Best Uganda Safari

12-Day Best Uganda Safari – Gorilla Trekking, Chimps, and Wildlife Tour

The 12 days Uganda safari Itinerary mainly takes you through Uganda’s biodiversity, sceneries, and cultural experiences. It mainly targets mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Kibale Forest National Park respectively as well as wildlife viewing in Murchison Falls National Park.

Highlights of 12 days Uganda wildlife safari

Day 1: Welcome to Kampala

Day 2: Departure from Kampala to Ziwa rhino sanctuary and connect to Murchison Falls National Park (5hrs)

Day 3: Wildlife viewing in the morning and boat cruise in the afternoon

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park (6-8hrs)

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park

Day 6: Depart to Queen Elizabeth National Park (2-3hrs)

Day 7: Wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 8: Departure to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (3-5hrs)

Day 9: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park (4-5hrs)

Day 11: Transfer back to Kampala and continue to Jinja

Day 12: White water rafting in Jinja and transfer back to Entebbe

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Kampala

Upon landing at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by one of our experienced drivers who will transfer the car to you to start out your 12 days Uganda wildlife safari. You will then transfer to your hotel in Kampala for dinner and overnight. If time permits depending of your arrival schedule, you can do a city tour around Kampala. O/N at Onomo Hotel Kampala, Kampala Forest cottages or Skyz Hotel Nagulu.

Day 2: Drive to MFNP via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast, start a picnic drive to the Northwest of Uganda with an enroute stopover at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino Tracking, lunch at Amuka Safari Lodge or in Masindi, and proceed to the park, with en route visit to the top of the magnificent Murchison falls. Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, or Red Chilli Rest Camp.

Day 3: Morning  Game Drive, Afternoon Boat Cruise

Have breakfast in the morning at your lodge and after, head to the Northern bank of the mighty River Nile for a game drive where you may see elephants, hartebeest, buffaloes, leopards, lions, giraffes, and birds. After you will return to the lodge for rest and lunch and later embark on the boat cruise to the mighty Murchison falls. Along the Nile, you will catch a glimpse of hippos, crocodiles, and several water birds. After, you will return to the lodge for a night stay as on Day 2.

Day 4: Drive to Kibale National Park

Breakfast and head to Kibale Forest National Park, a home to 13 primate species, with over 1500 chimpanzees. Check-in at your preferred lodge for dinner and a night stay in Papaya Lake Lodge, Isunga Lodge or Turaco Treetops Lodge.

Day 5: Chimps Tracking or Habituation Experience

Breakfast early in the morning and after, join the rest of the visitors for briefing at the Kanyanchu visitor center and then set off for chimpanzee tracking for about 2 to 3 hours which also allows you to explore the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, butterflies, bird, and others. Like the mountain gorilla adventure, only an hour is given to you to have a face-to-face encounter with the chimpanzees and then connect to the lodge for lunch and later go to Bigodi village and wetland for birdlife and primate exploration. After the primate walk, you return to your lodge of choice for a night stay as on DAY 4.

Day 6: Depart to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Breakfast ad drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for incredible wildlife viewing on the Kasenyi track and Mweya peninsular,  where you may catch a glimpse of African elephants, lions, leopards, antelope family, buffaloes, and many more. You will also have spectacular views of the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges along the way. You will certainly be thrilled by the splendid views of numerous species of wildlife as you drive to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you have an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The boat cruise gives you a chance to catch a glimpse at the crocodiles, hippos as well as elephants on the shores. Dinner and overnight stay in Mweya Safari Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, and Bush Lodge.

Day 7: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Breakfast and embark on our 4×4 jeep with a pop-up roof for the morning game drive. Expect an encounter with the African elephants, Uganda Kobs, Waterbucks, Buffaloes, Lions, and many other species. After lunch, continue to the Ishasha sector in the South of Queen Elizabeth National Park to look out for the rare tree-climbing lions alongside other animals such as Buffaloes, antelopes, and many others. Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Savannah Resort Hotel or Ishasha River Camp.

Day 8: Depart to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Breakfast in the morning and after, you will set off to Southwest of Uganda-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which offers refuge to over half of the rare mountain gorillas that still thrive on earth. Along the way, you will view the stunning Kigezi Highlands that come with spectacular sceneries of terraced hills. You will check in your preferred lodge for dinner and overnight stay in Buhoma Lodge (Upmarket), Buhoma Haven Lodge (Mid-range), or Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)

Day 9: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park

Following breakfast in the morning, you will set off to the sector where your tracking permit is destined for a briefing from the park officials on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. Bwindi has four major trailheads each of which comes with habituated gorilla families for you to track. They include the Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo sectors. Besides tracking mountain gorillas, you will also catch a glimpse of the bird species, mammals, and other primates. The trek usually takes about 1 to 6 hours or more depending on which gorilla group is assigned to you, the altitude of the area, and your physical wellness.

Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

Prado with Pop-up Roof for hire

Breakfast and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. Stop over at Igongo cultural center for lunch and proceed to the Park for an evening boat ride or game drive or nature walk. Dinner and overnight at Mihingo Lodge, Hyena Hill Lodge or Rwakobo Rock Lodge.

Day 11: Drive to Jinja

Breakfast and set off for your exciting wildlife experiences in Lake Mburo National Park to spot out most of the early risers and then proceed to Jinja, the renowned adrenaline capital of East Africa. A stopover at Uganda Equator on the Masaka-Mbarara route for photo taking and purchase some souvenirs, dinner, and overnight stay at Wild Water Lodge, Jinja Nile Resort, or Nile River Camp.

Day 12: White water rafting on River Nile-Jinja

Rafting on River Nile

Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast and after gather at the beginning point for your most thrilling adventure to the mighty River Nile. The source of River Nile is entirely situated around Jinja making it the adventure capital of East Africa, among which include the white water rafting which features as one of the most thrilling adventures that you shouldn’t miss out on in life. After you will drive back to Kampala and this will mark the end of your 12 days wildlife adventure in Uganda.

12-Day Best Uganda Safari Rates

$2995 per person: Budget accommodation and Land cruiser TX/TZ on a two Pax basis

$3490 per person: Deluxe accommodation and Land cruiser TX/TZ on a two Pax basis

$4320 per person: Luxury accommodation and Land cruiser V8 on a two Pax basis

Safari inclusions

  • Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits
  • Launch cruise
  • White water rafting
  • Land Cruiser Prado/Land cruiser V8
  • Fuel/Gas
  • Park entry fees
  • All activities listed in the itinerary
  • Bottled water
  • Accommodation for the 11 nights and meals

Safari exclusions

  • Personal expenses-alcoholic drinks, visa fees, extra activities outside the ones in the itinerary, laundry, telephone bills, driver, tips for the driver, guides, and personal insurance
  • A professional driver guide is $40 per day