8 Days Adventure Uganda Safaris : This 8 Days Safari takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable national park is the most visited primates’ national park for gorilla trekking experience located in the southwestern part of Uganda close to Rwanda-Uganda border at the edge of the Rift Valley. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Bwindi Impenetrable national park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and it is divided into 4 sectors including; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector. Bwindi forest also shelters some species of mammals including the forest elephants and the different species of antelopes.
Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest wildlife national park located in the western part of Uganda in Rubirizi district near Kasese district. Queen Elizabeth national park has a massive biodiversity with landscape including bushland, savannah, wetland and lush vegetation. The park covers an area of 1,978 square kilometres and was first founded in 1952 as Kazinga national park however later after the visit of Queen Elizabeth 11; it was renamed Queen Elizabeth national park. The park inhabits about 95 mammal species including the big 4 game (Lions, Leopards, buffaloes, and Elephants), other animals including; hyenas, hippos, waterbucks, Oribi to mention a few and over 600 bird species. Queen Elizabeth national park is surrounded by 2 lakes including Lake Albert and Lake Edward which support water activities like boat cruises, and fishing activities.
This trip continues to Semuliki national park/Semuliki national reserve, a park that sprawls across the floor of the Semliki Valley on the remote western side of the Rwenzori close to Uganda-Congo. Semuliki is best known as a home of 2 hot springs – Female and male hot springs. While here, you will also enjoy a nature walk in the forest and find some birds; a game drive is also possible when at Semuliki national park.
Also features Kibale National Park which is one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of natural rain forests in Uganda. The park protects up to a total of 70 mammal species and 13 species of primates including the endangered chimpanzees. Kibale national park is also Africa’s best destination of chimpanzee trekking with 99% chances of seeing the wild chimpanzees.
Safari highlight
Day 1: Pick-up and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking trekking – Nyakagezi sector
Day 3: Gorilla trekking trekking – Buhoma sector
Day 4: Transfer is Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 5: Lion tracking/Game drive – Boat cruise
Day 6: Transfer to Semiliki national park – Visit Sempaya hot springs
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking – Bigodi swamp walk
Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla national park.
Depending on your location in Kampala, you will be welcomed by our company representative/guide who will then transfer to Mgahinga national park. It’s usually about 8-9 hours’ drive with the en-route stop at the Uganda Eqautor and lunch break in Mbarara town. Upon arrival, proceed to check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury options: Gahinga Safari lodge/Lake Mutanda Safari lodge
- Mid-range option; Lake Mulehe Safari lodge
- Budget option: Travellers’ Rest Hotel/Mucha lodge
Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience – Nyakagezi sector
Wake up very early, enjoy your breakfast and drive out of the lodge to connect to the park headquarters with your trekking gears and packed lunch and water. Meet with other trekkers and gather for a briefing from the park officials where you will be guided on the expectations of gorilla trekking experience. After you are allocated a group in groups of 8 people, head into the forest for your trek for the only gorilla family in Mgahinga national park. Gorilla trekking takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla family being visited. These primates roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular. On finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates before you descend back to meet your driver/guide.
Transfer to Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive arriving in Buhoma late afternoon, check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs Hotel
- Mid-range option: Buhoma Haven Lodge
- Budget option: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and Ishasha game drive
After having breakfast early morning, connect and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park-a home to the tree climbing lions. This is a 4 to 5 hours journey with stopover lunch via Ishasha sector. Arrive in the park in the early afternoon and have lunch in Ishasha where you will also enjoy a game drive in the area finding the tree climbing lions and other available animals. Thereafter drive to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Mweya Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Parkview Safari lodge
- Budget option; Pumba Safari cottages
Day 4: Lion experience trekking/Game Drive and Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Wake up early, have your delicious breakfast, meet your guide, and drive to the Kasenyi area where you will hand over to the research team for a lion tracking experience. This experience is only carried out in Queen Elizabeth national park where you are guaranteed to view the lions. You will get an opportunity to come close to a pride of lions. You will also connect to a game drive for chances of finding some of the park’s habitats like the Buffaloes, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and other types of Antelopes.
Return for lunch at your lodge, before you return to the park for a boat cruise that will take you along the Kazinga channel. The lakes have the highest concentration of hippos and other animals drinking at the water’s edge, also good for bird watching. The cruise also offers a good platform for photography, bird watching, and games. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Semiliki national park – Visit Sempaya hot springs
After your breakfast, embark on your journey to Semiliki national park. It’s a 4-5 hours’ drive visit with en-route lunch in Fort portal town. Proceed to Sempaya hot springs which are the main attractions of Semuliki national park. These hot springs are the largest in Uganda, divided into female and male however they both have a geyser that shoots up from 8 meters holes with a high temperature of up to 100 degrees Celsius. The strength and hotness of the springs are amazing as one can boil eggs and in few minutes, it is ready to eat. The community around the park also visit the springs to perform rituals basin on their beliefs. Thereafter, drive to check-in to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Semiliki Safari Lodge
- Mid-range option: Ntoroko Game Lodge
- Budget option: Bugama Cottages
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking – Bigodi swamp walk
After your breakfast, transfer to Kibale national park, about 2-3 hours’ drive to the park headquarters for briefing with your trekking gears and water. Meet with other trekkers and gather for a briefing from the park officials where you will be guided on the expectations of Chimpanzee trekking. Thereafter, in only a group of 12 people and ranger guides/researchers, set off for Chimpanzee trekking. The search may take 2-5 hours depending on their location. The chimpanzees in Kibale are quite easier to find and you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with them on finding them.
Later afternoon, visit Bigodi swamp, the swamp has been recognised to host about 138 bird species and one can be able to see over 50 birds a day. Several primates can also be spotted in the wetland including the black and white Colobus monkeys, Blue Grey Cheeked, Ververt monkeys, Red Colobus monkeys to mention a few. Thereafter, transfer to your booked lodge for check-in, have dinner and overnight.
- Luxury option: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
- Mid-range option: Chimpanzee Guesthouse
- Budget option: Isunga Lodge/Rweteera Guesthouse
Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala
Wake up and enjoy your breakfast. Meet your driver to drive back to Kampala. It’s a 6 hours’ drive from Fort Portal town to Kampala with en route lunch. You will be dropped off at a location you will advise or be dropped off at Entebbe International airport for your flight back home.
