8 DAY UGANDA GORILLA & WILDLIFE SAFARI

Tour overview

This 8 day safari begins from and ends in Kampala/Entebbe-Uganda; it will take you to the western part of the country that is gifted with various wildlife species and beautiful sceneries. This tour will specifically take you to some of the most popular destinations in the country. You will leave Entebbe to Lake Mburo national park where you are likely going to see animals like giraffes, zebras, elands, impalas and buffalos among others. You will then proceed south wards to Bwindi impenetrable forest for your gorilla experience where you will have a great time with the apes. After the great gorilla experience you will head to Queen Elizabeth national park for another wildlife experience where you hope to see animals such as lions, leopards, buffalos, elephants, hyenas and more other animals that you will see while on the boat cruise such as hippos and crocodiles. Our last destination will be Kibale national park where we shall take our chimp experience before we transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe.

Highlights

Lake Mburo National Park-Wildlife viewing

Bwindi impenetrable national park for a gorilla safari

Mountain Gorilla trekking

Queen Elizabeth via the Ishasha sector

Game drive

Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Chimpanzee trekking

Swamp/community walk

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kampala to Lake Mburo National Park-Wildlife viewing

Our driver guide will meet you in Kampala/Entebbe and will drive west of the country to Lake Mburo National Park. You will be having a stopover at the Equator to take photos. When you reach the park have lunch at the lodge and set out for a game drive through the park where you will have a chance to see different animals like the Zebras that are found almost everywhere in the park, giraffes, impalas, buffalos, bushbucks, elands and warthogs. Later in the evening head to the lodge for dinner and spend a night.

You may opt to have a night game drive which is normally ideal for spotting leopards.

Accomodation: Rwakobo rock Lodge or Arcadia Lodge 

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park for a gorilla safari

Your guide will take you after your breakfast begin your journey to Southwestern part to Bwindi Forest. You will do a morning game drive in the park before exiting so as to see more animals some of which could have been missed on the evening gam drive. Exit the park through Sanga gate and take on the journey through beautiful landscapes, also you will see various rolling hills banana plantations, pineapple gardens and other crops, it is such a great journey with all these sights. You will have lunch along the way in a local restaurant and later proceed with the journey. Upon reaching the park check in at the lodge and relax to prepare for the next day’s experience. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation: Haven Lodge or Rushaga gorilla lodge

Day 3: Mountain Gorilla trekking

Have breakfast early in the morning and transfer to the park headquarters with packed lunch where you will be briefed by the professional Park rangers. After briefing, will be accompanied by a ranger guide as you enter the misty forest to trek mountain gorillas. Trekking may take between 4-6 hours and the moment to you see and start interacting with the gorillas only one hour is given to you which is your best chance to take photos.  After trekking, you will drive back to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.

Accomodation:  Haven Lodge or Rushaga gorilla lodge

Day 4: transfer to Ishasha sector

Enjoy your breakfast and after drive your way to Ishasha sector. You will reach early enough to have lunch at the lodge and check in your rooms. Later head on a game drive in the Ishasha plains as you search for the tree climbing lions that popularly climb and rest on the fig trees. Other animals such as topi, kob, leopard, buffalo and hyena can be spotted in the park. Transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation; Embogo lodge or Topi lodge 

Day 5: game drive and transfer to Katunguru for boat cruise.

Wake up early for a brief morning game drive in the Ishasha sector before you transfer to the northern sector for your boat cruise experience. The morning game drive is an opportunity to spot the early hunters such as lions, leopards and hyenas. After the game drive, you will drive to the northern part of the park. Reach early for lunch and then head for the boat cruise on the kazinga channel. The boat cruise takes 2hours of great adventure and sightings of animals such as hippos and crocodiles which spend most of their time in water. There is a chance of seeing elephants and buffalos which come to the channel to quench their thirst and take a bathe to cool down their temperatures from the hot afternoon sun. There are so many birds that can be seen while on the boat cruise most of which feed on the fish from the channel such as fish eagles and king fishers and other savanna birds like bee eaters. After the boat cruise, you may opt to go for an evening gam drive or drive back to the lodge.

Accommodation: bush lodge or Kazinga wilderness camp 

Day 6: Morning game drive and Departure to Kibale

You will wake up early to have breakfast and head to the wilderness with your guide. The early morning game drive is ideal for the early grazers and hunters like big cats such as leopards and lions. The Kasenyi plains are so popular with so many prides of lions and many leopards which is where you will go for the game drive. More of wildlife such as elephants, Uganda kobs, buffalos, waterbucks and jackals may be seen on the game drive. After the game drive, you will drive to Kibale forest national park. Lunch en-route as you proceed on the journey to the park with views of beautiful hills and beautiful landscape designed with tea plantations. Reach later in the afternoon to check in at the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:  Kibale Guest Cottages or Kibale Forest Camp

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland walk

The amazing day is this; have breakfast early enough, leave the lodge for the park headquarters with enough bottled drinking water, where you will be briefed about chimpanzee trekking. After briefing, embark on trekking through the forest at around 8:00am guided by an armed park ranger. Nothing is as amazing as having time with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. After trekking, return and have lunch at the lodge and prepare for a walk in the Bigodi wetland in the afternoon. You will head to the Bigodi swamp and community experience where you will meet your local guide to take you through the experience. Your local guide will brief you and take you on for the activities. Later you will drive back to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:  Kibale Guest Cottages or Kibale Forest Camp 

Day 8: Return to Kampala

Have breakfast in the morning and embark on the journey back to Kampala/Entebbe. Through the road side tea plantations and forests, you will lead your way back to Kampala/Entebbe. Lunch en-route as you proceed your way to Entebbe. After all these great destinations, this marks the end of your safari as your guide drops you to the airport or your hotel.

END OF SAFARI

Trip includes:

• Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary

• Safari 4x4 vehicle

• Drinking water

• Airport or hotel transfer on the first and last day

• Driver/Tour guide

• Fuel for the entire trip

• All park entrance fees

Trip excludes:

• International and/or internal flights

• Visa

• Tips

• Food and beverages not otherwise indicated

• Laundry

• Gorilla and chimp tracking permit (to be booked and paid for in advance; preparation upon request)