What To Do On One Week Safari In Uganda

The one week Uganda safari includes visiting some of the significant destinations in the country. Gorilla trekking tour being the highlight of Uganda’s tourism makes part of this holiday, Chimpanzee trekking in kibale National Park, game safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park and optional visit to Lake Mburo National Park.

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To make the best from the one week holiday in Uganda, a well-tailored Uganda safari itinerary or a good choice of prepackaged 7 days Uganda tour gives great momentum to this adventure safari.

How To Organise A One Week Safari In Uganda

Summary

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 2 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 4 Game Drive and launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5 Drive to Kibale National Park

Day 6 Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park

Day 7 Departure Day/ optional detour to lake Mburo National Park

Details of One week Safari in Uganda

Day : 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early morning, our drive guide picks you from your overnight accommodation to start the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On the way, you may make stopovers at the Equator at Kayabwe or other short breaks to stretch including an enroute lunch break

Don’t expect a smooth drive because there roads are bumpy and in case you have road sickness take a pill. Donot be shocked by the locals along the way who may keep waving at you or giving you a free spirited smile because Ugandans are very friendly people.

The drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park about 530 kilometers for about 8 to 9 hours excluding stops. Bwindi Forest has a dense canopy that with lush green as you approach the park you start feeling the drop in temperature because this is a tropical rain forest.

Check into your accommodation

Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Clouds lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Lake Kitandara Tented Camp, Gorilla Nest, Volcanoes Bwindi lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla lodge, Bwindi view Guesthouse

Meal Plan Full Board

Day 2 : Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park  

Wake up early for breakfast, carry your gorilla trekking gears to the ranger station with packed lunch because you may not make it back in time for lunch. After verifying your documents and briefing, the ranger guides lead the way into the forest following the trail heads.

One the way, you may get the chance to spot other forest dwellers because Bwindi forest is a biosphere reserve rich with Fauna and flora. About 9 more primates species are residents in Bwindi forest including chimpanzees, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and others. more than 350 bird species have been confirmed as residents of Bwindi forest including Albertine rift endemics.

Finding the mountain gorillas varies with factors prevailing in the forest and the pace of the trekkers but having some level of patience is very important. Finding the mountain gorillas is a collective effort so you may also participate by being observant with the clues they leave behind include foot prints, freshly chewed foliage, listen to there sounds and others.

Finally when you locate the mountain gorillas were a clean mask as advised by the ranger guide and observe the rules of gorilla trekking more than before. Even when it means trying to show submissions to the silverback to appear loyal visitors when need arises participate. Take as many photos a you possibly can and enjoy gentle giants with there majestic look.

After one hour, return to your lodge.

Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, check out then embark on a drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 64 kilometers to Ishasha sector and 160 kilometers to Mweya the main headquarters of the park.

On the way, you may enjoy a game drive via the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is Ishasha sector where chances of finding tree climbing lions in the figs are more open. A drive in the Edward flats may offer an opportunity to spotting topis, wallowing buffaloes, a number of birds including the saddle billed stork, shoebill stork and others.

Check into your accommodation

Queen Elizabeth National Park Accommodation Mweya Safari Lodge, Bush lodge, Jacana lodge, Elephant Plain lodge, Simba safari Camp, Katara lodge

Meal Plan Full Board.

Day 4 : Game Drive and launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up early for the game drive in the plain savanna on the floor of the rift valley in Queen Elizabeth National Park using the tracks network constructed in the park. Taking the Kasenyi trail may give you, an opportunity to spot lion prides that love preying on the Uganda kobs that are common residents of this area.

The crater lake area of the park is a scenic with both dry and wet craters including lake like Nyamunuka which stands out with its putrid smell, Lake Katwe the ancient salt mining spot, the blue copper lake and others. Enjoy the amazing scenery of the floor of the rift valley. Some of the animals you may come across during the game drive include herds of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, lions, bushbucks, hyenas, lions, mongoose and others.

After lunch break, chill and enjoy the 2 to 3 hours return launch trip on Kazinga channel with its usual suspects the multitudes of hippos and Nile crocodiles always present. The northern banks of Kazinga channel are a congregation spot for a number of animals that move from the rift valley plains to quench thirst and enjoy a bath. The shoreline of Kazinga channel is a magnet to an array of birds that flock it including foreign migrants.

Return to the Lodge to relax

Day 5 Drive to Kibale National Park

After breakfast drive to Kibale National Park. Kibale National Park is a tropical rain forest in western Uganda and home to about 13 primate species including chimpanzees. Kibale forest which covers about 795 square Kilometers shares a migration corridor of about 180 Kilometers with Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kibale National Park, which is home to over 1500 chimpanzees, offers chance to do chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX). At the moment about 12 chimpanzee trekking communities are open to the public and is one of the few places in Africa where one has high hopes of seeing the chimpanzees.

More than 325 bird species have been identified as residents of Kibale forest including Albertine rift endemics.

Check into your accommodation

Accommodation Kibale National Park Primates lodge, Ndali lodge, Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Chimps Nest, Kibale Safari lodge, Kyaninga Lodge.

Meal plan Full Board

Day 6 : Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park

After breakfast, head to the ranger station for briefing. Kibale National Park has its headquarters at Kanyanchu but with a secondary tourism center at Sebitoli. After being allocated a ranger guide, follow the trails constructed by regular visitors to the park. They normally have less undergrowth protruding over.

On the way, you may hear the chimpanzees communicate to each other as though warning them about your presence. You may get the chance to spot other primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and others.

Finally when you locate the chimpanzees, one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons.

Get back to your lodge to relax.

Day 7 : Departure Day And Optional Detour To Lake Mburo National Park

Take breakfast and drive to back to Kampala to catch up with your flight back home. You may choose to do an optional detour into Lake Mburo National Park which is home to mainly herbivores including impalas, giraffes, reedbucks, waterbucks, buffaloes, herds of elephants and others.

When is the best time to plan a one week safari in Uganda

The dry season is preferred time to do the one week safari in Uganda even though all Uganda safari destinations are open year. The dry season which is normally June to October and December to January is the peak tourism season in the country too.

This being the high tourism season in Uganda attracts competition from other tourist who wish to spend time in the country too so it is best to make all necessary reservations that support this Uganda safari in advance.  The wild animals and the environment where they survive is best traversed when dry even the game parks. Even though gorilla and chimpanzee safari destinations in Uganda are known for being wet most of the time, the conditions are better in the dry season.

Most animals in the game park that is Queen Elizabeth National Park may be easier to spot in the dry season when the grass is lower. Even under the scotching sun, you get a better view of these wild animals as they go about there day today life.

Planning the one week safari in Uganda in the wet season should not worry anyone because there is plenty to see in the country that is gifted by nature. The wet season which is normally March to May and November is the low tourism season in the country.

For Gorilla or chimpanzee trekking safari in this season, most of these primates spend more time up on the trees or on the slopes of the highlands or deep in the valleys where they survive. Even amidst this, expect to see the gorillas and chimpanzees when you visit. The grass in Queen Elizabeth National Park may be taller in the wet season and tracks muddy but you need a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle.

How Much Is The Cost Of A One Week Safari In Uganda

The cost of the one week safari in Uganda varies with the package you choose that is luxury, mid-range and basic. This safari package includes gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking where you need to book the permits first.

The cost of the gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is currently $800 international nonresidents, $700 for Residents foreigners, $500 for Other Africans and $200 for East Africans.

The cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National Park is currently $250 for international nonresidents, $200 for international residents, 180,000 shs for East Africans

Other relevant costs of logistics that support safaris in Uganda include accommodation costs, transport, driver guide fee, gas or fuel cost and many others.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, our safari consults team is ready to work with you to tailor the Uganda safari, make a suitable quotation with your interests and within your budget and provide fee advice where necessary.

What To Pack For A One Week Safari In Uganda

• A rain coat or poncho  in case it falls any time so that you do not get wet and cold as it rains in this area without warning.
• Safari boots to cover your feet from getting hurt while trekking to find the mountain gorillas.
• Some warmers as it gets so cold early morning and late afternoon
• Energy bites to reenergize during the breaks as you trek to find the mountain gorillas.
• Waterproof backpack to carry with during the Uganda safari and in case you need to hand them over to a porter.
• Garden gloves to cover your palms when you tripe and fall while in the wilderness.
• Safari hat to protect your head from buzzing insects in the wilderness.
• Insect repellant to keep away insects that may sting you when you are in the wilderness.
• A pair of stockings to tack in your clothes and protect yourself from insects that may creep into them.
• Sunglasses to cover your eyes from insects that buzz in the wilderness.
• A torch
• A camera to keep memories of the Uganda safari.
• Some cash in case you need to do on ground purchases
• Flip flops
• Travel adopter and charger
• Duffel bag to carry in your belongings and you need to pack relevantly and light in case you have to off load and carry your own bags.
• First aid kit with emergency medication. The wilderness has some inhabitants that may harm you when you least expect and rough surfaces too.

Contact us for more information and please check out our trip advisor review.