8 Days Uganda Tour – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1 of the 8 Days Uganda Tour: Arrival in Uganda (Entebbe International Airport) and transfer to the Hotel

Depending on the time of your flight arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be met by our company representative who will help you get comfortable in our 4×4 safari car then lead you on a journey to you’re the hotel that we have already pre-booked for you as he takes you through some of the sceneries that will encounter on your way to the hotel and these include the history about Entebbe airport which was the epicentre for a 90 minutes military standoff between 100 Israel defence commandos and the Ugandan army.

The Israel forces had come to Entebbe in a rescue mission code-named Operation Entebbe that happened on the 4^th of July 1976 where 102 hostages were rescued out of the 106 people that had been taken hostage by a Palestinian rebel group and brought to Entebbe on the orders of the President of Uganda Idi Amin. The highlight of this day will surely be having glimpses of Lake Victoria the second biggest freshwater lake on the planet as you continue to your hotel in Entebbe. There is an option of you having a briefing about the entire trip upon your arrival and check-in into the hotel but if you are tired, you can opt to have it the following day over breakfast. After you have comfortably settled into the hotel, this closes the first day of your ultimate Africa safari expedition.

The highlight of the day: Sighting the serene waters of the second biggest freshwater lake in the world Lake Victoria

Accommodation: –

• Luxury/ Upmarket: Protea Entebbe Hotel
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Lake Heights Entebbe hotel/ The Boma hotel/ Hotel No5 Entebbe
• Budget/ Basic: Entebbe Airport Guesthouse

Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast / Half board at the hotel

Drive distance & time: Approx. 3-5km or 10-20 minutes

Activities & Services: –

• Airport pick up

Other activities you can do include: –

If your flight arrives early in Entebbe you can opt to engage in any of the following activities

• Birding experience in Mabamba swamp & Botanical gardens
• Entebbe city tour
• Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary
• Fishing on Lake Victoria
• Visiting Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) for a chimpanzee close up experience
• Sundowner boat cruise on Lake Victoria

Day 2 of the 8 Days Uganda Tour: Transfer to Bwindi which comes with an en-route stop at Uganda Equator point

You will have an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am at your hotel and you will be picked up by your company safari guide that has been assigned to lead you on this safari adventure. After getting comfortable in the 4×4 safari car, you will embark on this 8 -9-hour journey covering about 520km. During this amazing journey, you will enjoy exciting road stops at Mpambire drum center and have an encounter with local artists as they manufacture a wide variety of local musical instruments such as the drums, African chairs.

Your next en route stop will be done at the  Equator point were and this allows you to enjoy an experience of living in 2 separate halves of the world at the same time as this is the line that divides the earth into 2 equal halves! You should take a number of photos of yourself while here to allow have this magical moment captioned for eternity.  From here you will proceed with the journey Enjoy a locally inspired lunch buffet at Igongo country hotel.

Continue with your journey to Bwindi passing through the beautiful Mirama hills that have been tamed by locals who are growing bananas and other foods stuffs on the slopes of these hills. Along the way look out for sightings of local people carrying riding bicycles loaded with farm produces such bananas. You won’t also miss seeing women carrying their children monkey style as they have them strapped in their backs. A final stop will be made at the Great Lakes Museum in Kabale where you get to encounter the African tree of life. This tree is made of different sculptures that depict the different forms of life of Africans. You can take a moment a pose for photos before you continue with the rest of your journey to the lodge in Bwindi.

Spending time at the Equator point for the Equator experience will be the highlight of the day

Accommodation: –

• Top-Notch / Exclusive: Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge
• Luxury/ Upmarket: Haven Lodge Buhoma
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Budget/ Basic: Trekkers Tavern Ruhija

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance &time: Approx. 520 or 8-9 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Transfer to Bwindi
• Equator experience

Day 3 of the 8 Days Uganda Tour: Engage in a gorilla trekking experience then transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Today, you will have an early morning breakfast served at 6:30 am comprising of a wide assortment of bites ranging from truly delicious tropical organic fruits to freshly baked confectionaries aimed at giving you an energy boost for the gorilla trekking in Bwindi experience ahead of you where you get to meet one of the gorilla families in this park for a full hour. Depart from the lodge with your packed lunch and gather at the park center where you will be welcomed by the park sector warden who will take you through the history of gorilla conservation in this particular park sector and Bwindi park in general. While here still you get to have a miniature cultural performance from the local Batwa people who will showcase their musical skills to you.

With your armed ranger in the lead, embark on a trek, searching for your allocated gorilla family. During your search for the gorillas, keep your eyes and ears on the lookout for several of the 350 bird species that are found in this park that might come your way, you will also be in a position to see some of the other primates here such as the Black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, different species of lizards such as the 3 horned chameleon and many more. On seeing the gorillas, count yourself among the lucky people who have managed to see these endangered mountain giants in their natural habitat. You will be granted a full hour with these magical beings to watch them as they go about their daily lives and if you’re lucky you might get to see the young gorillas break the 7-meter rule as they get closure to you to have you incorporated in their games. After the full hour of contact with these gorillas, you will transfer back to the park center where you get awarded a Gorilla tracking certificate for your tracking efforts.  From here, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi where you get to relax from the rather a bit tedious gorilla trekking experience.

On arrival to this beautiful tropical gem of the Kigezi highland, you will be fascinated by the tranquil waters of this lake and the numerous islands that are dotted all over this lake hence leading to its famous name The Lake of a Thousand Islands. Take a relaxing boat cruise on the waters of this lake as you are taken through the history behind several of these islands such as the Akampene island which is also known as the Punishment island where young girls who had got pregnant were thrown and left to die alone, the upside-down island which legend has it that it was cursed by an old lady when the young people who lived on that island refused to give her beer, she cursed it and it turned upside down hence having them all drowned. From this boat cruise, transfer to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Spending a full hour with the majestic gorillas surely makes this day a one to remember for a very long time in your lifetime and experiential boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi.

Accommodation: –

• Luxury/ Upmarket: Birds nest @ Bunyonyi
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
• Budget/ Basic: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: Approx. 55-85 km or 1-3 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
• Gorilla trekking

Optional Activities: –

• Nature walks in Bwindi
• Batwa community walks
• Birding

Day 4 of the 8 Days Uganda Tour: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and engage in a game drive in the Ishasha.

Day 4 is dedicated to getting you to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This day begins early in the morning as you wake up to the sweet melodies of numerous birds as they sing their hearts of the dawn of new day on the shores of this incredible highland lake. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 am in order to allow you to commence your 6-7 hour journey to Queen Elizabeth Park on time. As you transfer to Queen, you will engage in a game drive experience in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park named Ishasha which is well known for its tree-climbing lions.

The Ishasha sector presents a remarkable encounter with the unique tree-climbing lions which are only existing in two spots in the whole world with the Ishasha sector having the best viewing opportunities. After this search for the tree-climbing lions, you will proceed with the remaining part of your journey to Queen Elizabeth park which ends with your arrival to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

A sighting of the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector lodged in between tree branches will be the highlight of the day

Accommodation: –

• Luxury/ Up market: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Safari Lodge / Elephant Plains Safari Lodge
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Enganzi Game Lodge/ Mazike Valley Lodge
• Budget/ Basic: Pumba Safari Lodge / Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: Approx. 230km or 4-6 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park
• Game drive in the Ishasha sector

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

• Night game drive experience in Queen Elizabeth Park

Day 5 of the 8 Days Uganda Tour: Morning game drive, Kazinga Channel boat and mini evening game drive

After breakfast having breakfast at 6:00 am, you will start off the day with a spectacular game drive to the savannah landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a 3 – 4-hour morning game drive exploring the park’s rolling savannah landscapes dotted with counts of wild game including the big four of the big five like lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants, antelope species like waterbucks, Kobs, bushbucks among others, jackals among other wild game. The stretch to Kasenyi and the Mweya peninsular offers you the best of these.

You settle for lunch at Tembo restaurant in the Mweya peninsular after which you gather at the Mweya jetty to embark on a thrilling boat cruise on the 45km long Kazinga Channel. The cruise takes 2 hours with possibilities of encountering the aquatic species such as Nile Crocodiles and Hippos not forgetting other wild game that tends to congregate on the channel shores to consume water.  Retreat from the activity and do a game drive along the channel track with in the Mweya peninsular to explore more games. Retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Today’s highlight be will the incredible boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

Accommodation: –

• Luxury/ Up market: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Safari Lodge / Elephant Plains Safari Lodge
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Enganzi Game Lodge/ Mazike Valley Lodge
• Budget/ Basic: Pumba Safari Lodge / Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Afternoon boat cruise
• Game drive in the Kasenyi sector

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

• Night game drive experience in Queen Elizabeth Park
• Bush Dinner
• Hot air ballooning experience
• Birding
• Cultural encounters

Day 6 of the 8 Days Uganda Tour: Transfer to Kibale with en-route stop at Ruboni village for a community walk.

This day is fairly relaxed as you will wake up at 8:00 am for breakfast then embark on a 157km or 2-3 hours’ drive to Kibale National Park. However, along the way, you will make an en-route stop at the Ruboni village and engage in a community exploration of the Bakonzo people. You can decide to engage in a nature hike as you explore the lower slopes of the Rwenzori mountain which are have shaped the lives of these local people who are living here. During this hike expect to encounter quite a number of bird species which are endemic to this park such as the Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turaco, and many others.

Join the elders of this community who will tell fascinating stories about their ancestry genealogy and the unique naming culture of the Bakonzo and if you wish you can ask them to give you a Bakonzo name basing on your own birth position in your family and agenda. Visit the gardens of the community and see how these people have managed to tame the mountain and even turn it into productive land. You will now leave the Ruboni village and visit the Ruboni community center where you will find the Bakonzo women displaying their signature handcraft products that will surely catch your eye on first glance.

You will have a chance to interact with these ladies and if you wish you can have a minute or two to learn from these handcraft masters on how to create such pieces of class If you have some money to spare you can buy some of these artifacts to be souvenirs for your trip. This way, you will have played a pivotal role in supporting the local community here as the proceeds from the sales are used by these ladies to support their families’ livelihoods. From here you will proceed to Fort Portal town where you will have your lunch from before proceeding with the rest of your journey to your lodge in Kibale where you will have the rest of the day free for relaxation as you wait for dinner and an overnight stay.

The highlight of the day: the day’s highlight will be an encounter with the Bakonzo people in Kasese

Accommodation: –

• Top-notch / Exclusive: Kyaninga Lodge/ Ndali Lodge
• Luxury/ Upmarket: Crater Safari Lodge/ Primate Lodge Kibale
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House- Cottages
• Budget/ Basic: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House-Main House/ Kibale Forest Camp- Tents

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance& time: 157km or 2-3hours

Activities & Services: –

• Transfer to Kibale
• Ruboni village walk

Optional activities: –

• Afternoon birding session in the park
• Cycling in Mpanga tea estate
• Nocturnal walk in the forest

Day 7 of the 8 Days Uganda Tour: Engage in a chimpanzee trekking experience and visit the Bigodi wetland sanctuary

The morning of this day kicks off with an amazing breakfast that is aimed at energizing for the thrilling chimpanzee trek that’s ahead of you. You will be transferred by your guide to the park center in Kanyanchu where you get to go through a short briefing about the entire chimpanzee trekking experience. From here in a company of a park ranger, embark on a jungle walk as you search for these great humans of the wild the chimpanzees and the highlight of the day will be when you get to meet these exciting creatures you will be wowed by how much in common we do have with these great apes as they laugh, hug and kiss just like humans do and also look after the young ones. Besides the chimpanzees, you should also not miss out on the sightings of several other primates that call this forest their home and these include the black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, Grey monkeys. After the chimpanzee encounter which lasts an hour of pure enjoyment return to the park center where your trekking efforts are rewarded with a trekking certificate.

From here, have a lunch break then transfer to the Bigodi community where you get to engage in a community encounter with the locals and see how they live their daily lives, watch them or even engage in some of their days to day activities such coffee picking, local brew making and as you undertake this community thriller, you will take part in the coffee-making process right from planting process, harvesting red ripe coffee berries, sun drying process, then coffee pounding and finally making your own cup of coffee that is freshly brewed from the coffee that’s grown by these locals. After this really exciting cultural mash-up you’ve just had, you will transfer back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

The highlight of the day: An encounter with the chimpanzees will fascinate you on this day

Accommodation: –

• Top-notch / Exclusive: Kyaninga Lodge/ Ndali Lodge

• Luxury/ Upmarket: Crater Safari Lodge/ Primate Lodge Kibale
• Mid-range/ Moderate: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House- Cottages
• Budget/ Basic: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House-Main House/ Kibale Forest Camp- Tents

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Chimpanzee trekking
• Cultural experience as you visit the Bigodi wetland community

Optional activities: –

• Afternoon birding session in the park
• Cycling in Mpanga tea estate
• Nocturnal walk in the forest

Day 8 of the 8 Days Uganda Tour: Transfer back to Kampala with a visit the Amabeere ga’Nyinamwiru caves

On the final day of this safari, you will visit the Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru Caves and the Fort Portal Crater Lake field for a stunning hiking adventure experience. You will wake up at 7:00 am for breakfast then check out of the lodge and transfer to the caves. Upon arriving at the reception center of the Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru Caves, you are treated to the general briefing of the attractions before heading on a downward slope following a narrow and challenging path through the dense patch of the forest until you arrive at the caves.

At the briefing point, the horror that surrounds the story might prompt you to reserve the trek to the caves but once you persist and arrive at the caves, the experience is rewarding. It is a great natural landscape with the roaring Nyakasura falls falling down the caves while the breast-like features are busy producing their milky substance. The locals believe that the breast-like features are breasts of Nynamwiru a daughter of Bukuku a self-enthroned King of the Bachwezi who was denied by her father to breastfeed her first son Ndahura as he had been foretold that Nnyinamwiru would give birth to a son that will take over his throne.

At the caves, there are also teeth stuck inside the rock which is attributed to the ancient wildlife that might have even got extinct. Retreat from the caves and embark on the hike to the Fort Portal Crater Lake field. The hike involves a relatively steady walk through undulating hills past the crater hollows until you rich the highest Kyeganywa hill surrounded by the magical views of a range of explosion crater some of which have been filled by water to form lakes and others have been left empty. The Lakes include; Saaka, Kigere among others. The top of the hill offers impressive scenic views of the area and the Rwenzori Mountains at a distance. From this activity, you will make a stop in Fort portal town to have lunch at one of the best restaurants here before you embark on a return journey to Kampala.

The journey from Kibale to Kampala is an awesome adventure one that is filled with lots of fascinating road sightings during this 5-6-hour journey covering about 300km. As you embark on this 300km journey expect to have several stops such as one at the Mityana local market and this which gives you an opportunity to take your taste buds on a culinary journey as you taste some Uganda’s purely organic tropical fruits that will tantalize your taste buds due to their absolute sweetness. Other things that may come your way is Uganda’s very own KFC version of chicken and this will be a roasted chicken skewered on sticks and if you aren’t a fussy feeder, this is your moment to have a taste of this fire-grilled finger lingering goodness. The journey ends with your arrival back to Kampala after you have checked into your hotel where you will have your dinner from and an overnight stay as well.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Drive distance & time: Approx. 300km or 5-6 hours

Activities & Services

• Visit the Amabere caves
• Transfer back to Kampala

End of the 8 Days Uganda Tour – Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Tracking & Wildlife Game Viewing Tour

8 Days Uganda Tour – SAFARI INCLUSIONS

   Full-time English professional safari driver-guide

   4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with pop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C

   Full board accommodation

   Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking permit fees

   Boat cruise fees

   Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle

   Bottled water

8 Days Uganda Tour – SAFARI INCLUSIONS

•    International &domestic flight fees
•    Visa fees
•    Laundry services
•    Items of personal nature
•    Gratuities and tips
•    Other beverages/ drinks
•    Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above

8 Days Uganda Tour – GETTING THERE

8 Days Uganda Tour – PRICE PER PERSON

Number of people against price per person

2 – $na pp

3 – $na pp

4 – $na pp

5 – $na pp

6 – $na pp

8 Days Uganda Tour – RELATED SAFARI ACCOMMODATION 

RELATED 8 DAYS UGANDA TOUR ITINERARIES – Tour Packages

Gorilla Safaris Uganda

• – Gorilla Safari in Uganda 3 days
• – Bwindi Gorilla Safari & Wildlife 4 days
• – Gorillas & Wildlife Uganda Safari Tour 5 days
• – Primate Trekking Uganda Safari 6 days
• – Gorilla trekking Safari Tour 8 days
• – Rwanda Uganda Gorilla trekking Safari 8 days
• – Uganda Safari tour 9 days
• – 9 days Wilderness Camping Gorilla safari in Uganda
• – Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda & Chimps 10 days
• – Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari 11 Days
• – Uganda & Rwanda Safari 13 days
• – Birding & Gorilla trekking Uganda Safari 14 days

Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris In Uganda

• – Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Safari-Kibale 3 days
• – Uganda Safari Tour-Chimpanzees & Wild Life 5 days
• – Primate Safari in Uganda 6 days
• -Chimps Trekking & Wildlife Safari in Uganda 6 days
• – Gorilla Trekking & Chimps Safari in Uganda 10 days

Wildlife Safaris In Uganda

• – Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari in Uganda 3 days
• – Murchison Falls National Park Uganda safari Tour 3 days
• – Kibale Forest National Park Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Uganda 3 days
• – Bwindi & Queen Elizabeth Uganda safari 4 days
• – Game Viewing Safari in Uganda 5 days
• – Murchison Falls & Kibale Uganda safari- 5 days
• – Chimpanzee trekking & Wildlife safari in Uganda 6 days
• – Wildlife Tour in Uganda 8 days
• – Enjoy Agro Safaris in Uganda
• – Mountain Elgon Hiking Uganda Tour -8 days
• – Rwenzori Mountain Hiking safari in Uganda 9 days
• – Wildlife Camping Safari in Uganda 14 days
• – Birding Safari in Uganda 7 days
• – Birding Africa Safari in Uganda 21 days

Luxury Uganda Safaris

• – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Gorilla Safari Trek in Uganda 3 days
• – Queen Elizabeth Uganda Safari 3 days
• – 3 days Murchison Falls Park
• – Chimpanzee trekking Safari in Uganda 5 days
• – Gorilla Tracking safaris in Uganda 6 days
• – Chimps & Wildlife Safari in Uganda 6 day

Short Safaris in Uganda

• – Bwindi Gorilla Tracking Safari in Uganda 3 days
• – Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda Kibale-3 days
• – Gorilla Trekking safari & Wildlife in Uganda 5 days
• – Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Uganda- 5 days
• – Uganda Primate Safari 6 days
• – Chimpanzee Tracking & Wildlife safari in Uganda 6 days

Long Safaris in Uganda

• – Uganda Rwanda Gorilla trekking Safari 8 days
• – Wildlife Safari in Uganda 8 days
• – Wildlife & Primates trekking Uganda Safari 9 days
• – Wilderness Camp Safari 9 days
• – Uganda Safari to Gorillas & Chimpanzee trekking- 10 days
• – Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla safari- 13 days
• – Birding Watching Safari in Uganda- 14 days
• – Uganda Birding Watching Safari -21 days

Day Tours in Uganda

• – Kampala City Tour
• – Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Day Tour
• – Entebbe City Short Tour
• – Jinja Source of the Nile Tour
• – White Water Rafting
• – Uganda Short Safari to Lake Mburo NP
• – Sipi Falls safari in Uganda
• – Mabamba Swamp Birding Excursion

Fishing Safaris In Uganda

• – 1 Days Fishing trip to Lake Victoria in Uganda
• – 1 Day Jinja Fishing Tour in Uganda
• – 3 Days Uganda Fishing & Wildlife Safari
• – 4 Days Luxury Fishing and Wildlife safari in Uganda
• – 5 Days Uganda Fishing Safari to Lake Victoria and Ssese Islands
• – 7 Days Luxury Fishing Safari in Uganda
• – Fishing Safari to Lake Victoria, Ssese Islands & Murchison Falls NP
• – 9 Days Nile Perch Fishing Safari in Uganda

Cultural Safaris

• – 3 Days Short Cultural tour in Uganda
• – 7 Days Culture Safari in Uganda with Gorilla trekking
• 8 Days Uganda Cultural Tour
• – 20 Days Grand Cultural Tour in Uganda

8 Days Uganda Tour – GORILLA TREKKING TIPS 

•   Mountain gorillas sometimes nest far from the start of your gorilla trek, you should ready yourself for a long walk and drink plenty of water.
•    Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden – designated time and place will be communicated.
•    Smoking while inside the forest is strictly forbidden
•    Bwindi being a tropical forest, it can rain anytime so we encourage you to carry a rain poncho
•    Waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots are essential.
•    Gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants
•    Long trousers and long-sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
•    Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
•    Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a small charge
•    As you prepare to come for your Uganda gorilla adventure, please do some exercises so that you prepare your body for gorilla trekking which can last between 3-8 hours
•    In case you can’t walk for a very long time, you shouldn’t really worry about not being able to do gorilla trekking because there are potters who can carry you throughout at a small extra cost.
•    Carry your sunscreen lotion to keep your skin safe from the tropical heat & sun rays
•    When you get to the gorillas, don’t make noise because this agitates the gorillas
•    For more information about gorilla trekking tips please follow these links to read more about gorilla trekking tips and advice.

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 travelling and on their Africa safari. The following guidelines will be applicable for your  Safari in Uganda, Rwanda, Congo and other African Countries.