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8 Days Fly-in safari: Exploring Uganda's wild diversity
From
From $6669 per person sharing
Tour Overview
This 8 Days Uganda Fly-in tour is ideal for guests who want to experience Uganda’s impressive wildlife up close without long drives. The combination of flights and short transfers leaves more time for the trip’s special experiences – from wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park to unforgettable gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Highlights
- Guided private safari with your own driver-guide
- Flight from Entebbe to the Queen Elizabeth National Park region
- Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Ishasha sector
- Encounters with the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha
- Boat safari on the Kazinga Channel
- Guided gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Visit to the Pangolin Rescue Center
- Unique landscape experiences
- Searching for the rare shoebill with a local guide
- A combination of savannah, rainforest and wetlands – experience the diverse nature of Uganda intensely
Itinerary IN dETAIL
Discover your route below. This itinerary is the starting point, tailor your adventure with the specific experiences.
Day 1: Arrival Entebbe Airport, Meet & Greet
Welcome to Uganda! As soon as you step off the plane at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), you will be enveloped by the pleasant, tropical warmth of Uganda. Right outside the exit, the gateway to your adventure opens: your personal English-speaking Ugandan guide will be waiting for you with a beaming smile and your name sign. “The Pearl of Africa”—that’s what Winston Churchill once called this captivating country, deeply impressed by its lush nature and unparalleled diversity. A name that stands like a promise over your journey. After the warm welcome, your driver will take you to your charming hotel in Entebbe. Here you will have time to relax after your flight, soak up your first African impressions, and settle in completely before your safari adventure begins.
Accommodation: The Boma Hotel Entebbe
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Entebbe – Queen Elizabeth National Park (flight time approx. 1.5 hours)
Enjoy a hearty breakfast, before embarking your adventure. You will take to Entebbe International Airport for your morning scheduled flight to Kasese Airstrip near the famous Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon landing, you will be warmly greeted by your personal driver and immediately depart for the lifeblood of the park, the majestic Kazinga Channel.
This impressive 32-km-long natural wonder connects Lake Edward with Lake George and forms the vibrant heart of the entire park. The wide waterway attracts a fascinating array of exotic birds and wildlife, including one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos, an impressive number of Nile crocodiles, and countless waterbirds.
After a leisurely lunch, a 2-hour boat safari awaits you. Glide along the channel and experience the wildlife from a unique perspective. It is impressive how close the boat gets to the animals. Afterwards, you will embark on a drive into the twilight. As the African sun paints the sky, you will let this day come to a close in the heart of the savanna.
Accommodation: Elephant Plains Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking
Today promises a day full of fascinating contrasts. In the morning, you’ll leave the open grasslands behind and descend 100 meters into a completely different world: the spectacular Kyambura Gorge. The gorge is an 11 km long fissure running straight through the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Hidden within the gorge lies a beautiful stretch of tropical rainforest, situated along the banks of the Kyambura River. This rainforest is home to chimpanzees, and other animal species. Rangers make it a sport to spot the chimpanzees, but the chance of seeing them is about 50%.
Therefore, above all, enjoy the hike itself, as it is one of the most beautiful hikes you can take in Uganda. It is an adventurous hike involving scrambling and climbing. And you will explore nature in a much more private setting than, for example, in Kibale Forest. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. An extensive game drive is planned for the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Elephant Plains Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha Sector
In the morning, you set off on a game drive of approximately 2.5 hours towards the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park: Ishasha.
Ishasha feels wonderfully remote. Away from the busier parts of the park, you can enjoy extended game drives through wide open savannas, woodland and lush riverine vegetation. Keep your eyes on the wild fig trees. This is where Ishasha’s famous tree-climbing lions like to spend the warmest hours of the day, resting high above the ground. The Ntungwe River winds through the sector, creating a rich habitat for hippos and other wildlife. The vegetation becomes greener and denser along the river, adding to the beauty of this remarkable corner of the park. In the afternoon, you continue your safari while the heat of the day keeps the lions resting in the trees. With a little luck, you may spot them stretched out on the branches, watching the savanna below.
As the sun begins to set, you return to your accommodation. Enjoy a refreshing drink and take in the peaceful surroundings of Ishasha Wilderness Camp. Later, gather around the campfire as the sounds of the African wilderness fill the evening.
Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth NP / Ishasha Sector – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, you will embark on another early morning game drive when the wildlife is particularly active. Later, a special highlight awaits: a bush breakfast amidst the African wilderness. Surrounded by the sounds of nature, you’ll enjoy your breakfast under the open sky.
Then you will leave Queen and travel further south through the impressive hilly landscapes of the Kigezi Highlands towards Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This area, with its verdant valleys and rolling hills, is often called the “Switzerland of Africa.”
In the afternoon, you’ll arrive at your lodge on the edge of the rainforest. Bwindi is one of the most biodiverse forests in Africa and is home to around half of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas. Enjoy the spectacular views of the rainforest and prepare yourself for the upcoming gorilla trek. Take it easy this evening and don’t go to bed too late to ensure you’re rested for the next day.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Gorilla Trekking
After an early breakfast, you will take a walk to the park headquarters in Buhoma. There, you will receive a detailed briefing from experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides on the rules of conduct that are important for gorilla trekking.
You will then set off with the ranger guide into the mountainous rainforest. Your ranger guide will follow the instructions and tracks of the trackers, who started their trek at sunrise. The trackers first went to the spot where they encountered the gorillas the previous day and are now following their movements. As soon as they spot the gorillas, they inform your guide. You will carefully approach a family of gorillas and the silverback. It’s a truly amazing moment to stand face to face with these gentle giants of the rainforest. You must limit your visit to the gorilla family to one hour to minimize disruption to their natural rhythms.
Gorilla trekking can be strenuous, depending on the specific family being visited. The sight of these majestic great apes quickly makes you forget all about it, but a certain level of fitness is recommended. It’s also crucial that you’re in excellent health. Even a cold can prevent you from seeing the gorillas, so as not to endanger them. The trekking time varies depending on the gorilla family. Proper equipment is essential. Good footwear, gaiters, and rain gear are standard. Gloves are also highly recommended, especially when dealing with thorny plants.
Enjoy your time with the gorillas.
This visit is much more than “just” wildlife viewing. When you look into the eyes of these gentle giants, you’ll see so much about ourselves. Over 98% of our genes are identical to those of gorillas, and you’ll experience a truly sublime feeling when you stand close to these magnificent creatures. The young ones are playful and frolic within the gorilla family.
Upon your return, a late lunch awaits you at the lodge. In the afternoon, you will visit the Pangolin Rescue Center. For many years, this organization has been dedicated to the protection and reintroduction of pangolins, the world’s most endangered mammals.
With a bit of luck, you’ll gain exciting insights into the work of the conservation project and learn more about the efforts to preserve these fascinating animals. However, there is no guarantee that pangolins will be released on this day.
Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 8: Bwindi – Flight Entebbe – Mabamba Wetlands – Return flight
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to the mystical rainforests of Bwindi. Your guide will take you to the Kihihi airstrip in time for your morning flight back to Entebbe. You will arrive in Entebbe around midday. Upon landing, our drive guide will be waiting for you. You will then be transferred to the hotel, where a day room awaits you. Take this time to relax after your eventful days, freshen up, or enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, you will be taken to the boat dock. From there, you will be drive to the famous Mabamba Papyrus Wetlands on Lake Victoria. There, you will board a small wooden boat with a local birdwatcher, which will take you through the narrow channels of the papyrus swamp. While searching for the legendary shoebill, you’ll discover many different bird species. Named for its powerful beak, this bird is one of Uganda’s iconic symbols.
After this unique nature experience, you will first return to the landing stage in the wetlands by small wooden boat and then continue your journey back to Entebbe. There, you will be taken to the airport in time for your flight home. Your trip ends with many unforgettable memories of Uganda’s wildlife, people, and unique landscapes.
Accommodation: (Not Included, end of tour)
Meals: Breakfast
Tour Price
Number of People | Price per Person |
1 Person | USD 8564 |
2 People | USD 6669 |
3 People | USD 6286 |
4 People | USD 5908 |
5 People | USD 5830 |
6 People | USD 5654 |
Inclusions
- All park entrance fees
- Transport in a safari-equipped off-road vehicle
- Experienced English-speaking driver/guide
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Game drives as indicated in the itinerary
- Drinking water in the vehicle
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- 1 night at The Boma Hotel Entebbe
- 2 nights at Elephant Plains Lodge
- 2 nights at Ishasha Wilderness Camp
- 2 nights at Buhoma Lodge
- Day room in Entebbe Boma Hotel
- Domestic flight Entebbe – Kasese (15kg luggage per person in soft bags)
- Airport transfer in Kasese & Bwindi
- Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
- Chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge (permit included)
- Sundowner & Bush Breakfast in Ishasha
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park (permit included)
- Mabamba Shoebill Tour by dugout canoe
Exclusions
- International flights to/from Uganda
- Optional excursions or activities not pre-booked
- Uganda visa costs (USD 50)
- Travel Insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Drinks
Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled frequently asked and important questions for you and answered them carefully and in the most up-to-date way. If you still have any questions, please write to us or call us!
What amenities do safari accommodations typically offer?
Even in the heart of the African wilderness, you won’t have to forgo any comforts! Whether you choose a tented camp or a lodge, your accommodation will come standard with large, comfortable beds and a private bathroom en-suite. Most rooms also offer a small private veranda, perfect for observing the surrounding nature. The main area of the accommodations typically features a cozy restaurant, an inviting lounge, and a well-stocked bar. The absolute centerpiece, almost everywhere, is the traditional campfire (the “boma”) for gathering in the evenings.
Is there drinking water on safari?
Drinking water is provided on all your game drives in the vehicle – this is included in the price. However, water ordered at the bar or restaurant of the accommodation is subject to a charge.
What to do in case of an emergency on safari.
You can leave your worries at home – even in the heart of the African wilderness, you’re in the best hands. We and our local partners are watching over you and are available 24/7. Trained first responders will look after you at your accommodations, and should you require a doctor, mobile medical personnel will provide assistance, or your driver will take you to a doctor. In an emergency, we rely on reputable air ambulance services that ensure immediate evacuation by plane. Enjoy your trip with complete peace of mind: your safety is our top priority, supported by a network of experts who are always available to you.
Is there internet access in safari accommodations?
Many hotels, lodges, and camps now offer free Wi-Fi. Internet speeds can vary considerably. For basic tasks like sending emails, WhatsApp messages, and browsing the web, the speed is usually sufficient. However, it’s generally not fast enough for streaming.
Where do you sleep on a safari?
On a safari, you’ll sleep in a variety of accommodations – from stylish lodges and cozy cottages to tented camps. The choice of accommodation depends on the destination and the desired level of comfort.
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