8 Days Uganda Safari

This safari will take you on a classic safari that involves the gorilla trekking adventure, Chimpanzee trekking adventure, a game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park and a boat ride on Kazinga Channel.

Your safari begins with Kibale forest national park located in western Uganda and well known for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. You then head to Queen Elizabeth national park which is the most popular savanna park in Uganda and is home to an array of wildlife and bird species. You end with the famous Bwindi Impenetrable national park the home to the mountain gorillas in Uganda. Bwindi forest is one of the most diverse forests in Africa and is home to a variety of mammal species aside from the mountain gorillas and hosts 350 species of birds.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Airport Pick up

You will arrive at Entebbe International airport today and you will be met and welcomed to Uganda by your driver guide. The guide will then transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala for overnight.

Journey time: 15 minutes

Accommodation: Hotel No.5 (Luxury), Best western Garden Hotel (Mid-range), African Roots Guest House (Budget)

Meal Plan: Dinner

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Fort Portal Crater Lakes

Today you will transfer to Kibale forest national park which is also referred to as primate capital of East Africa. The drive to the park offers scenic views of Uganda’s landscape and vegetation. On arrival at your lodge in Kibale, you check in and have lunch. After lunch your driver guide will take you to visit the Fort Portal crater lakes located near the park, here you will capture great photos and then retire to the lodge for overnight.

Journey time: 5 hours

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Luxury), Turaco Treetops (Mid-range), Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park and Bigodi Swamp walk

You will have breakfast at the lodge early in the morning and then your driver guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing from your ranger guide. After the briefing you start the journey in to Bwindi forest as you look out for the chimpanzees, man’s closest relatives. Once you locate the chimps you will spend 1 hour with them as you watch then jump around among the tree branches and feed. You will also be able to capture great photos. Different species of birds and some monkeys can be sighted while on the chimp trek.

In the afternoon you will go on the Bigodi wetland walk which is a community run initiative that takes you in to the Bigodi wetlands. Here you will look out for monkey species like black-and-white colobus, red-tailed and red colobus. You will also look out for bird species with the most commonly sighted being the Great Blue turaco. The walk will also take you in to the community to have a look in to the way of life of the locals. Return to the lodge after a long day relax and have dinner.

Optional Activity: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX). The chimpanzee habituation activity is an alternative way to visit the chimpanzees. For this activity you spend more time with the chimpanzees as you will set out in to Kibale forest early in the morning to find the chimps leaving their nests and spend the rest of the day with them. You return to the lodge later in the evening. So for a traveler looking to spend more time with the chimpanzees as opposed to the one hour on the chimpanzee trek, this activity is highly recommended.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today you will check out of your lodge in Kibale national park and then travel to Queen Elizabeth national park. Once you arrive at the park you can spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge.

Optional Activity:Community Walk and Tour

Journey time: 2 hours

Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Twin Lakes Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Bush Lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Boat ride on Kazinga Channel

You will go on an early morning game drive in the park after having breakfast at the lodge. The game drive will take place in Kasenyi plains as this is where you get the best game viewing opportunities. Wildlife to look out for include hyenas, lions, elephants, buffaloes and antelope species among other animals.

Your afternoon will be spent on a 2 hour boat ride on Kazinga channel. The boat ride offers great opportunities to look out for water birds, hippos, crocodiles that like to sunbathe on the shores, elephants that like to pay in the water and antelopes as they come to the shores to drink water in the afternoon.

 Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast you check out of your lodge and then start the journey to Bwindi national park the home of mountain gorillas in Uganda. The journey furthers offers stunning views of Uganda’s beautiful landscape. On arrival check in to your lodge for overnight.

Optional Activity – Community Tour

Journey time: 3-4 hours depending the sector of Bwindi where you will be tracking

Accommodation: Bwindi Lodge (Luxury), Buhoma Haven Lodge (Mid – range), Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

You will leave the lodge as early as 6am in the morning; the driver guide will take you to the national park offices. Here you will receive a briefing with clear guide lines about your trek. After the briefing you will be assigned the gorilla family and then begin your trek in to Bwindi forest. Once you locate the gorillas you are allowed to spend 1 hour with them. After this you start the trek back.

Optional Activity: Gorilla Habituation – The gorilla habituation experience offers you an opportunity to spend more time with the gorillas as opposed to the gorilla trek. The gorilla habituation experience allows visitors to spend 4 hours with the gorillas in their natural habitat which is more time than the one hour spent with the primates on a gorilla trek. The gorilla habituation only happens in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi national park where you trek with the trackers and researchers that are involved in the habituation process.Only 4 individuals can do the habituation experience at a time so we advise that you book the tour with us in advance.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Travel back to Kampala or Entebbe

You will end your safari on this day as you travel back, you will have a stopover at the Uganda Equator monument. Your driver guide will then drop you off in Kampala or Entebbe Airport for your flight back home.

Journey time: 8 Hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

What to carry for your Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trek

• Sunscreen
•  Insect repellant
•  Hiking boots
• Long sleeved shirt
•  Long pants
•  Camera with extra batteries
•  Hat and Rain jacket
• Drinking water to keep you hydrated while trekking

Included in the Tour Package:

• Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Permits
• English speaking driver guide
• Transport in Safari Vehicle and Fuel
• Game drive and Boat ride
• Bigodi wetland walk
• Park entrance fees
• Full Board Accommodation
• Drinking water in the vehicle

Tour Package does NOT include:

• Optional activities
• Insurance
• International Flights
• Entry visa
• Tips to guides or lodge staff
• Other Personal expenses while on the tour