7 Days Uganda Camping Safari – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1 of the7 Days Uganda Camping Safari: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary En Route

Start your day with an early breakfast at around 6.00 am. After breakfast, undertake a 311km (5 – 6 hours) panoramic drive northwest to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park blessed with a high diversity of habitats, the Nile River, the world’s most powerful waterfalls, over 451 bird species and 76 species of mammals including the world’s largest population of Rothschild’s giraffes.

On the way to Murchison, you’ll enjoy amazing views of the flat landscapes of central Uganda, before branching off at Nakitooma for a 7km drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the proud home of the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Here you’ll get the opportunity to undertake 2 hours on-foot rhino tracking expedition. The sanctuary is endowed with over 22 re-introduced Southern white rhinos. The activity begins with a briefing from an expert ranger and thereafter you proceed to track the Rhinos.

While at the sanctuary you may also encounter a range of other wildlife species including Uganda kobs, oribis, bushbucks, waterbucks among others, and several bird species. This activity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and should not be missed! After the activity, settle for lunch at Kabalega dinner and continue to Murchison Falls National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – Rhino tracking on foot Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

 Accommodation: –  

Luxury/Upmarket: – Paraa Safari Lodge – Safari Tents

Midrange/Standard: – Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari tents

Budget/Basic: – Red Chilli Rest Camp/Murchison River Lodge campsite/Shoebill campsite

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: – Approx. 311km or 5-6 hours

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
• Rhino tracking in Ziwa

Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Bush dinner
• Night game drive in Murchison

Day 2 of the 7 Days Uganda Camping Safari: Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Nile Boat Cruise & Hike to the Top of the fall.  

After an early breakfast at around 6.00 am, you will set off on a 3-4 hours morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park’s northern section which is an exquisite section of the park featuring rolling savanna grassland dotted with impressive stands of Borassus palms, acacia trees, and riverine woodland.

Your search for Lions, Buffalos, Elephants, Giraffes, Hyenas, Leopards, Oribi, warthogs, Hartebeests, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Hippos, Uganda kobs, Patas monkeys, Olive baboons, and Crocodiles. You will also have a chance to encounter a variety of unique birds including rare Shoebills, Goliath heron, grey-crowned cranes (Uganda national bird), Abyssinian ground hornbills, Secretary birds, Saddle-bellied storks, Denham’s bustard, Squacco Heron, and Kingfishers, to name just a few.

You retreat from the activity for relaxation and a good lunch. In the afternoon, you will drive to Paraa jetty for what will surely be one of the highlights of this 18 days Uganda camping safari tour: the three hours boat cruise along the world’s longest river to the bottom of the world’s most powerful waterfall which starts at 2 pm.

You’ll slowly cruise eastward along an impressive stretch of the Nile, fringed by Borassus palms, acacia woodland, and mahogany stands, before finally docking in a small bay a few hundred meters away from the crashing waterfall. Marvel at hundreds of hippos, Nile Crocodiles, herds of buffalos, elephants, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, unique birds such as Shoebill, Goliath heron, African jacana, African fish eagle, kingfishers, African skimmer, Saddle-billed stork, and more.

Upon reaching the bottom of the falls, you embark on the hike to the top of the falls following the Nile River as it squeezes itself to pass through a less than 7m gorge before falling 43m below to what has been termed as the devil’s Cauldron forming a plume of spray marked by a thunderous roar and trademark rainbow. You link up with the guide and the vehicle at the top of the falls and transfer to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight

The highlight of the day: – The Nile launch cruise to the bottom of the Murchison Falls.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Paraa Safari Lodge – Safari Tents

Midrange/Standard: – Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari tents

Budget/Basic: – Red Chilli Rest Camp/Murchison River Lodge campsite/Shoebill campsite

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Morning game drive
• Afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison falls
• Hiking to the top of the falls

Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Bush breakfast
• Hot air balloon safari
• Birding
• Sport Fishing for Nile Perch

Day 3 of the7 Days Uganda Camping Safari: Travel to Hoima. Visit Kibiro Salt Gardens En Route.

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Hoima. You will make a stop en route at Kibiro Salt Gardens to encounter the heritage of this historic site. The salt gardens have supported the livelihoods of the surrounding community dating far back to 900 years ago far before the coming of Europeans. The locals extract fine salt which they then exchange with the other communities for food and other items.

The work of salt extraction at this site has for long been a dominant of females. The process of extracting is rather long and technical than the ordinary but it is amazing to see how the indigenous knowledge is put into use to have a product out well made.

Accessing the site exposes you to walking on steep and challenging landscapes with narrow paths that can only be accessed by foot. Retreat from the encounter and transfer to Hoima arriving in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner, and overnight

The highlight of the day: –

 Accommodation: –

Budget/Basic: – Camping at Hoima Cultural Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance and time: – Approx. 170km or 5-6 hours

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Drive to Hoima
• Tour Kibiro Salt Gardens

Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Bush breakfast in Murchison
• Sportfishing along the Nile River

Day 4 of the 7 Days Uganda Camping Safari: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Do Bigodi Wetland Walk En Route.

After an early breakfast, you embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park driving through impressive rural landscapes of Kyenjojo and Kagadi before approaching Fort Portal town about 5 hours for early lunch and then proceed for Bigodi wetland walk on the boundary of Kibale National Park.

The Bigodi wetland is a rich haven presenting ideal ecotourism encounters in Uganda. It is the leading successful ecotourism initiative in Uganda and the wetland features a count of 138 species which include Great Blue Turaco, gonoleks among others. The swamp-dwelling sitatunga antelope might also be encountered.

The local community including their art and craft center and the home of the traditional healer presents to you a community touch while on this safari tour in Uganda. Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the Rwimi road to Kasese. Arrive at the lodge in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight

The highlight of the day: – Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale

 Accommodation:-

 Luxury/Upmarket: – Mweya Safari Lodge – Luxury Safari Tents/Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Midrange/Standard: – Kasenyi Safari Camp/Bush Lodge – self-contained tents

Budget/Basic: – Bush Lodge – non -self-contained tents/Camping at Twin Lakes Campsite/Kazinga Channel View Resort

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Chimpanzee tracking
• Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Whole day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
• A nature walk in the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Day 5 of the 7 Days Uganda Camping Safari: Do Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi Plains & Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise.

Enjoy breakfast at 6.00 am and then embark on a 3-4 hours game drive in the classic savannah plains of the Kasenyi sector in search of Elephants, Buffalos, Lions, Leopards, Hyenas, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Warthogs, Giant forest hogs, Uganda kobs, Hippos, and various smaller creatures. This section, apart from the great wildlife, is also one of the prettiest in the park, especially in the golden light of the morning.

While a major attraction for you is of course the mammals, birding within Queen Elizabeth is superb. You spend some time ticking a good number of special species including Grey-crowned crane, Red-throated spurfowl, Yellow-throated longclaw, White-backed vulture, White-headed vulture, Long-crested Eagle, Black-bellied bustard, African Skimmer, and Brown Snake Eagle, to name just a few. Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch.

In the afternoon, drive to Mweya Jetty for another remarkable, unforgettable activity planned; the 2-hour boat trip on the 40 Kazinga channel which flows between Lakes George and Edward. One of the world’s densest concentrations of hippo lives here, as well as large numbers of elephants, crocodiles, and water birds like African Open-billed, Yellow-billed, and Saddle-billed Storks; Water Thick-knee and Pelicans. Retreat from the activity and do a game drive along the channel track as you connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – An amazing wild boat cruise along the spectacular Kazinga Channel.

Accommodation: –

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mweya Safari Lodge – Luxury Safari Tents/Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Midrange/Standard: – Kasenyi Safari Camp/Bush Lodge – self-contained tents

Budget/Basic: – Bush Lodge – non -self-contained tents/Camping at Twin Lakes Campsite/Kazinga Channel View Resort

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Morning game drive in Kasenyi sector
• Afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga channel
• Evening game drive along the channel track

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Bush breakfast
• Birding
• Cultural interactive village visits
• Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge/Kalinzu Forest
• Night game drive

Day 6 of the 7 Days Uganda Camping Safari: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Do Game Drive in Ishasha in Search of Tree Climbing Lions.

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (literally a place of little birds) 289km about a 7- 8 hours’ drive. You undertake a game drive in the Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of tree climbing lions and other wild game.

The Ishasha is one of the only two places in the world where tree climbing lions can be encountered. They tend to lie in fig tree branches in the daytime. Continue on the drive passing through the fascinating Kigezi Highlands with a cool temperate climate and rugged terrain that has earned them the dub as the Switzerland of Africa. On arrival, relax, have dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – Encountering the rare tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector.

Accommodation: –

Midrange/Standard: – Bunyonyi Overland Resort – Furnished Safari Tents

Budget/Basic: – Camping at Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort/Bunyonyi Overland Resort-campsite

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services of the day:-

• Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 7 of the7 Days Uganda Camping Safari: Boat Cruise & Island Walk On Lake Bunyonyi. Transfer to Entebbe with En Route Stops at Igongo Cultural Centre for Lunch and the Equator Crossing Kayabwe for Photoshoots.

Embark on the morning lake tour by taking a boat cruise exploring the impressive waters of Lake Bunyonyi noted as the second deepest in Africa. You also take a walk on one of the main Islands to explore the beauty of the lake of a thousand Islands in detail.

Retreat from 2-hour activity and embark on the transfer to Kampala 437km about 7 hours’ drive driving through impressive countryside landscapes of south western Uganda making a traditional lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center for typical African buffet and another stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots where one leg would be in the southern hemisphere and the other in the northern hemisphere. Arrive in Kampala/Entebbe in the afternoon to mark the end of the tour.

The highlight of the day: – Cruising on Lake Bunyoni and the Uganda Equator experience.

 Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 Activities & Services of the day:-

• Boat Cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
• Lake Bunyonyi islands walk
• Transfer to Kampala
• Lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Centre
• Photoshoots at the Equator

End of the 7 Days Uganda Camping Safari Tour

7 Days Uganda Camping Safari − SAFARI INCLUSIONS

• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

7 Days Uganda Camping Safari − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS

• General tips for the driver guide, site guides, and service staff at the lodges
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages/drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights (Arranged on request)
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
• Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)

Links of related safari accommodation in the featured safari destinations for the 7 Days Uganda Camping Safari

Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park

• Luxury accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park
• Midrange accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park
• Budget accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park

 Accommodation in Hoima

• Luxury accommodation in Hoima
• Midrange accommodation in Hoima
• Budget accommodation in Hoima

Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

• Luxury accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Midrange accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Budget accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation in Lake Bunyonyi

• Luxury accommodation in Lake Bunyonyi
• Midrange accommodation in Lake Bunyonyi
• Budget accommodation in Lake Bunyonyi

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3 Days Uganda Camping Safari- Wildlife Viewing In Queen

7 Days Uganda Camping Safari Tour − GORILLA TREKKING TIPS

• Carry plenty of water and some quick calories. The trek is relatively tiresome.
• Put on strong hiking shoes/boots
• Wear a long-sleeved shirt/t-shirt, thick trousers.
• Strong gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants are also recommended
• Bring a warm sweater/fleece as it is often cold at the outset
• Carry a rain jacket or poncho since it can rain at any time in the tropical rainforest of Bwindi
• It is also a good idea to have sunscreen and sunglasses

Follow this link to read more about gorilla trekking tips and advice.

Visas for Uganda – do you need a visa to enter/tour Uganda?: Uganda entry, exit, and visa requirements

Passport

Any world traveler interested in a Uganda safari or a Uganda tour is required to be in possession of a valid passport issued by the respective country of origin. Uganda immigration Authorities require that the passport copy should be 6 months valid and must have at least one page where the stamp can be put.

Regarding the citizens of the East African Community, it can be noted that they do not require passports to enter Uganda. They can travel under the admissible temporary document and use their national identification cards for identification.

At Prime Safaris and Tours Ltd, your safety is our utmost priority. We have thus undertaken the necessary safety measures in compliance with the approved Standard Operating Procedures by the Governments of ALL African countries in which we operate with a goal of protecting our customers while traveling and on their Africa safari. The following guidelines will be applicable for your  Safari in Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, and other African Countries.