12 Day Safari in Uganda
This 12 Day Safari in Uganda trip will make you discover the unique landscapes of the country of a thousand hills, the Bwindi Gorilla Forest, Lake Bunyonyi and its thousands of islands, and the majestic chain of Virunga volcanoes. The meeting with mountain gorillas will be the highlight of your trip to Uganda.
Day 1 – Entebbe
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be greeted by our team who will provide transportation to the Kampala Cassia Lodge – Metropole Hotel where you will stay overnight. BB
Day 2 – Murchison Falls National Park (6 hours drive)
Breakfast then departure northwest to Masindi and the largest national park in Uganda. Stop in the Ziwa Rhino reserve, a conservation project that has helped to reintroduce white rhinos in Uganda. Lunch and Continue to Murchison Falls National Park and the Nile River where you can admire its spectacular falls from their summit.
Dinner and overnight at Murchison River Lodge – Paraa Safari Lodge (C) or Pakuba Lodge (E). Full board.
Day 3 – Murchison Falls National Park
Breakfast (very) early morning then departure for a motorized discovery of the savannah in the Nile Delta region on Lake Albert. Richly represented fauna: elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, kobs, hyenas, and, more rarely, leopards.
Back to the hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon, boat trip on the Nile River to the feet of Murchison Falls. The concentration of wildlife in this area of the Nile River is spectacular: hippos, crocodiles, eagles, pelicans, kingfishers, and Egyptian geese.
Dinner and overnight in the Murchison River Lodge – Paraa Safari Lodge (C) or Pakuba Lodge (E). Full board.
Day 4 – Rift Valley and Fort Portal (7 to 8 hours of unpaved road)
Breakfast then departure to the national park towards the Southwest, along with Lake Albert and the extension of the Rift Valley. You will pass through Hoima, the capital city of the kingdom of Bunyoro, one of the oldest in Uganda.
Lunch along the way. Continue towards Fort Portal (capital of the kingdom of Tooro) which enjoys the freshness of the Rwenzori Mountains (the highest mountain in Africa).
Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge (standard cottage) / Crater Safari Lodge (C) (additional price for Papaya Lodge) or Chimpanzee Forest Guest House / Kibale Guest Cottages (E). Full board.
Day 5 – Kibale National Park and crater lakes
Breakfast then discovery of Kibale National Park (many species of birds, chimpanzees, black and white monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervets). Lunch then visit the ecotourism project in Bigodi, a small village very close to the Kibale forest. The local population organizes village tours to discover the reality of local daily life, traditional healers, and the traditional culture of Batoro and Bakiga.
Dinner and overnight at Kyambura Game Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge (C) or Ihamba Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge (E). Full board.
Day 6 – Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a cup of coffee/tea at 6:30 am, departure by car in search of the animals of the national park: lions, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, cobs,…
Lunch at the lodge.
In the afternoon, boat safari from along the Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites for its populations of birds, hippos, buffaloes, and elephants drinking from the river.
Dinner and overnight at Kyambura Game Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge (C) or Ihamba Safari Lodge / Enganzi Lodge (E). Full board.
Day 7 – Ishasha – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Breakfast then departure towards the south. After lunch, departure in search of “lions climbing in the trees” observed during the hot period of the day You will also observe herds of buffaloes, elephants, and antelopes.
Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Jungle Lodge. Full board.
Day 8 – South-West of Uganda – Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi
Breakfast then departure towards the equatorial forests of the south, places of natural habitation of mountain gorillas. Lunch. Arrival at Bwindi National Park.
Dinner and overnight at Bwindi Engagi Lodge – Bwindi Jungle Lodge – Bakiga Resort (C) or Cuckoo land Lodge – Gorilla Valley Lodge (E). Full board.
Day 9 – Meet the mountain gorillas
Very early in the morning, you will enter the equatorial forest of Bwindi in search of gorillas. You will be accompanied by rangers in a group of up to 8 people. The Bwindi Forest in Uganda is home to a population of around 400 gorillas (half the world’s population).
It is impossible to specify the duration of the walk that will be necessary to join a family of gorillas. You will have one hour to observe and photograph these primates in their environment. Picnic lunch in the forest.
Dinner and overnight at Bwindi Engagi Lodge – Bwindi Jungle Lodge – Bakiga Resort (C) or Cuckooland Lodge – Gorilla Valley Lodge (E). Full board.
Day 10 – Batwa Pygmies – Bunyonyi Lake
Breakfast then an optional hike in the Echuya forest, to meet the Batwa Pygmies in their surroundings in order to discover their traditions and culture. Continue to Lake Bunyonyi in the region of Kigezi called, “the Switzerland of Africa”, characterized by hills cultivated in terraces.
The inhabitants are Bakiga. In the afternoon, boat excursion on Lake Bunyonyi: countless species of birds to observe.
Lunch, dinner, and overnight at Birds Nest Hotel (C) or Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi (E). Full board
Day 11 – Lake Mburo National Park
Breakfast then departure to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest of the Ugandan national parks.
Lunch on the way. In the evening, explore the savannah and observe the impalas, topis, other antelopes, buffaloes, and zebras.
Dinner and overnight at the Rwakobo Rock Lodge / Mantana Mburo Camp (supplement for Mihingo Lodge) (C) or Mburo Safari Lodge / Arcadia Mburo Cottages (E). Full board.
Day 12 – Lake Mburo – Entebbe
Breakfast and last photographic safari in Uganda before returning to Entebbe (optional guided walk in the national park). Lunch is taken en route. Continue to Entebbe international airport and fly to Europe.
Half pension.
End of 12 Day Safari in Uganda
Extension options after 12 Day Safari in Uganda:
1 additional day at the source of the Nile and a boat trip to Jinja
3 days dedicated to the Ssese Islands – Bugala Island
1 day at Ngamba Island and Entebbe (the first or the last day)
1 day at Semiliki National Park (after the 4th day)
4 to 7 days trekking in the Rwenzori mountains
1-day trekking in the mountain of Muhabura Virunga.