Overview
Uganda, often referred to as the “Pearl of Africa,” offers an unparalleled blend of wildlife, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. This 12-day safari itinerary is designed to give you an immersive experience of Uganda’s rich biodiversity and vibrant culture, taking you from the bustling city of Kampala to the tranquil shores of Lake Victoria, through dense rainforests, and into the heart of savannahs teeming with wildlife.
Tour Highlights
- Day 1: arrival in Entebbe and transfer to hotel
- Day 2: Transfer from Entebbe to Murchison fall National Park
- Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat
- Day 4: Transfer from Murchison falls to Kibale forest National Park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and afternoon Bigodi nature walk
- Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and do afternoon game drive
- Day 7: Morning game drive and afternoon boot cruise in Kazinga channel
- Day 8: Morning game drive in Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
- Day 9: Gorilla trekking and transfer to lake Bunyonyi
- Day 10: Morning canoe in Bunyonyi and drive to Lake Mburo and do afternoon boat
- Day 11: Morning game drive and transfer to Jinja source of the Nile
- Day 12: Morning water rafting in jinja and Departure.
Itinerary
Your adventure begins as you arrive at Entebbe International Airport. After clearing customs and immigration, you will be greeted by your tour guide who will transfer you to your hotel. Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe, located on the shores of Lake Victoria, offers a comfortable and luxurious start to your safari. Spend the evening relaxing and recovering from your flight, enjoying the serene views of the lake.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe
Meal plan: Dinner
After an early breakfast, you will depart for Murchison Falls National Park, a journey of approximately 6 hours. En route, you will stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos on foot. This sanctuary is crucial for the conservation of rhinos in Uganda and offers a unique opportunity to see these magnificent creatures up close. After, embark on the journey and drive to Masindi town where you will have your lunch. Continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. on arrival in the park, proceed with the visit to the top of the falls and after, continue to the lodge. If your accommodation I located on Northern side of the park, you have a brief enroute game drive to the lodge. If you check into Paraa Safari Lodge, located on the north bank of the Nile River. The lodge offers stunning views of the river and the park.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury), Pakuba safari lodge (Mid-range), Park side safari lodge/ Heritage safari lodge (Budget).
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Start your day with an early morning game drive on the northern bank of the Nile. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and numerous antelope species. After the game drive, return to the lodge for breakfast and some relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, embark on 2:00pm boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls. The cruise offers excellent opportunities for bird watching and seeing hippos, crocodiles, and other wildlife along the riverbanks. Upon reaching the falls, you will have the chance to disembark and hike to the top for a spectacular view of the powerful waterfall where you will witness the Nile squeezing through the narrow gorge and dropping down with a thunderous roar. Drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Today, you will have a long drive to Kibale National Park, known for its population of habituated chimpanzees. The journey takes about 7-8 hours, but the scenic landscapes along the way, including the lush green tea plantations and the rolling hills of Uganda's countryside, make it worthwhile. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, check into the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Primate Lodge Kibale(luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guest House (Mid-range), Kibale forest camp/ Rwenzori view guest house (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing before setting off on your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Kibale National Park is home to about 1,500 chimpanzees, making it one of the best places in the world to see these primates in their natural habitat. The tracking experience can take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours, depending on the location of the chimps. Once you find them, you will spend an hour observing their behavior and interactions. In the afternoon, take a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run project that is home to a variety of bird species, primates, and other wildlife. After you will return to the park headquarters then to the lodge. In the afternoon, you do Bigodi Nature walk where you encounter several bird species as well primates like the Red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Baboons among others. Later evening, you return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Primate Lodge Kibale(luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guest House (Mid-range), Kibale forest camp/ Rwenzori view guest house (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Today, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a journey of about 3-4 hours. En route, you will have the opportunity to stop at the scenic crater lakes region for some stunning photo opportunities. Upon arrival at the park, you will proceed and check in to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which is renowned for its high concentration of hippos, as well as elephants, buffaloes, and a variety of bird species along the banks. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation options: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Enganzi Game lodge (Mid-range), Simba safari Camp/ Pumba safari cottages (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Start your day with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains, which are known for their high concentrations of lions and Uganda Kobs. The open savannah and diverse landscapes offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Return to the lodge for breakfast and some leisure time. In the afternoon, take a drive to the Kyambura Gorge for a chance to track the resident chimpanzees or explore the Maramagambo Forest for a guided nature walk, which includes visits to bat caves and various primate species.
Accommodation options: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Enganzi Game lodge (Mid-range), Simba safari Camp/ Pumba safari cottages (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, head to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Spend the morning on a game drive in this unique area, keeping an eye out for these elusive lions lounging in the fig trees. After lunch, continue your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to over half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. The drive takes about 4-5 hours. Upon arrival, check into Buhoma Lodge, which offers a comfortable and eco-friendly stay at the edge of the forest.
Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge (Luxury), Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge (Mid-range), Rushaga Gorilla haven/ Trekkers Tavern cottages (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Today is one of the highlights of your safari – gorilla tracking. After an early breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the dos and don'ts of gorilla tracking. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into several tracking sectors, and you will be assigned to one of the habituated gorilla families. The trek can be challenging, taking anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, but the reward of spending an hour with these gentle giants is truly unforgettable. After, you will return to the lodge return and check out and take a leisurely drive to Lake Bunyonyi, often referred to as the "Switzerland of Africa" due to its stunning landscapes and terraced hillsides. Upon arrival, check in to the lodge for dinner and over night stay.
Accommodation options: Bird nest @ Bunyonyi Resort (Luxury) Bunyonyi Rock Resort (Mid-range), Crater Bay cottages (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, take on a leisure canoe boat at Lake Bunyonyi. You can choose to explore more of the lake's islands, visit local communities, and learn about their cultures and traditions, or simply enjoy the tranquility of the lake. Optional activities include hiking, bird watching, or taking a boat trip to Punishment Island, where unmarried pregnant women were once abandoned according to local tradition. The serene environment and the cool breeze make Lake Bunyonyi a perfect place to unwind after your adventurous safari. After, return to the lodge and drive to Lake Bunyonyi and on arrival, you will check in to the lodge for lunch, and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.
Accommodation options: Mihingo Lodge (Luxury), Rwakobo Rock (Mid-range), Lake Mburo eagle’s Nest (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Wake up for breakfast and go on early game drive in the park for game viewing lake Mburo is the smallest of all the National parks, but is a habitat to several animal’s species that you will be able to see during the game drive in the park. animals that will see include; Elephants, African buffalos, giraffes, Zebras, Impala, Sitatunga, Leopard, Hyena, Oribi, Warthogs bird’s species include; Malachite Kingfisher, African fish eagle, African Wattled lapwing among others. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you go on boat cruise in Lake Mburo where you will spot several aquatic animals and birds species seen along the shores. Animals include the buffalos, Hippos among other. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Wake up to a relaxed morning breakfast and thereafter, you will go on a nature walk in the park where you will have an opportunity to spot animals at close range. The hike will take you through the woodlands and this also grantees you a great opportunity of seeing the forest birds and mammals that are easy to be spotted. After, you return to the lodge and check out and drive back to Kampala. The drive takes you about 4 hours with enroute stop at the equator line crossing for photo shoot and enroute lunch. Arriving in Kampala in the afternoon. The driver guide will then drop you off at the airport depending your flight schedule, you may check in to the lodge in Entebbe for refreshment as you wait for your flight time. Lastly, a drop off at the airport in time for your flight.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
Tour Includes & Excludes
The Tour Includes
- Accommodation and meals
- Transportation in 4x4 safari vehicle
- Services of professional safari guide
- Gorilla permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Boar cruise fees
- Park entrance fees
- All game drives
- Bigodi nature walk
- Bottled drinking water
- All other activities included in the itinerary
The Tour Excludes
- Visas
- Personal travel insurance
- Tickets
- Tips Laundry services
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
- All other items of personal nature including optional activities