8 Days Uganda Safari
Overview
This plan spans 7 nights and 8 days, featuring the country’s wildlife, mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and cultural visits in Uganda. You will trek gorillas in Bwindi, observe chimpanzees in Kibale, and join game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth parks. This route covers five protected areas—Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kibale National Park—while starting and ending in Entebbe. It can be arranged under budget, mid-range, or luxury accommodation options and can be further adjusted to suit your preferences.
Safari Prime Activities
- Spending time in Bwindi with mountain gorillas
- Observing chimpanzees in Kibale National Park
- Viewing a variety of wildlife in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls parks
- Taking boat trips on the Victorian Nile and Kazinga Channel
- Walking to the top of Murchison Falls to sense its impressive power
- Standing at a point where you can be in both hemispheres
Featured Safari Parks/Destinations
- Day 1: Murchison Falls National Park & Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 2: Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 3 & 4: Kibale National Park
- Day 5 & 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Highlights
- Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park; Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 2: Morning wildlife drive, afternoon Nile boat trip, and a walk at Murchison Falls
- Day 3: Drive to Kibale National Park while enjoying rural scenery
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking; then head to Queen Elizabeth National Park with a stop at the Ruboni Community
- Day 5: Morning wildlife drive and afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga Channel
- Day 6: Wildlife viewing in Ishasha sector en route to Bwindi National Park
- Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi; move to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 8: Return to Kampala/Entebbe with a stop at the Equator
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park & Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
At around 6:00 a.m., begin the day with breakfast and meet your driver-guide at 6:30 a.m. for the 4–5-hour drive (approximately 310km) from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. Along the way, observe daily routines in local communities, and stop in Kasana Luwero to sample locally grown fruits.
Shortly after, reach Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided walk to see white rhinos—the only place in Uganda where they roam freely in protected habitat. Spend roughly two to three hours tracking these large mammals on foot.
Continue for lunch at Kabalega Diner, then proceed into Murchison Falls National Park. Enjoy an evening wildlife drive before settling in at your booked lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Nile Boat Trip, and Murchison Falls Walk
Begin with an early breakfast at 6:00 a.m., then travel to the northern bank of the Nile for a morning wildlife drive lasting about three to four hours. Common sightings may include Rothschild giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, reedbucks, waterbucks, and, with some luck, lions or leopards.
Return to the lodge for lunch before boarding a vessel on the Victoria Nile. This excursion covers a 17-kilometer stretch toward the base of Murchison Falls. Along the way, watch for crocodiles, hippos, various bird species, and occasionally elephants or antelopes at the water’s edge.
When you approach the base of the falls, disembark to walk up a trail that provides multiple viewpoints of the cascade. The river rushes through a narrow seven-meter gap and plunges 43 meters below. Later, your driver meets you at the top for the return to the lodge, where dinner and an overnight stay await.
Day 3: Travel to Kibale National Park
After a morning meal at about 6:00 a.m., set out for Kibale National Park (roughly 320km away), passing rural scenery and witnessing everyday life in Ugandan villages. You may spot farmers tending fields or carrying produce to local markets.
Break for lunch in Fort Portal, then continue on to Kibale, reaching your lodging by late afternoon or early evening. Enjoy dinner and rest.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ruboni Community Stop)
Have breakfast around 6:30 a.m. as you listen to bird calls, then make your way to Kanyanchu Tourism Center for a briefing at 8:00 a.m. on chimpanzee trekking guidelines led by park rangers. Groups of up to eight visitors walk into the forest in pursuit of Kibale’s habituated chimpanzees. Along the way, look for a range of other primates, including red colobus monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. Bird enthusiasts can watch for species such as the African pitta, green-breasted pitta, and more.
Once you spot the chimpanzees, stay a safe distance of about seven meters while capturing photos and observing their behavior. After one hour with them (within a trek of two to five hours), return to Kanyanchu for your chimp permit, then have lunch at the lodge.
Check out and head to Queen Elizabeth National Park, approximately 157km away. On the route, pause at the Ruboni Community area, where you can shop for crafts or engage with local artisans. Continue to your lodging in Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving by evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Morning Wildlife Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Trip
Enjoy a meal around 6:00 a.m., then venture to the Kasenyi plains for a morning wildlife drive lasting two to five hours. You may spot lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, topis, and other antelope species.
Return to the lodge for lunch. Later, transfer to the Mweya jetty for a boat excursion on the Kazinga Channel. This waterway links Lake George and Lake Edward and contains large pods of hippos, numerous crocodiles, and abundant birdlife along the shores. The ride typically lasts about two hours, offering excellent photography opportunities.
Wrap up with a short evening game drive along the channel track to see more animals, then head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Ishasha Sector Wildlife Drive en Route to Bwindi National Park
Rise early for a 6:30 a.m. breakfast, then set off through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Keep watch for tree-climbing lions that often rest on fig branches in the morning hours.
After spending around three to four hours seeking these lions, have lunch and continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Arrive by late afternoon or early evening, check into your lodge, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Start with breakfast at 6:30 a.m. that includes fresh organic fruits and warm pastries. Drive to the park’s gathering area for a briefing by rangers about gorilla trekking regulations and conservation history.
Head into the forest in a small group, keeping watch for various primates and bird species. Upon locating your designated gorilla group, maintain a distance of seven meters and spend one hour watching them interact, feed, and move among the foliage. After the trek (two to eight hours in total), return to the ranger station, collect your trekking permit, and meet your driver for a trip to Lake Bunyonyi.
At Lake Bunyonyi, enjoy a short boat ride around its 29 small islands. Sites include Punishment Island, known for ancient cultural stories. Later, return to your lodge for dinner and a night’s rest.
Day 8: Return to Kampala or Entebbe with Equator Stop
Awaken around 6:00 a.m. to birds singing along the lake shore. Savor a hot drink and a light meal before beginning the 420km drive back to Kampala (about 470km to Entebbe). You will travel past the terraced hills of Kabale, with a chance to see cyclists transporting produce to local markets.
Pause at Igongo Country Hotel in Mbarara for lunch, possibly sampling a traditional buffet that includes the regional dish known as Ishabwe. Continue to the Equator in Kayabwe for a quick demonstration of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres divide and a photo opportunity.
Afterward, head to Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight or to your preferred drop-off location, concluding this safari.
Safari Inclusions
- Full-time English-speaking driver/guide
- 4×4 safari van or 4×4 land cruiser (pop-up roof, functional A/C)
- Full-board accommodation
- Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permit fees
- Boat trip fees
- Onboard Wi-Fi in the safari vehicle (where applicable)
- Bottled water
Safari Exclusions
- International and domestic flights
- Entry visa costs
- Laundry
- Personal items
- Gratuities
- Beverages
- Any extras not listed in the itinerary above
End of the 8 Days Uganda Safari