8 Days in Uganda Itinerary: Gorillas, Game Drives, and Rhinos

 Tour Summary

• Safari starts with pick up and ends with drop off at Entebbe International Airport 
• Activities include Gorilla trekking, game drives, boat cruises, hike and rhino tracking.
• Transfers will be by a safari van
• Accommodation before and after trip can be arranged on request at an extra cost

What you need to know

• Only budget accommodation is provided 
• Pack the right gorilla trekking clothes
• Tour can start any time of the year
• Minimum age for Gorilla trekking is 15 years

Safari Highlights: 8 Days in Uganda

• Day #1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, pick up and transfer to hotel
• Day #2: Transfer by road from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day #3: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest 
• Day #4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha sector
• Day #5: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
• Day #6: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
• Day #7: Game drive, boat cruise, and hike to the top of Murchison Falls 
• Day #8: Rhino tracking and transfer to Kampala.

What’s the real story?:

Detailed Itinerary: 8 Days Uganda Safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, pick up and transfer to hotel

On the first day of your budget Uganda safari, your tour guide will pick you up from Entebbe International Airport. At the airport, your guide will be easily identified as he/she will have a placard with your name. After meeting and greeting, you will board the safari vehicle for a transfer to a booked hotel in Entebbe or Kampala.

Meal Plan: Dinner 

Accommodation at: Pineapple Guest House/ Bushpig backpackers’ hostel

Day 2: Transfer by road from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After resting from jetlag at a hotel in Entebbe or Kampala, you will be provided with breakfast early morning and then be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive starts early morning out of Kampala city with the first stop at the equator line.

You will stop at the equator for photography and than continue with the drive to western Uganda with a lunch stop in Mbarara town. You will most likely arrive at the park in the evening and check in to the booked hotel where you will have dinner and later on spend the night. Accommodation will depend on the sector allocated for trekking and communicated at the time of booking. (8 Days Budget Uganda Safari)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 3: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest

On this day, wake up early, have breakfast, and board your safari vehicle for a drive to the park headquarters. It’s expected of you to be at the park headquarters by 8:00 am for a briefing from the park rangers and your driver guide will ensure the transfer.

During the briefing, the park rangers inform trekkers of the dos and don’ts of Gorilla trekking. At this time, you are also allocated a gorilla family to trek. Each group is trekked by 8 people allocated depending on the hiking ability.

You get to the very dense tropical jungle of Bwindi impenetrable forest for a lifetime adventure. You spend about 2-6 hours or more trekking to and from. However, a maximum of 1 hour is spent in the presence of the mountain gorillas watching the family and taking pictures.

After 60 minutes of watching the gorillas, you then walk back to the park headquarters. Here you receive a congratulatory gorilla trekking certificate. Your guide drives you to your accommodation facility where you relax, have dinner, and spend the night. 

Overnight at previous night accommodation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha sector

At the hotel, you will be served breakfast before you check out for the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The transfer will be via the Ishasha sector famed to host the tree-climbing lions. Driving through this sector you may get to see these tree-climbing lions.

Have lunch and proceed to the hotel where you check in and relax through the evening. (on 8 Days Primate Uganda Safari)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation at: Bush Lodge 

Day 5: Morning Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel

On this day, you will have your desired breakfast at the hotel and then be transferred by your guide to the park for a game drive. You have a game drive along the Kasenyi plains in search of wildlife that roams these plains. Some of the animals that can possibly be seen include Kobs, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, topis, and many more.

After the game drive, you then return to the hotel for lunch and relax. After lunch, you will head out for an evening boat cruise on the popular Kazinga Channel. During the boat cruise, you see lots of animals as they come to quench their thirst. This spot is also good for seeing several bird species.

Kazinga channel has several aquatic species including hippos and crocodiles. The views on the boat cruise are very spectacular. After the boat cruise, you then transfer back to your hotel for dinner and rest. You sleep in the previous night’s hotel.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 6: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Has an early morning breakfast served at the hotel then embark on the long drive to Murchison Falls National Park? The drive takes you past different landscapes and regions with several features that can be sighted along the way. Arriving at the park in the evening you transfer to a hotel either within the park or not. Check-in, have dinner, and spend the night there. (on 8 Days Budget Primate safari Uganda)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Accommodation at: Heritage Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Lodge 

Day 7: Game drive, boat cruise, and hike to the top of Murchison Falls

Have breakfast at the hotel, cross the Nile River by ferry (if required) then visit Murchison Falls National Park for a game drive. Driving through the park trails, you may see four of the “Big Five” games which are the Buffaloes, Elephants, Lions, and Leopards. Other wild animals may also be seen on the game drive including giraffes, baboons, monkeys, and many more.

After about 4 hours the game drive ends and you go for lunch. After lunch, you undertake the 2:00 pm boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls. You see aquatic wildlife like hippos and crocodiles on the banks of the Nile River and also get a clear view of the falls from below.

After the 2 hours launch cruise, you hike to the top of the Murchison Falls in an amazing experience. This is the perfect time to take pictures of the falls. You meet your driver guide at the top of the falls for a drive to the hotel for dinner.

Accommodation as per previous night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 8: Rhino tracking and transfer to Kampala

From Murchison Falls National Park, you will either have breakfast at the hotel early morning or choose to have it a bit later in Masindi. Transfer from the park, have breakfast and continue to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking. The Rhino tracking experience on foot is a great nature walk tour and by doing so you would have seen all the sought-after Big Five animals.

After Rhino tracking, you have Lunch and transfer to Kampala or Entebbe. The choice of place to stay depends on the client, you can choose to have the city experience or relax on the shores of Lake Victoria in a calm environment. (on 8 Days Budget Uganda Primate Safari) 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Accommodation at: Pineapple Guest House/ Bushpig backpackers’ hostel

End of the 8 Days Uganda Safari

Cost Inclusions

• All activities as included
• Accommodation in budget lodges & meals as indicated
• Safari van
• A professional English speaking knowledgeable driver guide.
• Bottled drinking water on board
• Gorilla trekking & chimpanzee permit

Cost Exclusions 

• International flights & Visas 
• Tips
• Drinks
• Any changes to the itinerary 
• Laundry

Transport 

• 4×4 safari land cruiser for luxury travelers
• 4×4 safari van for budget travelers