8 Days Uganda Safari Tour – Overview

The 8 Days Uganda Safari Tour features gorilla trekking in Uganda, wildlife safaris, chimpanzee tracking & community tours.

This 8 days Uganda tour is an excellent Uganda safari package that starts with the visit to Lake Mburo National Park which is a unique Small National park housing various mammal species like Zebras, Impala, Elands, and Bush Back, Buffaloes, Topi, and birds.

From Lake Mburo, the 8 days safari joins you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park- The natural habitat of mountain Gorillas in the pearl of Africa.

The 8 days safari in Uganda will also join you to Queen Elizabeth National Park – famous for its adventurous boat cruise that goes through Kazinga channel and Kibale National Park – the primate capital of Uganda. This comprehensive Gorilla safari will start and end in City Kampala city Uganda’s Capital.

8 Days Uganda Safari Tour – Highlights

• Day 1: Transfer From Kampala To Lake Mburo National Park & Do An Afternoon Boat Trip
• Day 2: Do A Morning Game Drive & An Afternoon Boat Cruise
• Day 3: Transfer From Lake Mburo To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 4: Do An Early Morning Mountain Gorilla Tracking & Afternoon Cultural Encounter With The Local Batwa
• Day 5: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth With An En-Route Game Drive In The Ishasha Sector
• Day 6: Do Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise Along The Kazinga Channel
• Day 7: Transfer To Kibale Forest National Park, Visit The Rwenzori Art Foundation –Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Tour
• Day 8: Do Early Morning Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer To Kampala

8 Days Uganda Safari Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer From Kampala to Lake Mburo National Park & Do An Afternoon Boat Trip

Immediately after early morning breakfast in your Kampala place of stay, you will be met by your driver-guide and thereafter leave Kampala city heading to Lake Mburo in Southwestern Uganda 280km about 4-5hrs.

The journey to Lake Mburo will take you through Mpambire Drum shop where you will have a view of local drums and the Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe, where you will also have a stopover for astounding water experiments and amazing photoshoots as well as a visit to Africa.

Thereafter proceed with the drive to Lake Mburo national park through the farmed hillsides and the fascinating rangelands of the Ankole region also called the land of milk and honey.

You will arrive at the park in the early afternoon and have your lunch on the park grounds as you marvel at the game and birds roaming within the park grounds. After lunch, join us on the Launch trip that departs at 2:30 pm on the waters of Lake Mburo.

The boat cruise will provide you with a golden chance to meet wildlife like Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, and Elephants, drinking on the lakeside.

You may also enjoy the views of a wide – range of water birds such as the colorful Kingfishers, magnificent Fish Eagles, Hammerkops and their big nests, and even the prehistoric-looking Shoebill. Disembark 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: Do a Morning Game Drive & an Afternoon Boat Cruise

Right after taking a cup of tea, embark on the highly rewarding game drive through the park in search of a wild game.

The connection of game tracks found in the eastern part of the park will offer you the chance of meeting 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 additional view of some unique 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 off at 2:30 pm 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 lakeside, 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: 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 en-route stopovers will take you through impressive sceneries dotted with tea, coffee plantations, and beautiful local people.

On arrival at 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: Do an Early Morning Mountain Gorilla Tracking & afternoon Cultural encounter with the Local Batwa.

On this long-awaited day, you will wake up very early in the morning; take a relaxed breakfast, and thereafter report to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for an early morning briefing about the rules and regulations to follow while undertaking gorilla trekking in Uganda to see the Mountain gorillas in Impenetrable forest.

In the session, you will meet other visitors and you will be divided into groups composed of eight trekkers who are authorized to trek one habituated gorilla group.

Afterward, you will be led by a UWA ranger guide to trek the Mountain 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 you come across the gorilla group, a memorable, magical one hour will be allocated to you to stay with these charming gentle giants.

You can decide to chill in the middle of the forest jungle 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 the trailhead 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 encounters.

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 is 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: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth With an En-route Game Drive in The Ishasha Sector.

Depart Bwindi Impenetrable National Park after taking your early morning breakfast, you will head to Queen Elizabeth National park.

The drive will take you through the most enchanting part of Uganda. As soon as you arrive at the Ishasha sector, you will have your lunch and thereafter engage in an afternoon game drive through the tracks of the Ishasha sector.

The game drive will give you the possibility 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, and elephants. After the 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: 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 well-coordinated tracks of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The drive will take you through Kasenyi which is a dwelling Centre for a wide – range of wild games including elephants, lions, buffaloes, and Antelopes among others.

The Tracks around Kasenyi are well designed to increase your chances of encountering wild games. 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: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, Visit the Rwenzori Art Foundation & An Afternoon Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Tour

Early in the morning embark on a transfer drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest National Park.

The drive distance of 157kms about 3 hours on the rough road is very interesting. You will have a stopover at the Rwenzori Art foundation which is the only bronze casting center in the whole of the African Continent that is located in the shadows of the Rwenzori Mountains.

You may participate in the wonderful process of sculpture making which is a 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 at 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 a typical eco–tourism encounter in Uganda.

The impressive flora and fauna existing along with the local community are indeed rewarding to encounter. The sights of the great blue turaco and the sitatunga 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: Do Early Morning Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to Kampala

Right after 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 encounters 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 plant life.

Immediately you encounter the primates, you will be allowed one memorable hour to interact with the primates.

The Chimpanzees will lure you into 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 hours to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

After lunch, embark on a transfer drive of 358kms about 4-5 hours’ drive without stopovers to Kampala. On arrival in Kampala, the driver guide will drop you at your Kampala lodge or Entebbe international Airport for your scheduled flight back home.

End of The 8 Days Uganda Safari Tour

Getting There

Safari Inclusions

• Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
• Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

Safari Exclusions

• General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights (Arranged on request)
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
• Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)