12-Day Wildlife Safari Uganda

Safari Overview

The 12-Day Wildlife Safari Uganda lets you get up close and meet the primates of Uganda – Chimpanzees and Gorillas in the dense tropical forests of Kibale and Bwindi National Park.  Get immersed in the Gorilla Highlands Culture on the Crest at Lake Bunyonyi. Get enchanted by the explosive majestic Murchison Falls, the Medley of Wonders in Queen Elizabeth, and Lake Mburo National Park, and look out for the impressive wildlife

Safari Highlights 12-Day Wildlife Safari Uganda

• The Mighty Murchison Falls
• Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest 
• Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary 
• Lion Experiential Project and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth NP 
• Tree climbing lions in Ishasha Sector 
• Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park 
• Culture on the Crest in Gorilla Highlands Region 
• Nature walk, and Night Game drive in Lake Mburo NP
• Mid-range Accommodations

Tour Itinerary 12 Day Wildlife Safari Uganda

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport

You will be welcomed by a Company Representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the Papyrus Guest House(B&B).

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park 

After breakfast at 7:00 a.m., you will be on your way North to Murchison Falls National Park. Have a stop-over at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda Have an optional stop at the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

The Rhino trek takes 1-2 hours and you will get an opportunity of viewing them at close quarters. After lunch, you will proceed to your place for an overnight stay at Fort Murchison.

Day 3: Game Safari and Boat Cruise to the bottom of the falls.

Breakfast at 6:30 am and then set off for a game safari that can last 3 hours, look out for chances of seeing giraffes, elephants, lions, hartebeest, and different species of birds.

Have lunch and thereafter head to the jetty for the boat cruise on the Victoria Nile to the bottom of Murchison Falls at 14:00 hrs. This cruise is also a wildlife experience with sightings of wallowing buffaloes, schools of hippopotami, large Nile crocodiles, elephants, and plenty of water birds – fish eagles, and various storks among others. 

Later return to your place for an overnight stay. Accommodation and meals at Fort Murchison.

Day 4: Transfer to Fort portal

After breakfast, head west to Fort Portal, with lunch en route. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon” and is famous for its many tea plantations. From this lovely town, we will continue southwest of Uganda for Kibale National Park, taking in the scenic views of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley during your travel. Accommodation and Meals at Turaco TreeTops

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and nature walk at Bigodi

Following the pre-tracking briefing at 7:30 a.m. you walk to the trailhead for the start of an unforgettable adventure –enjoy a guided primate walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, and many others. 

The treks are generally 3-4 hours; expect good sightings of chimps in their natural environment.  A maximum of 6 people per group will head out with a forest ranger guide to trek chimpanzees.

Spend an unforgettable hour with the chimpanzees watching them go through their daily routine in their natural habitat. Head back for lunch at the lodge and thereafter head to Bigodi Swamp Walk, an initiative of the local community known for its rich diversity of birds and primates.

This wetland is a great attraction for birders with over 200 bird species, including the popular Great Blue Turaco. Accommodation and Meals at Turaco TreeTops

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Boat cruise Kazinga Channel 

Wake-up call from the beautiful sounds of birds in the park, proceed through beautiful Western Uganda heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park with famous wildlife like hippos, buffaloes, elephants, kobs, and several bird species. 

After lunch,  have a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. Thanks to the abundant birdlife that is sighted, and the elephants, buffaloes, and hundreds of hippos that are cooling off at the shores, this cruise is one of the highlights of your safari. 

After the boat cruise, head out for a coffee tour experience learning about the processing of coffee, and later a cultural dance session. Accommodation and Meals at the Bush Lodge

Day 7: Lion Experiential Tour  – Ishasha sector – Tree climbing lions

After breakfast, head for the lion research project that allows visitors to participate in monitoring the pride in the park, using locator devices and learning habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings, and behavior. 

The Lion Project involves the clients and the researchers heading as early as 6:30 a.m. with a safari vehicle equipped with radio-collar-receiving equipment to keep track of the lions.   

Later head for Ishasha sector, home of the popular tree-climbing lions. You shall first check in at the lodge for lunch and thereafter head for the game drive in search of the tree-climbing lions as they cling to the fig trees.

Other animals like the kobs, elephants, and buffaloes may be spotted. Accommodation and Meals at Ishasha Jungle Lodge.

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Enjoy a warm breakfast and have another game en route in the Ishasha sector in search of the tree-climbing lions (Optional) this will give you such an amazing experience as you can see the tree-climbing lions hanging on the old fig trees. , later head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to have a late lunch after check-in, relax, and have personal time. Accommodation and Meals at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Day 9: Gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Following breakfast, transfer to the national park offices where you will be allocated a gorilla family in group 8 as well as a gorilla tracking guide. After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide, you drive to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure.

Expect to walk between 2 and 8 hours in steep and slippery conditions at times with rain overhead. Upon sighting the gorillas, you spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; feeding, moving around, playing, and grooming– it is a unique and unforgettable experience!

Thereafter head back to the lodge for relaxation. Accommodation and Meals at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi famously known as “The Little Switzerland of Africa”

After breakfast to Lake Bunyonyi arriving in time for lunch at the Lodge. After lunch, you will embark on a 5-hour experience on the Kyabahinga Peninsula.

You will canoe across the bay to the terraced hillsides of the Kyabahinga peninsula. Have a stopover at Edirisa Nursery School and then proceed to climb the slopes of Kyabahinga for about 30 minutes to the top of the hill. 

Get to meet Omugurusi Jeremiah, a traditional healer, and a well-known herbalist who will share with us some carefully chosen secrets of tropical highland flora. Kyabahinga is uniquely located with an outlook over most of Lake Bunyonyi, its 29 islands, and the distant Muhavura volcano.

You will hear some of the colorful tales, legends, and historical facts related to these islands. Thereafter proceed to the ridge where you will find a home of a crafts maker who will demonstrate how the crafts are made, which you can try out as well. 

A descent down the hill and a short canoe ride will bring you back to our starting point. Accommodation and Meals at Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park Cycling Session

After a relaxed breakfast, you will check out and embark on a journey to Lake Mburo National Park passing through the impressive landscape of South-Western Uganda. 

You will have lunch and relaxation at the lodge.  Embark on a 2-hour cycling session to explore the valleys outside the park and visit with the local communities accompanied by a guide, look out for wildlife as well.

After an early dinner head out for a 2-hour night game drive in the park. Look out for White-tailed mongoose, elusive leopards, and spotted hyenas among others, later return to the lodge.

Accommodation and Meals at Rwakobo Rock Lodge

Day 12: Early morning nature walk – Entebbe

Early morning bush walk along the hyena track for a 2-hour hike, hikes through the woodland provide an opportunity to sight forest birds and mammals. heading back to Entebbe and lunch en route.

Depending on your flight time, you may have a refreshment room before transferring to the airport for your onward flight back home.  

Included in the 12-Day Wildlife Safari Uganda

• Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD with gasoline/fuel,
• Mineral water in the vehicle,
• Services of an English speaking Driver/guide,
• Accommodation as shown at the lodges mentioned in the itinerary,
• Meals as shown (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner),
• All Park Entrance Fees,
• Gorilla Trekking Permits-once 
• Chimpanzee Tracking permits

Excluded in the 12-Day Wildlife Safari Uganda

• International Airfares; Excess baggage charges;
• Ugandan Entry Visa Fees
• Beverages, Communications charges (telephone, fax, internet), Laundry, etc.;
• Tips and Gratuities for your Driver/guide and hotel staff
• Optional activities unless specified as included,
• Any other services not expressly shown in the itinerary or indicated as included.