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8-Day Uganda Eco Safari
From
From $2986 per person for 2 people
Tour Overview
This 8-Day Uganda Eco Safari is ideal for guests who want to experience Uganda’s captivating wildlife and landscapes authentically while being mindful of their travel budget. By choosing comfortable, simple accommodations and guesthouses, we have put together a smart package where you don’t have to compromise on adventure – from searching for tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park to unforgettable gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
What makes this trip special
- Guided private safari
- Private guide/guide on safari
- Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
- Tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
- Relaxation at the picturesque Lake Bunyonyi
- Diverse wildlife and zebras in Lake Mburo National Park
- Walking safari and night game drive
- Shoebill search in the Mabamba wetlands
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
As soon as you step off the plane and breathe in the pleasantly warm, tropical air, you will know that your adventure has begun. At Entebbe International Airport, your guide will be waiting to greet you. With a warm smile, he will welcome you to Uganda – the verdant land that Sir Winston Churchill famously called “The Pearl of Africa.” A short, relaxed drive will take you to your first accommodation. Settle in, freshen up after your long flight, and enjoy a cool drink as you prepare for the great adventures of the coming days.
Accommodation: Via Via Hotel Entebbe
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Entebbe – Queen Elizabeth National Park (travel time approx. 7 hours)
After breakfast, you leave Entebbe and travel towards western Uganda.
The journey takes you through a changing landscape of small villages, colourful markets, herds of cattle and sprawling tea plantations. Along the way, your driver will share fascinating insights into daily life and local culture. Around afternoon, you reach the region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you get closer, the landscape becomes wilder and the first signs of the park appear.
Even during the final kilometres, you may already spot some of Uganda’s wildlife. Soon, you arrive at your accommodation, beautifully located on the edge of the national park with views across the savanna. Depending on your arrival time, there may be time to sit back, enjoy the breathtaking views and take in the atmosphere of the African wilderness. Relax, enjoy the surroundings and look forward to the safari adventures waiting for you tomorrow.
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park
In the soft light of early morning, the savanna comes alive.
You set off for an extensive game drive while the air is still cool and the animals are at their most active. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 90 mammal species and 600 bird species. There are large herds of Uganda kob, which in turn attract predators. Keep your eyes open for lions resting in the grass or watching the herds from a distance. With a little luck, you may also spot a shy leopard hidden in the dense vegetation.
After lunch, a completely different safari experience awaits you. You take to the water for a boat safari on the famous Kazinga Channel. Slowly gliding along the banks, you get remarkably close to hippos and Nile crocodiles. Huge herds of elephants often come down to the water to drink and cool off. The channel is alive with wildlife, and there is always something to watch.
It is one of those safari experiences where you can simply sit back and enjoy the moment. In the evening, you return to your lodge. Relax, enjoy dinner and reflect on a day filled with wildlife and unforgettable moments under the vast African sky.
Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth NP – Ishasha Sector – Bwindi National Park (Buhoma)
In the morning, the journey continues to the lesser-known southern part of the national park. Ishasha is particularly famous for its tree-climbing lions. Especially in the afternoon, during the hottest hours, you can find the lions in the trees, enjoying the shade while still having a view of the savanna. Besides the famous lions, Ishasha offers a charming, sparsely visited landscape of open plains and acacia woodlands. Large herds of buffalo and elephants, topi, Uganda kobs, and numerous bird species live here.
Afterwards, you leave the savanna, and the landscape changes dramatically. The road winds its way up into the so-called “Kigezi Highlands,” which, due to its green, terraced slopes, is also known as the “Switzerland of Africa.” Finally, you reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In the afternoon, you check into your accommodation on the edge of the rainforest.
You will stay at Ride 4 a Woman Guest House. Ride 4 A Woman, is an inspiring initiative that not only has a positive impact on the local community but also offers a unique travel experience. This social enterprise project is dedicated to supporting vulnerable women in the community through training in new skills and creating employment, with the conviction that economic self-reliance is the key to sustainable development. Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and prepare for one of the highlights of your trip – the encounter with the mountain gorillas the following day.
Accommodation: Ride 4 A Woman Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Bwindi National Park – Gorilla Trekking – Lake Bunyonyi (travel time approx. 2 hours)
In the morning, you will be gently awakened by the birdsong of the rainforest. After breakfast, it’s just a drive to the park headquarters. There, you will receive a briefing on the rules of conduct that are important for gorilla trekking. You will then set off with the ranger into the montane rainforest. The ranger follows 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 the guide. You will carefully approach the gorilla family and the silverback. It’s a truly wonderful 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. The trek to the gorillas can be strenuous, depending on the specific family you are visiting. The sight of these majestic great apes quickly makes you forget about any concerns, but a certain level of fitness is recommended. It’s also crucial that you are in good health.
Even a cold can prevent you from seeing the gorillas to ensure their safety. The length of the hike 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 encountering 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 see so much of ourselves. Over 98% of our genes are identical to those of gorillas, and you experience a truly sublime feeling when you stand close to these magnificent creatures. The young ones are playful and frolic within the gorilla family.
After the hike and the impressive encounters with the mountain gorillas, you will continue your journey to Lake Bunyonyi. The “Lake of Many Little Birds” is one of Uganda’s most beautiful landscapes, characterized by verdant terraced hills and numerous small islands. On the lake’s shores awaits the Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort, which impresses with its tranquil setting and magnificent views across Lake Bunyonyi. Spend the rest of the afternoon reflecting on the day’s experiences and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. In the evening, you have the option of dining at the resort’s restaurant.
The restaurant is renowned for its excellent cuisine, serving international dishes as well as regional specialties such as freshly prepared crayfish from Lake Bunyonyi.
Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 6: Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park (travel time approx. 4 hours)
After breakfast, you leave the beautiful mountainous region of southwestern Uganda behind and travel towards Lake Mburo National Park.
Uganda’s smallest national park lies between the southwest and Kampala, yet it offers a wonderful variety of landscapes. Rolling hills, acacia woodlands, wetlands and open grasslands create a beautiful setting for wildlife. You arrive at your accommodation in time for lunch. In the afternoon, you set off on an extensive game drive through the park.
Lake Mburo is one of the best places in Uganda to see large herds of zebra. Keep your eyes open for impalas, eland, buffalo, topi, oribi and many other animals. The park is also a wonderful destination for bird lovers, with more than 350 bird species recorded here.
As the sun begins to set, you return to your lodge. Relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere at Eagles Nest Mburo, perched above the landscape with beautiful views across the national park. After several days of adventure, it is the perfect place to slow down and enjoy the evening.
Accommodation: Eagles Nest Mburo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Lake Mburo – Walking Game Drive & Night Game Drive
Lake Mburo National Park offers a rare opportunity to experience nature not only from a vehicle but also on foot. In the soft morning light, you’ll embark on a guided walking safari. Accompanied by a ranger, you will follow animal tracks in the red sand, silently approaching zebras and antelopes.
After the walk, you will have time to relax at the lodge or enjoy another game drive in the afternoon.
As darkness falls, you will set off on a night drive, using the headlights of your 4×4 to track down the nocturnal inhabitants of the savanna. With a bit of luck, you might spot bushbabies in the treetops, porcupines, genets, or other shy creatures of the savanna.
Accommodation: Eagles Nest Mburo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 8: Lake Mburo – Mabamba Shoebill Tour – Entebbe (travel time approx. 3 to 4 hours)
One last time, the gentle rustling of the acacia trees awakens you.
After breakfast, you begin your return journey towards Entebbe. Shortly before reaching Entebbe, you visit the Mabamba Wetlands on Lake Victoria. You board a traditional wooden canoe and glide through the dense papyrus channels with a local guide. The area is known for its excellent opportunities to observe the rare shoebill bird, which, with a bit of luck, can be spotted here in its natural habitat. Afterwards, you continue to Entebbe and check into the Via Via Guesthouse, where a day room awaits you. Here you can freshen up, organize your luggage, and relax after your trip. Later, in time for your international flight, you will be transferred to the airport.
Accommodation: Not Included, end of tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Tour Price
Number of People | Price per Person |
1 Person | USD 4587 |
2 People | USD 2986 |
3 People | USD 2752 |
4 People | USD 2410 |
5 People | USD 2385 |
6 People | USD 2218 |
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 Via Via Guesthouse
- 2 nights at Pumba Safari Cottages
- 1 overnight stay at Ride 4 A Woman Guest House
- 1 night at Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- 2 nights at Eagles Nest Mburo
- Day rooms in Entebbe
- Boat trip on the Kazinga Canal (in a small group)
- Game drive in Ishasha
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
- Walking safari and night game drive at Lake Mburo
- 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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