12 Days Uganda Safari

12 Days Uganda Safari

Safari Overview

Get ready for a sensational wilderness adventure as you embark on 12 Days Uganda safari. This signature Uganda safari package introduces you to some of the leading spots, each guaranteeing you amazing interaction with your lovely wildlife. Expect to begin your adventure from Entebbe or Kampala and connect to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The main experiences that you should expect to enjoy include game drives and boat cruise excursions. Game drives offer an amazing opportunity for you to explore your dream wildlife in their respective savanna habitat including Big 5 game. Boat tours allow you explore the aquatic animals including the Nile crocodiles, hippos, and water birds.

Chimpanzee tracking/trekking and mountain gorilla trekking are the key primate adventures to experience as per this itinerary. Expect to see not only chimpanzees and mountain gorillas, but also several other primates such as black and white colobus monkeys. Get in touch with our expert to customize your dream 12 Days Uganda safari plan.

The Highlights of the 12 Days Uganda Safari

1. Visit Murchison Falls National Park- Uganda’s biggest Game Park & also home to the world’s powerful waterfalls.
2. Embark on gorilla trekking in the dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest –a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park –Observe the tree-climbing lions & myriad of hippo population.
4. Immerse yourself into the scenic Kibale Forest on chimpanzee trekking.
5. Visit Lake Mburo National Park –best spot for cycling, horseback riding, bush walking, and quad biking.
6. Encounter the white rhinos in the wild on Ziwa Rhino safari.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe for a Uganda safari

Take a flight up to the Entebbe International Airport –EBB and meet our expert. Before you exit the airport, you will be taken through the immigration and the driver guide will transfer you to the pre-booked accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala.

Entebbe lies adjacent to the shores of Lake Victoria, one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes. Within Entebbe, there are myriad of places worthy visiting in case one has time and include the Botanical gardens, Entebbe zoo, and reptile village.

Meal plan: Bed and breakfast

Day 2: Depart Entebbe for Murchison Falls National Park & Rhino trekking en route

Start the bright day with a heavy breakfast and later meet the driver guide in Uganda. Today, you will be accessing Murchison in a 4WD vehicle on the Kampala-Gulu route and this also comes with en route visit to Ziwa Sanctuary.

A successful trek with Ziwa rhinos will go for about 2 hours and you proceed to Masindi for lunch. The final drive will be to Murchison National Park via Kichumbanyobo gate and expect to pass via the cool Kaniyo-Pabidi (Budongo Forest).

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s iconic destination and sits on 3840 sq. km of surface area. This vast park protects diverse attractions including hippos, Nile crocodiles, Uganda Kobs, warthogs, buffaloes, elephants, Rothschild giraffes, and hartebeests. Within the same habitats, there reside over 451 species of birds.

The iconic Murchison Waterfalls should be a must-visit on this tour for you to witness how massive volume of water forcefully pass a narrow rock measuring 7m then cascades down 45m.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3: Full day experiences to enjoy (game drives & boat cruise)

Leave your safari lodge for an enriching game drive session along the Northern circuit. Expect to find diverse animals including buffaloes, elephants, leopards, warthogs, lions, and different antelopes –such as Oribis, Jackson hartebeest, and Uganda Kobs, etc.

After the morning game drive, you can return and have lunch. The afternoon excursion includes a boat tour on the Victoria Nile River till the base of the falls. As you wind through the Nile River, expect to observe hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer by road to Kibale

Enjoy an early morning breakfast, then check out of your accommodation. Today, you will be heading to Kibale National Park through the Hoima route.  En route, get a chance to view the breathtaking Rift Valley escarpments as you proceed to Fort Portal. In the Fort Portal area, you will be viewing the extensive tea farms or have a brief stopover and interact with the tea farm staff. Continue to Fort Portal city to enjoy lunch and then transfer to the lodge.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi Sanctuary walk & Relaxation

It is time to embark on chimpanzee trek and today, you will first report to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre to get briefing. The actual visit to see Kibale chimpanzees begins at around 8:00 am and the park ranger guide will be present to lead you through. As you navigate through the different habitats of Kibale, expect to come across other primates and birds. After you have located the chimpanzees and spent one hour with them, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

Bigodi sanctuary walk will start in the afternoon and you will be led by an experienced community guide from Bigodi. While walking through the Bigodi path, you will be spotting more primates, birds, and butterflies.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 6: Morning drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Kikorongo

Get up early to organize yourself and today, you will be transferred safely to Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you head to Queen Elizabeth Park, you will be viewing some spectacular Crater Lakes and the Rwenzori Mountains. A stopover for photography or water experiment will be made upon arrival at the Kikorongo Equator Monument.

At Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will be having a memorable boat tour in the afternoon. Explore aquatic life that survive along the Kazinga channel including hippos, Nile crocodiles, and birds.

Note, Queen Elizabeth National Park lies along the foot of the East African rift valley, Western Uganda. The park stretches up to 1978 sq. km and contains over 620 bird species, diverse mammals including the tree-climbing lions.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7: Kasenyi & Ishasha game drives

After breakfast, expect to embark on the sunrise game viewing starting from the Kasenyi track. In a special 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop up roof, you will be viewing a great population of your favorite animals such as African elephants, buffaloes, lions, warthogs, and antelopes. After you have experienced what Kasenyi has to offer, get back and check out. Leave Kasenyi sector for Ishasha in the Southern end for a second game drive.

Along the Ishasha, you will be searching for the tree-climbing lions, topis, and different birds. Return and settle for leisure time in your respective accommodation at the Ishasha sector.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 8: Morning game drive & continue to Bwindi

Enjoy an early morning breakfast and check out of the Ishasha accommodation property. Set off for a game drive to look out for the early risers. Get a chance to explore more of the Ishasha wildlife species and also birds. After the game drive, continue to your respective lodges in Bwindi National Park, Kigezi region.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 9: Gorilla trekking –Connect with Silverback Gorillas

Today is specifically dedicated for gorilla trekking experience. First, you will assemble at the park offices to get orientation on gorilla tracking regulations and allocation of gorilla groups plus ranger guides. The actual visit to see Bwindi mountain gorillas is expected to commence at around 8:00 am and can last for 2 to 6 hours. Later, you will get back and have great time at the lodge. Afternoon duration will be for visiting the Batwa pygmies –the true forest inhabitants.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 10: Visit Lake Bunyonyi –Boat ride

Leave Bwindi for Lake Bunyonyi which is dominated by 29 islands including the historical Punishment Island. A guided boat excursion will be enjoyed to one of the islands and in the evening, you will be having fun time at the lodge while viewing the spectacular lake.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo –Boat cruise

After breakfast, depart from Lake Bunyonyi for Lake Mburo National Park in Kiruhura. Arrive early and you enjoy lunch in the lodge. After, you will catch up with a memorable boat cruise on Lake Mburo which is to take about 2-3 hours.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 12: Early morning game drive/Bush walk & Depart

Today, expect to embark on a rewarding game drive to explore the diverse wildlife in Lake Mburo National Park.  This park is famous for zebras, oribis, Uganda Kobs, Giraffes, topis, elands, leopards, buffaloes, and over 350 bird species. After the game drive or bush walk, you will return to Entebbe but have en route stopover at the Kayabwe Equator crossing.

End of 12 Safari in Uganda

Inclusions

• Park entry fees
• Gorilla & chimp permits
• Boat cruise & game drives
• Rhino tracking tour
• Bottled drinking water in a safari vehicle
• Any relevant government taxes in Uganda
• Transportation on Uganda safari
• Driver guide/park ranger guide services
• Accommodation for 11 nights, inclusive of meals

Exclusions

• Uganda Visa
• International flight services
• All optional activities & extra accommodation
• Tipping the driver, waiters/waitresses, etc.
• Expenses incurred from telephone calls
• Insurance expenses
• Passport expenses