8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour

Safari Day by Day of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour

Day 1 of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour: Transfer from Kampala to Lake Mburo National Park & do an afternoon boat trip

After an early morning breakfast, the driver guide will pick you up from your Kampala hotel and depart from Kampala city heading to Lake Mburo in South western Uganda 280km about 4-5hrs. The journey to Lake Mburo will take you through Mpambire Drum shop where you will have view of local drums and the Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe, where you will also have stopover for fascinating water experiments and amazing photo shots. Thereafter continue with the drive to Lake Mburo national park through the farmed hill sides and the wonderful rangelands of Ankole which can be viewed along the way. You will arrive in Lake Mburo early afternoon and have your lunch in the park grounds as you marvel at the game and birds within the park. After lunch embark on Launch trip that sets of at 2:30pm on the waters of Lake Mburo. The boat cruise will not only offer you opportunities of encountering the game drinking on the lake side, but it also draws to point where you can have closer counts of Hippos, Nile Crocodiles and a range of water birds such as the colorful Kingfishers, magnificent Fish Eagles, Hammerkops and their enormous nests and even the prehistoric-looking Shoebill. Retreat back from the activity to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury), Arcadia Cottages Mburo (Mid-Range), Eagle’s Nest (Budget).

Day 2 of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour: Do morning Game drive & an afternoon Boat Cruise

Following an early morning breakfast, embark on the interesting game drive through the park in search of wild game. The connection of game tracks found in the eastern part of the park passes through a variety of beautiful landscape such as acacia woodland, wetlands vegetation, savannah grassland which supports the survival of different wildlife grazers including gigantic eland antelope, zebras, waterbucks, Klipspringer and the rare Topi, impala, warthog, oribi, buffalo, Defassa reedbuck. The game drive which takes 2-3hours covering a distance of 150kms is very rewarding with even an extra view of different bird species. After the activity, you will retire back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation as you wait to embark on an afternoon Lunch trip on the waters of Lake Mburo. After lunch, you will embark on an afternoon boat cruise which sets of at 2:30pm on the majestic waters of Lake Mburo .The boat cruise takes you across 2-3 hours of maximum adventure. Not only does the boat trip offer you opportunities of encountering the game drinking on the lake side, but it also draws you closer to counts of Hippos, Nile Crocodiles and a range of water birds such as the colorful Kingfishers, magnificent Fish Eagles, Hammerkops and their enormous nests and even the prehistoric-looking Shoebill. Retreat back from the activity to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury), Arcadia Cottages Mburo (Mid-Range), Eagle’s Nest (Budget).

Day3 of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour: Transfer from Lake Mburo to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Transfer from Lake Mburo to Bwindi Impenetrable national park after your early morning breakfast. The drive journey of 235 kilometers about 6-7 hours without enroute stopovers will take you through impressive sceneries dotted with tea, coffee plantations and beautiful local people. On arrival to the park, you will advance with the drive to your lodge to check-in, have dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 4 of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour: Do an Early Morning Mountain Gorilla Tracking & afternoon Cultural encounter with the Local Batwa

On this special day, you will wake up very early in the morning; take an exuberant breakfast to give you the energy needed to hike the hills in the slippery trails of Bwindi forest when searching for the rare mountain gorillas. After breakfast, you will proceed with your packed lunch to the park’s headquarters for early morning briefing about the codes of conduct when trekking the Mountain gorillas. Afterwards, you will be led by ranger guide to trek the gorillas in the thick creepers and undergrowth of afro monotone vegetation of Bwindi and this will take you between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the mountain gorillas. Once up close to the group, a memorable, magical one hour is given to you to be with these gentle giants. You can decide to sit in the forest among the Gorillas, listen to them grumble to each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male-the Silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling being with these beautiful yet endangered Creatures. When the one hour is done, you will retreat back to trail head and proceed to the lodge for refreshment and late lunch. After lunch and relaxation, your driver guide will drive you to the nearby Batwa community for refreshing cultural encounter. Here you will be guided by a local guide who will take you to the different communities to see how people have managed to survive through farming. You will see how local brew processed from fresh Bananas and forest remedies to get beer and Waragi. After that interesting cultural encounter, you will drive back to your respective lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 5 of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth with an enroute game drive in Ishasha sector

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park after taking your early morning breakfast. The drive will take you through the impressive country side landscapes with rural setting and local populations. On arrival to Ishasha sector, you will have your lunch and participate in an afternoon game drive through the tracks of Ishasha sector. The game drive will give you the possibilities of encountering tree climbing lions that tend to lie on the branches of fig trees while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda kob. You may also see other wildlife species like buffalos, elephants. After game drive in Ishasha, continue with the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Mweya peninsular.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 6 of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour: Do morning game drive & afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel & transfer to Mountain Rwenzori

Take an early morning cup of coffee and thereafter, embark on an early morning game drive in the rolling savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through Kasenyi which is a dwelling place for a range of game including the elephants, lions, buffaloes, Antelopes among others. The Tracks around Kasenyi are well designed to increase your possibilities of encountering wild game. The sights of an elusive leopard, defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, Side stripped Jackal; Oribis among others may not be missed. Return to the lodge after this 3 -4 hour game drive for refreshment and relaxation until the time for lunch. After having a thrilling lunch, embark on the rewarding boat cruise on the 45km long Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes Edward and George. The 2 hour boat cruise opens your possibilities of enjoying the calm channel waters filled with counts of Hippos no wonder the channel is called the Paradise of Hippos. The other sights of water birds and the Nile crocodiles may not be missed. Retire from the activity to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Katara Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 7 of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, visit the Rwenzori Art Foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa & Ruboni Community craft & wax center en route & and do an afternoon Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Tour

Transfer from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest National Park .The drive distance of 157kms about 3 hours’ on rough road is very interesting. You will have stopover at Rwenzori Art foundation which is the only bronze casting center in the whole of African Continent that is located in the shadows of Rwenzori Mountains. You may participate in the wonderful process of sculpture making of which is the common activity done in the Centre. Also take time to tour the Ruboni community wax and craft center that can expose you to the local traditions and the usage of local knowledge to modern development. Thereafter the activity, proceed to Kibale Forest National Park. On arrival to the park, you will drive direct to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on an afternoon Bigodi wetland tour. The famous Bigodi wetland, lies in close distance to the park thus connecting there is less hectic. The Bigodi wetland walk exposes you to typical eco –tourism encounter in Uganda. The impressive flora and fauna existing along with the local community is indeed rewarding to encounter. The sights of great blue turaco and the satunga may not be missed. Retreat from the activity back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Kibale Forest Camp (Mid-range/Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 8 of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour: Do Early Morning Chimpanzee trekking & Transfer to Kampala

Immediately after an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for an early morning briefing about the dos and don’ts of Chimpanzee trekking encounter in the primate Capital of the world – the Kibale National Park. Thereafter, you will walk through the forest with an experienced UWA guide who will be enlightening you about both wildlife and plants life. Immediately you encounter the primates, you will be allowed one memorable hour to interact with the primates. The Chimpanzees will lure you in a state of amazement as they swing through the branches, make pant hooting calls, play with each other, and imitate your body language along with other features that will make your one full hour with them a memorable experience of its own. Retreat from the activity which tends to take 2 – 5 hour to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on transfer drive of 358kms about 4-5 hours’ drive without stopovers to Kampala. On arrival to Kampala, the driver guide will drop you to your Kampala lodge or Entebbe international Airport for your scheduled flight back home.

End of the 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour