Uganda is often referred to as the Pearl of Africa, a landlocked country located in east Africa with diverse landscapes and stunning lush rain forests, fertile lands, lakes and rivers, rolling hills and the famous Rwenzori mountains often called mountains of the moon.
Uganda offers a range of incredible safari destinations like Bwindi national park for gorilla trekking, Queen Elizabeth national park for diverse wildlife like tree climbing lions, rhino trekking in Zziwa rhino sanctuary, and the largest national park Murchison falls known or stunning waterfalls as well as chance to see the Big five cats.
The 7 days Uganda safari can be spent in details below,
Day 1: Kampala to Murchison falls via Zziwa rhino sanctuary.
You are required to wake up very early so as to embark on your journey to Murchison falls national park. It is located in western Uganda approximately 350 kilometers from Kampala depending on the route the driver will choose to take, that is about 5 to 6 hours of drive.
You will have a stop at Zziwa rhino sanctuary towards Nakasongola a popular route or visitors looking to combine rhino tracking with a safari experience. This is the only place in Uganda where you can see white rhinos in their natural habitat, you can also choose to go on a guided rhino tracking excursion here.
After visiting the sanctuary, continue to Murchison falls national park northwards taking several hours depending on road conditions and traffic. You’ll pass through Masindi and once you reach, the driver will take you to your booked accommodation to rest, have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Full day Expedition in Murchison falls (game drive and boat cruise)
After an early morning breakfast, the driver will pick and take you to the park entrance, a starting point for your full day expedition. A full day expedition offers an extensive and exciting wildlife and nature experience.
Start off your day before sunrise with an adventurous morning game drive to maximize wildlife sightings, you are able to explore the park’s savannahs and look out for various animals like buffaloes, lions, elephants, antelopes and giraffes. After the game drive, you can enjoy your packed lunch to refuel your energy.
Take a boat safari on to the Nile river, a fantastic way and opportunity to see animals like crocodiles and hippos and others that come to drink water at the river banks plus a variety of birds. The boat safari will stretch you to the base of Murchison falls where you witness the Nile river forcing itself through a narrow gorge creating a breathtaking spectacle, you are free to take a short hike to the top of the falls for a different perspective.
Continue your day with an afternoon game drive visiting different areas of the park to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities, depending on your interests, you can engage in activities like chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and bird watching.
As the day draws to close and the sun is beginning to set, enjoy a sundowner over the park’s scenic landscapes. After you can return to your lodge and rest, have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Make sure you fully check out of your lodge and you are well prepared for the next road trip to Queen Elizabeth national park. You will head southeast towards Masindi district a town located on the way to the park approximately 80 kilometers taking about 2 hours to reach Masindi.
From Masindi, continue your journey south to Hoima town which is about 140 kilometers that is about 4 hours, proceed to Queen Elizabeth national park from Hoima which distance is approximately 150 kilometers that is about 3 hours.
Once you reach, check in at your booked lodge, have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Game drive and Launch trip in Queen Elizabeth national park.
After an early morning breakfast, the driver will take you to the start on the amazing game drive, this is one of the major activities done in Queen Elizabeth national park that allows you explore and see different wildlife in their natural habitat.
Choose to embark on the morning game drive when animals are more active, game drives are best done in the Kasenyi plains, Ishasha sector and Mweya peninsular. During the game drives, you are able to spot animals like elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, Uganda kobs, warthogs, hippos, hyenas and waterbucks. You are also able to spot a variety of birds within the park.
After the game drive, you can embark on the Launch trip which is an unforgettable experience that you can get in your life. This happens at kazinga channel that connects lake Edward to lake George and has the biggest part perceived as remarkable fields within the park.
The launch lasts for about two hours as you enjoy floating on water while spotting different animals that come to drink from the water banks such as crocodiles, hippos, elephants, and antelopes.
After the launch trip, you can head back to your lodge for relaxing and overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
After an early morning breakfast, the driver will pick and transfer you to Bwindi impenetrable national park. The park is found in south western part of Uganda occupying districts of Kabale and Kisoro known for offering extreme gorilla trekking experiences.
The journey is approximately 4 hours of drive with a few stop overs to get lunch and refreshments. When you reach Bwindi, you will be transferred to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park.
After an early morning breakfast, the driver will head you to the park headquarters to attend the pre briefing session where you are equipped with a few guidelines on how to behave once you get to encounter the gorillas.
You will be divided into groups of 8 according to your booked gorilla family. Experienced tour guides will take you through the thicket of Bwindi and help you identify other animals and help you locate your assigned gorilla family.
Once you encounter your gorilla family, you are given one hour to be with them as you enjoy their presence as well as learn about different behaviors. Once you finish trekking, you are required to go back to the starting point and get a certificate of participation.
You will then head back to your hotel to relax, have meals and overnight stay.
Day 7: Return back to Kampala.
This marks the end of your safari, you will be required to wake up early, check out of your lodge and head out to the journey back to Kampala or your desired destination.
