The remarkable 12 days Uganda safari starts and ends in Kampala/Entebbe, Central Uganda. This is a distinct African safari introducing you to the top destinations in Uganda, the pearl of Africa including Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth National Park and more.
Myriad of experiences and wildlife encounters await you on this long Uganda safari including game drives, boat cruise, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and canoe ride. Enjoy sight of diverse wildlife including the bush bucks, elephants, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, waterbucks, giraffes, zebras, and primates such as chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, black and white colobus monkeys.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Kampala/Entebbe city to Murchison Falls National Park (By car)
Day 3: A remarkable game drives & launch/boat cruise excursion with an expert
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale (explore the primate capital of the world with an expert)
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking plus afternoon excursion at Bigodi Wetland
Day 6: Leave Kibale Forest Park for Queen Elizabeth Park, launch cruise
Day 7: Game drive through Kasenyi Plains, depart for Bwindi via Ishasha
Day 8: Explore Bwindi rare mountain gorillas in the natural forest and visit the Batwa
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a leisurely canoe ride
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi to explore savanna plains of Lake Mburo NP
Day 11: Cycling & game drive
Day 12: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Upon landing at Entebbe Airport, find one of our company representatives ready to warmly welcome you into Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. Leave Entebbe International Airport after you have cleared with the authorities and you will be transferred to the hotel in Kampala city.
Overnight stay
- Luxury: Serena Hotel Kampala
- Midrange: Protea Hotel Kampala/Sheraton Hotel
- Budget: Yellow Haven Lodge
Day 2: Kampala/Entebbe city to Murchison Falls National Park (By car)
A delicious breakfast be enjoyed early morning and after, you will meet your driver guide for pick up and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park located in the Northwestern part of the country. Drive on Kampala-Gulu Highway, and en-route, expect to have a break at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Spend quality time exploring rhinos with an expert at Ziwa and also look out for several other wildlife species. After a successful rhino trek, continue to Masindi for lunch break and later, access Murchison Falls NP via Kichumbanyobo gate.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
- Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge/Red Chili Camp
Day 3: A remarkable game drives & launch/boat cruise excursion with an expert
A hefty breakfast will be offered right at your lodge and after, catch up with your guide fully prepared for your morning game drive. Through the northern game tracks, expect to come across abundant wildlife, especially large and small mammals in Murchison Falls NP including the Rothschild giraffes, cape buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, antelopes and avifaunal species.
A boat cruise excursion will be enjoyed in the afternoon with an expert onboard. You will cruise on the Victoria Nile while you head to the base of the falls. Enjoy sight of abundant aquatic species including hippos, crocodiles and water birds like grey throated, kingfishers, and fish eagles, etc.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge
- Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge/Red Chili Camp
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale (explore the primate capital of the world with an expert)
Leave Murchison Falls NP to Kibale taking the route that is characterized by breathtaking Albertine escarpments and dotted homesteads around Hoima area. Drive up to Fort Portal city for lunch break and later, proceed to the lodge around Kibale NP, home to 13 different primate species.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali/Papaya Lake Lodge
- Midrange: Primate Lodge/Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking plus afternoon excursion at Bigodi Wetland
An active chimpanzee trekking session begins in the morning after briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. The long chimp trek will run for 2-4 hours and you will be led by an experienced Kibale NP guide. Today’s primate adventure involves exploring how chimpanzees behave and taking pictures –chimps share up to 98% of their DNA with humans making them the closest human relatives in the wild.
The 795sq.km Kibale NP also supports many other primates including blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and a total of 375 species of birds. A guided nature walk through Bigodi will be conducted in the afternoon when you will be done with lunch.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali/Papaya Lake Lodge
- Midrange: Primate Lodge/Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge
Day 6: Leave Kibale Forest Park for Queen Elizabeth Park, launch cruise
After a hot cup of tea/coffee, exit Kibale for wildlife safari trip to Queen Elizabeth Park –home to the beautiful tree climbing lions. Located in Kasese, this park is most popular for its abundant mammal species and avifauna. Arrive early and enjoy a leisurely lunch, followed by an afternoon launch excursion with an expert. Explore Kazinga channel for 2 hours while keeping eyes on hippos, crocodiles and aquatic birds.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Elephant Plains Lodge/Twin Lake Lodge
- Budget: Simba Camp/Bush Lodge
Day 7: Game drive through Kasenyi Plains, depart for Bwindi via Ishasha
As early as 6:00am, leave your lodge for the morning game drive via Kasenyi Plains using a 4×4 safari vehicle. The morning sightings will range from elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes and abundant bird species.
From here, get back and have early lunch or carry it packed. Head off to Ishasha where you will have a short game drive mainly to see the tree climbing lions and later, have lunch. From Ishasha, connect up to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda’s premier mountain gorilla safari park.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Silverback Lodge/Mahogany Springs
- Midrange: Lake Kitandara Camp/Engagi Lodge
- Budget: Trekker’s Tavern/Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 8: Explore Bwindi rare mountain gorillas in the natural forest and visit the Batwa
Leave your lodge for briefing after a delicious breakfast and at the park offices meet with the park official. Over 20 families of gorillas exist in this park and only one will be trekked by you today in a group of 8 visitors, led by an experienced guide allocated to you.
The entire adventure goes for 2-6 hours and includes an hour of up close with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild. After, you will return and a certificate be awarded to you before you connect to the lodge for relaxation. The evening will be best ended with a guided Batwa cultural experience led by an experienced local guide.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Silverback Lodge/Mahogany Springs
- Midrange: Lake Kitandara Camp/Engagi Lodge
- Budget: Trekker’s Tavern/Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a leisurely canoe ride
Depart from Bwindi for Lake Bunyonyi, one of the iconic sites in Southwestern Uganda also perfect for swimming and relaxation. Arrive early for you to be provided a delicious lunch before you embark on a guided canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Bunyonyi @Birdnest
- Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- Budget: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi to explore savanna plains of Lake Mburo NP
Exit Lake Bunyonyi for Lake Mburo Park in Kiruhura district. This park shelters varied animal species, especially zebras, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, impalas, buffaloes, giraffes, elands, hippos, topis, hyenas, crocodiles, reedbucks and over 350 species of birds.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Mihingo/Mantana Lodge
- Midrange: Rwakobo Rock/Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
- Budget: Rwonyo Camp
Day 11: Cycling & game drive
Embark on an exciting cycling excursion through Lake Mburo NP with an expert. You will be exploring the different mammals on a bike and after, return to have a leisurely lunch. In the afternoon, immerse yourself once again into Lake Mburo NP savanna plains in search of its abundant wildlife including impalas, zebras, giraffes, elands, and diverse birds.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Mihingo/Mantana Lodge
- Midrange: Rwakobo Rock/Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
- Budget: Rwonyo Camp
Day 12: Departure
A tasty breakfast be enjoyed at the lodge and after, embark on exiting game drive through Lake Mburo Park. Enjoy sights of early risers and later, set off to Kampala/Entebbe in a 4×4 safari vehicle and en-route, make a stopover at the Equator crossing.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Rhino trekking
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permits
- Cultural experiences
- All trip activities as mentioned on this itinerary
- Accommodation
- Ground travel by a 4×4 vehicle
- Guide/driver services
Exclusions
- Tips
- Laundry services
- International airfares
- Hotel fees after/before the trip
- Beverages
- Visas
- Shopping