12 Days Uganda Safari for Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife & Chimpanzee Watching
This 12 Days Uganda Safari takes you into the thick forests to track the endangered gorillas, wildlife & chimpanzee watching draws tourists close to mother nature, leaving them with unforgettable experiences.
12 Days Uganda Safari Tour starts and ends in Kampala City, with unforgettable memories of a diverse range of savannah and forest-dwelling wildlife species.
The package includes visits to Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls National Parks for game drives filled with animal sightings.
Visits to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mesmerizing gorilla trekking experiences and Kibale Forest National Park for unforgettable chimpanzee trekking tours.
A bonus visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary while connecting to Murchison Falls National Park, as well as Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary during chimpanzee tours.
Brief Itinerary of the 12 Days Uganda Safari Tour
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, transfer to hotel.
Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park, visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route.
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise on the Nile in Murchison Falls NP.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, and visit Crater Lakes.
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, optional Bigodi Wetland Walk.
Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, enjoy boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
Day 7: Full-day wildlife adventure in Queen Elizabeth NP.
Day 8: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and stop at Ishasha for tree-climbing lions.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, optional Batwa cultural visit.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, and enjoy a boat ride.
Day 11: Morning game drive, then drive to Jinja adventure city.
Day 12: Whitewater rafting at the Nile, return to Kampala/Entebbe for departure.
End of Safari.
12 Days Uganda Safari Tour Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Uganda, through Entebbe International Airport
Receive a warm reception from our Company representative on getting to Entebbe International Airport, then get transferred to your booked corteges for a bit of relaxation and preparations for your upcoming adventurous safaris.
Overnight stay:
- Luxury: Sheraton Hotel Kampala.
- Midrange: Protea Hotel.
- Budget: Buziga Country Resort.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.
Day 2: Depart for Murchison Falls National Park with an en-route stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Enjoy breakfast, then depart for the spectacular Murchison Falls National Park in north-western Uganda.
This marvelous 7-8 hours journey involves breaking the journey at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for the magnificent Rhino sightings, home to a small herd of endangered rhinos left in Uganda.
Drive off for Lunch at Kabalega Diners, a popular eatery for tourists visiting northern destinations.
Then straight to Murchison Falls National Park, and enjoy the incredible game drives around the park. Lodge within the park, for a quiet evening as you are getting fully drowned in nature.
Overnight stay:
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge.
- Midrange: Heritage Safari Lodge.
- Budget: Red Chilli Rest Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Journey time: 7-8 hours including the different en-route stops.
Day 3: Whole day discovering the beauty of Murchison Falls National Park
After a warm breakfast at the Lodge, start off with a game drive along the endowed northern banks of the River Nile filled with bright views of wildlife and nature.
After this fulfilling game drive, return back to the Lodge for Lunch and some bit of relaxation.
In the afternoon, join other enthusiastic visitors at the Paraa jetty for the Launch cruise that increases chances of encountering more of Uganda’s wildlife species most especially the Semi-Aquatic species.
After this enjoyable boat cruise, hop into the vehicle for a transfer to the Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Overnight stay:
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge.
- Midrange: Heritage Safari Lodge.
- Budget: Red Chilli Rest Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4: Connect to Kibale Forest National Park for chimp trekking
Early in the morning, drive through the Albertine escarpment, traditional villages, and vast banana and tea farms before entering Fort Portal Town in the west for lunch.
Visit the breathtaking Crater Lakes in the afternoon and then get treated with a delicious dinner, have a peaceful night at the booked lodges.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Ndali Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge.
- Midrange: Primate Safari Lodge.
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Travel time: 7-8 hours.
Day 5: The fulfilling Chimp trek in Kibale Forest National Park
On day five, Explore Kibale Forest National Park accompanied by a thrilling chimpanzee trekking adventure.
Have a warm soupy breakfast then take off to a converge at Kanyanchu.
It starts with a comprehensive briefing that will take you through the guidelines to be followed while trekking or watching the endangered Chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
After all the necessary briefing, sharing pleasantries, preparing your trekking gear, and hiring the porter, set out into the forest to search for our close cousins who are possibly going about their daily activities.
Approximately 1-2 hours are spent on this adventurous activity, then trek out of the woods to embark on the rest of the journey for the day.
After the chimp trek, you can either choose to rest or visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for its unique primates and wetland bird species.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Ndali Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge.
- Midrange: Primate Safari Lodge.
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Travel time: 7-8 hours.
Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for another Unforgettable Wildlife experience
On this day, we leave Kibale Forest National Park, driving southwest via breathtaking countryside sceneries and stunning landscapes to the popular Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Here we shall enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel and game drive through its sweeping plains to discover the animals that call the area home.
Your dinner and overnight will be at the booked Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Overnight at:
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge
- Midrange: Enganzi Safari Lodge or Marafiki Safari Lodge.
- Budget: Tembo Safari Lodge or Mweya Hostels.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park Western Uganda.
For the entire day, we are viewing and tracking down animals in the wilderness.
we enjoy nature walks in the safe zones.
The afternoon is dictated to discovering the Kazinga Channel through a boat cruise where Hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, Uganda Kobs, and buffaloes will be spotted in varying numbers.
Overnight at:
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge
- Midrange: Enganzi Safari Lodge or Marafiki Safari Lodge.
- Budget: Tembo Safari Lodge or Mweya Hostels.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 8: Journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla treks
Leaving the picturesque Queen Elizabeth National Park behind, make way further south to the beautiful Bwindi National Park, home to the largest mountain gorilla population.
Here you will get a chance to visit one of the thrilling gorilla groups in this Park.
visit Batwa cultural group of people, learn about their lifestyle as well as how they make a living after being evicted from the forest.
Before making way into Bwindi, there will be a brief stop for game viewing in Ishasha sector, to sight the tree climbing lions before having lunch at Savannah Resort Kihihi.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs Camp or Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp.
- Midrange: Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge or Engagi Lodge.
- Budget: Bwindi View Bandas or Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Encounter with the mountain Gorillas and optional community walks
An early start to make the best of the jungle, via the guided gorilla trek to search for mankind’s close relatives in their natural environment.
Converge at the Park Headquarters for registration and briefing, which are mandatory before gorilla treks to get acquainted with the dos and don’ts of these adventures.
Right from the time of venturing into the jungle to meeting the mountain gorillas, patience is required as it can take up to 6 hours in the jungle but all the frustration comes to an end once the Giant Apes are spotted.
When it finally happens, keep in mind that one hour is all you have for observation and photography before returning back to the Lodge for lunch.
An option community/village walk provides visitors with the opportunity to interact with the aboriginal people of the forest before it was gazetted in 1991.
After the interesting cultural experience, visitors make their way to the Safari Lodge in the outskirts or within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Arriving in the evening, there is enough time to enjoy dinner and later overnight.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs Camp or Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp.
- Midrange: Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge or Engagi Lodge.
- Budget: Bwindi View Bandas or Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Connect to Lake Mburo National Park and optional boat ride
After breakfast, we drive through the sweeping plains, rolling hills, and mountains at the backdrop to Lake Mburo National Park.
The journey is about 5 hours and lunch will be along the way (particularly at Igongo Cultural Center) before driving straight to the Sanga Gate of this western-based Protected Area.
In the afternoon enjoy a boat ride on Lake Mburo, ending by sunset with breathtaking views that are worth a million pictures.
Then Relax with a glass of cold drink while looking into the sweeping plains and later dinner and overnight.
Overnight at:
- Luxury: Mihingo Lodge or Mburo Safari Lodge.
- Midrange: Arcadia Cottages or Rwakobo Rock Lodge.
- Budget: Mburo Eagle’s Nest or Hyena Hill Lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11: Drive back to Kampala, then connect to Jinja Adventure City
Have an early breakfast then enjoy a game drive through Lake Mburo National Park for more views of wildlife species.
Have lunch at the Lodge and leave for Jinja City for several adventures at the source of the Nile.
Arrive in the evening and get checked in at a Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay at:
- Luxury: Jinja Nile Resort.
- Midrange: Hotel Paradise on the Nile or Nile Village Hotel & Spa.
- Budget: The Mansion Hotel or Haven Eco River Lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Half day adventures and travel back to Kampala – End of 12 Days Uganda Safari
Breakfast then drive off for whitewater rafting on the Nile River and finally take a leave to the Capital city (Kampala) where you will be dropped off at the Hotel or driven to the Airport for connecting flight back home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.
End of the 12 days Uganda Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimps Safari
BOOK THIS TOUR
12 Days Uganda Safari includes;
- Gorilla Permit.
- Rhino tracking fees.
- Park entrance fees.
- Chimpanzee permit.
- Relevant Government taxes.
- Community walks.
- Services of a fulltime English speaking guide.
- Bottled water.
- Ground transportation by a private safari vehicle.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
- Driver allowances.
- Boat cruises.
- Fuel fees.
- 11 nights’ accommodation in Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks in addition to Lake Bunyonyi and the one night in Jinja.
- Game drives.
- Additional activities on the itinerary.
12 Days Uganda Safari Excludes;
- Laundry fees.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Telephone expenses.
- Tips and souvenirs.
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary.
Uganda Climate
Uganda enjoys a tropical climate, characterized by warm temperatures and moderate rainfall throughout the year. The country experiences two main rainy seasons: the long rains from March to May and the short rains from October to November. Temperatures typically range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F), with cooler conditions in the mountainous areas.
The dry seasons, particularly from June to September and December to February, are ideal for wildlife viewing and gorilla trekking. Travelers should pack lightweight, breathable clothing and be prepared for sudden rain showers, especially during the wet seasons.
Essential Safari Gear for Uganda
- Lightweight, Quick-Dry Clothing
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Rain Jacket or Poncho
- Wide-Brimmed Hat
- Sunglasses with UV Protection
- Lightweight Backpack
- Insect Repellent
- Sunscreen
- Binoculars
- Camera with Extra Batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Snacks or Energy Bars
- Travel Adapter
- Multi-Purpose Tool or Swiss Army Knife
- Headlamp or Flashlight
- Lightweight Sleeping Bag (if camping)
- Travel Insurance Documents
- Passport and Necessary Visas
- Guidebook or Map
Make sure to check the weather and specific activity requirements for your trip!
You may also wish to know;
Is it Safe to Travel to Uganda?
Yes, Uganda is generally safe for travelers, offering incredible wildlife, vibrant culture, and friendly locals. The country maintains political stability, and major tourist destinations like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kampala are secure.
However, travelers should take standard precautions, such as avoiding isolated areas at night, safeguarding valuables, and staying informed about local updates. Road conditions can be challenging in some areas, so hiring a trusted guide or driver is advisable.
Health-wise, vaccinations for yellow fever and malaria prevention are recommended. Overall, Uganda remains a welcoming and rewarding destination for adventure and wildlife enthusiasts.