7 Days Best Of Uganda Safari

ARRIVAL: ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Depending on where you will will be traveling from, our professional drivers and tour guide shall pick you up from Entebbe International Airport, the largest airport in Uganda. From there, we will drive you to your hotel for the night, ensuring a comfortable stay before the safari adventure begins the next day. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

DAY 1: TRANSFER TO MURCHISON

You will be picked up from either your hotel or the airport upon arrival by a professional English-speaking tour driver-guide. From there, you will head to Murchison Falls National Park. Highlights of the park include the roaring rapids of Murchison Falls and the expansive plains where you can see lions, giraffes, hartebeests, buffalo, and elephants, among other wildlife. Expect a lunch stop along the way. If time permits, you can enjoy a late afternoon-to-evening game drive.

Note: If starting from the hotel or early from the airport, a detour to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an hour of rhino tracking is possible at an additional cost of $50 per person. Otherwise, we will proceed directly to Murchison Falls.

Accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge
Budget lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP

DAY 2: MORNING GAME DRIVE & AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE & SAFARI TO TOP OF THE FALLS

Have your breakfast and depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest national park. Be on the lookout for wildlife, including lions and the elusive leopards, among others. Bird enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to spot a variety of bird species during the drive. Return to your accommodation for some rest and lunch.

After lunch, head out for a boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls, where you can catch sight of more animals, including hippos, crocodiles, and several water birds. Optional (at extra cost): If interested, continue with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike can be strenuous, but the thrill of reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and relax.

Here’s how we suggest mitigating the health risks of both.

• Drink plenty of water from one of these travel water bottles.
• Keep yourself covered from the sun. Bring some sunblock and a hat!
• Stay limber. Between game drives, make sure to walk some, do some yoga, exercise, or stretch.
• Take antimalarial medicine if you are a worrier. We recommend taking doxycycline and use the mosquito avoidance strategy. Cover up at night, wear insect repellant, use a mosquito net, and be aware of your surroundings.
• Get some shut-eye. This one shouldn’t be too hard, but you’ll need to go to bed early on safari since you’ll rise at dawn.
• Take it easy on your stomach. We suggest taking it easy to begin. Watch out for the skins of fruits and veggies, avoid large quantities of meat, and avoid spicy food and check where ice is coming from. That being said, the majority of safari lodges are exceptional at taking the proper hygienic steps when it comes to preparing food.
• Bring a small medical kit with some basic needs for emergencies.

Accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge
Budget lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP

DAY 3: CHIMP TREKKING AT BUDONGO FOREST & TRANSFER TO HOIMA TOWN

Wake up early and set off for Budongo Forest Reserve, a drive of about 1 hour and 15 minutes. We will arrive in time for the 8:00 am briefing. Following the briefing, you will proceed to encounter humans’ closest relatives in the wild. Enjoy a guided primate walk through the lush expanses of the tropical forest in search of the habituated chimpanzee family. Your guide will provide information about the various animal and plant species you encounter along the way. After the trek, take some time to rest and have lunch at Budongo Eco Lodge. Thereafter, we will embark on a transfer to Hoima City for an overnight stay at your booked accommodation.

Accommodation: Kontiki Hotel
Mid-range hotel located in Hoima (Town)

DAY 4: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK-GUIDED GAME DRIVE

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your accommodation before driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will arrive early enough to have lunch and rest before heading out for an afternoon game drive. During the game drive, keep an eye out for wildlife such as reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions, and buffaloes.

Alternatively, you may opt for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive. This scenic drive offers spectacular views of the stunning landscape in and around the park, along with opportunities to see wildlife, with Cape buffaloes and elephants being the most common sightings.Return to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: The Bush Lodge (Banda)
Mid-range lodge located just outside Kibale NP (Chimps)

DAY 5: GAME DRIVE & BOAT CRUISE – TRANSFER TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NP

Wake up early and head out for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Look out for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, lions, and the elusive leopards, among other wildlife. After the game drive, return to the lodge, check out, and proceed to the Ishasha Sector in search of tree-climbing lions. There is about a 70% chance of spotting these lions, though they can sometimes be difficult to find when they are in the grasslands hunting for prey. If you do spot them, it will be a picturesque and memorable sight.From Ishasha, continue to your accommodation at the edge of Bwindi National Park (Ruhija sector), arriving in the evening around 6:00 pm.

Accommodation: Bwindi Cultural Center
Budget lodge located less than 1hr drive from Bwindi NP (Gorillas)

DAY 6: GORILLA TREKKING & TRANSFER TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

Have breakfast and then head to the rangers’ post for a briefing on the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. Afterward, you will enter Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rainforest is spectacular, with its dramatic, steeply forested landscape. Despite its density, the forest is crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access to tourists. The time and terrain covered vary depending on the movements of these great primates. Once you locate a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable.Return to your accommodation, check out, and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Hyena Hill Lodge
Budget lodge located just outside Lake Mburo NP

DAY 7: GUIDED WALKING SAFARI IN LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK & TRANSFER TO ENTEBBE

Enjoy an early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide. During this guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter zebras, giraffes, elands, topis, other antelope species, and Cape buffaloes up close. Follow the trail to the top of the hills for a stunning view of Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the 12 lakes surrounding Lake Mburo National Park. After the walk, return to your accommodation for checkout, then hit the road to Entebbe Airport to catch your flight (scheduled for 6:00 pm or later).

END OF THE 7 DAY BEST OF UGANDA SAFARI

NB : An African wildlife safari is a thrilling chance to see wild animals going about their daily lives in their natural habitat, which is why they’re one of the most popular activities on the continent. East Africa (specifically Uganda and Rwanda) has a huge variety of national parks that offer adventurous opportunities to see wildlife up close. For Inquiries, reach out to us at [email protected]