8 Days Best of Uganda Safari
8 Days Best of Uganda Safari is an incredible Uganda Safari Package that will give you an opportunity to explore Murchison falls national park which is the largest national park located in northwestern part of Uganda and offers great views of wildlife species including giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, Jacksons hartebeest, hippos, crocodiles during the game drive and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. You will also visit Kibale national park where you will spend time with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, Queen Elizabeth national park where you will engage in a game drive to see the tree climbing lions and then connect to Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will have a face to face interaction with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. You will wrap up your 8 days Uganda safari with a tour to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing experience.
Highlights of the 8 days Uganda safari
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park
- Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
- Day 3: Transfer from Murchison falls national park to Kibale national park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 5: Transfer from kibale national park to Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 7: Transfer from Bwindi impenetrable national park to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 8: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 8 days Uganda safari
Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park, depending on your location on day 1 of the 8 days Uganda safari you will be welcomed by our representative who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Murchison falls national park. It’s a 4 to 5 journey to the park and on the way you will have great views of scenery, homesteads, local people and a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking. After having a great moment with the rhinos in the sanctuary you will continue the journey to Masindi town for en-route lunch and thereafter proceed to the park. Upon arrival you will drive directly to the top of the falls where you will have breathtaking views of the waterfalls and later drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
Morning game drive, after an early breakfast on day 2 of the 8 days Uganda safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive in the park which starts at around 6:30am. During the game drive you will follow different tracks like Buligi, Albert and Victoria which offer great views of animals like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, giraffes, Jacksons hartebeest among others grazing in savanna grassland plains, view different bird species, beautiful sunrise, different vegetation types and if you are lucky you will be able to view predators like lions, leopards, hyenas among others before they go back to their hiding areas. After the incredible game drive you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Boat cruise, after lunch you will drive to Paraa jetty landing site for an exciting boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. During the boat ride which starts at around 2:00pm and takes 2 hours, you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in water, see elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, antelopes along the shores, have views of aquatic bird species like cormorants, kingfishers, herons, hornbills, fish eagles, have views of the beautiful scenery, take great pictures among others. The boat continues to the bottom of the falls where you will opt for an adventurous hike to the top of the falls. Hiking to the top of the falls is strenuous and takes about 45 minutes to reach the top where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer from Murchison falls national park to Kibale national park
After breakfast on day 3 of the 8 days Uganda safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kibale national park which is also known as the primate capital because its known for harboring about 13 primate species. On the way you will have en-route lunch and stunning views of the beautiful landscape, traditional homesteads, Rwenzori mountain ranges, tea plantations among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for have dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Chimpanzee trekking, you will have an early breakfast on day 4 of the 8 days Uganda safari and after meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during Chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 6 people where each group will be allocated a habituated chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Trekking of chimpanzees in Kibale national park starts at around 8:00am and takes 30 minutes to4 hours or even longer depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food.
Durin the Chimpanzee trekking you will be able to spot other wildlife species including birds, different plants, other primates like grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, some mammals like forest elephants among others. When the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment where you will be able to watch them feeding, breastfeeding, playing, fighting, resting, hunting, observer their behaviors and habits, take incredible photos and record the videos with a flash less camera. After the incredible moments with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Bigodi swamp walk, after lunch you will prepare yourself for an evening nature walk in Bigodi wetland a sanctuary that is run by the local community. During the swamp walk which takes about 2 to 3 hours, you will be accompanied by a local guide who will help you to spot different primates like black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, different bird species like the great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, white winged warbler, view colourful butterflies, enjoy the cool breeze, relax your mind in a quiet environment, take good photos among others. After the Bigodi swamp walk you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer from Kibale national park to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast on day 5 of the 8 days Uganda safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in south western part of Uganda. On the way you will pass through Queen Elizabeth national park where you will have great views of animals like Uganda kobs, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks and continue to Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park where you will get an opportunity to view the tree climbing lions lying up if acacia, fig tree branches during the game drive. After the game drive in Ishasha sector, you will have lunch and later proceed the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park and upon arrival you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on day 6 of the 8 days Uganda safari you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people, allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a knowledgeable park guide who will lead you into the jungle during trekking. Allocation of gorilla families in the park is done depending on various factors such as age, physical fitness and personal preferences therefore in case you are not physically fir you are advised to communicate with your driver guide so that they allocate you a gorilla family that is near to trek. Mountain gorilla trekking is takes about 30 minutes to 8 hours depending on where the gorillas are located and during trekking you will have great views of other primate species such as chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, forest birds, different plant and tree species among others.
Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their habits, behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities like breastfeeding, feeding, playing, grooming each other, take great photos and record the moments to show people back home. After the one hour encounter with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and then meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation.
Day 7: Transfer from Bwindi impenetrable national park to Lake Bunyonyi
You will have breakfast on day 7 of the 8 days Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale which is the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika. The journey to Lake Bunyonyi takes about 3 to 4 hours drive and upon arrival you will go for an amazing canoe ride where you will be able to paddle along the lake shores in a dugout canoe. During canoeing you will have spectacular views of landscape, scenery, terraced farmlands, homesteads, animals, birds and also get an opportunity to explore some of the 29islands such as the punishment island where young girls who got pregnant out of wedlock were taken to die of hunger.
After the canoe ride you will drive to the lodge for lunch and after go for an interesting community tour in the neighboring communities. During the community tour you will visit the Batwa/pygmies and Bakiga people which helps you to know about their culture, tradition, way of living, visit their farmlands, homesteads, primary schools, health centre’s, learn how to make local beer from bananas, taste their traditional dishes, enjoy traditional entertainment among others. After the community tour you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast on day 8 of the 8 days Uganda safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kampala. You will have en-route lunch in Mbarara town and a stopover at the Equator to take photos, buy craft souvenirs and then proceed to Kampala where you will reach early evening. Upon arrival you will be dropped off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at the hotel depending on your schedule.
End of 8 days Uganda safari
8 days Uganda safari includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Nature walk in Bigodi swamp
- Park entrance fees
- Boat cruise fee
- Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
- Community tour
- All mentioned activities
- An English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
