12 days Uganda safari adventure

The 12 days Uganda safari adventure offers the best of forest and savanna wildlife encounters. Get a chance to explore Uganda’s top destinations on this single trip including Murchison Falls National Park, Mabamba Wetland, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Bunyonyi, etc. Top safari activities to enjoy on this safari include gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drives and boat cruise, rhino tracking. Your tour will begin and end in Kampala capital.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Birding excursion in Mabamba wetland & drive to Kampala

Pick up at the hotel in Entebbe and you will catch up with morning birding tour in Mabamba wetland. Using a traditional canoe/boat, look out for the elusive shoebill storks. Besides, expect to identify other avifaunal species including lizard buzzard, red bellied paradise flycatcher, Sooty chat, rufous napped lark, scrub-robins, African jacanas, great blue turacos, broad billed rollers, yellow billed ducks and more. After the shoebill trek tour, return and proceed to the hotel in Kampala.

Accommodation

• Buziga Country Resort (budget)
• Cassia Lodge (Midrange)
• Kampala Serena Hotel (Luxury)

Day 2: Depart from Kampala for Murchison Falls Park, rhino trek in Ziwa en-route

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and after, set off for Murchison Falls National Park using a classic 4WD vehicle. The 6-7 hours’ drive road trip includes en-route rhino trekking experience at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and lunch at the hotel in Masindi. Continue to the lodge that was booked for you at Murchison Falls NP.

Accommodation

• Heritage Lodge/Red Chili Camp (Budget)
• Pakuba Lodge/Murchison River Lodge (Midrange)
• Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 3: Game drive, boat or launch cruise experience

Start your exploration in Murchison Falls National Park with sunrise game drive through the Northern section of the park. Your game drive will take 2-3 hours and among animals to encounter include cape buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, giraffes, lions, leopards, and plenty of birds.

Drive back while spotting more wildlife and at the lodge, enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, be ready for an exciting launch or boat cruise experience along the Victoria Nile. This will run for 2 hours up to the base of the falls and expect to keep eyes on hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic avifaunal species.

Accommodation

• Heritage Lodge/Red Chili Camp (Budget)
• Pakuba Lodge/Murchison River Lodge (Midrange)
• Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury)

Day 4: Murchison Falls Park to Kibale

Depart from Murchison Falls Game Park for Kibale N. Park in Kabarole. Drive via Fort Portal tourism city where lunch break will be had, then you connect to the pre-booked lodge. It will be a scenic drive through the countryside breathtaking landscapes, rift valley escarpment and don’t miss the views of the Rwenzori Mountains while at Fort portal city.

Accommodation

• Isunga Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse
• Primate Lodge
• Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge

Day 5: Kibale Forest chimpanzee trekking tour

Have a delicious breakfast and after, catch up with the morning orientation about chimpanzee trekking rules at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. At 8:00am, you will begin your trek through Kibale Forest NP in search of chimpanzees and the park guide will be present to lead you. Over 1500 chimpanzees survive within this protected area and you will have a chance to explore more on how they behave and taking pictures. After the chimp trek, get back for lunch and in the afternoon, expect to engage in active walk through Bigodi Wetland.

Accommodation

• Isunga Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse
• Primate Lodge
• Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge

Day 6: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth NP, Enjoy Kazinga boat cruise

Check out of the lodge at Kibale after you have had breakfast and you will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Get the best view of the countryside beautiful crater lakes and Rwenzori Mountains at a distance. Arrive early and get to the lodge for lunch and later, transfer up to Kazinga for an afternoon boat cruise. The 2 hour launch cruise includes great sights of hippos, crocodiles and birds, etc.

Accommodation

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

Day 7: Game drive & transfer to Kyambura gorge

After breakfast, leave your respective lodge for sunrise game drive via Kasenyi plains at Queen Elizabeth Game Park. This comes with remarkable encounters of elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, and leopards, antelopes –in huge numbers; warthogs and birds. From your game drive, get back and lunch will be provided at the lodge. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Kyambura Gorge side awaiting the next day’s experiences.

Accommodation

• Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Day 8: Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge & drive to Ishasha

After breakfast, leave for an early morning chimpanzee trek through the rich and lush Kyambura Gorge. Explore more about chimpanzees and also other primates with the park guide present to take you through. After the trek with Kyambura Gorge’s chimpanzees, return to the lodge to enjoy lunch and then transfer to Ishasha sector.

Accommodation

• Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Day 9: Game drive at Ishasha & drive to Bwindi (Ruhija/Buhoma)

Enjoy an early morning breakfast and after, set off for sunrise game drive via Ishasha area. Today, expect to look out for more of Queen Elizabeth Game Park’s wildlife including the tree climbing lions, buffaloes, antelopes –topis; elephants and birds. After, have lunch proceed to the lodge in Bwindi.

Accommodation

• Buhoma Lodge/Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Engagi Lodge

Day 10: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa cultural experience

Transfer to the briefing area in Bwindi to meet the park official. Get to know the different guidelines (code of conduct) to be followed on a trek to see gorillas. At 8:00am, leave the briefing area with an experienced park guide. Trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of mountain gorillas, 2-6 hours adventure. This covers an hour of up close and personal encounter with these unique primates. After, walk back and have great time at the lodge till evening when you will be led by the local guide to the Batwa community.

Accommodation

• Buhoma Lodge/Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Engagi Lodge

Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi tour

At leisure, enjoy your cup of tea or coffee and after, next visit will be the scenic Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale. This is Uganda’s deepest lake and holds 29 islands with several bird species. Today’s highlights at Lake Bunyonyi includes a canoe or boat ride to one of the islands and then you get back to enjoy dinner.

Accommodation

• Birdnest @Bunyonyi
• Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Day 12: Depart

Enjoy a hefty breakfast and after, head off to Kampala and en-route, get lunch at one of the hotels in Mbarara. Leave Mbarara to Kayabwe for photography at the Equator and also purchase some items at nearby craft shops. From Kayabwe, drive up to Kampala or Entebbe.

End of safari

Inclusions

• Valid gorilla and chimp permits
• Park entry fees
• Driver allowances or park ranger guide services
• Accommodation and all meal plan as per the itinerary
• Travel by road to the sites

Exclusions

• Tips
• Laundry
• Bills on telephone
• Visas
• Passports, etc.

Inquire