8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari (Big 5 game)
Safari Overview
This 8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari takes you to three incredible game viewing national park in Uganda, namely; Kidepo Valley national park, Murchison falls national park and Queen Elizabeth national park. These are Uganda’s top 3 national park rich with wildlife and especially the 5 Five Game.
Murchison falls national park is Uganda’s largest national park with large populations of animal species. Murchison falls national park will also reward you with great views of the most powerful water falls in Africa – Murchison falls. Kidepo Valley national park is the third largest and most rugged and unexploited national park in Uganda.
Kidepo national park is the only destination where you have an opportunity to spot the Big cat – Cheetah and the biggest bird – Ostrich. It also has large populations of most antelopes.
Last but not least, Queen Elizabeth national park – This is the second largest Uganda’s national park ranked as the most visited because of its rich and diverse experience. This is the only destination in Uganda to spot the tree climbing lions. You will have an opportunity for a lion tracking experience and it’s the most rewarding destination on a boat cruise.
Murchison falls national park and Queen Elizabeth national will reward you with boat cruises that will enrich your wildlife experience spotting water animals, birds and animals that come to drink from the water sources. Other interesting activities that you will enjoy on this trip includes the Rhino tracking, Uganda Equator, birding, nature walks, game viewing and cultural tours. Book this safari for a great Uganda wildlife experience.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Kitgum/Gulu – Rhino tracking
Day 2: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park – afternoon/evening game drive
Day 3: Full day game drive in Narus valley – Optional Community tour
Day 4: Transfer for Murchison Falls National Park (7-8 hours)
Day 5: Morning game drive and launch cruise and top of the falls visit
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 7: Morning game drive (Optional lion tracking experience) and afternoon boat cruise.
Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kitgum/Gulu – Rhino tracking
Considering the journey requires about 12-13 hours; pick up will be at 7:00 am and make an early start on your journey to Kitgum. Kidepo national park is far placed – northeast of Uganda, bordering Kenya to the east and South Sudan to the North. The journey can be very exhausting to drive direct to the park thus making it necessary to break the journey in Kitgum. You will also en-route Ziwa rhino sanctuary for an onfoot rhino tracking experience. This is the only place in Uganda where you will see the rhinos, this will take about 1-2 hours. Thereafter, have lunch then proceed to Kitgum at your booked hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Acaki Lodge
Day 2: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park – afternoon/evening game drive
Wake up to a hot cup of coffee / tea and embark on a 3-4 hours’ drive to Kidepo national park which is about 3-4 hours’ drive. Upon arrival at the park, connect for lunch before you do an afternoon/evening game drive in the Narus valley with anticipation of seeing herds of buffalos, zebras, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and cheetahs. You will enjoy a slow drive and you can be sure to seize picture moments while on your game drive and you can have stops at any moment you please. Return to the lodge and spend the evening at leisure admiring the wilderness. Dinner and overnight at Kidepo Savannah lodge
Day 3: Full day game drive in Narus valley – Optional Community tour
Wake up early, have breakfast and connect for a game drive in Narus valley in anticipation of seeing herds of buffalos, zebras, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and cheetahs. You will enjoy a slow drive and you can be sure to seize picture moments while on your game drive and you can have stops at any moment you please. Return for lunch at the lodge.
In the afternoon, you can either go back for another game drive or go for an optional cultural tour to the Karamojong people for a truly unique experience. The Karamojong culture is still pure and totally unique from most other tribes in Uganda; they have rejected civilization and still live like in ancient times. The Karamojong are predominantly pastoralists and live purposely to fight for their cattle as it is in their belief that every cattle in the world belongs to them. As such, fierce cattle raids still occur in the region and at times stretch to neighboring Kenya! They are a very interesting group of people with a very unique culture visible in their way of dressing, cooking, dancing and other daily life activities. A visit to the Karamojong is a truly rewarding experience you should look forward to. Dinner and overnight at lodge above
Day 4: Transfer for Murchison Falls National Park (7-8 hours)
After early morning breakfast, embark on your journey to Murchison falls park with lunch en route in Gulu town. Proceed to enter the park and connect to your lodge with en route game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at Hornbill Bush Lodge for budget
Day 5: Morning game drive and launch cruise and top of the falls visit
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will go for a morning game drive. The activity takes about 3-5 hours depending on animals available, and you will find animals including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.
After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch. Later afternoon at 2 pm, go for a launch cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater. You will spend take viewing the falls at the bottom while taking pictures. After viewing the bottom of the falls, connect to explore the falls from the top before you drive back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast, check-out and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. The park is located in the western part of the country, it’s a 6 to 7 hours’ drive with en-routes lunch and several stops to refresh and sightseeing. You will proceed and check in your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at Bush Lodge for budget
Day 7: Morning game drive (Optional lion tracking experience) and afternoon boat cruise.
You will wake up early, have breakfast and embank for an early morning game drive and optional lion tracking experience if interested. While on the game drive, expect to see other game including lions, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, leopards, antelopes, warthogs and white Colobus monkeys just to mention a few although some of them are not guaranteed. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go for a launch cruise along Kazinga channel where you will get an opportunity to see a number of bird species, elephants and buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles at the lake shores. After the boat cruise, drive back to your lodge with en route game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, check-out and embark on your drive back to Kampala/Entebbe. which is about 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route stop at the Uganda Equator and en-route lunch. Upon arrival, you will be dropped off at a location you advise.
End of the 8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
