Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Tour Fort Portal
The adventure begins early in the morning when a driver from Around Uganda Tours picks you up from your hotel. After a hearty breakfast, you’ll embark on a journey to Kibale National Park. The drive is long but filled with rewarding sights of Uganda’s countryside, including vast plantations, national parks, rivers, lakes, and the unique Ankole cattle. You’ll pass through trading centers, towns, and districts, all bustling with activity and the smiles of local peasants.
Upon reaching Fort Portal City, you will stop for lunch before exploring this small but picturesque town. Fort Portal is renowned as Uganda’s tourism hub, housing the headquarters of the Toro Kingdom. Its excellent climate and beautiful scenery make it arguably the best place to live in Uganda. The tranquility and charm of Fort Portal will set a delightful tone for your safari.
For dinner and overnight, you can choose between Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury), Primates Lodge (Mid-range), and Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget), each offering a unique level of comfort and hospitality.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
After an early breakfast, you will head to Kibale National Park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. Park guides will explain the rules of tracking and what to expect during the trek. Kibale Forest is home to numerous chimpanzees, and tracking them is a thrilling experience. Unlike gorillas, chimpanzees spend more time in the trees and are highly vocal and dramatic, often heard from a distance before being seen.
Chimpanzee trekking can last between 3 to 5 hours, but you will have one hour to observe them closely, offering ample opportunities for photography. After the trek, you will return to the park offices where your driver will be waiting to take you back to the hotel for lunch and rest.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary for a nature walk and birding. The sanctuary is one of Uganda’s premier birding spots, where you can also expect to see various small monkeys, butterflies, and other wildlife.
Dinner and overnight will be at Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury), Primates Lodge (Mid-range), or Chimpanzee Guest House (Budget).
Day 3: Head for Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive in Ishasha – Visit Kyambura Gorge
The third day begins with an early breakfast and checkout. Your guide will pick you up for the two-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, traveling through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. These lions, also found in Kruger National Park in South Africa and Lake Manyara in Tanzania, have adapted to climbing trees to escape insect bites and to get a better view of their prey. You may see them lounging on sturdy acacia and fig trees or even on fallen trees.
After the game drive in Ishasha, you will continue to your lodge to check in and refresh. The next adventure is a nature walk at Kyambura Gorge, one of Uganda’s natural wonders. This underground forest is home to several primates, including chimpanzees, baboons, monkeys, and hippos. The gorge also boasts rare bird species and unique flora that have adapted to the environment within the gorge.
After the nature walk, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Accommodation options include Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Ihamba Lodge / Park View Lodge (Mid-range), and Simba Safari Camp (Budget).
Day 4: Second Game Drive and Boat Trip at the Kazinga Channel
Wake up early and enjoy a hearty breakfast at your lodge before heading out for your second game drive on the Kasenyi plains. This early morning drive is ideal for spotting nocturnal animals and predators as they retreat to their dens after a night of hunting. You will also encounter early risers, especially various bird species. Keep an eye out for hippos, hartebeests, leopards, buffaloes, and an array of birds. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and some rest.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. The Kazinga Channel is one of Africa’s prime birding sites, where you can observe both resident and migratory birds in large numbers. The boat cruise offers a fantastic opportunity to see water-dwelling mammals and other wildlife, including lions, leopards, antelopes, and primates, drinking from the channel. You’ll likely spot hippos, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and crocodiles bathing or drinking by the water.
For dinner and overnight, choose between Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Ihamba Lodge / Park View Lodge (Mid-range), or Simba Safari Camp (Budget).
Day 5: Visit Maramagambo Forest – Salt Mining in Lake Katwe – Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Start your day with an early breakfast before heading out for an eventful day. First, visit Lake Katwe to see how locals mine salt. This is a unique opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about the traditional salt mining methods that have been passed down through generations.
Next, embark on a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest, where you’ll visit the Bat Caves and observe pythons that feed on them from a hidden platform. The forest is also home to red-tailed monkeys, other primates, chimpanzees (not habituated), pygmy antelopes, and more. You will also see the crater lakes Nyamasingiri and Kyasanduka.
Later in the afternoon, you will begin your journey to Bwindi National Park, where you will check into your new lodge.
Dinner and overnight options include Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury), Bakiga Lodge (Midrange), and Tarvan Trekkers Bwindi (Budget).
Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest – Visit to the Batwa Pygmies
Rise early and enjoy breakfast before being picked up by your driver. You will head to the park offices for a briefing at 7:00 am. This briefing is crucial as it covers how to behave around the gorillas, what to expect, and what to carry along. You will be assigned a gorilla family based on your fitness and age, as some groups are located deeper in the forest requiring more trekking hours. Porters are available to help with extra luggage.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can take 2 to 6 hours. Once you find the gorillas, you will have one hour to observe them. Take plenty of photos as you watch them groom, play, eat, or nap. Some gorillas may approach you out of curiosity, but remaining calm and following the guide’s instructions is essential.
After an hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point where your guide will be waiting. Don’t forget to collect your certificate of completion before heading back to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, visit the Batwa pygmy community. The Batwa were the original inhabitants of Bwindi Forest before being relocated by the government. Despite resettlement efforts, the Batwa struggle to adapt to life outside the forest. During your visit, you’ll learn about their culture and the challenges they face. Enjoy traditional dances and performances from the tribesmen.
Dinner and overnight will be at Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury), Bakiga Lodge (Midrange), or Tarvan Trekkers Bwindi (Budget).
Day 7: Transfer back to Kampala for Departure
On the final day of your safari, wake up at your leisure considering your departure time. The driver will take you on a different route with a stop at the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara for lunch and at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photographs. If time permits, you can also visit the Buganda Royal drum makers to see how giant drums are crafted. Finally, the driver will drop you off at Entebbe airport or your hotel, marking the end of your memorable 7-day Uganda adventure.
