8 days in Uganda: visit the most famous forests

Table of contents

Trip map

Itinerary of the trip

Please note:

Each element can be tailored to your needs and interests, from duration to type of accommodation and activities.

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and transfer to the hotel

Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by our English-speaking driver (or Italian- speaking on request) who will take you to the hotel. In anticipation of the adventures that await us in the coming days, we suggest you take advantage of the remaining hours to visit
the city, taste typical local dishes and take a break.

• Mid-range/low-cost accommodation: Lake Victoria View Guest House
• High-end accommodation: Cassia Lodge
• Meals included: none

Day 2: Entebbe – Kibale forest

Departure in the morning. You will move in the direction of Kibale forest, you will consume a packed lunch or you’ll be able to eat at a restaurant; The road will be long but absolutely scenic, you will see plantations of tea, coffee and tobacco and many local villages. Arrival at Kibale Forest. Possibility of visiting a market on arrival at Fort Portal if time permits.

The Kibale Forest National Park covers an area of 766 square kilometres and forms a contiguous block with the Queen Elizabeth National Park, at an altitude between 1000 and 1590 metres. The vegetation is dominated by tropical rainforest. The park is famous for its
large primate population: there are 13 different species of primates, one of the highest densities in the world. There are about 1000 chimpanzees of which a community of about 100 have been habituated to human presence. We also find in the park the blue, red white
and black colobus, the golden-tailed guenon (only discovered in 1984), and the olive baboon. Other mammals include the woodland antelope, the genet, the masked boar, buffaloes and elephants. About 200 species of birds live in the park, including the African owl, and the forest has about 250 different types of trees. The Park’s main attraction is chimpanzee trekking.

• Low cost accommodation: Kibale forest camp fixed tent with shared bathroom
• Mid-range accommodation: Kibale forest camp with private bathroom
• High-end accommodation: Crater lodge
• Meals included Low/cost Medium: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included High: Breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent travelling:6 hours approximately – 350 km
• Optional activities: Visit to the market of Fort Portal

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking Kibale forest – Visit to Bigodi Sanctuary

Kibale forest, the Chimpanzee capital of the world. We will stop here to take the first trek with one of the families that inhabit the park after a briefing with the park rangers. Lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon we’ll visit the Bigodi Sanctuary where we’ll be able to photograph the Colobus, together with other very rare and endemic birds of the area.

• Low cost accommodation: Kibale forest camp, fixed tent with shared bathroom
• Mid-range accommodation: Kibale forest camp with private bathroom
• High-end accommodation: Crater lodge
• Meals included Low/cost Medium: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included High: breakfast, box lunch and dinner – full board
• Planned activities : Chimpanzee Trekking Kibale forest – Trekking at Bigodi sanctuary

Day 4: Transfer Queen Elizabeth – Chimpanzee trekking Kyambura

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP in the morning, lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon we’ll trek with the chimpanzees in the Kyambura forest, a cleft in the Savannah of the park that offers an incredible variety of vegetation, a forest rich in biodiversity even different from those that you will find in the following days and that hosts a large community of Chimpanzees that you’ll be able to see very close.

The Park is home to a huge number of animals: 95 species of mammals, including lions, elephants, leopards, Uganda kobs (impala), hyenas, buffalo and several species of primates such as chimpanzees, blue, red, white, black and baboons live here. There are also more than 600 species of birds, one of the highest concentrations in Africa, and expanses of pink flamingos along the volcanic Katwe Lake.

• Low cost accommodation: Bush lodge, fixed tent, shared bathroom
• Mid-range accommodation: Bush lodge, bandas, private bathroom
• High-end accommodation: Kyambura Gorge lodge
• Meals included low cost-medium: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high level: breakfast, lunch (at the lodge) and dinner – full board
• Planned activities: Chimpanzee trekking Kyambura gorge

Day 5: Trekking Kalinzu Forest – transfer Bwindi Rushaga

In the morning we will transfer to the south, with a first stop in Kalinzu Forest, where we will trek in search of Chimpanzees that live in this area. There are about 400 chimpanzees living in this forest and 50 chimpanzees adapted to the presence of man. After the trek we will descend south to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and then arrive to Rushaga Village, where we will be staying for one night.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located in the south west sector of Uganda at an altitude between 1160 and 2607 meters. It is a true tropical forest spread over mountains and valleys and is considered one of the richest forests in Africa in terms of biodiversity, it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the local language, “Bwindi” means “dark place” in reference to its impenetrable nature. The park is home to around 350 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, 324 different types of trees, 14 of which are only found in this Park. This makes it possible to go on bird watching excursions through unspoilt nature to meet the Pygmy communities living in the Park.

• Low/medium cost accommodation: Rushaga Safari camp
• High-end accommodation: Gorilla safari lodge
• Meals included low cost-medium : breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included high level : breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent on the road: about 4 hours – 250 km
• Planned activities: Chimpanzee trekking Kalinzu

6° giorno: Gorilla trekking – Trasfer to Kisoro

Breakfast at first light, proceed to the Bwindi Impenetrable forest headquarters for a short briefing with the rangers, you will be placed in groups of maximum 8 people, before proceeding into the forest. Make sure you bring the Box lunch (mandatory and delivered by
the lodge) and at least two litres of water, trekking shoes, k-way in your backpack. The duration of Gorilla trekking varies from day to day and from one gorilla family to another. You will be able to stay with them for an hour from the time you see the first gorilla and it will be a unique thrill to see these animals within walking distance. You can consult the rules and some indications regarding gorilla trekking or other treks in the forest on the FAQ page. We will then head south to the town of Kisoro, located a few kilometres from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The Park is located in southwestern Uganda, near the town of Kisoro in the Virunga Mountains. It is adjacent to Volcanoes Park (Rwanda) and Virunga Park (DRC). The Park area includes three of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga range: Muhavura, Gahinga (from which the park takes its name) and Sabinyo.With Bwindi Park, Mgahinga is one of only two parks in Uganda that is home to Mountain Gorillas. There are two groups of gorillas in the park that are used to human presence and can therefore be observed by tourists.
In this park it is possible to spot the Golden Monkey, which is endemic to this area adjacent to the Virunga.

• Low cost accommodation: Mucha hotel Kisoro
• Mid-range accommodation: Lake Mulehe Safari lodge
• High end accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort
• Meals included mid-range and low cost: breakfast and dinner – half board
• Meals included at high level: breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and dinner – full board
• Hours spent travelling: about 2 hours and 20 minutes – 65 km
• Planned activities: Gorilla trekking

Day 7: Trekking to the Golden Monkeys – transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Wake up at dawn for the transfer to Mghainga National Park where the golden monkey trekking will take place lasting 3/4 hours. You will enjoy wonderful views of the peaks of the Volcanoes National Park; be prepared to take photos of bird species such as the Ruwenzori Turaco, the Colobus and especially the golden monkeys that you will encounter en route. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. After the trek we will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.

Lake Bunyonyi, nicknamed the “Little Switzerland of Africa” is the second deepest lake in Africa, with an archipelago of 32 islands.

• Mid-range/low-cost accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi eco resort
• High-end accommodation: Bird nest resort
• Meals included low cost/medium level: Breakfast and lunch half board
• Meals included at a high level: Breakfast, lunch (box lunch) and lunch full board
• Hours spent travelling: Approx. 2 hours – 80 km
• Planned activities: Trekking to the golden monkeys

Day 8: Transfer to Entebbe

Transfer to Entebbe in the morning, the departure time will be decided according to the flight schedule that you have chosen, stop for lunch on the equator line where you can buy souvenirs, arrival at the airport in the afternoon. Return flight to be scheduled after 5pm. Lunch and dinner not included

• Meals included: breakfast
• Hours spent travelling: about 7 hours – 410 km

Prices and services included

Terms of payment:
50% at the time of booking, 50% 40 days before departure.

Cancellation terms:
– up to the second payment tranche full refund except for gorilla and
chimpanzee permits;
– after making the final payment and up to 10 days before departure, 50% refund;
– from 10 days to departure date nothing is refundable.

Please note:

Each element can be tailored to your needs and interests, from duration to type of accommodation and activities. Ask for a quote for this trip

Ask for a quote for this trip

Sea getaway – Possible extension