8 Days Uganda wildlife and water rafting safari : This 8 Days white water rafting and wildlife safari experience takes you Jinja – source of the Nile for White water rafting which is one of the most exciting water sport activity and has become a huge tourist attraction in Jinja town of Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable national park on the other hand is Uganda’s best-selling tourism product as it is the world’s habitant for half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world offering visitors the best experience of gorillas with a maximum adventure for both habituated and semi-habituated gorilla families. Bwindi forest is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Kibale national park which is Africa’s foremost research site that focuses on the Chimpanzees and other primates in Uganda. Kibale forest national park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kabarole district and is the only park where we find the world endangered Chimpanzees and other primate species. It covers an area size of about 795 square kilometres and with the lowest point of about 1,100 meters on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley to the south. Kibale national park is also one of the best birding destinations in Uganda with about 375 bird species.
Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest wildlife national park located in the western part of Uganda in Rubirizi district near Kasese district. Queen Elizabeth national park has a massive biodiversity with landscape including bushland, savannah, wetland and lush vegetation. The park covers an area of 1,978 square kilometres and was first founded in 1952 as Kazinga national park however later after the visit of Queen Elizabeth 11; it was renamed Queen Elizabeth national park. The park inhabits about 95 mammal species including the big 4 game (Lions, Leopards, buffaloes, and Elephants), other animals including; hyenas, hippos, waterbucks, Oribi to mention a few and over 600 bird species. Queen Elizabeth national park is surrounded by 2 lakes including Lake Albert and Lake Edward which support water activities like boat cruises, and fishing activities. Queen Elizabeth national park is located in the western part of Uganda, covering a distance of about 335Kms from Kigali-Rwanda crossing via Katuna border.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Jinja via Kampala – visit the source of the Nile
Day 2: White water rafting and transfer to Kampala
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi nature walk
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking – transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 5: Lion tracking/Game drive and Boat cruise
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 8: Transfer Back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Jinja via Kampala – visit the source of the Nile
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport/depending on your location in Entebbe, you will be met by our company representative and transfer to Jinja town which is about 3-4 hours’ drive from Entebbe airport depending to road traffic. Upon arrival, check-in your reserved hotel for dinner and overnight stay Jinja Nile Resort for luxury/2 Friends Guesthouse for mid-range/Source of the Smile hotel for budget
Day 2: White water rafting and transfer to Kampala
On the 2nd day of your 8 Days Uganda wildlife and water rafting safari, after breakfast, meet your driver and connect for water rafting experience on the Nile, it’s a full day activity. You will first report for briefing then be provided with rafting gears for the activity. After rafting, connect to the lodge to check-out and transfer to Kampala where you will connect to your reserved lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Forest Cottages for budget/Fairway Hotel for mid-range/Skys Hotel for Luxury
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi nature walk
After breakfast, you will be picked up by our company representative/ driver who will drive to Kibale national park– the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Arrive in the park in the afternoon for lunch in fort portal town, then go for a 2-3 hours’ nature walk in Bigodi wetland before you proceed to your lodge in Kibale. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Guest house main house for mid-range/Isunga lodge for budget/Kyaninga lodge for luxury on full board basis.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking – transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast you will go for chimpanzee trekking with your packed food and water. Meet your guide at the head office then enter the rainforest to start searching for the chimpanzee, this will take 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees. On seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures.
After tracking, you will refresh at the lodge then proceed to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. This is a 3 hours’ drive from Fort portal with en route visit of the crater lakes. Dinner and overnight at Pumba Safari Cottages for budget/Parkview Safari lodge for mid-range/Kyambura Gorge lodge for luxury
Day 5: Lion tracking/Game drive and Boat cruise
On the 5th day of your 8 Days Uganda wildlife and water rafting safari. very early morning, meet your guide for the lion tracking experience where you are guaranteed seeing the lions; you will also spot a good number of wildlife including Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes and all species of antelopes. You will enjoy a bush breakfast. Return to the lodge and have lunch.
After enjoying your lunch at the lodge, go for your boat trip along the Kazinga channel for yet another wildlife/bird watching experience as you cruise on lake Edward/George. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast early in the morning, you drive to Bwindi with en route lunch. Accommodation will be provided depending on your trekking sector. Dinner and overnight stay at Ichumbi Gorilla lodge/Bakiga lodge for either budget or mid-range option/Nkuringo Gorilla lodge/Gahinga lodge for luxury
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have an early morning breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing by the ranger guides before embarking on your gorilla trek. Head into the forest and trek until you find the gorillas. Gorilla trekking can take 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. After finding the gorillas in Bwindi, you will be allowed only 1 hour and then return. Your driver / guide will drive you back to your hotel to relax and spend another night as above
Day 8; Transfer Back to Kampala
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and transfer back to Kampala with a stopover in Mbarara for lunch, arriving in Kampala in the evening. Drop off to your hotel in Kampala or the Airport for your onward flight marking the end of your Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth Safari
