12-Day Uganda Safari: Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Kibale

12-Day Uganda safari tour to Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park , Lake Mburo National Park, & Lake Bunyonyi offers a 12 day Primates & Wildlife safari. This 12 day Uganda safari tour covers gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, Golden monkey tracking, batwa culture, game viewing drives, boat cruise & Leisure at Lake Bunyonyi, starting and ending in Kampala.

The 12-day Uganda safari tour offers both short and longer driving excursions through communities as you go from one park to another, giving you the chance to explore Uganda’s rural areas and engage in diverse cultural activities. The plant and animal life encountered in various locations is quite remarkable.

These encompass remarkable landscapes, including rain forests, the Virunga volcanoes, the Kigezi Highlands, the Rift Valley, crater lakes, savannahs, and the River Nile, among others, that will enhance your nature photography experience.

Encounters with wildlife, such as direct interaction with mountain gorillas, necessitate hiking through the Bwindi rainforest, which may be challenging for older individuals or those lacking physical fitness. Nevertheless, you will have the opportunity to unwind while staying at hotels along the banks of Lake Bunyonyi, enjoying boat excursions and swimming to maximize your safari experience.

Highlights of the 12-Day Uganda Safari Tour

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Hotel in Entebbe

Day 2: Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park

Day 3: Full Day Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

Day 4: Transit to Kibale Forest National Park

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national Park and Afternoon Boat Cruise

Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Village Walk

Day 9: Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 10: Boat Cruise and Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 11: Walking Safari and Transfer to Entebbe

Day 12: Departure

12 Days Uganda safari 

Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe and proceed to Kampala

Step right into the heart of Africa’s pearl—Uganda. After being picked up by your guide, you will be taken to your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe, where you can recuperate and regain your energy before starting your journey throughout Uganda. If you arrive early, we advise you to do a quick tour of the city center, stop by the independence monument, and discover that on October 9, 1962, Uganda gained independence from British imperialists.

Accommodation At: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Leave Kampala city after breakfast, accompanied by your guide, en route to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest conservation area in Uganda. The five-hour ride will include regular stops, including a visit to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which houses 50 white rhinos, en route to Masindi. You will subsequently embark on a guided foot expedition to follow rhinos with a ranger and enjoy lunch. Following lunch, enter the park and, prior to checking into your lodge, embark on a trek to the summit of Murchison Falls for stunning vistas of the Nile. Dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Option: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise – Murchison Falls National Park

At 6:30 AM, following a cup of coffee, you will commence the game drive with a ranger to observe the wildlife of Murchison Falls, notably herds of elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, lions, giraffes, hyenas, and topi. Return to the lodge punctually for a complete breakfast. Post-lunch, you will proceed to Paara to partake in a three-hour boat tour on the Nile River, the world’s longest river, renowned for its high concentration of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and an array of bird species, including enormous kingfishers and fish eagles.

Accommodation Option: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Journey from Murchison falls national park to Kibale Forest National Park, renowned as the primate capital of the world, which has 13 species of primates, including chimpanzees. The drive will take approximately 6-7 hours through picturesque rift valley scenery, with a lunch stop in Fort Portal town. Post-lunch, you will proceed to your place of accommodation in Kibale for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation Option: Rubalika Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Excursion

Chimpanzee tracking commences at 07:30 AM following breakfast, accompanied by a briefing on chimpanzees and their natural habitat. Commence hiking with guides at 8 AM for a chimpanzee tracking session lasting 2 to 5 hours. Identify additional primates you may observe, including the grey-cheeked mangabey and the red-tailed monkey.

 

Return to the lodge for lunch. You will have a nature walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, an ecotourism site run by locals, later in the afternoon. Their conservation narrative on the nature walk to observe bird species and primates provides insight into how individuals coexist harmoniously with the environment. You may want to explore the nearby homesteads prior to your return for dinner and overnight accommodations.

Accommodation Option: Rubalika Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Transit to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Following breakfast, you will proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park to arrive in time for an afternoon boat tour on the Kazinga Channel, which is home to approximately 5,000 hippos. The boat ride offers views of Nile crocodiles, elephants, and aquatic birds. Following the boat tour, you will check into your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Option: Aardvark Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Game drive and travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Enjoy a cup of coffee at 6:30 AM, followed by a wildlife drive with a ranger to observe large creatures such as elephants, buffaloes, and lions, among antelopes such Uganda kob and topi. Return to the lodge promptly for a complete breakfast. Following breakfast, you embark on an additional game drive towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a stop at Ishasha Wilderness to observe potential sightings of tree-climbing lions.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, recognized as the habitat for half of the world’s mountain gorillas, is a prominent destination for gorilla tracking. Originating from the Lukiga language, “Bwindi” signifies a dark place; the Bwindi rain forest has remained pristine since the last ice age, approximately 250,000 years ago. Spend the night at the lodge of your choice after dinner.

Accommodation At: Four Gorillas Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8 : Gorilla trekking and village walk

Take in breakfast and proceed to the park center to participate in a briefing regarding gorilla regulations. The trek to locate gorillas can be difficult; therefore, it is recommended to employ a porter to help carry your backpack. Depending on the gorillas’ location, you will get the opportunity to see and photograph them for approximately one hour. With fortune, one may observe many primates, numerous species of birds, and learn about one of the world’s most ancient ecosystems. Return to the lodge for lunch; in the afternoon, you may embark on a village walk within the communities. Attend the women’s craft center and subsequently return for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Option: Four Gorillas Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Following breakfast, you will proceed to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, arriving in time for the briefing before embarking on golden monkey trekking, which commences at 8 AM with a trip to the bamboo forest at an altitude of 3,000 meters. You aspire to observe the severely endangered bamboo golden monkeys. Following the trekking, you will proceed to Lake Bunyonyi, arriving in time for lunch, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Option: Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and Afternoon Safari Drive

Subsequent to breakfast, your driver-guide will transport you to Lake Mburo National Park, arriving in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. A wildlife drive in Lake Mburo National Park ensures sightings of herds of buffaloes, zebras, impalas, birds, and more, all without extensive travel. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Choice: Rwakobo Rock Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Morning Walking Safari and Transfer to Entebbe

Following breakfast, a ranger guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority will conduct a briefing before leading you on a walking safari. This activity is appropriate for individuals seeking to exercise their legs and observe animals on foot. Currently, Lake Mburo is the sole location where one may have a walking safari. You will get the chance to experience everything you could observe on any game drive, but this time, it will be conducted on foot. Depart from the lodge and return to Kampala, with lunch provided throughout the journey.

Accommodation Option: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 12: Departure

Today, you will awaken leisurely and savor your breakfast at the lodge. Based on your flight schedule, you may choose to buy crafts in Entebbe town or proceed to the airport, concluding your tour.

 Conclusion of a 12-day safari in Uganda