Day 1: Introduction and travel to Kibale Forest National Park via Fort Portal
To start off the 8 days Uganda safari tour, we shall set off from Kampala in the morning after breakfast on this 5-hour drive. The journey takes you through Mubende and Kyenjojo towns and finally Fort portal town. The drive presents some stunning views of the Rwenzori mountains; the largest of all ranges that offers good photo opportunities especially with a cup of tea or coffee along the way during this uganda tour.
On arrival at the lodge, check-in and have lunch. In the evening, there is an adventurous community/swamp walk. There are several primates which can be seen during this walk including; black and white colobus monkey, red tailed monkey as well as red Colobus monkeys which normally come to visit communities neighboring the park. There are also many birds here on this safari in Uganda.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking & Primate Walk
This day is entirely dedicated for chimpanzee trekking. You will be driven to Kanyanchu visitor center for a briefing before being led into the forest by a ranger guide from UWA who will take you through tracking our closest cousins – humans. The trek itself offers different primate species such as red tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkeys plus grey checked mangabey but they do not get too close to each other since chimps keep them away during these uganda safaris.
Kibale forest also hosts over 370 bird species thus being a great place for bird lovers which may include among others; Upon meeting chimps spend one hour with them observing their daily behaviors/activities/play etc Photography is allowed without using flash only flashless photography is allowed. Alternatively you can choose to go for Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) which lasts full day long. Chimpanzee habituation permit costs 250$ while chimpanzee trekking permit is at 200$ per person during the 8 days in uganda.
Later Lunch and after lunch you will go for crater walk in the evening.
Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early morning breakfast, embark on a drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. On this drive you will be able to see banana, tomato, cotton and tea plantations among other things with clear views of Rwenzori mountains’ glaciations during these uganda safaris . Through old copper mining town of Kasese then proceed and arrive at the lodge just in time for lunch.
The evening is characterized by a game drive where lions might be sighted together with leopards, Uganda kob, elephants buffaloes and many more birdlife. Return for dinner and overnight stay as we prepare for next day’s adventures on this safari in Uganda.
Day 4: Game Drive & Launch cruise within Queen Elizabeth
This day has got a number of activities; Set off very early with packed breakfast and head to Kasenyi which is an open area for active gaming; If lucky enough one can witness lions actually hunt during these 8 days uganda tours. Sunrise game drives are always rewarding as most animals are quite active. Some of the animals expected include hyenas returning to their dens after a night’s hunting antelopes, buffalo elephants leopard among others. Return back to lodge for Lunch then later go for boat cruise along Kazinga Channel.
This boat ride is very rewarding as it brings closer water birds like kingfishers, fish eagles, pelicans, African spoonbills, African darters; reptiles such as Nile crocodiles together with monitor lizards are also seen not forgetting numerous buffaloes plus elephants that inhabit different sections along this channel during these Uganda safaris.
Day 5: Tree climbing lions and transfer to Bwindi
An 8 day uganda safari would not be complete without visiting the tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. After breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive to the southern section of the park known as Ishasha. The drive to Ishasha takes about two hours and it presents another opportunity to see a lot of wildlife as it passes through Maramagambo forest which is the largest rainforest in Uganda.
When you reach the Ishasha sector; expect to see a variety of wildlife species including tree-climbing lions, topis, hyenas, leopards, elephants, buffaloes among others which exposes you to a real “wild” during your safaris in Uganda. At this area near DR Congo is where lunch will be served at river camp before continuing with the journey southwards leading to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla tracking. Upon arrival at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, head straight to the lodge for checking in and dinner.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
This whole day is dedicated for gorilla trekking. Breakfast is taken very early followed by driving at park offices for briefing and grouping. Groups are assigned ranger guides who use radio communication with trackers about locations of mountain gorillas during uganda safari. Spend one hour observing when gentle giants are found feeding playing and doing their daily activities around them; photography is allowed.
After that trek back up-to park offices whereby you receive a certificate having successfully trekked gorillas acknowledging your contribution towards conservation of these endangered primate species on this 8 days uganda tour before returning to lodge for dinner hence accomplishing a lifetime experience. Uganda gorilla permits cost $800.
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Drive further South after breakfast up-to Kabale (the Switzerland of Africa). This is where you find Lake Bunyonyi, a beautiful lake with many islands and good for birding while on safari in Uganda. The drive to this wonder is filled with beautiful sceneries, magical terraced slopes, farmlands and forests hence arriving in the afternoon for lunch at the lodge. In the evening there are interesting activities like hiking, canoeing, bird watching, swimming or just relaxing on the lake. Dinner will be served later giving you time to rest before journey back to Kampala/Entebbe during uganda safari.
Day 8: Travel to Kampala/Entebbe
On this day the tour of Uganda comes to an end. After breakfast, drive back to Kampala/Entebbe in the morning. Stop at the equator for souvenirs along the way and have a cup of coffee or tea then cross back to northern hemisphere as you reach your destination in the evening.
