On this 8 Days Western Uganda safari, you will get to appreciate just how special the wildlife of Western Uganda is. The area around the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the south of the country is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorillas, and conservationists are also protecting the wildlife of the other nine national parks, where elephant numbers are stabilizing, wild rhinos have been reintroduced and with lion tracking programs in place, Uganda offers some of the best wildlife ecotourism in the world.
Tour Plan
Day 1: Kampala to Lake Mburo National Park
You will depart Entebbe or Kampala after breakfast for Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes 3-4 hours with stopovers at areas of tourist attraction such as the Royal Drum Makers’ Center and at the Equator for an opportunity to stand in both the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time. You will continue through the savannah grasslands dotted with human homesteads, banana plantations, and several herds of local long-horned Ankole cattle endemic to this part of the country. You will have lunch at the lodge followed by an afternoon boat cruise on the lake followed by a game viewing drive in search of wildlife in this park.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge, Kigambira Safari Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
Budget: Rwonyo Rest Camp, Leopard Rest Camp, Hyena Hill Camp Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner.
Day 2: Lake Mburo National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, you will have a morning guided nature walk in the park before you continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. You will later be driven in a comfortable and secure touring vehicle to the extreme southwest, which will take around 5 hours. Lunch will be provided en-route. You will later arrive in the evening for an overnight stay and relaxation at the resort with stunning views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park as you wait for the next day’s adventure.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla forest Camp / Gorilla resort
Midrange Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp / Lake Kitandara camp
Budget Accommodation: Buhoma community Bandas / Gorilla Mist Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorilla Trekking)
This morning you will have an early breakfast and with a packed lunch, you will move to the park headquarters to join other trackers in a briefing about the gorilla trekking rules at 7:30 am. You will trek through thick creepers and undergrowth with your guides to find the gorillas, which can take 1-8 hours. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access by tourists.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla forest Camp / Gorilla resort
Midrange Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp / Lake Kitandara camp
Budget Accommodation: Buhoma community Bandas / Gorilla Mist Camp Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha Sector
After a relaxed breakfast, depart for the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is notably recognized for its resident tree-climbing lions which are an exceptional attraction and one of the highlights of all safaris taken within Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the southern section of this park, the lions are occasionally spotted hanging on branches of huge fig trees, whereas the Uganda Kob (which are the major food for these lions) graze in the plains of the Ishasha sector. You will arrive in time for lunch and thereafter set out for an evening game-viewing drive. After the drive, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Midrange Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle Lodge / Topi Lodge
Budget Accommodation: Savannah Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Ishasha Sector to Kasenyi Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
After your breakfast, you will be taken to the Ishasha Sector, famous for the tree-climbing lions lounging in the tree branches while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda kob, their favorite prey. You could have a chance to spot some tree-climbing lions before proceeding to your lodge. In the afternoon, you will take a boat cruise along the amazing Kazinga Channel to see, at close range, the water animals, including hippos, buffalos, crocodiles, and elephants bathing on the channel banks. There is also a variety of bird species on the water banks, especially the famous shoebill, pelican, and jacana.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange Accommodation: Marafiki Lodge
Budget Accommodation: Kazinga Channel View Resort / Pumba Cottages Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Transfer to Kibale National Park
After an early morning game drive and breakfast, you will drive to Kibale National Park. Kibale National Park is in Western Uganda, protecting moist evergreen rain forest. It is 766 square kilometers in size and is located between 1,100 meters to 1,600 meters in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of landscapes.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Ndali lodge/Primate Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange Accommodation: Turaco Treetops / Isunga Lodge
Budget Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Chimps Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Visit
After breakfast, your driver guide will transfer you to the briefing point and will then hand in your details and permits for registration and allocation of a chimpanzee community to trek. You will then be allocated to a chimpanzee community, and your ranger guide will lead you on the trek in search of this great ape. Watch the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor, feed, play, and rest. In the afternoon, you will visit Bigodi Swamp. The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a fascinating area located in Magombe swamp. This area is recognized for a wide array of biodiversity, including several primate species like the red colobus monkey, baboon, black & white colobus monkey, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, vervet monkey, red-tailed monkey, and the L’Hoest monkey. Additional mammals such as chimpanzees, sitatunga, mongooses, bush pigs, otters, and bush bucks also visit this swamp from the adjacent Kibale National Park. Retire to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8: Departure
After a relaxed breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kampala or Entebbe for your scheduled flight back home. End of Tour
The above 8 Days Western Uganda Tour Includes
- 1 Gorilla tracking permit per person (US$ 800.00)
- 1 Chimpanzee trekking permit (US$ 250.00)
- Ground transport in a safari 4×4 Wheel drive vehicle
- Bottled water per day per person
- Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
- Service of an English-speaking driver guide
- All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Excludes:
- Extras at the accommodation (e.g, drinks, telephone, laundry, etc.)
- Tips to porters and driver/guide
- Insurance
- Visa to Uganda
- Items of personal nature
- Any other item not included on the includes list
What to bring:
- Rain jacket
- Waterproof hiking shoes
- Trousers and long-sleeved shirts
- Insect repellent
- Sun hat
