8 Day Chimps, Gorillas, and Wildlife Safari in Uganda

Day 1: Arrive and transfer to Kampala for overnight

You will be accorded a hearty welcome by a representative of Oikos Safaris. You will then be transferred to your hotel either in Entebbe or Kampala, depending on your time of arrival. Oikos Safaris recommends that you stay overnight in Entebbe for night arrivals.

Depending on the time of your arrival, you can explore the vibrant and chaotic city of Kampala. Discover historical and political sites, including the ancient tombs of the Kabakas, where the Buganda tribe laid their kings to rest or the Bahai Temple, and more. You can also eat out, as Kampala is a town full of culinary wonders. Stay out from your hotel to taste some of the eclectic cuisine of the region, including Kampala’s delicious Indian food!

• Overnight at Airport Link Guesthouse or similar on bed and breakfast basis

Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Lake Mburo National Park. En-route you will get to see the Royal drum makers and have a stopover at the Equator for photographs. Here, you stand a chance to see the area that separates both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. From there, you continue to Lake Mburo National Park, where you will enjoy a game drive as you head to the lodge for overnight. Other activities to engage in include visiting the kraal, milking cows, and experiencing the ghee (it is a milk product) making process.

• Overnight at Mpogo lodge or similar on a full-board basis

Day 3: Game drives in the park and then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Have breakfast and then head for a morning game drive where you will get to see the big herds of zebra, impala, eland, and other savannah species. For birders, this is one of the best places to find the African Finfoot, Papyrus Bush Shrike, and others. Later on, have lunch and then go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest via Lake Bunyonyi (place of many little birds) in Kabale, a place referred to as the Switzerland of Africa. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda and is situated close to the borders of Uganda and Rwanda. On a bright day, you might see the magnificent volcano of Mount Muhavura.

You get to enjoy an optional canoe boat ride on the lake, which has over 29 islands. Later drive to Bwindi Forest for overnight. Other activities you will get to do include Zip lining, island hoping, nature walks to mentions but a few.

• Overnight at Rushaga Haven Lodge or similar on a full-board basis.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking and afternoon optional activities

This morning you will have to wake up very early to get ready for gorilla tracking. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare mountain gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth.

This forest is home to almost half of the world's mountain gorillas. The tracking may take between two to six hours, but it's well worth the effort. There are always park guides with you who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the gorillas. In the afternoon, you can choose to relax at the lodge or engage in optional activities like the Batwa (pygmy) community trail, waterfall hike, and community visits, to mention but a few.

• Overnight at Rushaga Haven lodge or similar on a full-board basis.

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

This morning after breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park, which boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world and is also Uganda’s second-largest national park, at 1,978 sq km, has everything from open savannah to rain forest. Queen Elizabeth has over 100 mammal species and an astounding 606 bird species, making it a premier safari destination. Have a game drive while entering heading to the lodge for overnight.

• Overnight at Bush Lodge or similar on full board basis

Day 6: Game drives, Boat trip on the Kizinga Channel, then head to Kibale Forest National Park

Enjoy a morning game drive in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, whose diverse ecosystems include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes, and fertile wetlands, which make it the ideal habitat for the classic big game, primates, and over 600 species of birds.

Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills and the panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel. Later you will take a boat trip on the 32 km-long Kazinga Channel, followed by a game drive. This water system has the highest concentration of hippos in the world, and you will get quite close to them. See also crocodiles, buffaloes, and other game that drink from the channel, and also marvel at the abundant ornitho-life that is supported here. Then head to Kibale Forest National Park for overnight

• Overnight at Chimpanzee forest cottages or similar on full board basis.

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and afternoon Bigodi Swamp walk

After breakfast at the lodge, you will go for chimpanzee tracking along the network of forest trails. Seeing habituated chimps squabbling and swinging from the trees is an exhilarating experience. Later in the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is rich in bird species, vegetation, and wildlife. This is also a great opportunity to support local tourism initiatives, which benefit social and economic development in the area.

• Overnight at Chimpanzee forest cottages or similar on a full-board basis

Day 8: Transfer to Entebbe airport for your flight back home

After breakfast, prepare for your transfer to Entebbe for your flight home.