Safari Overview
Spending 8 days in Uganda is a great chance for you to unearth the country’s unique wonders. Our exclusive 8 days gorillas and wildlife Uganda includes thrilling encounters with mountain gorillas and wildlife in their natural habitat.
The key safari highlights as per this rewarding itinerary include gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, game drives and boat cruise in Murchison Falls Park and Queen Elizabeth Park, chimpanzee tracking in the lush Kibale National Park.
The entire 8-day trip will begin with a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will have on-foot walk to see rhinos in the wild, then proceed to Murchison Falls Park, followed by visit to Kibale National Park where 13 primate species all share the same habitat. From Kibale, continue to Queen Elizabeth Park and finalize your trip with Bwindi National Park where more than 459 mountain gorillas survive from.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up at the hotel in Kampala & drive to Murchison Falls Park, en-route visit to Ziwa
At leisure, enjoy you cup of tea/coffee at the hotel in Kampala and after, meet your driver guide for the morning greeting and a short briefing. You will board your 4WD vehicle and set off to Murchison Falls National Park in Northwestern Uganda which is about 6-7 hours’ drive.
Your road trip includes en-route stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for you track rhinos with a local guide. You will explore more about their behaviors, take pictures and then get back.
From Ziwa, head off to Masindi for a leisurely lunch in one of the hotels and later connect to your lodge via Kichumbanyobo gate of Murchison Falls Park.
Day 2: Enjoy the morning game drive & an afternoon boat cruise on Victoria Nile
Embark on an enriching game drive through the Northern game tracks using a 4×4 safari car. With an experienced guide, look out for the diverse faunal species in Murchison Falls National Park including giraffes, lions, cape buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, hyenas, oribis, hartebeest, and on a lucky day, you may see leopards.
You will drive back to the lodge after enjoying your morning game drive. At the lodge, expect to have lunch and some refreshments, then proceed for an afternoon boat cruise excursion along the Victoria Nile. Set off point will be at Paraa Jetty up to the base of Murchison Falls while you have the most incredible sights of hippos, crocodiles and water birds.
At the base of the falls, you may return after photography or proceed with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike to the top of the falls will be done if the water levels are low.
Day 3: A scenic drive from Murchison Falls Park via Hoima to Kibale
Leave Murchison Falls National Park after a hefty breakfast and check out of the lodge. You will drive via Hoima to Fort Portal tourism city and en-route, do not miss the breathtaking views of the rift valley escarpment, and around Fort Portal, enjoy the view of the legendary Rwenzori Mountain ranges. You will have a leisurely lunch in one of the classic restaurants then proceed to the pre-booked lodges in or around Kibale.
Day 4: Enjoy the best of Kibale chimpanzee tracking experience with a guide & drive to Queen Elizabeth Park
A delicious breakfast be provided at the lodge and after, head off for briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. At Kanyanchu, the park guides will also be assigned to take you through the morning chimpanzee tracking session.
The actual chimp trek begins around 8:00am and will last for about 2-4 hours which includes an hour for up close and personal encounter with a habituated chimpanzee community.
Once you have enjoyed taking pictures and observing how chimpanzees behave in the wild, you will be led back to the lodge for you to have lunch and a short relaxation.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park and your road trip comes with spectacular views of the craters and vast banana plantations. On arrival at Queen Elizabeth Park, check in at the pre-booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Embark on the morning game drive and boat cruise
After a sumptuous breakfast, you will board your 4WD car and embark on a morning game drive with an experienced guide. Today’s sunrise game drive takes you via the enriching Kasenyi Plains where you stand a chance to see variety of wildlife species including buffaloes, elephants, lions, hyenas, antelopes and bird species.
You will drive back while keeping eyes on more wildlife along Kasenyi Plains. At the comfort of your lodge, you will have a delicious lunch and relaxation then sum up your afternoon with a launch or boat cruise.
Your boat cruise excursion will be enjoyed along the Kazinga channel with an expert. As you cruise along the channel, you will be keeping eyes on some of the aquatic life like hippos, crocodiles and water birds. Later in the evening, get back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Travel by road to Bwindi & en-route, enjoy the Ishasha sector
At leisure, have your cup of tea or coffee and after, check out of your accommodation along the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth Park. Meet the driver guide for pick up and transfer to Ishasha for a short game drive with target to see some of the tree climbing lions plus other species.
From Ishasha, drive up to the lodge around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Have great time at the lodge, dine and retire for the night.
Day 7: Exhilarating mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Set off from the lodge for briefing on guidelines for gorilla trekking and to be assigned a habituated gorilla family in Bwindi National Park. You will leave the briefing point by around 8:00am for actual search for one of the habituated groups of mountain gorillas.
The entire trek will run for 2-6 hours which includes an hour for a face-to-face encounter and photography of gorillas. After, walk back and be awarded a gorilla trekking certificate.
Later, proceed to the lodge for you to have lunch and relaxation. At around 3:00pm, you will be accompanied by local guide on a cultural tour in the nearby Batwa community. Meet and interact with the forest dwellers –the Batwa pygmies and explore in depth their traditions, cultures and you will also be entertained during the music and dance performances.
Day 8: Departure
Have breakfast in the morning and after, you will check out of your accommodation facility in Bwindi. From Bwindi, begin your journey back to Kampala and en-route, expect to enjoy lunch at Igongo cultural centre then have photography moment at the Equator crossing. From the Equator, drive straight to Kampala/Entebbe.
End of safari
