The 8-day Uganda wildlife safari is the best wildlife safari in Uganda for you to trek and see the incredible gorillas as well as the best of Uganda’s wildlife savanna mammals in the shortest possible time. This 8-day wildlife safari in Uganda will take you gorilla trekking in Bwindi, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, and wildlife viewing game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth.
Within this 8-day wildlife safari in Uganda, you will have a snapshot look into Uganda’s wildlife as well as have that stunning encounter with the gentle endangered Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees. This unique 8-day wildlife tour will give you a golden chance to visit 5 of Uganda’s premier safari parks/destinations, namely, Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kibale National Park.
This Uganda safari starts and ends in Entebbe, and we can easily arrange it for you under budget, midrange, or luxury accommodation options and can customize it further to suit your safari interests.
Day 1 : Murchison Falls National Park & Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 2: Murchison Falls National Park
Days 3 & 4: Kibale National Park.
Day 5 & 6: Queen Elizabeth Park
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls Park with an en-route visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 2: Do a morning game drive, a boat cruise on the Nile, and a hike to the top of the falls
Day 3: On this day, you will enjoy a scenic road drive to Kibale National Park
Day 4: Engage in a Chimpanzee trek and transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park
Day 5: Engage in a morning game drive and an afternoon Kazinga launch cruise
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi with an en-route game drive in the Ishasha sector
Day 7: You will engage in a Mountain Gorilla trek & do a Batwa community walk
Day 8: Today you will transfer back to Kampala
Day 1 of this Africa safari expedition kicks off with an early morning breakfast at your hotel at 6:00 am. At 6:30 am, our experienced driver-guide will pick you up using one of our comfortable 4×4 safari cars, and when you settle in, you will begin your road trip from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park.
This road adventure to Murchison Falls Park is an 8–9-hour drive, covering 310km. this road trip gives you a glimpse into the lives of ordinary Ugandans whom you meet along the way while they engage in activities such as tilling their gardens and men and women riding bicycles loaded with usual farm produce heading towards the next local markets to trade.
You will also engage in exciting roadside market stops in Kasana Luwero, which gives you an opportunity to take your taste buds on a culinary journey as you taste some of Uganda’s purely organic tropical fruits that will tantalize your taste buds due to their absolute sweetness and also a chance to interact with the locals as you engage in a spectacular African shopping experience where you get a chance to haggle for the best price bargain as you shop for a selected few items courtesy of the company.
When you make it to Nakasongola, you will engage in a rhino trekking session at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary, and this gives you a chance to meet one of the Big Five African game animals, which are only found in this sanctuary in Uganda. When you make it to the Rhino sanctuary of Ziwa in Nakasongola, you will engage in a rhino trekking session.
This not only gives you a chance to meet one of the big five African game animals, which is only found in this sanctuary in Uganda, but also allows you to stretch your body after this 3–4 hour ride from Kampala. After rhino trekking, settle in for lunch at Kabalega Dinners before you make your way to Murchison falls and engage in a miniature game drive as you progress to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
The highlight of the day: Be sure to have that incredible encounter with the rhinos of Ziwa sanctuary
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance& time: Approx. 375km or 7-8 hours
Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include
This day offers you the chance to fully experience the wilderness of Murchison Falls Park through an exhilarating game drive and an intriguing boat cruise. The day will also start very early in the morning at 6:00 am with a breakfast buffet, and then you will get into the safari car for a thrilling game drive on the northern banks of the park.
This park sector is gifted with a wide variety of wild animals, such as the Rothschild giraffes, Cape buffaloes, Large herds of Elephants, bushbucks, bohor reedbucks, oribi, and waterbucks; if lucky, you might get a chance to also encounter the top predators of this park, which are the mighty lions and the stocky leopards. After 3–4 hours of epic adventures in the northern sector, take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Right after your lunch, embark on a boat cruise up the stream of the Victoria Nile and to the base of the falls.
On this 17-kilometer cruise, you have the possibility of sighting crocodiles and hippos along with elephants, waterbucks, and Uganda Kobs drinking water on the riverside. The riverside is home to a diverse array of bird species, including pelican bee-eaters, Egyptian geese, Hornbills, goliath herons, the rare shoebill, stork kingfishers, and cormorants. As you draw close to the falls, you will be welcomed by a thunderous roar of the mighty Murchison falls, which you will watch from a safe distance as they tumble from a 43-meter drop.
You will hike to the top of the world’s most powerful waterfall after reaching the bottom. The Nile River, which is the longest in the world, forces itself to pass through a less than 8m ravine before falling 43m below to what has been termed the devil’s cauldron, forming a plume of spray marked by a thunderous roar and trademark rainbow.
On the hike, you’ll hear the Nile splash against the rocks that have blocked it for centuries. Retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: A boat ride on the Victorian will leave you amazed by the wildlife diversity in this park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include
This day of the trip involves your transfer from Murchison Falls Park to Kibale National Park. This day begins early in the morning at 6:00 am to enable you to cross with the 7:00 am boat and then begin your thrilling road drive through the countryside of Uganda as you proceed to your next destination, Kibale national park. This drive takes you through numerous villages, giving you a glimpse into how ordinary Ugandans live.
Still, on this journey, look out for sightings of men and women engaging in economic activities such as gardening; you might also encounter women carrying their little ones monkey-style as they strap them behind their backs.
This drive takes about 7–8 hours, covering a distance of about 320km. You will have a lunch break at one of the finest restaurants in Fort portal town before you finally proceed to Kibale National park.
The highlight of the day: Enjoy the scenic drive through Uganda’s countryside
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & time: Approx. 340km or 6-7 hours
Optional activities:
You will wake up early in the morning at 6:30 am for breakfast, which you will enjoy as you listen to the melodious sounds of nature that are formed as a result of several birds twittering to the new daybreak. After having had breakfast, you will transfer to the Kanyanchu Tourism Center in Kibale National Park to catch up with the Chimpanzee trekking briefing, which begins at 8 am.
The encounter commences with a briefing from the respective park rangers, who will be your guides through the activity, detailing the exercise’s conduct. After this, in groups of eight (8) people, you head to the forest in search of chimpanzees, the closest relatives to humans. The dense forests of Kibale comprise lush flora with mature trees marked with huge buttresses and climbers.
If you have an undying love for birds, you should keep your eyes on the lookout, as this forest is teeming with a wide variety of impressive bird species, including
The African Pitta, Green-breasted Pitta, White-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, Crowned Eagle, Black Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Western Nicator, Little Greenbul, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Brown-chested Alethe, and African Grey Parrot, among others.
Apart from chimps, Kibale also supports 12 other Primate Species including the threatened red colobus, with the highest population thriving in Kibale; the rare I’Hoest’s monkey; black-and-white colobus; grey-cheeked mangabey; red-tailed and blue monkeys; bush baby; olive baboon; and pottos Monkeys which may be viewed during the trek. (Put these in a table.)
Finally, once you approach the fully habituated common chimpanzees, you will draw closer to them and take pictures. Viewing them as they munch fruit, swing in trees, socialize, patrol, mate, and make pant-hooting calls can be an unforgettable experience. You have an hour to see these rare apes and take as many photos as you want.
After you retreat from the activity, which tends to last 2–5 hours, and get back to the starting point to be awarded a Chimpanzee trekking certificate, rejoin your company safari guide, and then drive back to your lodge for Lunch.
After having this lunch, you will check out of your lodge and embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, 157 km away, about a 2–3 hour’ drive from Kibale. You will pass by the Ruboni Community Center, where you will find local women selling an assortment of art and craft materials. One can buy a souvenir for this trip from here.
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. If you wish, you can also spare a minute or two and indulge yourself in a learning process from these expert weavers on how to make some of the impressive art products just like those on display.
You will proceed with the rest of your journey to Queen Elizabeth Park, with magnificent views of the Rwenzori Ranges. You will arrive at your lodge late in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: An encounter with the chimpanzees will fascinate you on this day
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: Approx. 157km or 2-3 hours
Optional activities:
You will wake up early in the morning at 6:30 am for breakfast, then get comfortable in our 4×4 safari car, which is driven by a professional and highly experienced driver guide and begin your 2-3 hour journey towards the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. On arrival here, you will engage in a stunning game drive in this sector while you search for the tree-climbing lions that have made this park and particularly this sector, a must-visit place for numerous African safari adventurers who are interested in having encounters with these rather unique lions, as they usually find them taking a mid-morning rest while lodging their bodies in between tree branches.
After your game drive, which lasts between 3 and 3–4 hours, transfer to a convenient lodge in this park sector for your lunch break, which also helps you stretch your body for a while before you embark on the remaining part of your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
A sighting of the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector logged in between tree branches is the highlight of the day
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: Approx. 140-240 or 6-8 hours
On this day, you will have an early morning breakfast served at 6:30 am to give you an energy boost for the gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The park sector warden will greet you at the park center, where you will gather with your packed lunch after leaving the lodge. While here, you will enjoy cultural music and dance performances by the local Bakiga people, showcasing their musical skills.
In a group of 8 people with your armed ranger in the lead, you will embark on a trek, searching for your allocated gorilla family. When you see the gorillas, count yourself among the lucky people who have managed to see these endangered mountain giants in their natural habitat.
You will have a full hour to watch these magical beings go about their daily lives, and if you’re lucky, you might see the young gorillas break the 7-meter rule to get you involved in their games. After the full hour of contact with these gorillas, you will transfer back to the park center, where you will be awarded a Gorilla tracking certificate.
From here, you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, where you get to relax from the rather tedious experience of trekking gorillas in Uganda. On arrival at this beautiful tropical gem in the Kigezi Highlands, you will be fascinated by the tranquil waters of this lake and the 29 islands that are dotted all over it, which contribute 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 gotten pregnant were thrown and left to die alone, and the upside-down island, which legend has 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 drown. From this boat cruise, transfer to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
The highlights of the day are gorilla trekking and a boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi with a community walk.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: Approx. 55-85 km or 1-3 hours
Optional Activities:
You will wake up at 6:00 am to the sweet melodies of birds that will be singing their hearts out to the dawn of a new day and this will fairly make you understand why this Lake in called Bunyonyi, which means a Lake of many small birds, as you will hear the interjecting voices of many birds singing together in uniformity as they welcome the day. Grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea and choose from any of the available wide selections of confectionaries. After having breakfast, you will embark on the transfer to Kampala (420 km) and Entebbe (470 km) from Lake Bunyonyi.
During this 470km return journey to Entebbe, you will drive through the rolling hills of Kabale, which will fascinate you given how the locals here have managed to tame these wildlands by cultivating along these steep slopes. Along the way back, you will encounter many local men carrying farm produce on their bicycles headed towards the nearest local markets.
You will make an en-route stop for lunch at the Igongo Country Hotel in Mbarara to enjoy a traditionally prepared lunch buffet, and if you wish, you can try out the Ishabwe dish, which is a local delicacy in this region. Next, you’ll stop at the Equator point in Kayabwe, where you can learn to tell the Northern and Southern hemispheres apart and take a photo.
After that, continue your journey back to Entebbe airport, where your safari will conclude as you board your flight home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Drive Distance & time: Approx. 420km or 7-8 hours
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Situated in the heart of East Africa, Uganda is a land of staggering contrasts. From the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains to the vast, wildlife-rich plains of the Great Rift Valley, the biodiversity here is unmatched.
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