Home » Uganda Safari Tours » 12 Days Uganda Safari – Gorillas, Wildlife, Scenery, Community Safari Uganda Tour
12 Days Uganda Safari – Gorillas, Wildlife, Scenery, Community Safari Uganda Tour
12 Days Uganda Safari Tours: Overview
The 12-day Uganda safari tour is an outstanding experience for your safari in Uganda. This Uganda tour offers gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, wildlife game viewing, and community cultural tours. The safari begins and ends in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.
Your 12-day Uganda wildlife safari begins in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking on foot before proceeding to Murchison Falls National Park. The latter is where you will meet the world’s strongest waterfall and many Ugandan wildlife, including 4 of the big five animals of Africa, with only rhinos missing. Other animals in the park include antelopes, various primates, giraffes, and many others.
The tour will also continue to Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Kibale Forest, which is the primate capital of the world, also has 13 primate species, including 1500 chimpanzees and over 370 bird species.
The following destination will be Queen Elizabeth National Park to visit the renowned tree-climbing lions. You will also encounter Kazinga Channel, which holds the highest concentration of hippos in one place in the world and over 600 bird species in this park, the highest checklist among all Uganda parks.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will then be your next destination for Uganda gorilla trekking. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, covered with misty forests, is home to almost 50% of the mountain gorillas in the world, which is 459 out of the estimated 1,063.
A transfer to the spectacular Lake Bunyonyi to relax will then be the next step. Thereafter, you will have a game walk in Lake Mburo National Park, which will mark the end of your safari.
You Can Book Or Customize This Memorable Uganda Safari Tour To Fit Your Budget And Uganda Safari Interests
12 Days Uganda Safari Tours: Prime Safari Activities
- Uganda Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
- Rhino tracking on foot in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
- Mesmerizing cultural community walks.
- Safari game drives in the 3 famous Savannah parks. These are Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.
- Visiting the top of Murchison Falls.
- An afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls.
- Boat cruise to the Lake Albert Nile delta region in Murchison Falls National Park.
- A Kazinga Channel boat trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Tracking the rare tree-climbing Lions of Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth Park.
- A whole day to relax at the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi.
- Traditional lunch at the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara.
- A guided game walk in Lake Mburo National Park.
- Photo shoots at the Uganda Equator crossing in Kayabwe.
- Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Mountains of the Moon.
- Memorable bird-watching tours.
- A canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi will be an optional activity.
12 Days Uganda Safari Tours: Featured Safari Destinations
Day 1, 2, & 3: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Murchison Falls National Park.
Day 4: Kibale National Park and Bigodi Community.
Day 6 & 7: Ruboni Community and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 9 & 10: Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 11: Igongo Cultural Center & Lake Mburo National Park.
Day 12: Kampala or Entebbe.
12 Days Uganda Safari Tours: Highlights
Day 1: Relocation from Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park. There will be an en-route stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Day 2: A morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise on the Nile to the bottom of Murchison Falls.
Day 3: A private Nile Delta boat cruise and an evening game drive in Murchison Falls National Park.
Day 4: Visiting the top of Murchison Falls and then a journey to Kibale National Park.
Day 5: Morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest and an afternoon walk in Bigodi Community.
Day 6: Journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park with a game drive upon arrival. This will, however, have an en-route visit to the Ruboni Community on the slopes of Mount Rwenzori.
Day 7: A morning game drive in the wildlife-famous Kasenyi Plains and an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. You will also have another evening game drive along the channel track.
Day 8: Trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with an en-route game drive in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth to search for the tree-climbing lions.
Day 9: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the passage to Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 10: A whole day to relax at Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 11: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Enjoy the delicious traditional lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center and also do an evening game drive when you arrive in the park. There will likewise be an optional night game drive in the park.
Day 12: You will have a morning safari game walk in Lake Mburo National Park and then a transfer journey back to Kampala or Entebbe.
12 Days Uganda Safari Tours: A Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer From Kampala/Entebbe To Murchison Falls National Park; Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary En Route
Your driver guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe at 6:30 am after an early breakfast. A transfer journey to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest and oldest park in Uganda, will take 5–6 hours over a distance of about 311km.
Driving through the beautiful countryside, you will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking on foot. This 2-hour experience will give you the chance to closely see the only 32 wild rhinos in Uganda in their natural habitat!
After rhino tracking, you will have a delicious lunch at Kabalega Dinner before continuing to Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls is a lovely Uganda tour spot for Uganda wildlife safaris, as it protects over 76 mammal species.
The Nile, which is the longest river in the world (6650 km), divides this Ugandan park, which also has the most powerful waterfalls in the world. You will arrive in the late afternoon to have enough time to relax, have dinner, and rest overnight.
Accommodation Options In Murchison Falls National Park
Luxury
- Paraa Safari Lodge
- Bakers Lodge
Mid-range
- Pakuba Safari Lodge
- Murchison River Lodge
Budget
- Horn-bill Bush Lodge
- Red Chilli Rest Camp
Meal Plan
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities and Services Of The Day
- Drive to Murchison Falls National Park.
- Rhino tracking on foot in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Optional Activities You Can Choose To Do On This Day Include
- Evening game drive in Murchison
- Night game drive in Murchison
Day 2: Morning Game Drive And Afternoon Nile Boat Cruise To The Bottom Of Murchison Falls
Following your early breakfast at 6.30 am, you will embark on a 3- to 4-hour game drive in the scenic Buligi Plains. Buligi game area is spotted with palm trees and you begin the day by seeing early grazers going out to graze.
If luck is on your side, you will spot predators hunting their prey. Lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and various antelopes are the common wildlife of Uganda that you will see.
The park is also rich with many bird species, like the Secretary Birds, Black-Chested Snake Eagles, Bee-Eaters, Marshal Eagles, and many others.
You will then return to your lodge for a relaxing lunch and, thereafter, go for an afternoon Nile boat cruise to the bottom of the energetic falls. The Nile boat cruise to the strongest waterfalls in the world begins at 2 pm and it takes about 3 hours at a distance of 17 km.
The boat cruise will give you amazing views of the wildlife in Uganda, for example, hippos, antelopes, elephants, nile crocodiles, buffaloes, and many other birds.
You will then return to your lodge to relax, have dinner, and spend the night.
Activities and Services Of The Day
- A morning game drive in the northern section of Murchison Falls National Park
- An afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls.
Optional Activities That You Can Choose To Do On This Day Include
- Sport fishing for the Nile Perch freshwater fish.
- Hot-air balloon safaris.
- Community village visits.
- Night game drives inside Murchison Falls National Park.
Day 3: Private Nile Delta Boat Cruise And Evening Game Drive In Murchison Falls Park
Your hearty breakfast will be around 9.00 am, and then you will embark on your exhilarating 20-km boat cruise to the Lake Albert Nile Delta. This excursion will take place for about 4-5 hours at the best place to spot the rare shoe bill.
This spot also has over 1000 wading birds, including the Saddle-Billed Stocks, Grey Crowned Cranes, Pelicans, Yellow-Billed Stork, Papyrus gonolek, the Goliath Heron, Kingfishers, and many others.
Additionally, the boat cruise will give you the chance to see various animals; for example, the
- Semi-aquatic Hippos
- Gasping Crocodiles
- Giraffes
- Waterbucks
- Bushbucks
- Elephants
- Buffaloes
- Warthog
- Oribis
You will then return to your lodge to relax and have lunch. Later, you will have an evening game drive around 4:00 pm, from where you will see more animals in Murchison Falls National Park. After this, you will get back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight.
Activities and Services Of The Day
- A morning boat cruise to the Nile Delta.
- An evening game drive.
Other Optional Activities You Can Choose To Do On This Day Include
- Hot air balloon safari.
- Sport fishing along the Nile River.
- Visit the Mubako community for cultural performances.
- Night game drive.
Day 4: Visiting The Top Of Murchison Falls And Journey To Kibale National Park
After your 8:00 am breakfast, you will have a drive to the top of Murchison Falls, from where you will view the strongest waterfalls in the world from different perspectives.
After this, get on a drive to Kibale National Park, which is also known as the primate capital of the world. This journey will have you traveling through the ecstatic Albertine Rift Valley scenery.
Your en-route arrival in Fort Portal town will be just in time to have lunch. The Kibale Forest is well-known for having the highest concentration of primates in Africa. It has about 13 primate species, with about 1500 chimpanzees in total.
Other primates to see in Kibale are
- Olive Baboons
- Bushbabies
- Pottos
- Black And White Colobus
- Red Colobus
- Red-Tailed
- L’hoest’s
- Blue Monkeys
Upon arriving, you will check in to your lodge to rest, have dinner, and have an overnight.
Accommodation In Kibale National Park
Upmarket/ Luxury
- Crater Safari Lodge
- Kyaninga Lodge
- Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange
- Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (cottage)
- Kibale Forest Camp
Budget
- Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Main house)
- Kibale Forest Camp
Drive distance And time
- Distance of about 366km for about 6 hours.
Activities and Services Of The Day
- Visiting the top of the magnificent Murchison Falls.
- Trip to Kibale National Park.
Optional Activities You Can Choose To Do On This Day Include
- A night walk in Kibale Forest to see the nocturnal animals like pottos, bushbabies, and serval cats.
Day 5: Morning Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale Forest And An Afternoon Walk To Bigodi Community
Upon having your breakfast at 6:30 am, you will transfer to Kibale Park headquarters with your packed lunch. From here, you will have a chimpanzee trekking briefing at 8 a.m., and the trek will take between 2 and 5 hours.
Chimpanzees are man’s closest cousins, with a matching DNA of about 98.7%. You will spend one hour with these playful primates as you watch them feed, swing on trees, groom, kiss, and make hooting calls. This is a memorable experience that you ought to have. You will later return to the briefing point to have your packed lunch.
A Bigodi community village walk will occupy your afternoon. This is where you will appreciate spending time with the friendly local people, hence enjoying one of the most beautiful moments of your life.
You will also visit traditional healers, men that brew local banana beer, and the Bigodi Women’s Group, which makes beautiful handicrafts like baskets, bags, mats, and jewelry from local materials.
Relaxation, dinner, and a night’s rest will wrap up the day.
Activities And Services Of The Day
- A morning Chimpanzee trek in Kibale in Kibale National Park.
- An afternoon community walk in Bigodi village.
Optional Activities To Choose From For This Day
- night forest walk in Kibale Forest National Park
Day 6: Relocation To Queen Elizabeth National Park And A Visit To Ruboni Community On The Slopes Of Mount Rwenzori
After an early breakfast at around 8:30 am, you will be driven to Queen Elizabeth National Park on a 2-3 hour journey. Queen Elizabeth is the most famous park in Uganda, with a wide biodiversity of about 600 bird species and 95 mammal species, including 4 out of the big five African animals. The park only misses the Rhinos.
On the drive, you will see the amazing landscape of the crater lakes and dropping hills. Then an en-route stop at Kasese on the rolling foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, the third tallest mountain in Africa, will give an exploratory experience of the Ruboni Community. You will then meet the Bakonzo people, who, for centuries, have lived with their cultural traditions on the slopes of these mountains.
The friendly people will demonstrate for you their way of life, for example, their art and craft, the crops they grow, and the lively music, dance, and drama.
You will then continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park after this cultural experience and check in to your lodge for lunch. An afternoon game drive to the lovely landscape will then follow. The diverse landscape in the park includes beautiful lakes, rain forests, rolling Savannah, and acacia woodlands. Also, the various wildlife that you will see during the game drive will include
- Elephants
- Buffaloes
- Lions
- Leopards
- Antelopes
- And various bird species.
After your adventurous game drive, you will return to your lodge to relax, have dinner, and spend the night.
Accommodation Options At Queen Elizabeth National Park
Luxury
- Mazike Valley Lodge
- Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-range
- Enganzi Game Lodge
- Bush lodge
- Kasenyi Safari Camp
Budget
- Pumba Safari Cottages
Activities And Services Of The Day
- A transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Explore Ruboni Village on the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
- An afternoon game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Optional Activities To Do On This Day Include
- Night game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7: Morning Game Drive And An Afternoon Boat Cruise In Queen Elizabeth National Park
After your early breakfast at 6:30 am, you will be transferred for a 3–4 hour game drive in the rolling plains of the Kasenyi sector.
This day will begin with the view of the early grazers emerging from their hideouts to feed. If lucky, you will also see lions hunting, a beautiful experience that you ought not to miss.
On the game drive, you will also get to view elephants, hyenas, leopards, Cape Buffaloes, hippos, warthogs, and many types of antelope. For example, you will see Uganda kobs, waterbucks, and bushbucks, and you will also see many bird species.
You will then return to your lodge to relax and have lunch. At 2:00 pm, you will then go for a 2-hour relaxing boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. Kazinga Channel is a beautiful 32-kilometer stream that connects Lake George to Edward and it boasts the highest concentration of hippos in one place in the whole world.
On the Kazinga Channel boat trip, you will have a memorable up-close encounter with over 100 hippos submerged in the water. You will also see many crocodiles, elephants, and buffaloes that wallow in the mud.
Kazinga Channel also hosts over 100 water bird species, for example, yellow-billed storks, African open-bill storks, pink-backed pelicans, and saddle-billed storks.
When you finish the boat cruise, you will then head for a short game drive along the channel track before going back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight.
Activities And Services For This Day
- A morning game drive in Kasenyi Plains.
- An afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
Optional Activities To Do On This Day Include
- Lion tracking.
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest.
- Night game drives inside Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- A nature walk in the Maramagambo forest, which is home to many forest birds and monkeys,.
- Coffee tours.
Day 8: Transfer To Bwindi Through An En-Route Game Drive In Ishasha To See Tree-Climbing Lions
Upon having an amazing breakfast at 8 am, you will embark on a 160-km journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which will take about 4–7 hours.
The drive will be through the Ishasha sector, where you will see amazing sites of the rare tree-climbing lions that live on the big fig tree branches.
It is assumed that the tree-climbing lions climb to escape the sun’s heat or the biting insects on the ground. You will also spot various Ugandan animals on the drive, like Uganda kobs, topis, elephants, and many antelope species.
After meeting these mysterious cats, your drive will continue to Bwindi’s impenetrable forest, which is home to almost 50% of the world’s mountain gorillas. This park has about
- 20 habituated Gorilla families
- 120 mammal species
- 350 birds species, including all 24 Albertine Rift endemic bird species
- 10 primate species
- Over 400 plant species, and many others
You will then arrive in the early evening and, after your check-in, relax, have dinner, and rest for the night.
Accommodation Options At Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Luxury/Upmarket
- Haven Lodge Buhoma
- Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
- Buhoma Lodge
Mid-range
- Gorilla Mist Camp
- Agandi Uganda Eco-Lodge
- Ichumbi Lodge
Budget
- Trekkers Tavern
Drive Distance and time
The driving distance is about 160km for about 4–7 hours.
Activities and services of the day
- Game drives in the Ishasha sector to search for tree-climbing lions.
- A scenic drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 9: Do Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Forest And Transfer To Lake Bunyonyi For A Relaxation
The long-awaited experience of meeting the gentle giant apes is here!
After your breakfast, you will go to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters with your packed lunch. A briefing will happen here at 8 am, after which you will embark on a 2-hour trek in the misty Bwindi forest to look for a habituated gorilla family group.
When you meet them, you will spend an amazing hour with them, observing them feeding, breastfeeding, grooming, and relishing the sheer size of the mighty silverback. You will then return to the briefing headquarters, where you will receive a Uganda gorilla trekking certificate and have your packed lunch.
Next will be a journey to Lake Bunyonyi, a magnificent lake with 29 outstanding islands. This lake is the 2nd deepest lake in Africa (900 m deep).
The 90-minute drive will lead you through a captivating landscape of the terraced hills of Kigezi. Your arrival will be in the late afternoon so you will have enough time to relax at the resort and then have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation Options At Lake Bunyonyi
Luxury
- Birdnest at Bunyonyi Resort
Mid-range
- Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- Meal Plan
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Drive Distance and time
Approximately 52km for about 90 minutes.
Activities and Services Of The Day
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Evening boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
Optional Activities To Do On This Day Include
- Birding in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Do A Whole Day Of Relaxation On Lake Bunyonyi
When you finish your breakfast, which will be at 9:00 am, you will then get on a canoe to visit some of the major, beautiful historical islands of Lake Bunyonyi.
For example, on Akampene, or Punishment Island, girls who got pregnant before marriage were abandoned to die of hunger or drowning. The only way they would escape is if a man willing to marry them without paying dowry came to their rescue.
You can also hike one of the beautiful hills around the lake, swim inside it, experience the adventurous zip-lining across the lake, or do a community cultural walk and likewise visit the local school.
Optional activities for this day
- Zip lining
- Community visits
- Hiking
Day 11: Transfer To Lake Mburo National Park, Traditional Lunch Stop At Igongo Cultural Center, And Evening Game Drive Upon Arrival
After finishing an amazing, tranquil breakfast at 9:00 am, you will then head for a journey to Lake Mburo National Park, which is dubbed the Land of Zebras.
You will pass through the scenic roads of Uganda, where you will see mystical villages, lush banana plantations, and rolling Savannah landscapes. Likewise, you will see the beautiful long-horned cattle of the Ankole before making a stop at the Igongo Cultural Center and a nearby museum for a delicious traditional lunch.
After your lunch, you will be driven to your lodge in Lake Mburo National Park, which has various wild animals like elephants and many antelope species, but lions are absent.
After an afternoon relaxation, you will then go for a 2-hour game drive, where you will see
- Zebras
- Elands
- Buffaloes
- Impalas
- Bushbucks
- Waterbucks
- Warthogs
- Leopards
- Giraffes
- Hyenas,
- Side-Striped Jackals
You will then have dinner and rest for the night upon returning to the lodge.
The highlight of the day
- An evening game drive in Mburo national park
Accommodation At Lake Mburo National Park
Luxury
- Mihingo Lodge
Mid-range
- Rwakobo Rock
- Mpogo Safari Lodge
Budget
- Eagles Nest Mburo
Meal Plan
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Drive distance and time
- Approximately 199km for about 4 hours.
Activities and Services Of The Day
- A drive to Lake Mburo National Park.
- An evening game drive in Lake Mburo National Park.
Optional Activities For This Day Include
- A night game drive to encounter nocturnal animals.
Day 12: Do A Morning Game Walk In Mburo National Park And Drive Back To Kampala or Entebbe
Your early morning breakfast will be at 6.30 am, after which you will head on an amazing nature walk safari for 2 hours. This thrilling walk on the beautiful Savannah landscape, spotted with acacia trees, will enable you to see the animals closely. These include eagles, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, and buffaloes.
Next will be a 240-km journey back to Entebbe and the drive will take about 3–4 hours. En route to the Uganda equator, Kayabwe will allow you to take many memorable photos in the center of the world. You can also purchase souvenirs from the nearby craft shops to remember your 12 days on Uganda tours and safaris.
The drive will then continue to Entebbe International Airport for your departing flight.
The highlight of the day
- Game walking in Mburo National park
Drive distance and time
- Approximately 240km for about 3–4 hours.
Activities And Services Of The Day
- Game walk in Lake Mburo National Park
- Transfer to Entebbe
Optional Activities To Do On This Day Include
- Morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park
- Cycling tour in Lake Mburo Park
- Horseback safari in Lake Mburo Park
- Banyankole community tour
End Of The 12-Day Uganda Safari Tour
12 Days Uganda Safari Tours: Safari Inclusions
- Gorilla Permit
- Chimpanzee Permit
- Full-board accommodation on Safari
- Transport in either a 4X4 safari van or a 4X4 safari land cruiser, all with pop-up roofs and AC
- Fuel
- Provide a professional English-speaking driver guide or any other foreign language-speaking guide on an arranged request.
- Entrance fees to both the national parks and other tourist sites.
- Activity fees for the safari activities mentioned.
- Bottled water while on a safari.
- Border crossing fees for cross-border safaris.
12 Days Uganda Safari Tours: Safari Exclusions
- General tips for the driver guides, site guides, and service staff at the different lodges.
- Laundry services.
- Other beverages or drinks of a personal nature, like alcohol,.
- International flights are only arranged on request.
- Domestic flights are also only arranged on request.
- Visas
- Optional safari activity fees
- Airport Transfers are only arranged on request
- Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the tour itinerary (Arranged on request)
- Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
