8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Experience

Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Check-in at Hotel for Relaxation

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a professional guide from Otter African Safaris. After a short briefing on your 8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Experience, you will be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe for check-in. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have the opportunity to explore some of Entebbe’s local attractions, such as the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, which provide a serene introduction to Uganda’s flora and birdlife. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre also offers an optional visit where you can see some of the country’s wildlife in a semi-natural environment.

For travelers arriving late in the evening, this day is primarily dedicated to rest and recovery from the long journey. Your accommodation at Airport Guest House provides a relaxed and comfortable environment, ensuring you are well-rested for the exciting days ahead. The guest house offers warm hospitality, comfortable rooms, and a lush garden where you can unwind with a refreshing drink while taking in the fresh evening breeze from Lake Victoria.

This first day sets the tone for your safari by giving you time to acclimatize, recharge, and prepare mentally for the adventures that lie ahead. Dinner will be available on request, but the package covers bed and breakfast to give you a relaxed start to your 8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Experience journey.

• Accommodation: Airport Guest House
• Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Road Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park with Rhino Tracking and Hike to the Top of the Falls

After an early breakfast, your 8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Experience officially begins as you set off on a scenic road transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and most visited park. The drive takes approximately six to seven hours, but the journey is broken with fascinating stopovers. Your first highlight is a guided rhino tracking experience at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where wild rhinos can be seen. Accompanied by expert rangers, you will walk through the bush to observe these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. This activity not only offers a thrilling encounter but also contributes directly to rhino conservation efforts in Uganda.

After lunch, the journey continues through changing landscapes, small towns, and lush farmlands until you reach Murchison Falls. On arrival, you will head straight to the top of Murchison Falls, where the Nile River squeezes through a narrow seven-meter gorge before plunging 43 meters into the Albertine Rift Valley. The sight and sound of the powerful waterfall create an unforgettable memory. You will take a short hike around the falls, enjoying panoramic views and taking photographs of this natural wonder.

Later in the evening, you will check in at Pakuba Safari Lodge, located in the heart of the park. The lodge offers beautiful views of the Nile and surrounding wilderness, often with giraffes, elephants, and antelopes roaming nearby. Dinner will be served, followed by overnight rest as you prepare for a full day of exploration.

• Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

 Game Drives, Boat Cruise, and Wildlife Photography in Murchison Falls National Park

This day begins with an early breakfast before setting out for a morning game drive across the northern banks of Murchison Falls National Park. The park’s savannah plains are teeming with wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, hyenas, buffaloes, and numerous antelope species such as Uganda kobs, oribis, and hartebeests. The crisp morning hours provide the best opportunities to spot predators on the hunt as well as large herds of grazers feeding in the open grasslands. The scenic Nile River and rolling savannah create the perfect backdrop for incredible wildlife photography.

After a mid-morning break, you will return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch before embarking on one of the park’s most memorable experiences a boat cruise on the Nile River. This journey takes you upstream toward the base of Murchison Falls, where the river’s waters churn and crash with incredible force. Along the way, you will encounter pods of hippos, large Nile crocodiles, and a variety of bird species, including kingfishers, fish eagles, and the rare shoebill stork. Elephants and buffaloes are often seen drinking along the riverbanks, adding to the spectacle.

The boat cruise ends at the base of the falls, where you will marvel at the sheer force of the Nile before returning to your lodge. In the evening, you may choose to enjoy a sundowner while admiring the African sunset over the Nile. Dinner will be served at the lodge, followed by overnight accommodation.

• Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi Swamp Walk

After breakfast, you will check out of Pakuba Safari Lodge and embark on a long but rewarding road transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, often referred to as the Primate Capital of East Africa. The journey takes approximately seven to eight hours, passing through picturesque landscapes, tea plantations, and small towns. Along the way, you will enjoy a packed or en route lunch while taking in Uganda’s scenic countryside.

Upon arrival at Kibale, you will check in at Turaco Treetops Lodge, a beautiful eco-lodge surrounded by lush forests. After some relaxation, you will set out for the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-managed conservation project located on the outskirts of Kibale Forest. The swamp walk is an excellent opportunity to encounter more primates, including black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, and L’Hoest’s monkeys. The sanctuary is also home to over 200 bird species, with the great blue turaco being a special highlight for bird lovers.

The swamp walk is guided by local community members who share insights into the medicinal plants, cultural practices, and the role of ecotourism in conserving the wetland. This activity provides both a wildlife experience and a cultural immersion. You will return to Turaco Treetops Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay, preparing for the chimpanzee tracking adventure awaiting you the following day.

• Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale and Afternoon Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The day begins early with breakfast before heading to the Kibale Forest National Park Headquarters for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking. Kibale is home to more than 1,500 chimpanzees, making it one of the best places in Africa to encounter these intelligent primates. The trek through the dense forest takes you deep into their habitat, and once you find a chimpanzee troop, you will spend one hour observing their behavior. Watching them communicate, groom each other, or swing through the trees is both fascinating and memorable.

After this remarkable experience, you will have lunch before proceeding on a three-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second-largest national park. Upon arrival, you will embark on an afternoon game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, which are particularly rich in wildlife. Expect to see herds of elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes, along with predators such as lions and leopards. The vast savannah, dotted with crater lakes, creates a stunning backdrop for photography.

In the evening, you will check in at Aardvark Safari Lodge, where you will enjoy a hearty dinner and spend the night surrounded by the wilderness of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

• Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Game Drive, Boat Cruise, and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After an early breakfast, you will embark on a morning game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, focusing on the Kasenyi sector, which is famous for lion sightings. The plains are also home to large herds of Uganda kobs, which serve as prey for the park’s predators. With luck, you may also encounter leopards, hyenas, and a wide range of birdlife.

Later in the morning, you will enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. This two-hour cruise is a highlight of Queen Elizabeth, offering some of the best wildlife viewing in East Africa. Hippos wallow in large numbers, crocodiles bask on the shores, and elephants frequently come down to drink. The channel is also a haven for birdwatchers, with over 600 species recorded in the park.

In the afternoon, you will begin your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The journey takes about five to six hours, passing through the scenic landscapes of the Kigezi Highlands, also known as the “Switzerland of Africa.” On arrival, you will check in at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, located near the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. The lodge offers comfort, breath-taking views, and close proximity to the park entrance. Dinner and overnight stay follow.

• Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Batwa Cultural Experience

This day is the highlight of your 8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Experience: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. After an early breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a detailed briefing by the rangers. Groups are assigned and led into the forest in search of habituated gorilla families. The trek can last from two to six hours depending on the location of the gorillas, but the experience is always rewarding.

Once you find the gorilla family, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them as they go about their daily routines. Watching them feed, play, and interact within their natural environment is often described as a life-changing experience. The close resemblance between gorillas and humans makes this encounter deeply moving and memorable. Rangers will also share valuable insights into the conservation challenges facing these endangered primates.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a Batwa cultural experience, where you will meet the indigenous Batwa people, who once lived as forest dwellers. They will share their traditions, music, dance, and ancient survival skills, offering a deeper appreciation of the human heritage connected to Bwindi.

You will return to Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge for dinner and overnight stay, reflecting on the incredible wildlife and cultural experiences of the day.

• Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking Water

Road Transfer Back to Entebbe – End of Safari

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and begin your return journey to Entebbe International Airport or your hotel. The drive takes approximately eight to nine hours, passing through Uganda’s countryside with scenic views of terraced hills, plantations, and small towns. Lunch will be provided en route, and there will be opportunities to stop for photographs or purchase souvenirs from local markets.

Your 8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari driver-guide will ensure timely arrival in Entebbe for your evening flight or overnight stay. This marks the end of your 8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Experience with Otter African Safaris. You leave Uganda with unforgettable memories of rhino tracking, game drives, chimpanzee and gorilla trekking, boat cruises, and cultural interactions that showcase the very best of the Pearl of Africa.

• Accommodation: None
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Drinking Water