7 Days Flying Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
Welcome to this amazing 7 days Flying Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife safari that combines comfort and unforgettable wildlife safari experiences. This 7-day safari offers an opportunity to enjoy Uganda’s untamed gems with captivating game drives, thrilling boat cruise safaris, incredible gorilla trekking, Batwa encounters, chimpanzee trekking, walking with Rhinos, and appreciating the beauty of nature with breathtaking views.
This amazing 7-day flying Uganda Gorilla and wildlife safari is carefully designed to cater for travelers avoiding long-haul driving hours. Yet rewarding, magical aerial views of Uganda’s diverse ecosystems. Thus, this safari itinerary involves a connecting flight from Murchison Falls National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park, giving you a chance to enjoy the beauty of Uganda. The safari starts from Uganda’s largest and oldest Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, then proceeds to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Lake Bunyonyi, and then ends your safari with a drop off at Kigali International Airport. Below are the highlights and details of the tour;
Summary of the 7 days Flying Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
- Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Murchison Falls NP via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat
- Day 3: Fly to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game drive
- Day 4: Kyambura Gorge – Chimpanzee Trekking and Afternoon Boat Cruise
- Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Experience – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 7: Transfer to Kigali and Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Murchison Falls NP via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Meet and greet your guide/driver for the next 7 days. Your guide will take you through a briefing about the 7-day Flying Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari, including the activities, accommodation, and destinations to visit during this tour. Later, you will embark on an approximately 4-hour drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a haven for the White Rhinos that can only be found here in Uganda.
Upon arrival, you will have a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Rangers and later embark on a guided walking safari in search of the Rhinos. Once you find them, you will spend 1 hour as you watch them roam freely in their natural habitats, capture photo moments, and return to the starting point. Meet your guide and en route to Murchison Falls National Park. Arrive at the lodge and check in for your dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat
Have a hearty breakfast at the lodge and later proceed for a morning game drive in the northern part of the park, which is popular for sightseeing and home to a variety of wildlife species, thus offering you an opportunity to spot wildlife including the big 4 such as Lions, leopards, Elephants, buffaloes, and different bird species including the Abyssinian ground Hornbill. Return to the lodge for your lunch and refreshments.
After lunch, embark on a thrilling boat cruise taking you to the bottom of Murchison Falls, which are a popular sight in the park. The boat cruise offers a chance to spot a variety of animal species, including giraffes, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, and other mammal species. You will be welcomed by the gushing Murchison Falls, which squeeze themselves through a narrow gorge, creating magical sights. Later, return to the lodge for your relaxing dinner and a peaceful overnight.
Day 3: Fly to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game drive
Have a leisurely breakfast at the lodge and later drive to Pakuba Airstrip for your flight to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The flight will take you about 2 hours to Kasese Airstrip. Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular National Park, located in western Uganda and is renowned for the famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including the Big 4 and over 600 bird species, which will offer you a great wildlife experience.
Upon arrival, you will be picked up by your guide and transferred to the lodge for your lunch. In the afternoon, you will embark on a thrilling evening game drive in the park that will introduce you to the park’s ecosystems as well as offer you a chance to spot some of the nocturnal animals, including Hyenas and leopards. After your evening game drive, you will return to the lodge for a peaceful evening of relaxation and a delightful dinner.
Day 4: Kyambura Gorge – Chimpanzee Trekking and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Rise early in the morning with a hearty breakfast and later drive to Kyambura Gorge at the park offices. Upon arrival, you will have a briefing about gorilla trekking, including the rules and guidelines to follow while observing the chimpanzees. Later, you will embark on a thrilling chimpanzee trekking experience with the help of a park ranger in search of chimpanzees. Once you find the chimpanzees, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with them as you learn about their ways of life and capture photo moments to always remember this exciting adventure.
In the afternoon, you will embark on a thrilling afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, a renowned feature that connects Lake George to Lake Edward and is home to a variety of wildlife species. The boat cruise will offer you an opportunity to spot different wildlife that resides, such as crocodiles, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippos, elephants and different water bird species. The boat cruise shall take about 3 hours and later return to the lodge for your dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the lodge, check out, and drive to the Ishasha part of the park for a thrilling game drive that will offer you a chance to spot tree-climbing lions and other park wildlife. Later, you will be en route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which will take you about two hours.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is renowned for housing almost half of the world’s Mountain gorilla population. This makes it a popular gorilla trekking destination. A safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers one of the rarest opportunities to get up close with majestic wildlife in their natural habitats, thus creating a memorable adventure.
Arrive at the park, proceed to the lodge and check in. In the evening, your guide will take you through a pre-briefing about gorilla trekking, including the rules and guidelines to follow when observing the gorillas.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Experience – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Rise early in the morning with a hearty breakfast, and drive to the visitors’ briefing center. Be briefed about gorilla trekking. Later on, embark on a guided gorilla trekking experience in search of the mountain gorillas alongside other wildlife species. Once you find the gorillas, you will have a chance to spend 1 hour with them. Later, return to the starting point where you will be awarded your gorilla trekking certificates.
Experience the Batwa communities, the traditional inhabitants of the park, as food gatherers and hunters, thus posing a major threat to the gorillas. Once these people were evicted from the park, they are currently settled around the park for conservation purposes. The Batwa offer a great cultural experience, giving you a chance to learn about their way of life, including traditional dances.
Later, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. This is Africa’s third deepest lake, dotted with several stunning Islands. The islands offer magical sightings and rich cultural history. It is thus referred to as the Switzerland of Uganda. Upon arrival, you will take a scenic boat cruise on the lake. The boat connects you to your lodge, where you will have an overnight stay. Enjoy a relaxed dinner and a peaceful overnight.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali and Departure
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the lodge or out. Depending on the time of your flight, you may opt to have a canoe ride experience. It takes you through the historical islands of the park, offering stunning views and rich cultural history. After the boat cruise and connecting to the mainland, you will transfer to Kigali, Rwanda, including a border crossing at Katuna Border point. Please have the necessary documents, such as a visa, a yellow fever card and passports. Proceed to the airport and check in for your departure as you conclude your 7 Days Flying Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari.
