Amazing Experience on this 12-day Safari in Uganda – Experience 12 days in Uganda, an East African nation, where you encounter primates, enjoy the cool climate, and fall in love with the surrounding landscape. Explore the country’s central and southern regions, home to unparalleled tourism sites.
Travel to Uganda’s Lake Bunyonyi and the wonderland of Murchison National Park for game drives and boat cruises, Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Swamp walks, Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and boat cruises, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking experiences. This journey by car begins and ends in Entebbe.
Detailed Trip
Day 1: Arrival and Kampala City Experience
Meet our company representative to begin your 12-day safari in Uganda. Explore Kampala, its oldest capital and commercial hub. Visit neighborhood markets for trip supplies and practice your bargaining skills. Tour the Uganda National Museum, Gadhafi Mosque, and other local sites including Independence monuments to learn about the nation’s history. Enjoy lunch in the area before retiring to the hotel for dinner and rest.
Day 2: Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
After a delicious breakfast at the lodge, depart for Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s oldest and largest park located in the country’s north. The journey takes 5 to 6 hours through bustling towns, plantations, and scattered homesteads.
Take an hour-long break to track rhinos, members of the Big Five, at the Ziwah Rhino Sanctuary. After rhino tracking, proceed to Masindi town for lunch before returning to your lodge for refreshments, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Start your day with breakfast before embarking on a 3–4 hour wildlife drive in the park. An expert ranger guide will lead you, providing insights into the park and its inhabitants. Spot a variety of wildlife including antelope species, leopards, herds of buffalo and elephants, giraffes, and more. Return to the lodge for lunch and refreshments after spotting unique flora like the whistling acacia and birds such as geese, Egyptian geese, egrets, and more.
After lunch, enjoy a two-hour boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls, the world’s most powerful waterfalls. Cruise along the Nile River and spot hippos, crocodiles, and various aquatic and bird species including elephants and waterbucks. Experience the thunderous roar of the falls as water squeezes through the 7-meter-wide gorge into the Nile. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight rest.
Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park
Check out after breakfast and travel to Kibale Forest National Park, home to over 13 primate species, predominantly chimpanzees. The journey, including a lunch break, takes about 7-8 hours. Arrive late in the day for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge before heading to the park headquarters for a pre-trek briefing on chimpanzees and other primate species in Kibale Forest National Park. Receive guidelines for trekking, such as maintaining a distance from apes, remaining silent, and respecting park regulations.
The trek lasts between one to five hours depending on speed and fitness level, offering chances to encounter primates like vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, and more. After chimpanzee trekking, take a lunch break followed by a walk around Bigodi Swamp, a Ramsar site supporting local communities. Encounter baboons, diverse bird species, and locals in their daily routines before returning to the lodge for refreshments, dinner, and rest.
Day 6: Kibale Forest to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Start the day with a hearty breakfast at the lodge before departing for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The scenic drive of approximately two to three hours offers views of lush vegetation and diverse wildlife.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most renowned park, boasts abundant vegetation and fauna. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge for lunch. Enjoy optional activities such as guided nature walks, birdwatching, and lion tracking before dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
After breakfast, embark on a 3–4-hour game drive with your driver-guide through Kisenyi and other areas of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Spot various bird species, primates, and mammals engaged in feeding, resting, or hunting. Encounter famous park residents such as lions, cape buffaloes, African elephants, numerous antelope species, and warthogs.
Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation before a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. Enjoy the serene lake breeze while observing hippos, crocodiles, and diverse water birds and wildlife. After completing the day’s activities, including dinner, retire for the night.
Day 8: Sunrise Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Set out before sunrise for a bush exploration capturing nocturnal hunters like hyenas, lions, and leopards as they retreat and grazers including various antelope species, elephant herds, and buffaloes begin to feed on fresh grass. While predator sightings are based on luck, a successful day promises a memorable experience.
Return to the lodge for breakfast following the three to four-hour drive before departing for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the world’s largest population of mountain gorillas. En route, spot tree-climbing lions lounging atop fig trees in the Ishasha sector.
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Begin your day early with coffee before arriving at the park for a pre-trek briefing by an experienced ranger guide on gorillas, trekking guidelines, and more. Pack lunch, trekking essentials, and gear. Depending on the gorilla family’s location, embark on a trekking journey guided by park rangers.
While challenging, gorilla trekking is rewarding. Spend an hour observing gorillas at a proximity of about 7 meters, capturing photos and enjoying their natural habitat. Focus on photographing the silverback’s demeanor and the nurturing behaviors of mothers and juveniles amidst lush greenery.
Lunch is served in the forest before returning to the lodge on foot. Encounter diverse tree species, birds, and forest inhabitants while guided by rangers. Conclude the day with dinner and a peaceful night’s sleep.
Day 10: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, depart for Lake Bunyonyi via Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Known as Africa’s second Switzerland for its beauty, tranquility, and attractiveness, Lake Bunyonyi hosts numerous bird species amidst verdant forests.
The scenic drive of approximately 3–4 hours offers views of rolling hills, picturesque landscapes, and flourishing flora. Check in at your hotel, enjoy lunch, and unwind until evening. Conclude the day with dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the lodge before embarking on a canoe trip on Lake Bunyonyi. Explore the lake’s 29 surrounding hills and visit the former penal island, historically used for punishing women accused of adultery. Canoeing offers a serene and safe experience, guided by knowledgeable local guides.
Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s deepest freshwater lake, is home to diverse bird species and offers opportunities for birdwatching, photography, and optional activities such as nature walks. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and rest.
Day 12: Departure to Kampala
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge before checking out and transferring to the airport or your next destination. The journey offers breathtaking views of wildlife and vast plantations, concluding your memorable safari in Uganda.
