7 Days Uganda Safari Tour

7 Days Uganda Safari Tour

Our 7 Days Uganda Safari offers travelers an opportunity to take part in several activities in Uganda including chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking, wildlife viewing, a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel, birding and a visit to the Batwa pygmies. This is a great itinerary for wildlife and nature lovers who are interested in a great Uganda safari. You will get an opportunity to visit Queen Elizabeth National park, Kibale national park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park. The tour starts from Kampala or Entebbe in Uganda but it can be tailored such that you start the journey from Kigali in Rwanda.

The journey begins with a stop at Kibale National Park. Kibale forest is often referred to as the “primate’s capital of the world” because of its 13 species of primates. There is no other place that is better for viewing primates. If it had gorillas, it would be one of the most visited wildlife conservation sites in Africa. The safari in Kibale also includes visiting the Bigodi Wetlands sanctuary for birding and spotting more primates.

From Kibale, the journey continues to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is the most visited and naturally beautiful park in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth receives good rains for much of the year and doesn’t get too dry like the Serengeti. Earth movements and volcanic eruptions formed crater lakes, gorges, forests and many other natural features that you will encounter during your visit. Queen Elizabeth has four of the big 5 mammals including the rare tree climbing lions in Ishasha. From Queen Elizabeth, you will be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Because of its incredible biodiversity, Bwindi is a UNESCO World heritage site and the leading gorilla trekking destination. Bwindi is not only about gorillas, it is also home to chimpanzees, smaller primates, duikers, leopards, birds, forest mammals and much more. While in Bwindi for gorilla tracking, you can also take part in nature walks and visiting the Batwa pygmies.

By the end of this 7 days Uganda wildlife safari, you would have explored many of the places that make Uganda such a beautiful country to visit. If you are interested in a shorter safari, you can check out our 6 days Uganda safari and 5 days Uganda wildlife tour package. For a longer safari, you might want to consider our 9 days Uganda Wildlife Safari package and an 8 days Uganda tour package.

Day 1:

 Transfer to Kibale National Park – Tour Fort Portal

Our Driver from safari vacations and travel services will pick you up very early in the morning from your hotel to start the journey to Kibale National Park. Wake up early, take breakfast and wait for him/her to show up. The journey to Kibale National Park is long but you will be rewarded with amazing sites of the countryside, national parks, forests, rivers, lakes, large plantations, the intriguing Ankole cattle, trading centers, towns, districts and the ever smiling peasant. On arrival at Fort Portal City, you will have lunch and then go for a tour of this small but very beautiful town. Fort Portal is now the tourism district of Uganda. It not only houses the headquarters of the Toro Kingdom, but is also located in an area with excellent climate and beautiful scenery all year round. Because of the tranquility in the city, the town is arguably the best place to live in Uganda.

Dinner and overnight stay at Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury), Primates Lodge (Mid-range) and Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget).

Day 2:

Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Swamp walk

After early morning breakfast, you will be taken to Kibale National Park headquarters for the briefing on chimpanzee trekking. The briefing is led by the Park Guides and is all about the rules of tracking chimpanzees, the park and what to expect. After the briefing, the Park Guides will lead you into the forest to find the chimps. Chimpanzee trekking is quite different from gorilla trekking. Chimps stay longer on top of trees compared to gorillas. Their groups are also more vocal and dramatic. It is possible to hear their cries from a mile away even before getting close to them. By the time you get to them, they would have already seen your group. Tracking chimpanzee usually takes between 3 to 5 hours. You only have an hour to observe them. Use the time to take as many photos as you can.

After spending one hour with the chimps, you will be led back to the park offices where you will find the company driver waiting for you. The driver will take you book to the hotel for lunch and rest. Later in the Afternoon, the driver will take you to visit the Bigodi wetlands sanctuary for a nature walk and birding. The Bigodi swamp is one of the best spots of birding in Uganda. Expect to see small monkeys, butterflies and much more.

Dinner and overnight stay at Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury), Primates Lodge (Mid-range) and Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget).

Day 3:

 Head for Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game drive in Ishasha – Visit Kyambura Gorge

You will wake up early to take heavy breakfast and check out. Our Guide will come and pick you to start the 2 hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector of the park. The Ishasha sector is famous for hosting tree climbing lions. A few of these lions can also be sighted in Kruger National Park of South Africa and Lake Manyara in Tanzania. Researchers believe that the lions have adapted to climbing trees to escape bites from bugs. They also use their position on top of trees to observe movements of their prey. The lions prefer the sturdy acacia and fig trees but you may also spot them on fallen trees.

After Ishasha, the driver will continue the journey to your lodge, check-in and refresh as you wait for the next activity. The next activity is a nature walk at the Kyambura Gorge. The Kyambura Gorge is one of the most amazing natural wonders of Uganda. The gorge contains an underground forest which hosts several primates including chimpanzee, Baboons, monkeys, hippos and birds. You will also spot rare birds, trees and plants that have evolved to grow within the gorge.  After visiting the Kyambura gorge, the guide will take you back to the lodge.

Dinner and Overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Ihamba Lodge / Park view lodge (Mid-range) and Simba safari camp (Budget).

Day 4:

Second Game drive and boat trip at the Kazinga Channel

You will wake very early to take breakfast at your lodge. Our guide will take you for your second game drive at the Kasenyi plains. The morning game drive will allow you to catch up with nocturnal animals and predators retreating back to their dens after hunting in the night. You should also spot the early risers and especially birds. Other animals to look out for are hippopotamus, hartebeests, leopard and buffaloes among many other birds. After the game drive, the driver will start the journey back to the lodge for lunch and rest.

After resting for a while, you will be transferred to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. The Kazinga Channel is one of Africa’s top birding sites. You can spot both resident and migratory birds in large numbers. During the boat cruise you will also spot most of the water dwelling mammals as well as lions, leopards, antelope and primates drinking the channel. Hippos, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and crocodiles are always seen bathing/drinking by the water.

Dinner and Overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Ihamba Lodge / Park view lodge (Mid-range) and Simba safari camp (Budget).

Day 5:

 Visit Maramagambo forest – Salt mining in Lake Katwe – Transfer to Bwindi national park

Wake up early and take breakfast as you wait for the driver to take you for a truly eventful day. The driver will take you to Lake Katwe to see how the local people mine salt. This is a good time to mingle with the locals to find out how they and their ancestors benefit from the salt.  Afterwards you will be taken for a nature walk at the Maramagambo forest where you will visit the Bat caves and the pythons that feed on them from a hidden platform. Apart from bats and pythons, there is also a real chance of seeing red-tailed monkeys, other primates, chimpanzees (not habituated), pygmy antelopes and more. You will also get to see the crater Lakes – Nyamasingiri and Kyasanduka.  Later in the afternoon, you will start the journey to Bwindi national park and to your new lodge.

Dinner and overnight at Chameleon Hill Lodge (luxury), Bakiga Lodge (Midrange) and Tarvan Trekkers Bwindi (Budget)

Day 6:

 Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest – Visit to the Batwa Pygmies

You should wake up early and order for breakfast as you wait for the driver to pick you up. The driver will take you to the park offices for briefing by 7:00am. This briefing is very important and is where you will meet other tourists and Rangers who will be leading you to the forest. The briefing covers many topics but the most important is how to behave around the gorillas, what to expect and what to carry along while tracking the gorillas. You will be assigned a gorilla family taking into consideration your overall fitness and age. This is because some of the gorilla groups are located deeper in the forest hence requiring more hours of trekking. Porters are available to help you with extra luggage.

The Park Rangers will lead you into the forest to track the primates. Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes between 2 to 6 hours. Once you spot them, take as many photos as you can because you will be with them for only one hour. Observing mountain gorillas can be amazing. You can see them groom, play, eat or take a nap. Some may come close to you out of curiosity but remember to always remain calm as you follow instructions from the park Guides.

After an hour of observing the mountain gorillas, you will return back to the starting point where our Guide will be waiting for you. Do not forget to get your certificate of completion as you go back to the Batwa visit on a Uganda safari lodge for lunch and rest. After resting, the driver will take you out to visit the Batwa pygmy community. Bwindi forest was the original home of the Batwa before they were relocated by the government. The government decided to evict them from the park and resettle them elsewhere. Although several projects were started to help the Batwa adjust to life outside the forest, it has not been a success. The Batwa remain very poor because they failed to adapt to life outside the forest or compete with neighboring tribes. While with them, you will learn a lot about their culture and the challenges they face after a life of plenty in the forest. Expect traditional dance and other performances from the tribesmen.

Dinner and overnight at Chameleon Hill Lodge (luxury), Bakiga Lodge (Midrange) and Tarvan Trekkers Bwindi (Budget)

Day 7:

Transfer back to Kampala for departure

This is the last day of the safari and you will wake up at your own time taking into consideration your departure time. The driver will follow another route with a stop at the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara for lunch and the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photographs. If time permits, you can also stop at the Buganda Royal drum makers to learn how giant drums were crafted. We hope that you would have enjoyed your time in Uganda. The driver will drop you at the airport in Entebbe or at your hotel.

What items you should pack;

A camera: A safari in Uganda is incomplete without a good camera. You cannot come back from a safari without evidence to show your friends and family about the wonderful time you had.

Water: Many of the activities mentioned above involve staying out for long hours in the sun. Expect to get dehydrated and tired if you do not pack some water. You need to have water filtration tablets if you cannot move with bottled water.

Packed Snack: This is very important for the chimpanzee habituation experience and gorilla trekking. It is difficult to predict when the two activities will end. You are better off parking lunch so that you don’t get hungry.

Rain Jacket: This is very important while hiking during the rainy season. The rains can be unpredictable in Uganda especially when you consider global warming. There is always the possibility of rain in Bwindi forest regardless of season of the year.

Hiking Boots: Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking requires good hiking boots for comfort especially during the rainy season.

Stocking: Long stockings will help in tucking in your trousers to avoid crawling insects.

Long Shirts and trousers: The game parks and forests contain insects and other crawling creatures that you need to keep off. There are also sharp tree branches and thorns. Long sleeved shirts and trousers will keep off any insects and also protect you from sharp trees.

Hand gloves: Hand gloves are important for grabbing leaves and tree branches while hiking through dense forest.

Accommodation

Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge:

This mid-range lodge is found in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is built on the shores of Lake George hence offering very beautiful views of the savanna and the Kazinga Channel. The isolated lodge is popular because it offers an amazing feeling of being out in the wild. There is a rare tranquility because of the virgin wilderness surrounding it. The lodge offers 6 self-contained cottages with double or twin beds.  Each cottage has a private balcony, indoor showers, Wi-Fi and glass windows which allow guests to have constant views of the lake. Other important amenities include laundry facilities, parking space, a restaurant, swimming pool, barbecue and security.

Kyaninga Lodge:

Kyaninga Lodge is one of the best luxury lodges Uganda has to offer. It is built very close to the starting point for chimpanzee trekking and overlooks the Crater Lake Kyaninga. The scenery is spectacular allowing hence allowing guests to take nature walks or go to the lake for swimming, canoeing or kayaking. The 9 cottages are private and spacious allowing you to enjoy your safari without missing home. Each cottage is built on a raised platform with great views of the Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Kyaninga. Other services that come along are a large swimming pool at the center, a tennis court, parking space, beautiful gardens and more.

Chameleon Hill Lodge:

This is one of the popular luxury lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The lodge stands out because each of the 10 luxury rooms/cottages are painted different. Each cottage has a private terrace, a large bed, sockets, a table, mosquito nets, a safe, bathroom, shower and warm water. All rooms face the beautiful scenery surrounding Lake Mutanda and the impressive Virunga Volcanoes. Food is delicious and you don’t have to worry if you are a vegetarian or prefer international cuisines. Everything is served with a personal touch. One other great thing about booking with Chameleon Hill Lodge is the possibility of doing gorilla trekking in Rushaga or Nkuringo sector of Bwindi forest. In fact, one can also reside at the lodge and do gorilla or golden monkey trekking in the nearby Mgahinga National Park.

Enganzi Game Lodge:

This budget lodge is built in an area with remarkable beauty and in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The lodge is close to Lake George and the Kyambura Gorge. Though a budget lodge, it offers quality services with 11 self-contained rooms. Each rooms free Wi-Fi, a balcony, a bathroom and bathtubs/showers.

Bakiga Lodge:

This is a mid-range lodge built in the Ruhijja sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Lodge is surrounded by remarkable scenery and great views of the forest. The lodge aims to provide quality accommodation facilities while also insuring that the local community benefits. The rooms come in form of self-contained tents and cabins. Each room has a bathroom, Wi-Fi, a large single/twin bed, a hot shower, balcony and working table. Other amenities include indoor fireplaces, parking space.

Note:  Safari vacations and travel services patterns with the other service providers like hotels and lodges and we ensure that you have the best from these places.

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions

• Fulltime private vehicle with a driver for the entire itinerary
• Fuel for your safari
• Cultural/ community visit to the Batwa
• Pick and drop off at your desired location in Entebbe and Kampala

• Gorilla permits (each at usd600)
• Accommodation
• Bottled drinking water
• Park entry fees
• Fuel
• Experienced English speaking tour guide/driver
• Park ranger and guiding

Safari excludes;

• Insurance
• Individual expenses for example tips, cigarettes, crafts, and beverages(soft and hard drinks)

• Accommodation (can be arranged on request)

Safari vacations and travel services assists clients in arranging and clearly planning of the safari and continues to acquire the chimpanzee and gorilla tracking permits for clients’ behalf, we ensure that no delays or any inconveniences on your trip, we arrange accommodation, and transport with a knowledgeable driver guide from our team.