Experience the very best of Uganda on this immersive 12 Day wildlife safari that showcases the country’s incredible biodiversity. You will Explore Uganda’s most celebrated national parks, enjoy thrilling game drives in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, leopards, and countless other wildlife species, cruise along scenic rivers and lakes, trek chimpanzees in lush tropical forests, and come face-to-face with endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. From the thunderous Murchison Falls to the wildlife-rich savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the mist-covered forests of southwestern Uganda, this journey delivers an unforgettable blend of classic African safaris and extraordinary primate encounters.
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda for your 12 Days Safari
On your arrival at Entebbe international airport, the main entry point for flights into Uganda, you will find our professional driver guide waiting to meet you. You will then be transferred to your hotel for rest and relaxation. Later, if time allows, drive to Entebbe botanical gardens that are found on the shore of Lake Victoria for a walking safari. Botanical gardens are home to some primates, such as Vervet monkeys, and several bird species.
The walking safari will also lead you to the shores of Lake Victoria where you will spot some water birds, enjoy the fresh breezes from the lake as you get acclimatized to the surrounding. Lake Victoria is the largest water body in Africa and also the second largest fresh water body in the world. It is shared by three East African countries which are Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park – stopover at Ziwa for rhino trekking – Visit top of falls
On day 2, start your drive to Murchison Falls national park, found in northwestern Uganda, about 320 km from Kampala. It is the largest and most visited park in Uganda due to its diverse activities and rich wildlife. It covers an area of around 1,503 square miles, with the largest number of Roskilde giraffe and crocodiles in Uganda. This park is renowned it’s most powerful waterfall in the World; the Murchison falls.
On your way to Murchison Falls National Park, you will visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, proudly known to harbor Uganda’s wild and endangered rhinos. The sanctuary is located in Nakasongola District, about 3 hours’ drive from Kampala. The rhino tracking experience is an impressively unique activity that allows you to encounter rhinos up close to their feet at a distance of about 6 to 7 meters. You will continue the drive to Murchison Falls national park with an enroute stopover in Masindi. On arrival at the park, drive to the top of falls and experience the thunderous Murchison falls and watch it as it squeezes it’s way out through a narrow gorge. Then continue to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Full day in Murchison Falls with Game drive and Boat Cruise
Wake up for an early morning breakfast and prepare yourself for another exciting encounter. Day 2 of your safari starts with an early morning game drive through different trails of the park like Buligi trail, Albert trail and the Victoria trail. During the game drive, you will meet eye to eye with different mammal species. For example, the elephants, Buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes, bushbucks among others. Then return to your lodge for relaxation and lunch. Later in the afternoon, head out on an afternoon boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls. While on the cruise, you will see the Nile crocodiles resting on the shores, herds of hippos, and also spot bird species like the black bee eater, marabou stork, grey crowned crane, and many others. Thereafter, return to your lodge for relaxation as you await your dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Drive to Kibale National Park
Upon waking up, you will have a hearty breakfast and then check out of your lodge. Then proceed with your safari to Kibale Forest National Park, the park is popular for its high concentration of primates with 13 different species, including the highest population of habituated chimpanzees.
Other primates here include the uncommon the L’Hoest’s monkeys, the Black & White Colobus, Red Colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Uganda Red Colobus, Patas monkeys, and potto, among others. The park is also home to over 375 bird species and other mammals such as bushbucks, bush pigs, blue duikers, Sitatungas, Giant Forest hogs, leopards, different mongooses and others.
Have a stopover in Fort Portal for lunch and then proceed with the rest of the journey.
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Community Walk
On this day 5, wake up very early in the morning for breakfast and then meet your safari guide and proceed to the park information offices. You will have a briefing by the park rangers about the do’s and don’ts while in the forest. Thereafter, start the forest walk in search of a habituated family of chimps. Chimpanzees are our closest cousins sharing 98.8% of human DNA. During the forest walk, you will encounter many other primates and wildlife species, and your ranger guide will be able to give you a lot of interesting information about them.
Once you find these chimpanzees, you will spend with them a maximum of one hour watching how they play, feed and also take care of their young ones.
Later, proceed for the Bigodi community tour. This walk, will take you through the nearby community to have a chance to interact with local people and also learn how they harmoniously live with wildlife species. You will enjoy experiences like making gins from bananas, brewing coffee right from the garden upto the cup, and making art crafts. Then return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 6: Crater lake Exploration
Start your day with a crater lake exploration tour where you will have a chance to visit over five of the area craters with the most scenic view. The crater lake exploration tour will take you through villages, lush forests, a waterfall, and also a short hike to the ‘Top of the World’ view point. Kibale Forest National Park is a dream destination in Uganda to explore the crater lakes that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Thereafter, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the most beautiful, scenic destinations in Uganda. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including African elephants, buffalo, hippopotamus, Ugandan kob, waterbuck, giant forest hog, warthog, topi, Nile crocodile, leopard, among others. On arrival at the park, you may want to have a brief game drive as you proceed to your Lodge.
Day 7: Morning game drive and Boat Cruise on Kazinga channel
On day 7, you will wake up for a delicious breakfast and then head out for an early morning game drive to catch the early risers. For example, Lions and Leopards.
Expect to spot several mammals such as Cape buffaloes, several Antelope species, Elephants and a collection of bird species both resident and migratory. Return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. Later you will head out for an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel. This channel is a magnet for all wildlife species in the park because it is the main water supply of the park and it boasts a variety of bird species. While here you will spot Hippos, crocodiles, Caped buffaloes and many other species.
Return to the lodge for your dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha sector for Tree climbing Lions
On day 8 of your 12 days Uganda safari, you will wake up for breakfast and check out. Thereafter, proceed with your safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park via Ishasha sector and search for the tree climbing lions. And then proceed with the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and one of Uganda’s oldest rainforests. Bwindi is home to about 500 mountain gorillas and 120 mammal species and over 350 bird species.
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking Experience and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Today, wake up for the renowned Gorilla Trekking Experience. Have breakfast and have your packed lunch boxes in your backpacks. Then transfer to the park headquarters for briefing on the do’s and don’ts while in the forest. You will be divided into groups of 8 people and allocated a gorilla family to trek, and thereafter start the search for the mountain gorillas. Once you encounter the mountain gorilla family, the excitement of seeing them in their natural habitat will outweigh the hardships you went through while searching for them. You will spend 1 full hour in their presence. Use this time to learn about their behaviors, how they socialize, and be excited by their actions, like the playful babies, mothers grooming their babies, and Mr. Silverback watching over the family. Then, you will return to the starting point to receive your mountain gorilla trekking certificate in appreciation of your contribution to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda.
Proceed to Lake Bunyonyi, one of the beautiful places in Uganda to relax after encountering the magical mountain gorillas. Arrive and check in for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi and then Transfer to Lake Mburo for Night game drive
Today, wake up and leisure and have breakfast with the most beautiful views of the Virunga volcanoes. During the ride, you will visit the different islands in the lake. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by 29 islands and each of them has its own unique and interesting story behind it.
After the ride, start your journey to Lake Mburo National Park with a stopover for lunch. Thereafter, proceed with the journey to the park and check in. Have dinner and then head out for the evening to night game drive. You will spot a variety of Nocturnals like the spotted hyenas, leopards, African rock pythons, civets, porcupines, and bush babies, among others. Thereafter, return to your lodge for the night.
Day 11: Walking Safari – And Evening Cattle Milking Experience
Wake up very early in the morning to have breakfast and then head out for a walking safari to enjoy the park on foot. Exploring the park on foot is the most sustainable way to protect nature for the future generation. During your walking safari, the ranger guide will narrate to you the most interesting stories about the park and will help you spot several wildlife species. These include Impalas, Warthog, Zebras, Olive baboon, Giraffes among others. After the morning walking safari, return to your lodge to relax for the day. Later at sunset, you will visit a cattle farm and have a hands-on milking experience. Use this time to connect with the community. You’ll also learn about the daily activities on the farm, as well as the products obtained from the livestock and how they benefit the local community.
Day 12: Horseback Riding and Transfer back to Entebbe for Departure
On this day final day, you will have your final breakfast in the bush and then go for a relaxed horseback riding experience in the park. During this safari, you will have opportunities to view animals like Zebras, Impalas, Elands, giraffes among others. Leave Lake Mburo and drive back to your lodge to refresh, have lunch and then check out and start your journey back to Entebbe international airport to conclude your African safari. You will have a stopover at the Equator point at Kayabwe for some souvenirs before you proceed with the journey.