This 7-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari provides a superb introduction to the country’s top wildlife attractions. You’ll track wild rhinos on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and enjoy safari game drives and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park – a classic savannah destination that is inhabited by the rest of the Big Five animals.
You’ll then visit Kibale National Park and trek through the lush rainforest jungle in search of a habituated chimpanzee community. You will spend an hour watching these fascinating apes in their natural habitat. Next, travel through Queen Elizabeth National Park-home to rare tree-climbing lion, before moving to the heart of Uganda gorilla trekking adventures, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. About half of the remaining mountain gorillas on earth live here.
And with the help of expert guides, you’ll track, observe, and interact with these gentle giants in an unforgettable and environmentally-conscious way. You will end your tour relaxing at shores of lovely Lake Bunyonyi, before driving back to Entebbe or Kampala where your 7 day Uganda Wildlife safari begun.
7-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari – Highlights
- Explore Uganda’s top wildlife attractions
- Track wild rhinos on foot in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Enjoy a boat cruise and game drives at Murchison Falls National Park
- Visit the top of Murchison Falls – the world’s strongest waterfalls
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Discover Queen Elizabeth National Park‘s diverse African wildlife
- See over 13 species of primates at Kibale Forest National Park
- Comfortable accommodation throughout your stay
- Breathtaking forest & mountain views
- Culture interactions with local communities
- Exceptional birding opportunities
- Inspiring photographic opportunities
7-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari – Summary
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon Boat cruise
Day 3: Visit the Top of the Falls & Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest & Bigodi Village Walk
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi via Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Gorilla trekking & Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7: Travel back to Kampala/Entebbe
Details
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Welcome to Uganda and the start of our adventure in the ‘Pearl of Africa’. On day one of our 7-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari, we will leave Kampala or Entebbe at about 6.30 am. We will drive northwest to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s oldest, largest, and one of its best game parks. On the way, we will pass lively towns and quite rural villages before making a memorable stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the home of Uganda’s only wild rhinos.
Here, we will enjoy a thrilling rhino tracking adventure of about two hours on foot and in company of an expert local ranger guide.
After the rhino tracking adventure, we will enjoy a good lunch at the nearby Kabalega Dinner. Following lunch, we will continue on the drive to Murchison, arriving in the late afternoon. Once in the park, we will view game en route to the lodge/ camp for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 70 species of mammals, including 4 of the Big Five, over 470 bird species, and spectacular scenery.
Here, the world’s longest river bisects flourishing savannahs, flanked by lush riverine woodlands, before bursting through a tiny gap of about 8 meters in the Rift Valley escarpment to form the world’s most powerful waterfalls.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Bakers Lodge/ Paraa Safari Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Hornbill Safari Lodge/Heritage Safari Camp/Red-chili Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 375 km or 7-8 hours
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon Boat cruise
Following an early breakfast at around 6.00 am, we will head out on game drive of about 3 to 4-hour. We will traverse the scenic savannah grasslands of the northern section of Murchison Falls Park. We will watch the beautiful sunrise as we search for Rothschild’s Giraffes, African Buffalos, African Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Spotted Hyenas, Common Warthogs, Hippopotamus, Crocodiles, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeests, Patas monkeys, and Olive Baboons.
You can also look out for special birds such as Saddle-billed Stork, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Goliath Heron, Ground Hornbill, Secretary birds, Denham’s bustard, Grey Crowned Crane, and Great Blue Turaco. You may even be lucky to catch a glimpse of the rare prehistoric-looking shoebill stork.
Return to the lodge for lunch and some time to rest. In the afternoon, we will take a thrilling three-hour boat tour on the historic Nile River. We watch gigantic crocodiles as they slip beneath the waves and pods of hippo grunt and jostle. We will see countless waterbirds, before pausing a little distance from the bottom of the mighty Murchison Falls. Here, marvel at 50m wide Nile River thundering through an 8m rocky gap, before falling 45m below to what has been termed as the devil’s cauldron.
After this incredible experience, we will return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Bakers Lodge / Nile Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge
Budget: Hornbill Safari Lodge / Heritage Safari Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Visit The Top Of The Falls & Transfer To Kibale Forest
We will enjoy a leisurely breakfast today and then drive to the top of the Murchison falls to see the world’s strongest waterfalls from a different viewpoint.
After witnessing magical falls, we will leave Murchison Falls National Park and drive south to Kibale Forest National Park. We will travel across the scenic Albertine rift valley floor, through rural Ugandan villages.
We will reach the town of Fort Portal at around lunchtime. Fort Portal is another scenic area of Uganda, situated shadow of the mystical “Mountains of the Moon” and is famous for its many tea plantations.
Following lunch, we will continue to Kibale National Park, which has one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest on the continent.
Spanning some 776km2, Kibale is reputable for having Africa’s greatest variety and the highest concentration of primates – a total of 13 primate species. We will reach our camp in the late afternoon for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge / Crater Safari Lodge / Primate Lodge Kibale
Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse / Kibale Forest Camp
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse / Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 366km or 6 hours
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Village Walk
Today, we will have a hearty breakfast at 6.30 and then transfer to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre in Kibale Forest to do our Chimpanzee tracking experience which begins at 8.00 am prompt. The encounter commences with a briefing at 7.00 am from the expert local park rangers who will be your guides for the activity.
Then, we head to the forest in search of Chimpanzees – our closest relatives. Smaller than their gorilla cousins but no less charming, intelligent, or expressive, chimps live in communities of up to 200 members. The trek to see them can take two to six hours and will be filled with all sorts of enchanting encounters. Kibale forest provides a 95% success rate of seeing our distant cousins – far higher than any other location which offers chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, Rwanda or Tanzania.
When you find the Chimps, you have a full hour to enjoy these precious human-like creatures and you are free to take as many photos as you wish! You then return to the starting point and enjoy your packed picnic lunch. After lunch, the fun does not stop as you go for a guided cultural walk in Bigodi Village.
Here, you visit traditional healers; women craft makers, traditional homesteads and listen to the storytelling of an Mzee (elderly man). After our exciting day we will head back to our camp/lodge to freshen up. Then we will have dinner and reminisce about our wonderful day and amazing time so far in Uganda. Then we’re off to bed for a good night’s rest, because tomorrow other superb national parks awaits!
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge / Crater Safari Lodge / Primate Lodge Kibale
Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse / Kibale Forest Camp
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse / Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Transfer To Bwindi Via Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After a delicious breakfast this morning, we will pack our bags into the vehicle, check out and say farewell to the great staff in the Kibale forest. We then embark on the day’s journey further south.
It will be a very scenic drive and we will pass through Queen Elizabeth National Park one of Uganda’s most beautiful savannas parks, set on the floor of the Great Rift and dotted with explosion craters. This park is also home to a variety of wildlife including 600 bird species and 95 species of mammals, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, monkeys, and various antelopes.
You will take a slow drive towards the southern sections of the park (Ishasha), known for its tree-climbing Lions who spend long lazy days dozing in the pretty fig trees. The Uganda Kob, which they watch from the branches, graze the plains and enjoy game watching – make sure to look out for buffalo, elephants, and topi.
From Ishasha, we will the park and continue south through rolling hills, and traditional homesteads and enjoy panoramic views. We will have lunch somewhere en route before you eventually reach Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a World Heritage Site. This 321km2 park lies on the edge of the Great Rift Valley.
Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Africa’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, containing almost 400 plant species. More famously, this impenetrable forest protects half of the world’s population of endangered Mountain Gorillas. It also provides shelter to a further 120 Uganda mammals and 351 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. You arrive in late afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Haven Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla Forest Camp
Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp / Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge / Agandi Lodge
Budget: Trekkers Tavern Ruhija
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 400km or 7 hours
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking & Relaxation Lake Bunyonyi
Today, we will experience what some people define as a life-changing adventure: a meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi Impenetrable forest!
After a good breakfast at 6.30 am, we will transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing from the expert local park rangers who will be your guides for the activity. At 8.00, we will trek through the dense rainforest, filled with exotic birds, rare monkeys, and butterflies. The gorilla trek in Uganda can take 2 and 7 hours.
The going can be relatively difficult as the trails can be steep, the air humid and the vegetation dense. But the effort is all worth it when you finally encounter a family of gorillas. Their behavior is so familiar that you may feel like you have known them all your life; it is an inspiring moment to see the world’s largest living primates in their natural environment. After an hour with the gorillas, we enjoy our packed lunch and transfer back to the park offices to get your gorilla tracking certificate.
After that, we will take a short drive to Lake Bunyonyi, the beautiful tropical gem of the Kigezi highland where you’ll be blown away by the lake’s beauty and scenery. You’ll enjoy a relaxing evening boat cruise as you explore some of its famous 29 islands.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi
Mid-range: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 55-85 km or 1-3 hours
Day 7: Travel Back To Kampala/Entebbe.
We will have one last leisurely breakfast today. We have quite a long drive ahead of us, so make sure you have your snacks and water handy. From our lodge, we will be driven to the back to Entebbe or Kampala. En route, we will stop at the Igongo Cultural Centre, a huge commercial enterprise with a five-star hotel, a top restaurant, craft shops, and luckily also one of the best museums in Uganda. Here, we will enjoy a traditional lunch and learn about the Ankole culture of Uganda.
Following lunch, we will continue on our way making another stop at Equator. Uganda is one of the few countries in the world where you can cross this imaginary geographical line on land.Observe how water swirls in opposite directions on either side of the equator. You’ll arrive in Entebbe or Kampala in late afternoon for your onward travel arrangements.
End of the 7-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari
What’s Included
- Accommodation: Hotel/lodges (6 nights).
- Meals: 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners
- Transport: 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
- All national park entrance fees
- Guided mountain gorilla trek with permits
- Guided chimpanzee trek with permits
- Safari drives in Murchison Falls National Park
- Wildlife boat cruise on the Nile River
- Visit the Equator
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
What’s Not Included?
- Airfare to and from the destination
- Medical and emergency evacuation insurance
- Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
- Visas
- Any activity not described in what’s Included
- Meals on your own
- Gratuities
