8 Days Classic Uganda Wildlife Safari

You will begin your 8 days Uganda safari in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. Set off early morning with your driver guide heading to Murchison falls National Park. You will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a home to white rhinos for a guided rhino trekking on foot and after the tracking, you will have lunch. You will continue and head towards the park and visit top of Murchison the strongest waterfall. It is famous for its powerful plunges over 40 meters’ cliff and breathtaking scenery of river Nile. After you drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight Red Chilli (Budget), Murchison River Lodge (Mid-range), Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 2. Morning Game drive and afternoon Nile boat cruise.

Wake up early morning and go out for a game drive which takes you through Murchison falls where you have chances to see big cats hunting like lions, leopards, hyenas and other animals coming out to graze like  elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, giraffes, forest hogs among others. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, go on a boat cruise where you can relax seeing hippos, crocodiles, water birds and get a view of the devil’s caldron.

Overnight Red Chilli (Budget), Murchison River Lodge (Mid-range), Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury).

Day 3. Transfer to Kibale forest National Park.

After breakfast, you will take a 6-7 hours transfer from Murchison to Kibale forest national park. The journey goes through Albertine rift valley landscape via fort portal town where you stop for lunch. From there you drive around fort portal crater lakes before checking in at your lodge to relax for the next day’s chimp trekking.

Overnight Nkuruba Camp Site (Budget), Isunga Lodge (Mid-range), Primate Lodge (Luxury)

Day 4. Chimpanzee trekking and nature walk along the Bigodi swamp.

After early breakfast, you will head for briefing from the Kibale national park offices regarding the rules and requirements while tracking chimpanzee. After briefing, you will be given walking sticks and led into the forest to find the primates. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National park takes between 3 to 5 hours. It is a different experience from gorilla trekking because chimps are more vocal and love to spend time on top of trees. They are also more mobile and might require that you follow them for long time before they settle down to give you a chance to take photos. You will return to the hotel for lunch and rest. Later in the evening, you will go for a walk around the Bigodi swamp walk to spot other primates and several species of birds.

Overnight Nkuruba Camp Site (Budget), Isunga Lodge (Mid-range), Primate Lodge (Luxury)

Day 5. Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP via Queen Elizabeth national park.

Wake up early morning and depart for Bwindi, you will first connect for a morning game drive in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park in search of the tree climbing lions. Proceed to Bwindi arriving late at the lodge where you will have dinner spend a night.

Overnight Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort (Budget), Agandi Eco Lodge (Mid-range), Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 6. Gorilla trekking experience and visit the Batwa community.

You will wake up early in the morning to take your breakfast before heading out to the park offices for briefing. During the briefing, the park ranger guides will share information about the requirements and rules for gorilla trekking. The meeting is compulsory and it is also at this time that you get to be assigned a gorilla family and porters. Gorilla groups are allocated depending on your overall fitness. Porters are there to help you carry heavy luggage. You will head to the forest to track your gorilla group with steep and muddy areas before finally meeting the family. Follow instructions from the head guide and take as many photos as you can in the one hour allocated. This gorilla tracking experience will be an unforgettable experience for your safari. After the trekking, you will return back to your hotel to rest and have lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will be taken to visit the Batwa pygmy community who once lived side by side with the gorillas in cultural stories and dances.

Overnight Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort (Budget), Agandi Eco Lodge (Mid-range), Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 7. Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.

Take your breakfast early morning and after set off to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is Uganda’s most beautiful lake having several beautiful islands, romantic shores and is a sanctuary for countless birds. Lake Bunyonyi is an excellent destination for relaxation after a long safari. You will enjoy relaxing by the lake shores, go boat riding, island hopping and touring the local fishing villages.

 Overnight Bunyonyi View Resort (Budget), Hawks Eye Lodge (Mid-range), Arcadia Cottages (Luxury)

Day 8. Transfer back to Kampala.

Wake up early, take breakfast and set off for a long journey back to Kampala for your departure flight or a drop at your hotel. You will have stopovers along the way especially at the equator for photography and for lunch.