8 Days Uganda Fly-in Safari; Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo

 Tour Summary

• Transfers by chartered flights and 4×4 luxury land cruisers 
• Activities include Gorilla trekking, Game drives, nature walk and boat cruise 
• Accommodation before and after trip can be arranged on request at an extra cost
• Safari lasts 8 Days and 7 Nights

What you need to know

• Pack the right Gorilla trekking clothes
• Tour is available all year round
• Minimum age for Gorilla trekking is 15 years 
• Gorilla permit is included in the cost

Tour Highlights: 8 Days Uganda Fly-in Safari

• Day #1: Transfer by chartered flight from Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
• Day #2: Mountain Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest
• Day #3: Transfer from Bwindi to Mweya airstrip in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day #4: Morning game drive and evening boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day #5: Transfer by flight from Mweya airstrip to Kidepo airstrip
• Day #6: Morning game drive and evening nature walk in Kidepo
• Day #7: Morning game drive to the hot springs and evening game drive
• Day #8: Return flight from Kidepo airstrip to Entebbe International Airport.

What’s the real story?:

Itinerary by Day: 8 Days Uganda Fly-in Safari

Day #1: Transfer by chartered flight from Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Depending on your suitable time of departure, you will take a flight by Aerolink Uganda to Kihiihi airstrip or any other airstrip close to Bwindi forest. Flight can be early morning, mid-morning, or in the Afternoon for about 1 hour 45 minutes. 

From the airstrip, your driver-guide will be there to pick you up for a transfer to a booked hotel. The transfer is by a 4×4 safari land cruiser. You have lunch at a hotel and spend the evening in relaxation. 

Accommodation is communicated depending on availability at the time of booking. 

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner 

Day #2: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest

Early morning, your hotel will provide breakfast such that you get ready for the transfer to the park headquarters. You are expected to be at the park headquarters by 8:00 am local time for a briefing on the gorilla trekking etiquette from the park rangers.

It is at this time when the allocation of a gorilla family for every 8 members to trek is allocated. If you have any specific needs or are unable to hike for further distances communicate during briefing such that you are allocated a close family.

After the briefing, you receive your trekking stick and start the walk to the forest for the experience. Trekking to and from is dependent on where the gorillas spent their previous night, the nearer they are the faster you see them and vice versa. However, when you meet the family, you are allowed to spend only 1 hour seeing them go along with their daily lifestyle.

Take this time to enjoy the experience and record memories using your non-flash photography camera. After one hour, you trek back to the park headquarters where you receive a congratulatory certificate and be driven to your hotel by the driver.

Lunch can be packed or you return for probably late lunch at the hotel. Accommodation as of the previous night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner 

Day #3: Transfer from Bwindi to Mweya airstrip in Queen Elizabeth National Park

From your hotel, most probably during mid-morning, you will be transferred to the airstrip for a flight to Mweya airstrip in Queen Elizabeth National Park. From the airstrip, you will be picked up and transferred to a booked hotel where you have lunch and spend the rest of the evening in relaxation. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge 

Budget: Bush Lodge 

Day #4: Morning Game drive and evening boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Have desired breakfast at the hotel then proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. During the game drive, you explore an array of wildlife and these may include Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, Hyenas, lions, and several bird species.

The game drive lasts about 2-4 hours with several chances to spot and photograph wildlife in the wilderness. After the game drive, you are driven back to the hotel for relaxation and lunch. 

In the evening at about 3:00 pm, you will undertake a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel famed to attract a lot of wildlife and bird species. Here you will enjoy a launch cruise on the 40km long channel that connects lakes, Albert, and George. Take as many photos as you can here as wildlife will be up-close.

Later on, you are driven back to the hotel at sunset for dinner and stay for the night. Accommodation will be as of the previous night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day #5: Transfer by flight from Mweya airstrip to Kidepo airstrip

Depending on the time of departure for your scheduled flight, you will be transferred from the hotel to the airstrip for a flight to Kidepo airstrip. Arriving at Kidepo airstrip, you will be picked for a transfer to a booked hotel.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge/Adere Safari Lodge

Midrange/standard: Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Nga’moru wilderness camp

Day #6: Morning Game drive and evening nature walk in Kidepo

In the morning, you have breakfast at the hotel then board your safari vehicle to go through the trails of Kidepo National Park for a morning game drive. The game drive is to the Kakine circuit just close to Apoka. 

The trail offers a chance to see wildlife species including Buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks, Jackson’s Hartebeests, Rock hyrax, Elands, Giraffes, Zebras, side-striped jackal, and many more. You will also see several birds being that the park has the second-highest bird count. 

After the game drive, return to your hotel for lunch and relaxation. Later on in the afternoon, you will be taken for a nature walk in the park. You will go along with an armed ranger guide, and walk in the wilderness for about 2 hours. Return to your lodge for dinner and a night’ stay. 

Accommodation as of the previous night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day #7: Morning Game drive to the hot springs and evening game drive

The next morning still in Kidepo, you’ll have breakfast then get back to the park for another morning game drive. This morning you take the circuit to the “hot springs” at the furthest point of the park. 

For this drive, ensure to carry insect repellent since there are tsetse flies in some parts of this section. Many park endemics survive in this side of the park and you may sight the dik-dik (smallest antelope), cheetah, and birds like Ostriches. 

Going past the Kidepo River, you have an amazing view of the scenic mountains around the park. After this morning game drive, you return to the lodge for lunch and then relaxation. In the evening you go for your last game drive. Taking a different circuit still, expect to see more wildlife species.

Accommodation as of the previous night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner

Day #8: Return flight from Kidepo airstrip to Entebbe International Airport

On the last day of your 8 Days Uganda Fly-in Safari, you have breakfast and then be transferred to the Kidepo airstrip for a flight to Entebbe International Airport. On arrival at the airport, you take a departure flight marking the end of your 8 Days Uganda Fly-in Safari. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast

End of the 8 Days Uganda Fly-in Safari

Cost Inclusions

• Park entrance and all activities fees
• Accommodation & meals as indicated
• Flights and 4×4 safari vehicle costs
• A professional English speaking knowledgeable driver guide. 
• Bottled drinking water on board

Cost Exclusions 

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

Transport 

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

Safari Route: 8 Days Uganda Fly-in Safari