7 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari & Gorilla Habituation Experience

This 7 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari & Gorilla Habituation Experience starts in Kigali International Airport and ends in Entebbe International Airport. Meet eye to eye with the amazing gorillas of Uganda in their natural habitat as one of the Africa’s major safari highlights. This close encounter with these amazing primates is simply breathtaking.  You will also get a close encounter with other diverse African wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and amazing culture and if you are a keen Birder, this is the place to be!

7 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari & Gorilla Habituation Experience Highlight

Day 1: Start your 7 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari & Gorilla Habituation Experience with a visit to the genocide memorial Centre and Nyamirambo oldest township.

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Afternoon Boat Ride to the Punishment Island on Lake Bunyonyi

Day 3: Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 4: Spend a Day Relaxing

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 6: Morning Walking Safari to the Hyena’s Den – Afternoon Boat Safari on Lake Mburo Waters

Day 7: Horseback-riding and Transfer to Entebbe international airport

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Hotel – Afternoon City Tour to Visit Genocide memorial Centre and a drive through Nyamirambo Oldest Township.

Meet and greet at Kigali International Airport by our representative who will warmly welcome you and facilitate seamless arrival formalities and transfer you to your hotel, which is a few minutes from the airport. However, depending on which time of arrival, you are advised to have your money changed and enjoy the City tour.

You will Have a Visit to Genocide memorial center where we shall learn of the Political, social and economic History of the Hutus and Tutsi tribe prior to the Genocide, have a guided marvel through the breathtaking museum and proceed to shopping malls or sample more food, and craft markets for souvenir shopping.

Time allowing, you can have an optional leisure drive through Nyamirambo Township – this is the oldest town in Kigali which has a unique stretched neighborhood found in southwestern corner of Kigali that envelopes diverse behavior with dominancy of Arab – like Culture. It is a huge stretched corner which is sometimes referred to as a gangsters’ Paradise! Characterized with Many Muslim residents, Mosques and unlike other places that close by 8pm with everyone inside their homes, Nyamirambo hustles and rocks late into the nights!

Overnight Accommodation:  Serena Kigali Hotel

Meal Plan:  Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Afternoon Boat Ride to the Punishment Island on Lake Bunyonyi

Have Breakfast and Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is the ancient rainforest and home of roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Looking deep into the expressive brown eyes of the gentle giants is surely the most exciting wildlife encounter in Africa. This national park has 90 mammal species including 11 primates, and the prominent black and white colobus, with its lovely flowing white tail. The forest birding ranks best in Uganda with 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemic present. The activities include Gorilla tracking and Habituation as the main attraction and permits must be booked in advance. Also available are guided forest walks, one popular trail leads to a pretty waterfall and others focus on birding and monkey viewing

You will have lunch and later enjoy an afternoon return Boat Cruise on Lake Bunyonyi to the small island identified as a punishment island where un married young girls who got pregnant were said to be bringing shame to their families hence they were taken by a canoe to the tiny island and left to die. You will see the remains of those that were punished and left to die in a small open Cave on Akampene the Punishment Island. Transfer to the Lodge for Dinner and accommodation.

Overnight Accommodation:  Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today is a highlight of your 7 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari & Gorilla Habituation Experience! After an early breakfast depart to the starting point for briefing about your gorilla Habituation adventure after which you will be led by experienced gorilla researchers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla Habituation begins. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. One of Africa’s major highlights is when you encounter these gentle apes. It is a humbling experience to stand just meters from man’s distant cousins as they eat rest, play and bond with their young ones. Follow the mountain gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, and discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with. You will move along the Gorillas for over four hours with the before finally sloping down back to your lodge. If your trek was relatively short, you may have a guided nature walk around the lodge and the surrounding communities in the evening. Return to the lodge where you will enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers before getting a good night’s rest for tomorrow’s safari adventure.

Don’t forget to carry your rain gear, packed lunch, plenty of water, gloves, hat, and water proof bag for protection of your camera in case of rain

Overnight Accommodation:  Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Spend a Day Relaxing

Arise and spend a Day at the Lodge, you will enjoy all your meals at the Lodge and relax the whole Day overlooking the Beautiful ever green Forest or you may Try to explore the far South on equally thrilling optional activities such as;

1. a) Proceed for a Batwa pygmy trail Experience at an extra Fee of $80 per person – here we shall experience the culture of the ancient Batwa People who live in these forests, See the forest through the eyes of the first People who have lived here for over 500,000 years! Experience the lives of the Batwa People on the Interactive Batwa trail in Mgahinga Gorilla Park and learn more about their hunting tricks, blacksmith, making of fire from sticks, herbal collections, weaving of Baskets, making bamboo cups, clothing beyond this generation among other interesting thrilling activities. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
2. b) After breakfast, transfer to the Park Headquarters for briefing on Golden monkey tracking and allocation of the guides/ rangers. Proceed to the jungle to enjoy your Golden tracking. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the Golden Monkeys alongside other primates in the forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. Discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with its Cheeky playful mates.

Overnight Accommodation:  Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After early morning breakfast at the Lodge. Check out and drive to the whispers of the wild. Enjoy a road trip to Lake Mburo National Park following the Kigezi high lands commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa and its windy Roads onto to Lake Mburo.  Check in to your booked lodge, have lunch and relax the whole afternoon at the pool overlooking the wilderness. 

Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest national park in Uganda. Though being small, it has a lot to offer!!  The park in centered on a series of swamp-fringed lakes with several bird species.  The green acacia woodland harbors wildlife like Zebra, warthog, Eland, Impala, not to mention the lake itself, which is home to schools of hippos and crocodiles! Furthermore, Uganda Wildlife Authority introduced 15 giraffes from Murchison falls to Lake Mburo.

Overnight Accommodation:  Mihingo Lodge

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Kindly Note that due to the good Nature of our Roads in upcountry thus accessible, on this Day you may enjoy a Road trip as an alternative to Lake Mburo National Park following the Kigezi high lands commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa and its windy Roads onto to Lake Mburo National Park. (This Option is Price Saving)

Day 6: Morning Guided Walking Safari to the Hyena’s Den – Afternoon Guided Boat Safari on Lake Mburo Waters

After breakfast have a guided safari walk under the escort of an armed ranger to the Hyenas Den. The Kopjes are particularly interesting with the camouflage kilspringers and topis. Due to cattle herding in the area it is amusing to see zebra grazing alongside the long horned Ankole cattle peaceably.  It is exciting to approach wildlife at such close range, however, it is also important to inform you that the walk to the Hyenas den does not give us full grantee to find the hyenas there however our well experienced rangers will always lead you to great paths where you will not only encounter hyenas but also much more wildlife that includes Birds and Mammals!

You will enjoy lunch and later in the afternoon at 2:00pm enjoy the boat ride on Lake Mburo and get quite close to the croc and hippos. As you return to your Lodge, you may have an evening game drive to the Kazuma Look out where you will have a great view of the National Park surrounding such as the Mountains, The Lake that the Park derives its Name as well its wildlife and all that it has to offer!

Overnight Accommodation:  Mihingo Lodge

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Horseback-riding and Transfer to Entebbe international airport

After breakfast, go for a morning horseback riding experience in lake mburo. This adventure takes you close to a number of animals such as zebras and kobs. Come back to the lodge and check out for a smooth transfer to the Kampala with a stopover at the Equator for water experience, here you will too have an opportunity to stand in 2 hemispheres at the same time.  Take some photos and embark on your journey to the airport to end your 7 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari & Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda

Tour Inclusions as per the Request

• All ground private transportation in A 4×4 safari pop up roof Land Cruiser vehicle with all fuel
• Field Coordinator at all Times
• Gorilla Habituation Permit
• City Tour Drive
• Guided walking Safaris
• Guided Boat Cruise on Lake Mburo
• Guided Game Drive
• Return Boat Safari to the Punishment Island
• Well Bottled mineral water for drinking

Tour Exclusions                                  

• Air Tickets apart from a Domestic Air ticket
• Visas
• Meals in Kigali and Entebbe
• Personal insurance
• Personal expenses (tips, souvenir shopping, laundry etc.)
• All optional/Alternative activities
• All items not included in the itinerary