8 Days Uganda safari from Kigali
The 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali is an exciting adventure that will start and end from Kigali. The safari will take you to different national parks in Uganda that is Kibale forest national park also known as the primate capital, Queen Elizabeth national park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park. During the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, you will be able to view animals like Buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs, bush bucks, hippos, leopards, lions, hyenas among others during the game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park. You will also be able to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park and chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park and visit Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale where you will engage in an interesting boat cruise.
Highlights of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali
Day 1; Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park-afternoon game drive
Day 4: Morning game drive/Lion tracking and afternoon Boat cruise
Day 5: Morning game drive and transfer to Kibale forest national park
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi-boat cruise
Day 8: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
On the first day of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, our driver guide will pick you up from your location, brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Bwindi national park passing via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale. On the way you will have en-route lunch and upon arrival in Bwindi impenetrable national park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Luxury accommodation: Buhoma lodge, Sanctuary gorilla forest camp, Bwindi lodge
Super midrange accommodation: Mahogany lodge, Silverback lodge,
Midrange accommodation: Buhoma haven lodge, Engagi lodge, Gorilla mist camp
Budget accommodation: Buhoma community rest camp, Ruhija community ret camp
Meal plan: Half Board (Lunch and Dinner)
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
You will have an early breakfast on the second day of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, you will carry packed lunch and then meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a gorilla family to trek, park rangers and an experienced park guide. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 2 hours to 7 hours depending on their location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other wildlife species and once the mountain gorillas are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos.
After the one hour with the gorillas, you will return to the starting point where you will be given a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and later go for an optional cultural tour where you will interact with the local people in the neighboring communities. After the cultural tour, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Meal plain: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast on the third day of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with the driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. On your way, you will have a stopover in Ishasha sector where you will be able to view the famous tree climbing lions during the game drive which will be lying up in acacia or fig tree branches. After the game drive, you will have en-route lunch and then continue the journey to Queen Elizabeth national park. Upon arrival, you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Luxury accommodation: Elephant plains lodge, Mweya safari lodge
Super midrange accommodation: Kikorongo safari lodge, Katara lodge
Midrange accommodation: Elephant hab lodge, Buffalo safari lodge
Budget accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush lodge, Simba safari camp, Pumba safari cottages
Meal plan: Full board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 4: Morning game drive/ Lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel
After having an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive/ lion tracking experience in Kasenyi plains where you will be able to view animals like elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, bush bucks, waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda kobs, giant forest hogs, view different bird species among others. After the morning game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel a water body that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During the boat cruise, you will be able to enjoy great views of the scenery, view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view animals like buffaloes, elephants, antelopes along the shores, water bird, view fishermen preparing their fishing gears among others. After the boat cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight as above.
Meal Plan: Full board (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 5: Morning game drive and transfer to Kibale forest national park
After breakfast on the fifth day of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for another game drive in the park where you will be able to view some of the animals that you might have missed the previous day. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch where after you will check out and start the journey to Kibale national park located in western part of Uganda. The journey takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive and on the way you will have view of the crater lakes, tea plantations among others. Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Luxury accommodation: Primate Lodge, Chimpundu lodge
Midrange accommodation: Chimpanzee forest lodge, Turaco treetops
Budget accommodation: Isunga lodge, Kibale forest camp
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
After an early breakfast on the sixth day of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to Kanyachu visitors Centre for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzees with an experienced park guide which takes about 2 to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, birds among others and once the chimpanzees are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, play, mate, hunt, fight, rest, take photos and record videos.
After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will return to the lodge for lunch where after you will go for an interesting Bigodi swamp walk where you will be able to spot variety of bird species like the papyrus gonolek, great blue turaco, primates like vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, animals like sitatunga, bushbucks among others. After the swamp walk, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Meal plan: Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi-afternoon boat cruise
On the seventh day of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive with great scenic views on the way and stopovers to take photos and upon arrival, you will continue to check into the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go for an interesting boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi where you will enjoy views of the farmlands, landscapes, explore the 29 islands including punishment island, kyahugye island, view different bird species among others. After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Luxury accommodation: Birdnest resort
Super midrange accommodation: Arcadia cottages Lake Bunyonyi
Midrange accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi overland resort
Budget accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Eco resort
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Departure to Kigali
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kigali with en-route lunch on the way. Upon arrival in Kigali your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali international airport for your departure flight or drop off at your hotel in Kampala.
End of 8 days Uganda safari from Kigali
8 days Uganda safari from Kigali includes
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Park entrance fees/game drives
- Lion tracking experience
- Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Experienced English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- All meals at the lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Ground transport in a 4WD safari vehicle
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
8 days Uganda safari from Kigali excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities and accommodation not included in the itinerary
- Personal expenses like such as laundry services, buying souvenirs, crafts, Alcoholic drinks, hiring a porter, tipping among others.
