12 Days Uganda Safari for Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife & Chimpanzee Watching
The 12 days Uganda Safari to trek Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimpanzee Watching rewards visitors with a rare opportunity of coming closer to Mother Nature and culture.
12 days Uganda Safari Tour starts and ends in Kampala City but offers a wide array of savannah and forest-dwelling wildlife species including chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, leopards, Rhinos, buffaloes, vervet monkeys, lions, elephants, Defassa waterbucks, Oribis, black and white colobus monkeys, spotted hyenas, bushbucks, Jackson Hartebeests, common elands, olive baboons and Topis among others.
The beautiful safari destinations included in this long safari Include Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls National parks for wildlife viewing tours, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mesmerizing gorilla trekking experiences and Kibale Forest National Park for unforgettable chimpanzee trekking tours.
There is also a bonus visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary while connecting to Murchison falls National Park as well as Bigodi wetland Sanctuary during chimpanzee tours.
Highlights of the 12 days Uganda Safari (Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimps Safari)
- Gorilla Trekking.
- Chimpanzee trekking.
- Game drives in top savannah National Parks.
- Rhino tracking within Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
- Birding opportunities in different ecosystems (forest, savannah grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and Lakes).
- Community walks.
- Guided nature walks within Bigodi wetland Sanctuary.
- Launch cruises.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Welcome to Uganda, through Entebbe International Airport.
- Day 2: Depart for Murchison falls National Park with en-route stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
- Day 3: Whole day discovering the beauty of Murchison falls National Park.
- Day 4: Connect to Kibale Forest National Park for chimp trekking.
- Day 5: The fulfilling Chimp trek in Kibale Forest National Park.
- Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for another unforgettable wildlife experience.
- Day 7: Comprehensive Queen Elizabeth National Park tour.
- Day 8: Journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla treks.
- Day 9: Encounter with the mountain Gorillas and optional community walks.
- Day 10: Connect to Lake Mburo National Park and optional boat ride.
- Day 11: Drive back to Kampala, then connect to Jinja adventure City.
- Day 12: Half day adventures and travel back to Kampala.
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 jetting in at Entebbe International Airport and because of the long flight be transferred to your Hotel for meals and slumber.
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 en-route stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Enjoy breakfast and 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 tracking adventure and get the chance to come close to Uganda’s only Rhino population in the wild.
While tracking the Rhinos, other wildlife species such as Uganda Kobs, bushbucks and warthogs will also be encountered and after continue for Lunch at Kabalega Diners, a popular eatery for tourists visiting northern destinations. Drive straight to Murchison falls National Park where you will continue to the Lodge for a quiet evening while admiring beauty of nature, dinner and overnight.
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
Murchison falls National Park in north-western Uganda is the country’s prime, largest and most popular National Park, offering visitors with the most fulfilling game viewing experiences.
After a quick breakfast at the Lodge, start off with the game drive along the endowed northern banks of River Nile where large herds of Jackson hartebeests, prides of lions, Oribis, Topis, Uganda Kobs, leopards, Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, elephants, Defassa waterbucks and numerous bird species can be encountered. After this fulfilling game drive, return back to the Lodge for Lunch and 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 especially Nile crocodiles and Hippos as well as Uganda Kobs, elephants, bushbucks, warthogs and buffaloes drinking water along the shallow banks.
The highlight of this Launch cruise is the Murchison falls where Nile River plunges through a narrow gorge of less than 8 meters to pour 40 meters into a Devil’s cauldron and creating a loud sound and water spray. After this enjoyable boat cruise, hop into the vehicle for a transfer to the Lodge for dinner and 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
Visitors make an early start and drive through the Albertine escarpment, traditional villages, vast banana and tea farms before entering Fort Portal Town in the west for lunch.
Visit the breathtaking Crater Lakes in the afternoon and get treated to a delicious dinner and most peaceful night at the booked accommodation facility in the jungles of Kibale, western Uganda.
This Protected Area is about 795 square kilometers in size and boasts of the highest concentration of primates in the country hence the title “Primates Capital of East Africa”.
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, we explore Kibale Forest National Park in a thrilling chimpanzee trekking adventure. First, have breakfast and converge at Kanyanchu Visitor Center for 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 even hiring the porter, set out into the forest to search for our close cousins who are possibly going about their daily activities.
One hour is all you are given to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas and make sure to do so while following issued guidelines while briefing such as sitting/standing 8 meters away, not making noise and imitating their calls or facial expressions.
Spend the afternoon resting from the hectic trek or make good use of it by visiting Bigodi wetland Sanctuary for its unique primates and wetland bird species such as Papyrus gonolek, great blue Turaco and so much more.
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 day six we leave Kibale Forest National Park, driving southwest via breathtaking countryside sceneries and stunning landscapes to the popular Queen Elizabeth National Park.
This Park is said to be a potpourri of spectacular mammal species, plethora of birds totaling to 600, magnificent landscapes and many others.
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 tour-Western Uganda.
Have a wonderful breakfast and make your way into Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the top game viewing destinations in the country and largely boasts of 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species.
For the entire day, we head into the wilderness in search of the wide array of animals in this 1978-square kilometer Park, including four of the big five (African bush elephants, lions, Buffaloes and leopards), spotted hyenas, Defassa waterbucks, Topis, bushbucks and many others. After the first phase of the wildlife viewing tour, return to the lodge for a hot meal.
The afternoon is dictated to discovering 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 and learn more about the lifestyle of Batwa people 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, put it 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 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 Igongo Cultural Center) before driving straight to 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. 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 and enjoy a game drive through Lake Mburo National Park for more views of Zebras, Rothschild giraffes, impalas, Vervet monkeys, Cape buffaloes, Topis, Defassa waterbucks, warthogs, Olive baboons, Klipspringers, Cape elands and many others.
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 and head for whitewater rafting on the Nile River and 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
This package 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.
The Package excludes;
- Laundry fees.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Telephone expenses.
- Tips and souvenirs.
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary