7 days Uganda Adventure Safari overview

This 7 days’ tour is an exciting adventure Safari that begins and ends in Kampala taking you to 4 magnificent safari destinations across Uganda. This tour features a boat ride on the famous Kazinga Channel infested with thousands of Hippos, many birds, and many savannah wild game with game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mountain Gorilla trekking in in the famous Bwindi Impenetrable National Park coupled with Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park also known as the “Primate Paradise”.

All these activities make this 7 days safari in Uganda tour an unmatched Uganda adventure trip.

Summary of the 7 Day Uganda Adventure safari

Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park

Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP

Day 4: Morning game drive & a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a canoe boat ride

Day 7: Transfer back to Kampala.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: TRANSFER TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, you will embark on the journey to Kibale with a packed lunch to enjoy en-route. The journey to Kibale is an awesome adventure which is filled with lots of fascinating road sightings during this 5-6 hour journey covering about 300km. Along this adventurous journey, expect to have several stops such as one at the Mityana local market that gives you an opportunity to take your taste buds on a culinary journey as you taste some Uganda’s purely organic tropical fruits which will tantalize your taste buds due to their absolute sweetness.  

Continue to Fort Portal town where you will settle for lunch. Fort portal rests in the shadow of the fabled ‘Mountains of the Moon’ and is famous for her many tea plantations. After your meal, you may choose to continue to Kibale or connect to Fort Portal Crater Lake Area where you will see the Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru caves, hike to the Fort Portal Crater Lake field and traverse the challenging slopes of Kyeganywa hill surrounded by a range of crater lakes and crater hollows presenting one of the beautiful scenic sites in Uganda. The top of Kyeganywa hill offers the views of Rwenzori Mountains on a clear day.

Retreat from the activity and transfer to Kibale National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Crater Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 2: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING EXPERIENCE

Today the forest opens its doors for a sensational chimpanzee tracking experience. After your breakfast, you will have pre-tracking briefing after which you will walk or drive to the trailhead for the start of an unforgettable adventure – hiking in the footsteps of the habituated family of chimpanzees.

En-route, your guide will enthral you with stories and facts about the forest and her other inhabitants including other species of primates and birds and other big mammals. Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will spend an unforgettable one hour with them as they go about their daily life – feeding, playing, grooming, taking care of their young, howling and screeching, in their natural habitat. Besides the chimpanzees, you should also not miss out on the sightings of several other primates that call this forest their home including the black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, Grey monkeys. After the chimpanzee encounter which lasts an hour of pure enjoyment return to the park centre where your trekking efforts are rewarded with a trekking certificate. Return back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will enjoy a guided nature walk through the Bigodi wetland.

The Bigodi Swamp Walk is an initiative of the local community and is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates. The path and board walk maybe flooded and muddy after heavy rainfall and gumboots are recommended. This community walk will bring you closer to the local tribe that lives in this area and is about 4km in length taking 3-4 hours at birding pace. Accompanied by a local guide, who can tell you everything about the traditional customs and lifestyle, you will follow the village path and visit a primary school, traditional homesteads and learn more about the crops in the fields.

All proceeds from eco-tourism go back to into the community, a conservation project worth supporting.

After this really exciting cultural mash-up you will have had, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Crater Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner.

DAY 3: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

This day commences with a laid back morning breakfast after before you embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park which covers about 157km taking about 2-3 hours’ drive while enjoying the scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains. You can take an optional detour to the Ruboni village in Kasese on the foothills of Mount Rwenzori where you will have a chance to explore the cultural traditions of the Bakonzo people that have lived on the foothills of Mount Rwenzori for centuries.

This cultural visit enables you to have an insight into the way of life of these people as you get to be taken through their daily lives and if you so wish you can join them as they engage in these activities such as food preparing. You can also take advantage of this community tour to buy some souvenirs for yourself from the art and craft centre that is managed by local Bakonzo women and this would be a great way to support these ladies who earn from the sales of these crafts.

Retreat from the encounter and continue on the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for an afternoon game drive exploring the impressive landscapes of the park with the beautiful views of the savannah at the sunset after which you retire for relaxation dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 4: ENGAGE IN A MORNING GAME DRIVE AND BOAT CRUISE ALONG THE KAZINGA CHANNEL

This day starts quite early with an early morning breakfast so that you engage in a morning game drive experience. You will explore of more the Kasenyi sector of this park which is filled with a wide variety of animals such as 4 out of the 5 big five mammals including lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, large herds of African bush elephants, Topis and many other antelope species.

Retreat from the encounter which tends to take 2-5 hours, settle for lunch after which you transfer to Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel which is considered the best boat cruise experience on the African savannah plains. This cruise offers you an opportunity to see at close range the highest concentration of water submerged Hippos which is close to 5000 individuals and Nile crocodiles that are seen basking along the shores of the channel.

If you are interested in birding then this boat cruise in a good place for you to be because it offers you the chance to several of the water bird species that constitute a big part of the 600 bird species that are found in this park alone. The cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing.

Retreat from the boat cruise and engage in an evening game drive to explore more wild game in their evening moments. Continue to the lodge for overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 5: TRANSFER TO BWINDI NATIONAL PARK

After your breakfast, begin your 2-3 hours journey towards the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth Park. Here, you will engage in a stunning game drive in this sector while you search for the tree-climbing lions that have made this park and particularly this sector a must-visit place for numerous Africa safari adventurers who are interested in having encounters with these rather unique lions as they usually find them taking a mid-morning rest while lodging their bodies in between tree branches.

After your game drive, transfer to a convenient lodge in this park sector for your lunch break which also helps you stretch your body for a while before you then embark on the remaining part of your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Exclusive: Buhoma Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 6: MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING & TRANSFER TO LAKE BUNYONYI

You will arise early today and prepare for the highlight of your safari, an unforgettable encounter with the Gentle Giants! Following breakfast, depart from the lodge with your packed lunch drive to the National Park offices where you will be allocated a gorilla family in groups of 8 as well as a gorilla tracking guide.

While here, you get to have a miniature cultural performance from the local Batwa people who will showcase their musical skills to you. With armed rangers in the lead, embark on a trek, searching for your allocated gorilla family.  Expect to walk between 2 and 8 hours in steep and sometimes muddy conditions with rain overhead, which can be tough and require a degree of (average) fitness. However, the thrill of coming face to face with a giant Mountain Gorilla silverback completely makes up for the effort!

Along the way keep your eyes and ears on the lookout for several of the 350 bird species that are found in this park that might come your way, you will also be in a position to see some of the other primates here such as the Black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, different species of lizards such as the 3 horned chameleon and many more.

On seeing the gorillas, you will be granted a full hour with these magical beings to watch them as they go about their daily lives and if you’re lucky you might get to see the young gorillas break the 7-meter rule as they get closer to you to have you incorporated in their games. After the full hour contact with these gorillas, you will transfer back to the park centre where you get awarded a Gorilla tracking certificate for your tracking efforts.

From Bwindi, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi where you get to relax from the rather a bit tedious gorilla trekking experience. On arrival, you will be fascinated by the tranquil waters of this lake and the numerous islands that are dotted all over this lake. Take a relaxing boat cruise on the waters of this lake as you are taken through the history behind these islands. From this boat cruise, transfer to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Birds nest Bunyonyi

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 7: DRIVE TO BACK TO KAMPALA.

You will to the sweet melodies of birds that will be singing their hearts off to the dawn of a new day and this will fairly make you understand why this lake is called Bunyonyi which means a Lake of many small birds. You will embark on a hike which takes you 2200meters above sea level and if you manage to get to the top your efforts will be rewarded with spectacular views of the entire Lake Bunyonyi which will forever be imprinted in your memory. While at the top take time off to catch your breath and enjoy a picnic breakfast while you appreciate nature’s work and also re-energize before you slope down. You will begin your journey back to Kampala 420km from Lake Bunyonyi. You will drive through the rolling hills of Mirama which will fascinate you given how the locals here have managed to tame these wildlands by cultivating along these steep slopes and encounter many local men carrying farm produce on their bicycles headed towards the nearest local markets

You will make an en-route stop for lunch in Mbarara town to enjoy a locally inspired lunch buffet and thereafter visit the 1520AD solar eclipse monument which is found in Biharwe village.If you wish you can hike up the hill on which this monument is set and enjoy spectacular views of the undulating Ankole plains which form a nice background for you to take photos.

Proceed to the Equator point where another stop will be done. You should take a number of photos of yourself while here to allow have this magical moment captioned for eternity.

You will finally continue the rest of your journey back to Kampala or Entebbe Airport for your departure flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

 End of Tour