The 12 Days Uganda safari offers a comprehensive exploration of the country’s diverse wildlife, primates, landscapes, and cultural experiences. There are two options in which you can explore this tour: The first involves a grand exploration of Uganda on the road while the second involves domestic flights to Kidepo Valley national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park. The tour can still be customised according to your safari interests, budget and available time
Option 1: 12 Days Uganda safari (On the road)
Safari Highlights
- White-water rafting, kayaking, or bungee jumping at the source of the Nile
- Chimpanzee habituation experience
- Forest walk in Kibale national park
- Game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park
- Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Gorilla tracking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Birdwatching in Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Lake Bunyonyi exploration & hiking
- Game drive in Lake Mburo national park & exploring the park
Trip summary
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport & transfer to Jinja (Source of the Nile)
Day 2: Jinja adventure & transfer to Kibale national park
Day 3: Chimpanzee habituation experience
Day 4: Forest walk & transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 6: Ishasha Sector (tree-climbing lions) & transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 7: Gorilla tracking
Day 8: Bwindi exploration & birdwatching
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & Island exploration
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi activities & hiking
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Day 12: Lake Mburo activities & return to Entebbe/Kampala
Detailed itinerary – 12 Days Uganda safari
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Jinja
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and meet your driver guide and transfer to Jinja, the “adventure capital of East Africa,” (2-3 hours drive). Check into your accommodation near the source of the Nile. In the Afternoon, you may go for an optional white-water rafting experience or a boat cruise on the Nile. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Jinja.
Day 2: Jinja adventure and transfer to Kibale national park
After breakfast, go for a morning adventure activity at the source of the Nile (choose from white-water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping, and quad biking). After lunch, begin a scenic drive to Kibale national park, the “Primate Capital of the World.” (6-7 hours drive). Check into your lodge near the park for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Chimpanzee habituation experience
After breakfast, head to the headquarters of the park at Kanyanchu for a briefing on chimpanzee habituation. Enter the forest with a team of rangers and guides looking for chimpanzees. Spend a full day with a chimpanzee community observing and learning about their behaviour during the habituation process. Encounter other other primate and bird species in the forest as well. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 4: Forest walk and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After enjoying your relaxed breakfast, take a guided walk in Kibale forest exploring different trails while encountering plethora of animals and plant species. After lunch transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park as you drive through scenic views of plantations, local communities and rolling hills (2-3 hours drive). Arrive and check into your lodge. In the evening you may go for an optional night game drive in the park to see some of its nocturnals. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, embark on the morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains of the park. Look out for big game such as lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and a variety of antelopes. Return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, go for a relaxing boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel which connects Lake George and Lake Edward.
The channel is a hotspot for several wildlife including large herds of hippos, crocs, elephants, buffaloes as well as numerous waterbirds. In the late afternoon, you may go for an optional exploration tour to see the crater lakes plus a variety of other scenic views. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 6: Ishasha Sector game drive and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Enjoy an early breakfast and drive to the Ishasha Sector of the park, famously known for its population of the rare tree-climbing lions. Enjoy amazing views of these elusive predators hanging in tree branches as well as other game species on your game drive. After lunch, embark a scenic drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park (2-3 hours). Check into your lodge near your tracking sector for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Take an early breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters of Bwindi impenetrable national park for a briefing on gorilla trekking. You will also be assigned a gorilla group to track. Head into the forest searching for the gorillas accompanied by experienced guides and rangers.
The trek may last anywhere between 1-6 hours depending on the movement and location of the gorillas. Once you find them, spend one full our in their presence, observing how they feed, play and rest in their natural habitat. The experience in the presence of gorillas is truly breathtaking and unforgettable.
Return to the park headquarters to receive your gorilla tracking certificate before heading back to your lodge to refresh and relax. In the late afternoon, you may go for an optional cultural tour in the Batwa pygmy community where you will be enterntained as well as learning about their amazing culture and traditions. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 8: Bwindi exploration and birdwatching
Enjoy a more relaxed morning in Bwindi and take a guided birdwatching walk in Bwindi forest which is a haven for a variety of bird species including the Albertine Rift endemics. In the afternoon, you can decide to relax or visit a local community project or enjoying another cultural tour. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and Island exploration
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest Rift Valley lakes in Africa with over 30 beautiful Islands. Check into your lodge overlooking the lake. In the afternoon, embark on a relaxing boat trip and visit different Islands on Lake Bunyonyi. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi activities and hiking
Enjoy a full day exploring the beauty and wonders of Lake Bunyonyi. Some of the thrilling activities to experience include canoeing, birdwatching, community visit and a guided hike around the lake shores for stunning panoramic views of the Islands. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo national park and enjoy stunning views along the way (5-6 hours drive). Check into your lodge near or inside the park. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive or a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 12: Lake Mburo activities and transfer to Entebbe/Kampala
Take breakfast and go for an early morning walking safari in the park to explore its beauty of a plethora of flora and fauna. Enjoy your final game drive in the park and encounter a variety game including zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, and antelopes. After lunch, begin your return drive to Entebbe/Kampala with a brief stopover at the Equator for lunch, photos and crafts. Arrive in the late afternoon for your departure flight or overnight stay at your booked hotel.
Option 2: 12 Days Uganda safari – Northern Uganda adventure with gorillas (Including domestic flights)
Safari highlights
Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Game drive in Murchison falls national park
Boat cruise on the Nile
Top of the falls experience
Bird watching in Murchison falls national park
Flight to Kidepo Valley national park
Game drive in Kidepo valley national park
Flight to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Bwindi exploration & nature walk
Game drive in Lake Mburo national park
Boat cruise on Lake Mburo
Birdwatching in Lake Mburo national park
Trip summary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe & transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
Day 3: Game drive & boat cruise in Murchison falls national park
Day 4: Birding & Delta boat trip
Day 5: Fly to Kidepo Valley national park
Day 6: Game drive in Kidepo Valley national park
Day 7: Fly to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Day 9: Bwindi exploration & nature walk
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo
Day 11: Lake Mburo activities & walking safari
Day 12: Return to Entebbe/Kampala
Detailed itinerary – 12 Days Uganda safari
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Meet your driver guide upon arrival at the airport and transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild, (2-3 hours). Enjoy a guided rhino tracking experience on foot and get close to these giant mammals and observe how they go about their daily routines in this sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at Ziwa or nearby.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls national park and enjoy top of the falls experience
After breakfast, proceed with your journey to Muchison falls national park. Head straight to the top of the falls and witness the spectacle of the Nile river as it plunges into a 7-meter narrow gorge to form the powerful Murchison Falls. Proceed to your lodge and check in for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise on the Nile
Have an early breakfast and go for a morning game drive in the northern sector of the park. Look out for big game such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and a variety of antelope species. In the afternoon after lunch and relaxation, go for a thrilling boat cruise on the Nile heading to the bottom of the falls.
While on the cruise, look our for animals that live along this channel including the magnificent Nile crocodiles, hippos, elephants and an array of birdlife. You may also choose to go for an optional hike to the top of the falls. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Delta boat trip and birding in Murchison falls national park
Enjoy an early morning to the Nile Delta which is a hotspot for birdlife and different wildlife species. In the afternoon you may choose to relax or go for a short game drive to enjoy more wildlife experience as well as birdwatching. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 5: Fly to Kidepo Valley national park
After an early breakfast, transfer an airstrip near the park for a scenic flight to Kidepo Valley national park (1-2 hours). Arrive at Apoka Airstrip within the park and transfer to your lodge and check in. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxed and rewarding game drive in the Narus Valley of the park. Look out for amazing game including the beautiful Rothschild’s giraffe, zebras, large herds of buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards as well as a variety of antelope species. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 6: Game drive and optional cultural tour
Enjoy a full day of Kidepo experiences exploring the unique landscapes and wildlife of the park. This includes morning and afternoon game drives to encounter more wildlife and birdlife. In the late afternoon, go for an amazing cultural tour to either the Karamajong or the IK community who live around the park. You will be thrilled by their entertainment as well as learning about their unique traditions and culture. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 7: Fly to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and transfer to the airstrip for a scenic flight via Entebbe or directly to Kihihi Airstrip near Bwindi impenetrable national park. Transfer to your booked lodge and check in for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, you may decide to relax or go for a brief nature walk around the lodge. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
After your early morning breakfast, head the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking. Head into the forest to look for your assigned gorilla group. Upon finding gorillas, spend the magical hour observing how the feed, play and rest in their natural habitat.
This is a truly humbling and unforgettable experience! Return the headquarters and collect your gorilla tracking certificate before returning to your lodge to relax and refresh. In the late afternoon, you may go for an optional cultural tour and visit the amazing Batwa pygmies. They will entertain you and teach some of their unique traditions and cultures. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 9: Birdwatching and nature walk in Bwindi
Enjoy a more relaxed day in Bwindi, exploring the stunning views of this magnificent forest and its wildlife. Some of the activities you can explore include birdwatching, guided nature walk and community visit. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Enjoy your breakfast and begin a scenic drive to Lake Mburo national park (5-6 hours) and check into your lodge inside or near the park. In the afternoon, you may choose to go for either a game drive in the park or a relaxing boat cruise on Lake Mburo. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 11: Game drive and exploring Lake Mburo national park
Enjoy a morning walking safari in the park getting up close with the plains game including zebras, giraffes and antelopes before embarking on your final game drive for more game experience. In the afternoon, go for a birdwatching encounter to see a variety of amazing bird species within the park. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 12: Return to Entebbe/Kampala
Enjoy breakfast and a final morning activity in the park and begin your return drive to Entebbe/Kampala (3-4 hours). Have brief stopover at the Equator for photos, lunch and souvenir shopping. Proceed to Entebbe for your departure flight or overnight if your flight is scheduled the following day.
Important considerations for the 12 Days Uganda safari
This is a long Uganda safari that can be customised to include several wildlife and cultural experiences according the interests of the visitor. Gorilla permits and chimpanzee habituation permits should be booked at least 6 months in advance through a credible tour operator. Uganda’s gorilla permit is sold at $800 per person to foreign nonresidents while the chimpanzee habituation permit at $300 per person. The chimpanzee tracking permit is at $250 per person. Permits, accommodation, transport and guiding services are arranged by your tour operator at the quoted cost. The best season for this Uganda safari is during the dry period between June to September and December to February. Some of the important gear to pack for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking include sturdy hiking boots, pair of khaki trousers, long-sleeved