12 Days Uganda Safari (Gorillas, Chimps, & Wildlife)

The 12 Days Uganda Safari is a well-curated safari package that takes visitors to five of the best safari destinations in the country; Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This safari is designed to give you the best of Uganda as it will allow you to experience all the top safari activities in the country, including mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, game drives in the parks, rhino tracking on foot, and boat cruises along wildlife-rich waterways. Besides wildlife Adventures, visitors also get a chance to witness the majestic Murchison Falls (the strongest waterfalls in the world) and embark on different cultural tours.

This safari is designed to allow visitors to experience the best of Uganda while staying in mid-range accommodation facilities. The accommodation included in the package is carefully selected and offers excellent services to visitors. If you are looking forward to visiting Uganda for your next adventure or holiday in Africa, consider this 12 Days Uganda Safari.

Detailed 12 Days Uganda Safari itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Uganda and transfer to hotel in Entebbe

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Entebbe. Our representative will pick you up at the Airport and then transfer you to the hotel. You’ll check in at the hotel and rest. You’ll have breakfast at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight in Entebbe.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House

Day 2 — Travel to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino tracking & Top of the Falls Visit

After breakfast, depart to Murchison Falls National Park. You’ll make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a rhino tracking experience. The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can see the endangered rhinoceros. You’ll enjoy viewing these majestic creatures just a few meters away, as the ranger guide offers you some educational information about their behavior among others. There are opportunities for filming and photographing them in the wild. After the trek, you’ll enjoy lunch. After lunch and rhino tracking, you’ll proceed with a drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit the top of Murchison Falls for an opportunity to witness the large Nile River squeeze through a narrow gorge (7 meters) before plunging 45 meters down with a thunderous roar. After this experience, continue with a drive to your lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Paara Safari Lodge

Day 3 — Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, go for an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park for opportunities to see lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos among others. The game drive experience will take you through different tracks in the park for a memorable wildlife viewing experience. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest.

After lunch take a boat cruise to the base of the falls for wildlife and bird viewing opportunities. As you cruise along the Nile River, you’ll see different wildlife species including schools of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many others at the river banks. Later, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Paara Safari Lodge

Day 4 — Transfer to Fort Portal (Kibale National Park)

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on the journey to Kibale National Park. Drive south to Fort Portal through the Albertine Rift. Lunch will be enroute to Kibale National Park.

Arrive in the late afternoon and proceed to your booked safari lodge. Check in at the lodge. Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tabebuia Spa & Resort

Day 5 — Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest & Nature Walk at Bigodi

Following an early morning breakfast at the lodge, go for a chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale National Park. Arrive at the park headquarters and join other visitors for a briefing session. After the briefing, you’ll embark on the trek, looking for these beautiful creatures. After locating the chimpanzees, you’ll spend about 1 hour observing them. You’ll have opportunities to film and photograph them. After 1 hour of observing these primates, you’ll trek back to the park headquarters.

As you trek through the forest, you’ll also encounter several other primate species including baboons, Red colobus monkey, Black-and-white colobus monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Red-tailed monkey, Blue monkey, and Vervet monkey among others. You’ll also witness different bird species in the forest.

After the trek, return to the lodge for a refreshing meal and a short rest. In the afternoon, go for a guided nature walk at Bigodi Wetland. This place is popular for primate and birdwatching opportunities. You’ll also enjoy a cultural experience while here. Later return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tabebuia Spa & Resort

Day 6 — Transfer to Queen and afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

After a leisurely breakfast at the lodge, check out and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive at the park in the afternoon and drive to your booked safari lodge. Check in at the lodge and enjoy lunch.

After lunch, go for a 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, excellent for hippos, birds, and water wildlife. The Kazinga Channel is home to one of the highest hippo populations in Africa. You’ll enjoy viewing different other wildlife species at the riverbanks, including elephants, waterbucks, and Nile crocodiles, among others. After the boat cruise, drive to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 7 — Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early morning breakfast at the lodge, go for a morning game drive searching for lions, elephants, buffalo, antelopes, and more. The game drive in the park gives you an opportunity to explore the vast savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park and its abundant wildlife. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest.

In the afternoon, go for another scenic game drive in the park. Later return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 8 — Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions & Transfer to Bwindi

After an early morning breakfast at the lodge, check out and drive south via the Ishasha sector, known for tree-climbing lions. You’ll explore this area for an opportunity to see the lions before proceeding with your drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon. Check in at the lodge and relax.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge

Day 9 — Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

After an early morning breakfast, go to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking experience. The adventure starts with a briefing session where park officials provide you with safety tips, trekking guidelines, and rules before entering the forest. After the briefing, you’ll be put in groups of 8 members, and each group will be allocated a gorilla family.

Following the lead of your ranger guide, enter the forest and search for the mountain gorillas. After you locate the gorillas in the forest, you’ll spend up to 60 minutes with a habituated gorilla group. The whole trek may last anywhere between 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of your allocated gorilla group. Later, return to the lodge for a refreshing meal. In the afternoon, you can go for an optional cultural tour (at an extra cost).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge

Day 10 — Lake Bunyonyi Exploration

After breakfast, drive to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most stunning destinations in Uganda, popular for its large number of Islands (29) and for being the second-deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika. You’ll arrive and check in at your hotel.

Enjoy a relaxing stay. Later in the afternoon, go for a boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi to explore different Islands. You’ll also be able to catch the beautiful sunset. Later return to the hotel for dinner an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Birdnest Resort

Day 11 — Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on a transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for game drive. Arrive in the afternoon and check in at the lodge. You’ll then go for a game drive in Lake Mburo, which offers great birdwatching and wildlife viewing. Later return to the Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mpogo Safari Lodge

Day 12 — Transfer back to Entebbe

After an early morning breakfast at the lodge, go for a guided nature walk in the park to walk amongst wildlife like giraffes, zebras, and several others. After the guided nature walk, return to the lodge. You’ll then check out and start your journey back to Entebbe, arriving just in time to proceed to the airport for your flight back home.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch