional
- Electrical fridge
- Driver-Guide