Uganda is the dream destination for those in search of the absolute pinnacle of primate safaris. Chimpanzees roam in numbers in Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Park, as do colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, de Brazza monkeys and a host of other species. The last mountain gorillas are carefully protected in the Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi.
An 8 day luxury gorilla safari in Uganda will leave visitors spellbound with Uganda having 54% of all the mountain gorillas in the world. Considering that there are only 880 or so mountain gorillas, this is considerable and a feast for the eye for any visitor.
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The best 8 day luxury Uganda Tours
Price of an 8 day luxury Uganda gorilla safari?
Prices for a 8 day luxury tour in Uganda range between $1,000 to $2,300 per person. Mid-range tours mostly range between $2,300 to $3,300 per person, while luxury tours start at about $4,000 per person.
Safari packages to Uganda span a wide price range, influenced by several variables. The biggest factor determining the price of a safari is the level of accommodation. This will ultimately categorize tours as being budget, mid-range or luxury. Shared tours are usually cheaper than private tours.
This is especially the case for single travelers. On a 8 day trip you might want to consider a fly-in safari, but these are considerably more expensive than road safaris. Check out the seasons too; low-season prices can be favorable and while you’ll probably get some rain at this time, it’s when the scenery is at its best.
Tour breakdown for a typical 8 days in Uganda
Trekking safari tour highlights
- Trek the Ugandan jungles seeing gorillas, chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus, golden monkeys, buffalo and the occasional elephant
- Discover the famous Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks
- Private tour guide in English and other languages
- All-inclusive tours including lodging, entrance fees, meals, and transport
- Guided walks with professional and knowledgeable guides
- Unique accommodation including safari lodges and tented camps
Luxury tour inclusions
The following details typical tour inclusions and exclusions on the best 8 day Uganda safari package:
| Tour inclusions | Tour exclusions |
|---|---|
| Gorilla permits | Visa fees, laundry services & alcoholic drinks |
| Chimpanzee Permits | International/domestic flights |
| Experienced english-speaking guide | Tips to the driver guides, waiters and porters |
| Park entrance fees | Optional canoe trekking & Batwa Cultural Experience |
| Luxury lodge accommodation | |
| Breakfast, lunch, dinner and bottled water | |
| Government taxes |
Safari essentials and information
Is an 8 day safari in Uganda sufficient?
8 days is plenty to see, hear and experience the incredible wildlife and sights of Uganda. The number of days needed to properly do a Uganda safari can range from 1-2 days to 1-2 weeks, depending on how much time and budget a visitor has.
A longer period of time would be better, however each day consists of an early morning breakfast before going gorilla and chimpanzee tracking. The activity can last 3 to 4 hours in one forest such as Kalinju forest before later transferring to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park with lunch en-route in Ntungamo or Kabale town.
Evening times typically involve an incredible dinner and wine whilst staying overnight at a luxury lodge such as Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. The following day can include spending some or all of your time at the incredible Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a range of freestanding volcanoes that rises to a maximum altitude of 14,787ft on the border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Alternatively you can spend all of your time in the famous Bwindi NP. With full days in the jungle, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to explore this iconic destination including a full morning and afternoon of getting close to these incredible primates with lunch served at one of the scenic picnic spots.
Overall, 8 days is a good amount of time for a mountain gorilla trekking safari in Uganda if it is part of a larger tour, but if not, allocating a few more days to your trek would be ideal if possible.
Accommodation offered on an 8 day luxury Uganda gorilla safari
After a long day surveying the incredible landscape and Uganda wildlife on offer, guests can look forward to the very best safari accommodation Uganda has to offer. The accommodation here is excellent with numerous options from tented camps, luxury lodges to camping grounds.
From camping in the bush with amenities to mid-range and luxury lodges, there’s something for everyone here. There are various accommodation options in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park including Gorilla Heights Lodge, a 4-star lodge with 15 rooms and conveniences like a full-service spa, an outdoor pool and free in-room WiFi.
This luxury lodge also offers a seating area with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with bathrobes, slippers and shower. There is also a kitchen in some of the units equipped with a microwave, an oven, and a stovetop.
Chameleon Hill Lodge in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a luxury lodge built overlooking Lake Mutanda. The lodge has a beautiful compound with great views of the three volcanoes and a superb spot for those who have come for gorilla trekking, bird watching, golden monkey tracking or canoeing on Lake Mutanda.
Must do on an 8 day luxury Uganda safari
The most popular option for a 8 day Uganda safari is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The airport is about 29 miles from the capital city of Kampala and it’s possible to fly by domestic carrier from Entebbe or Kampala (Kajjansi Airfield) to Kihihi or Kisoro near Bwindi.
Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best place in Uganda to track mountain gorillas. The park protects 40% of the world’s mountain gorilla population and has an incredible 350 species of birds.
A 8 day safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also a great option and home of one habituated gorilla family, the Nyakagezi, which are available for trekking on a daily basis. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national park takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours and during trekking you will be able to view different wildlife species.
This includes primates such as chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, different bird species, mammals, plant and tree species among others.
Animals on a Uganda trek?
Gorillas and chimpanzees are of course incredibly popular and visible in Uganda however you’ll find a lot more than these primates here also! Primates are especially well represented in Uganda.
Patas monkey, red-tailed monkey, l’Hoest’s monkey, golden monkey, Ugandan red colobus and Uganda mangabe are some of the special species, many found near Lake Bunyonyi in south-western Uganda.
Uganda is also home to a wide variety of antelope species. The Uganda kob, the national antelope, is locally common, while the rare sitatunga antelope is found in six national parks in the country but rarely seen.
In Bwindi, aside from the endangered mountain gorillas, nine other primate species are found in the forest. These include chimpanzees, olive baboons, black-and-white colobus and l’Hoest’s monkey. Elephants are present but seldom seen.
Uganda’s most popular savannah reserve is Queen Elizabeth National Park and it has four of the Big Five animals present and the widest variety of wildlife of any Ugandan park across grassland savannah, forests, wetlands and lakes.
FAQs
How much spending money do I need for an 8 day Uganda luxury safari?
Visitors should budget for approximately $300 for a Uganda safari per person per day, including food and accommodation. Uganda safaris can be expensive due to the cost of accommodation and food.
How difficult is an 8 day gorilla trek in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is relatively difficult depending on your fitness levels as the treks involve walking through thick forests, valleys, hills and swamps as well as walking in high altitudes with stinging nettles.
What is the best time to go on a 8 day luxury gorilla trek in Uganda?
The best time to go on a 8 day luxury gorilla trek in Uganda is during its two dry seasons: between December and February, and between June and August, when conditions are particularly good for trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.