8 Days Uganda Budget Wildlife And Primate Experience Safari
The 8-Days Uganda Budget Wildlife And Primate Experience Safari is an ideal Uganda safari package for mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, and general wildlife encounter experiences. This starts and ends at Entebbe international airport. It will take you to Kibale forest national park, where you will be able to meet face-to-face with chimpanzees and spend an hour with them in their natural environment. Then proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is proudly known for its standard game drive safaris for wildlife encounters, lion tracking, the adventurous boat cruises along the Kazinga Channel and its unique tree climbing lions at Ishasha sector. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park is home to almost half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas, 119 other species of mammals besides the mountain gorillas, over 350 plant species, 202 butterfly species and 346 species of birds. Have a stopover at Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest lakes in Africa, for relaxation and a boat canoeing safari to visit some of the beautiful islands in Lake Bunyonyi, and conclude it with a visit to Lake Mburo national park for a night game drive safari and horseback riding tour in the jungle. Uganda is known for its incredible diversity of landscapes, activities, and friendly people. So, on this 8-day Uganda safari, we will show you the best of Uganda in a magical style. On this 8-day Uganda safari, expect to encounter eye to-eye with the magical mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and a variety of various primate species, several wildlife species of the African savannah such as lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippos, zebra, giraffe, Uganda kobs and several other antelope species, warthogs, crocodiles, as well as many bird species.
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FULL ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport – Meet and greet – Drive to your booked hotel in Entebbe town
On your arrival at Entebbe international airport the country’s major airport for all international arrivals and departures you will be warmly welcomed by our company customer care service personnel and your allocated safari guide at the airport to meet and greet and then drive you to your booked hotel to check in and refresh. The hotel is about 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. Stay at your leisure till time to have dinner and an overnight.
If time allows, you will go for an evening walking tour to the Botanical gardens and Lake Victoria. The Entebbe Botanical gardens are situated within Entebbe town close to the shores of Lake Victoria one of the African Great Lakes with a surface area of about 59,947 km2 (23,146 sq mi) and the Africa’s largest lake as well as the world’s second-largest fresh water lake by surface area after Lake Superior shared by three East African countries Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Entebbe Botanical Gardens are peaceful, beautiful and exotic gardens that gives a perfect introduction of Uganda with all of its beauty and magical splendour. While at Entebbe botanical gardens expect to see some primates like vervet and black and white colobus monkeys plus several bird species.
Accommodation: Via Via Guest House (standard)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: Entebbe town – Drive to Kibale Forest national park – Bigodi swamp walk and community tour
Wake up very early in the morning to get yourself ready to start your drive to the African jungle, be served breakfast, check out of your lodge and start your incredibly scenic journey to Kibale Forest national park. The journey will take you through beautiful tea plantations, over rolling hills of lush green countryside that is so characteristic of western Uganda and lively village markets, as well as seeing local people going about their daily activities, and if you wish to interact with them, you can talk to your safari guide to arrange it for you. The Kibale Forest National Park itself is an extensive tract of dense tropical rainforest with various ecosystems that make this place conducive to harbouring the highest density of primates in all of Africa and several other wildlife species. The primates that are found in Kibale Forest national park include Chimpanzees, Red-tailed Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Uganda Red Colobus, Demidoff Galago, Uganda Mangabey, Patas monkeys, and the Pottos. Kibale Forest National Park has the largest population of chimpanzees in Africa and is the best destination for chimpanzee experience safaris. It is the highlight of a tour to Kibale Forest. On your way to Kibale Forest national park, you will have a stopover in Fort Portal City, which is situated at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains in the greater Tooro kingdom and is known for being the gateway to Uganda’s adventures. Have lunch, move around this beautiful city, and later proceed to your lodge to check in, refresh, and then in the early evening, visit the Bigodi wetlands sanctuary and community. Bigodi sanctuary swamp is remarkable for its biodiversity of wildlife species with about eight primate species including baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and other animals like mongooses, wild pigs, various reptiles, over 200 bird species, and butterflies. The community walk will be guided by a trained local guide who is very knowledgeable of the local terrain and perfect at identifying all the animal, bird, and plant species and explaining details about their mating nature. While at Bigodi wetland sanctuary, expect to encounter rich vegetation and several wildlife species. After the swamp walk, the tour will end in Bigodi village, one of the relatively small villages around the park with all the characteristics of a typical Ugandan rural setting, such as living in small houses made with mud, surrounding gardens. While at Bigodi community, you will have close interaction with the locals to learn about their daily social and economic lifestyle and take part in some experiences like how coffee is grown, visiting women’s groups, and having an opportunity to experience the local food. After the community tour, return to your lodge to refresh, have dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation: Rwetera Safari Park (standard)
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner
Day 3: Kibale Forest national park – Chimpanzee trekking experience – Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park – Visit Lake Katwe salt mining community
Wake up very early in the morning to dress in a recommended style for the most memorable chimp trekking experience, such as water-proof hiking boots, a long-sleeved shirt suitable for cold weather, a rain jacket, a round hut, and insect repellents. Be served breakfast, then meet your safari guide at the park information centre for a briefing about chimp trekking rules and regulations, which are very important to keep you and the chimps safe. Thereafter, start the forest walk to look out for chimpanzees and other forest primates like l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, and olive baboons, as well as other mammals like forest elephants, bush pigs, buffaloes, sitatungas, and warthogs, as well as different bird species like the little greenbul, black eared ground thrush, black bee-eater, collared apalis among others, On the planet, there is no other animal that reminds us so much of ourselves as the chimpanzee, and besides many common features and mannerisms, chimpanzees also share 98.8% of our human DNA, which makes them our closest living relatives and Chimpanzees can be found in only 21 countries throughout Africa, but Uganda is where they can be easily sighted due to the high concentration. So, seeing chimpanzees in Uganda is guaranteed on any particular day throughout the year. Kibale National Park harbors a population of over 1500 chimpanzees, which makes it the best chimpanzee trekking destination in the world. The forest walk in search of chimpanzees may take about 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on their location, because they like to move from one place to another in search of food and they are usually fast. When you encounter them, you will be allowed to stay with them for a maximum of 1 hour and you will be free to take as many photos and ask as many questions as you want since your park guides are well conversant about the forest and all its wildlife species, which will make your chimpanzee safari adventurous and memorable. After spending an hour with the chimpanzees, return to the park information center to receive your certificate of completion, meet your safari guide to have lunch, and later proceed with your safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the traditional savannah destinations in Uganda and one of the most unique safari destinations on the African continent. Queen Elizabeth National Park is more famous for its big cats, such as tree-climbing lions and leopards, which enhance the game drive experience, and the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes Edward and George and is the world’s largest channel and has a higher population due to its high concentration of hippos. There are over 600 species of birds recorded, plenty of big game with approximately 2,500 elephants, 5,000 hippos, and 10,000 buffalo, and many small mammals. On arrival at Queen Elizabeth National Park before checking in at your booked lodge, visit the Lake Katwe salt mining community that lies inside Queen Elizabeth National Park on the western arm of the East African rift valley. For over 600 years, salt mining activities have been taking place, and a visit to the community will give you better insights as to how locals extract and process salt to the stage of use and how they have maintained these economic activities for decades. While at the Katwe community, expect to encounter some wildlife species like elephants, buffaloes, and several antelope species since they always visit this community for salt licking. Following the tour to Lake Katwe, drive directly to your booked lodge to refresh, stay at your leisure until dinner, and then overnight.
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard)
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth national park - Morning game drive safari – Afternoon boat cruise safari on the Kazinga channel – Evening game drive safari
Wake up very early in the morning (0530am) to prepare yourself, to day you can put on light clothes, simple shoes and then pack a sweater for emergency, have an extra camera battery, have your binoculars. Have a cup of coffee and then get a box of your packed full breakfast, and later leave your lodge at (0630 am) to Kasenyi Plains found in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth national park for a morning game drive safari. It is always very important to begin your game drive as early as possible because during the morning hours of the day animals are more active and chances are high to encounter as many species as possible. Queen Elizabeth National Park one of the best savanna destinations in Africa to encounter several wildlife species and it is one of the Uganda’s most varied and most beautiful protected areas. The park is home to two of Africa’s big cats, the majestic lion and the elusive leopard alongside classic big game such as approximately 5,000 hippo, 2,500 elephants and 10,000 buffalo. During your game drive safari expect to encounter different groups of animal species like Buffalo herds, elephant herds, Uganda kobs herds plus many other antelopes, warthogs, lion, leopards, spotted hyenas the giant forest hog are among the others. Your safari guide will help you to spot as many animals as possible well as giving much information regarding everything that you will encounter which will make your game drive time so interesting and memorable. Later around 1130 am, retire from the game drive to return to your lodge to be served lunch have some time at leisure till time to be served lunch and then go for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel which starts at 0300 pm. Boat cruise on the Kazinga channel is one of the special ways to explore and enjoy Queen Elizabeth national park where you will have a chance to have a close encounter of several mammal species like hippos, Nile crocodiles, herds of elephants and buffalo and many antelope species when swimming and others wandering down to the shoreline to bathe in the cooling waters. So, the boat cruise will get you so close to wildlife and for many of our visitors they consider a boat cruise safari on the Kazinga channel as the highlight of their visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Thereafter the game drive safari on the Kazinga channel, return to Kasenyi plains for an evening game drive safari to lookout for more wildlife species mostly the predators. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard)
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth national park - Game drive safari at Ishasha sector to search for the tree climbing lions – Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park – Spend the evening at your leisure
Today, wake up at your best time to have all your travel bags loaded into your safari vehicle, be served breakfast, check out of your lodge, and start your drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which is found in south-western Uganda. On your way to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park, you will go via the Ishasha sector, which is found in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park and is famous for its tree-climbing lions and, of course, other great mammals, primates, and antelopes. The Tree Climbing Lions can only be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania, and Kruger National Park in South Africa, but there are obvious chances to encounter them in Queen Elizabeth National Park at Ishasha Sector because it has many prides with the character of climbing trees, but spotting them is not guaranteed. While at Ishasha Sector, besides looking for the tree-climbing lions, you will encounter other mammal species such as huge herds of buffalo, elephants, Uganda kobs, topis, warthogs, and various monkeys. After the game drive to look for tree climbing lions, have lunch, relax for a while, and then continue your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park, which is located in south-western Uganda on the western edge of the East African Rift Valley and is proudly known to be home to nearly half of the world’s remaining population of endangered mountain gorillas. The park also encompasses one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rain forests, dating back over 25,000 years and containing nearly 400 species of plants that form the vast impenetrable forest, which is home to over 119 other mammal species besides the mountain gorillas and 350 species of birds, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as at least 200 butterfly species, including eight albertine rift endemics. On arrival at the park, check in at your booked lodge to refresh, and then spend the evening at your leisure until it’s time for dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp (Standard)
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park – Mountain gorilla trekking experience – Drive to Lake Bunyonyi – Spend the evening at leisure
This is the day of the main safari highlight of meeting eye to eye with magical mountain gorillas. On this day, wake up as early as 0600 am to have yourself prepare for the day experience such as dressing up in the recommended style to enjoy the experience such as water proof hiking boots that can hike for long distances in dense forest, round hut, heavy duty had graves, wear a long-sleeved shirt /blouse and a long pair of trousers and as well as water proof water jacket. We would recommend you to always choose colors of nature so that you blend in with your surroundings. So, greens, greys and browns in lightweight material that wicks moisture will be better, have your backpack packed with the required materials during the mountain gorilla trekking such as camera, extra camera battery, insect repellent should not be missed, drinking water and anything that you may need. Thereafter, be served breakfast, get a box of your packed lunch and then meet your safari guide to drive to the park information center for the pre gorilla trekking briefing & guidance that involves taking you through the dos and the don’ts to follow during the mountain gorillas trekking, the expectations during mountain gorilla trekking and how to behave while in the presence of the gorillas. You will be group into a small group of 8 people to be allocated a gorilla family and the park ranger guides and later start the forest walk to look out for the endangered magical mountain gorillas. The mountain gorilla trekking experience requires a fair mental and physical fitness level since sometimes requires to hiking long distances through thick vegetation, muddy and unclear trails and highs steeps depending on the location and movements of your allocated gorilla family but the excitement of spending an hour with the mountain gorilla family will outweigh the hardship went through to meet them. So, to stay energetic and not dehydrated during the mountain gorilla trekking experience, we would recommend you to carry some snacks and enough drinking at least two liters of water and it is very important to hire a porter to help you carry your camera and backpack and they walk right alongside you and can offer you help on any time you wish like giving you support in the steep parts.
During the forest walk while looking out for the gorillas, expect to encounter many other primate species, bird species, butterflies and same other mammals and your forest guide will give you much information about everything that you will encounter. The time that taken to encounter the gorillas is not known but may take between 2 to 6 hours depending on the location and movements of the family that you will be tracking. Once you find your allocate gorilla family, your forest guide will quickly and silently give you a signal so be ready for your heartbeats to quickened by the sight at the these red-eyed with dark thick fur. You will stay with the mountain gorillas for an hour and you will be free to take as may photos as you want to and to ask as many questions to your forest guide as you want. The memory of the time spent with the gorilla family is un matchable to any other wildlife experience because it is very unique at every stage. After spending an hour with the magical mountain gorillas, return to the park information center to receive your certification of confirmation and as an award to appreciate you for your support towards the conservation of the mountain gorillas, meet your safari guide to have some refreshments, enjoyed your packed lunch and then start your drive to Lake Bunyonyi that is known as “A place of many little birds”) made of 29 islands include Punishment Island and Bushara Island. Lake Bunyonyi is a perfect place to relax and have best moments to memories on your great moments during the gorilla trekking experience. On arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, check in and spend the evening at leisure till dinner time and an overnight.
Accommodation: Bunyonyi Rock Resort (Mid-range)
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi – Morning boat riding on Lake Bunyonyi – Drive to Lake Mburo national park – Evening and night game drive safaris
Todays wake up at your best time to be served breakfast, have all your travel bags arranged to check out, and then go for a boat riding safari on Lake Bunyonyi. A boat cruise on this beautiful lake is something that you should never miss out on while on your safari to Uganda, mostly after the gorilla trekking. So, during your boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi, you will have a chance to visit some of the 29 islands of the lake, such as the Akampene Island of “Punishment,” the small island where the Bakiga people would take unwed pregnant girls and abandon them there as a way of punishing them for getting pregnant before their official marriage, and it would be a big event that would frighten other girls into abstaining from sex before marriage. To get pregnant before marriage would cause parents to lose or get less as the bride’s price from their girl. Many girls died on this island due to hunger, and others died when trying to swim back to the mainland due to the large distance. Those who survived were there by chance when poor men that could not afford the bride’s price to marry would come to the island and rescue those that were abandoned, as your boat guide will narrate. You will have a chance to visit other islands that are occupied by people, mostly the Batwa people, to interact with them and learn how they live happily on these isolated places. Unlike other lakes in East Africa, Lake Bunyoni is bilharzia, croc, and hippo free, so it is good for swimming, and if you are a good swimmer, this will be your best time to enjoy Lake Bunyonyi the most. After the boat ride tour, proceed with your safari to Lake Mburo National Park. On your way to Lake Mburo national park, you will have a stopover at the Igongo cultural museum, which has a collection of art crafts and photos that represent the norms, customs, and traditions of the people of south-western Uganda and the neighbouring kingdoms. A visit to the Igongo Cultural Centre will take you many centuries back in time to how life was in parts of western Uganda, how people lived, and how culture has evolved in the aftermath of modernization. Have lunch here and drive to the park to check in at your booked lodge to refresh, then have some time at leisure till the evening to go for an evening game drive safari. In comparison to other East African national parks, Lake Mburo National Park is small but home to a variety of mammals and birds that are easily seen all over the park. So, during your game drive safari, expect to see the largest populations of zebra, impala, eland, and klipspringer, buffalo, topi, waterbuck, and warthog, reedbuck, oribi, giraffes, some primate species and many others. The park is also known for containing the highest concentration of leopards in Uganda. After the evening game drive safari, return to the lodge to refresh, have dinner, and then drive back to the park for a night game drive experience to explore the night life of the jungle, see how animals spend their night lives, listen to the beautiful sounds of the jungle, as well as boost your chances of encountering a whole variety of animals that are not easily seen during daytime game drives, such as bush pigs, genet cats, leopards, spotted hyenas, bush babies, and many other nocturnal species. It is an interesting experience to be out at night. After the night game drive, return to your lodge for an overnight.
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Mid-range)
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 8: Lake Mburo national park – Morning jungle walking safari – Game drive safari – Drive back to Entebbe international airport
Rise up very early in the morning to have all your travel bags ready to be packed in your safari vehicle, have breakfast, check out of the lodge, and drive to the park for the 2-hour morning jungle walking safari. Lake Mburo National Park is one of two national parks in Uganda that permits going for a bush walk with an experienced guide because of its open savannah. A jungle walking safari is one of the most magical ways to experience and enjoy the jungle because it allows you to be free and not confined in a safari vehicle, allowing you to enjoy fresh air directly from the bush and walk with mammals such as impalas, giraffes, and zebras. Your walk safari will never be interrupted by any foreign noise, such as those made by the safari car, allowing you to hear the voices of the animals and birds at all times. The walk will take you to the salt licks area, where animals parade themselves to enjoy the taste of the salty licks made up of water and soil. So, expect to see as many zebras, giraffes, impalas, and other antelope species as possible, and on a good day, you will encounter hippos coming out of the waters as well as hyenas returning to their dens. After the walking safari, get in your vehicle and stay in the park for a game drive safari to explore Lake Mburo National Park deeply and to have a chance to encounter more mammals and birds in the park. The more time you spend in the jungle, the more you enjoy it and have more chances to spot as many wildlife species as possible. After that, begin your journey back to Entebbe International Airport to end your safari. On the way back to Entebbe airport, you will have a stopover at the Kayabwe Equator land mark, which is at zero degrees latitude on the planet. The equator line divides the planet into the northern and southern hemispheres. It is a major stopover to experience the water experiment, which is done to show how forces move on each side of the planet. For example, in the northern hemisphere, forces move clockwise and anti-clockwise, and it is said that when you stand at the centre line, your body weight drops by 3 kg. You will have a chance to prove this to be right or wrong, by taking some photos while at the centre of the planet. After the equator experiment, visit the craft shops, have lunch, and later proceed with your drive back to Entebbe airport to conclude your 8-day African safari to Uganda.
Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch
Package Quotation
US$2856 per person sharing private tour for 2 people
The package price includes
8 Days Uganda Budget Wildlife And Primate Experience Safari includes
- Return airport transfers (pick up and drop off)
- Private transport for 8 days in a well-modified safari van that is (4×4 WD, air-conditioned and pop-up roof)
- Fuel for 8 days
- English speaking safari guide for 8 days
- Private standard accommodation for 7 nights on full board (Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner)
- Bottled mineral waters and all en-route meals
- All government applicable taxes
- All park entrance fees and all itinerary activities
- 1 mountain gorilla trekking permit per person
- 1Chimpanzee trekking permits per person
- Bigodi sanctuary swamp evening nature walk
- Visit Katwe salt mining villages
- Morning and evening game drive safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park
- 2 hours afternoon boat cruise safari on the Kazinga channel
- Game drive safari at Ishasha sector to search for the tree climbing lions
- Mountain gorilla trekking at Bwindi impenetrable forest national park (Ruhija sector)
- A visit and boat canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
- A visit to Igongo cultural center
- Evening and night game drive safaris in Lake Mburo national park
- 2 hours jungle walking safari in Lake Mburo national park
- A visit at Kayabwe equator landmark
The package price excludes
8 Days Uganda Budget Wildlife And Primate Experience Safari excludes
- International and domestic flight
- Country entry visas
- Personal travel insurance
- Extra meals and activities
- Alcoholic and other soft drinks (Soda, beer, special juice order at the lodge and wines)
- Items of personal nature/laundry/telephone charges/ souvenir shopping
- Tips