The 12 days Uganda safari is one of the best long African safari packages and is expertly designed suiting your travel desires. This trip plan covers several wilderness experiences like chimpanzee tracking, game drives in the 2 premier savanna parks in Uganda, mountain gorilla trekking, launch cruise along the Victoria Nile and Kazinga channel; cultural tour, nature walk and so much more.

Destinations to be explored on this travel plan are cautiously chosen by the expert and include Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Bigodi Wetland, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Park. This unusual Uganda trip will begin and end in Kampala.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Hotel – Transfer to Murchison Falls – Zziwa rhino tracking

Day 2: Morning game drive – Afternoon launch cruise at the bottom of the falls

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking – Visit Bigodi swamp

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – Launch cruise along the Kazinga channel

Day 6: Lion tracking – Transfer to Ishasha for Afternoon game drive

Day 7: Game drive in Ishasha sector – Transfer to Bwindi national park

Day 8: Mountain gorilla trekking – visit Batwa Pygmies

Day 9: Golden monkey tracking

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and island tour

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo – boat ride – night game drive

Day 12: Nature walk in the park / game drive – Transfer to Kampala

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pickup from Hotel – Transfer to Murchison Falls – Zziwa rhino tracking

Have a delicious breakfast at the hotel in Kampala and after, you will be transferred to Murchison Falls National Park –home to 4 of the big 5 game and the world’s powerful waterfall. Located in northwestern Uganda, accessing Murchison Falls National Park involves traveling along the Kampala-Gulu highway.

En-route to Murchison Falls Park comes with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for you to enjoy a guided rhino trek. After the trek with rhinos, proceed to Masindi for lunch and later go straight to Murchison Falls National Park to check in your lodge.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Murchison River Lodge
  • Budget: Red Chili Camp

Day 2: Morning game drive – Afternoon launch cruise at the bottom of the falls

You will be picked up by an experienced driver guide and today, head off for an exciting game drive. In a 4×4 safari vehicle, expect to see variety of wildlife including African bush elephants, giraffes, lions, Uganda kobs, hartebeest, oribis, and others.

You will get back and lunch will be provided later in the afternoon. After, proceed to Paraa jetty where your exciting water sport will begin from. This involves exploring the Nile River waters along the Victoria Nile as you head to Murchison Falls. Myriad of aquatic species will be encountered including hippos, crocodiles and birds.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Murchison River Lodge
  • Budget: Red Chili Camp

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park

Begin your journey from Murchison Falls Park to Kibale National Park in Western Uganda. It will be 7-8 hours’ drive while you navigate via the region with breathtaking Great Rift Valley escarpments and on arrival at Fort Portal tourism city, you will enjoy lunch. Leave Fort Portal to check in your accommodation where you will have a relaxed evening.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
  • Midrange: Primate Lodge
  • Budget: Isunga Lodge

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking – Visit Bigodi swamp

After breakfast, head off to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for you to be registered at the reservation desk. Join other guests for briefing about chimpanzee tracking regulations and later, you will be led by an experienced park ranger guide to search for chimpanzees. Within Kibale along, over 1500 chimpanzees freely roam in the park’s lush tropical forest together with 12 other primate species.

On your chimpanzee trek, expect to spend a maximum of an hour upon meeting a chimpanzee community in the wild. Use this period to capture the best pictures and ensure, you are using a camera free of a flashlight.

You will also stand a chance to see other primates in Kibale including olive baboons, mangabeys, red tailed monkeys, pottos, colobus monkeys, and more. This park also protects over 375 species of birds and some of them will be spotted during today’s chimp trek.

In the afternoon, you will spice your chimp trek with a guided nature walk in Bigodi wetland. A guided nature walk through this wetland allows you look out for more primates and birds, then you will get back to the lodge for relaxation.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
  • Midrange: Primate Lodge
  • Budget: Isunga Lodge

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – Launch cruise along the Kazinga channel

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and after, you will check out of the lodge. Today, you will be setting off for Queen Elizabeth National Park via Kasese. Expect to enjoy the spectacular view of the Crater Lakes and the lush banana plantations. Around Kasese, you will also have clear view of the legendary Rwenzori Mountain. On getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park check in your lodge for relaxation and then have lunch.

In the afternoon, your next activity will be a guided launch or boat cruise. On a boat cruise, look out for the different aquatic life including hippos, crocodiles, and birds. You will get back to the lodge after spending 2-3 hours while exploring the Kazinga channel.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Elephant Plains
  • Budget: Simba Camp

Day 6: Lion tracking – Transfer to Ishasha for Afternoon game drive

After the early morning breakfast, set off for a rewarding lion tracking experience. This will be done along Kasenyi Plains and you will explore the lions in the wild. Observe the different behaviors of lions and take multiple photos during your day lion tracking session.

Kasenyi is also blessed with plenty of other mammals and expect to see more. They include elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, hyenas, as well as several bird species.

Return to have lunch and later, transfer to Ishasha area for an afternoon game drive. A game drive through this sector involves searching for the tree climbing lions and other mammals.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
  • Midrange: Ishasha Jungle Lodge

Day 7: Game drive in Ishasha sector – Transfer to Bwindi National Park

Have a hefty breakfast and after, you will set off for the morning game drive. Today, you will catch up with early morning risers along Ishasha. The different animals to see along Ishasha area include the tree climbing lions, elephants, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes and diversity of birds.

After the game drive, settle for a picnic lunch and then transfer to Bwindi. On arrival, check in your respective lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP).

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
  • Midrange: Engagi Lodge

Day 8: Mountain gorilla trekking – visit Batwa Pygmies

A delicious cup of tea or coffee will be offered in your respective lodges. After, you will report to the park offices for briefing and allocation of gorilla groups. Only one group of habituated gorillas will be assigned to you and the trek will begin at around 8:00a.m.

Take about 2-6 hours in the jungles as you search for mountain gorillas and on locating them, you will be given an hour for up close and personal encounter. From here, return to where you were briefed from to get your gorilla trekking certificate.

The rest of the afternoon have it in the lodge and your visit to the Batwa pygmies’ community will be around evening. Expect to have a close interaction with the Batwa pygmies, learn about their ancient traditions, cultures and also enjoy their dances plus music performances.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
  • Midrange: Engagi Lodge

Day 9: Golden monkey tracking

Leave your lodge early morning and today, you will pay a visit to Mgahinga. Your target adventure will be golden monkey tracking and you will begin your search after briefing. The briefing will be done at Ntebeko and expect to take 2-5 hours inclusive of an hour of up close and personal encounter.

Accommodation

  • Luxury:Mount Gahinga Lodge
  • Midrange: Lake Mulehe safari lodge
  • Midrange: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and island tour

After breakfast, drive to Lake Bunyonyi –a freshwater lake dominated by 29 island and also a preferred spot for swimming. On reaching this lake, expect to relax then join the local expert on a canoeing experience. As you ride, explore the stunning surrounding areas and you will also be visiting one of the charming islands. The rest of the evening will be spent in the nearby lodges.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
  • Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo – boat ride – night game drive

Get up early for you to prepare and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. After, check out of your lodge and today, you will be transferred to Lake Mburo National Park. While in Lake Mburo Park, expect to embark on a boat cruise on Lake Mburo with a guide. This will let you encounter some of the aquatic life like hippos, crocodiles and aquatic bird species.

In the evening, you will proceed with a night game drive. Search for the numerous nocturnal species as they become active for the day including leopards, nightjar birds and others.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kigambira Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
  • Budget: Rwonyo Camp

Day 12: Nature walk in the park / game drive – Transfer to Kampala

Set off for a guided nature walk and today, you will be exploring areas often not reached by safari vehicles. As you walk, keep eyes on the numerous wildlife and birds. Or you may decide to embark on a guided game drive through the savanna game tracks for you to enjoy sight of park’s diverse wildlife. The park’s wildlife include Uganda kobs, impalas, zebras, Rothschild giraffes, leopards, buffaloes and warthogs, etc.

After the morning sessions, you will return to enjoy early lunch and later, exit Lake Mburo National Park. En-route, you will make a stopover at the Equator for photography and then continue up to Kampala.

End of Safari

Inclusions

  • Game drives
  • Boat cruises
  • All park entry fees
  • Accommodation and all meals as per the itinerary
  • Transport to and from destinations
  • Guide or driver services
  • All activities mentioned on the itinerary except optional
  • Government taxes

Exclusions

  • Tips
  • Laundry service
  • Cigarettes
  • Cost on beverages/alcoholic drinks
  • All optional activities
  • Travel insurance and others.