The 12 Days Uganda Safari is a perfect package for travelers interested in exploring “The Pearl Of Africa” – Uganda in-depth. This is the greatest opportunity to encounter the Big Five, gorillas and chimps.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
Your safari begins upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport located on the shores of Lake Victoria. Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed and picked by the company tour guide who will transfer you to check in the hotel. If you arrive early you might choose to explore the nearby attractions. You can take a leisurely stroll around the entebbe botanical gardens which is a home to over 300 exotic plants and indigenous bird species with black and white colobus monkeys. You can also visit the uganda wildlife education center where you can see and learn about Uganda’s native wildlife, local markets to buy souvenirs, Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary on lake Victoria for close up chimpanzee encounters. Accommodation options include Savannah Suites (budget), 2 Friends hotel (deluxe) and Protea hotel (luxury).
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp Birding and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
The morning begins with an early drive from Entebbe to Mabamba Swamp which is located about 50 km away (approximately 1.5 hours) along the northern shores of Lake Victoria. Mabamba is a large wetland known worldwide for birdwatching especially for the rare Shoebill. Exploring the swamp is done by traditional wooden canoe, guided by local bird experts who navigate through narrow papyrus channels. Besides the shoebill, other birds commonly seen include African jacana, malachite kingfisher, papyrus gonolek and various herons.
After the birding experience, the journey continues toward Lake Mburo National Park. The drive from Entebbe to Lake Mburo is approximately 240 km and takes about 5 to 6 hours along the Kampala–Mbarara highway. Along the way, you will cross the Uganda Equator line in Kayabwe, one of the popular stopover points where travelers take photos and watch demonstrations showing the difference between water flow in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Lake Mburo National Park covers about 26,000 hectares of wetlands, savannah grasslands, open acacia woodland and a chain of small lakes. The park supports more than 350 bird species. Visitors can explore the park through guided nature walks, game drives, cycling tours, horseback riding and boat cruises. Upon arrival, you will check into either Mihingo Lodge or Kigambira Safari Lodge for your dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise in Lake Mburo
The day begins with a morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. During the game drive you will spot many wildlife species such as large populations of zebras, impalas, eland antelopes, buffaloes, and giraffes. Lake Mburo is one of the few places in Uganda where visitors can easily see zebras grazing across open grasslands often mixed with herds of impalas. The park also supports predators such as leopards and hyenas, though they are harder to spot. In the afternoon you take a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. The boat ride offers close views of hippos, crocodiles and many bird species including African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, and cormorants.
A night game drive in the park can also be rewarding, with chances of spotting genet cats, bush pigs, white-tailed mongooses and occasionally a leopard or even a male lion. Accommodation options include Mihingo Lodge, Kigambira Safari Lodge and Rwankobo Rock lodge.
Day 4: Guided nature walk and transfer to Kibale National Park
The morning begins with a guided walking safari, one of the special experiences offered in Lake Mburo National Park. Walking with an armed ranger allows you to explore the savannah at a slower pace and observe animals such as giraffes, zebras and antelopes from ground level. After breakfast, the journey continues to Kibale National Park and the drive takes about 300 km taking approximately 6 to 7 hours. The route goes through Lake Mburo – Mbarara– Ibanda – Kamwenge to Kibale. This road passes through the Ankole region famous for its long-horned Ankole cattle and rolling hills. Along the way you can have a stop over at Igongo Cultural Centre near Mbarara where travelers can learn about Ankole traditions, visit a small museum and enjoy local food. Kibale National Park is a rainforest park widely known for its high concentration of primates. The park is home to over 13 primate species including the Chimpanzee. Kibale also hosts about 335 bird species and several other primates such as L’Hoest’s monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey and black-and-white colobus.
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and nature walk in Bigodi swamp
In the morning, you will transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a short briefing about chimpanzee tracking. After the briefing, you will enter the forest with a ranger guide in search of the chimpanzees. When you find them, you will observe their behavior and notice how closely they resemble humans in their social interactions, such as grooming, playing and caring for their young. During the forest walk, you may also see other primates including Vervet Monkey, L’Hoest’s Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey and Black-and-white Colobus, among others. After spending one hour with the chimpanzees, you will return to the park headquarters where you will receive a trekking certificate.
After lunch, you will take a nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary where you may see many bird species that are commonly found in wetland areas. Kibale National Park is home to nearly 335 bird species. Later, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Accommodation options include chimpanzee guest house (budget)/crater safari lodge (mid range)/Kyaninga lodge (luxury)
Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki and visit Sempaya Hot Springs
After breakfast, you will drive to Semuliki National Park, located in western Uganda in Bundibugyo District near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The journey covers about 72 km and takes roughly 2 to 3 hours. Semuliki is unique because its ecosystem resembles the Congo Basin forests which makes it different from other Ugandan parks. The park is known for being East Africa’s only lowland tropical forest that is classified as moist and semi-deciduous. It contains about 336 recorded tree species with 24 species found only in Semuliki. The park also supports a wide variety of wildlife including 63 mammal species. Among these are nine species of diurnal forest primates such as Chimpanzee, Blue Monkey, Vervet Monkey and Olive Baboon.
One of the main attractions here is the Sempaya Hot Springs. The hot springs consist of two main geysers including the male spring (Nyansimbi) and the female spring (Bitente) both boiling at temperatures of about 100°C. Visitors often see eggs or bananas being cooked in the steaming water as a demonstration of the heat. After exploring the hot springs, the journey continues to Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve for an evening game drive. The journey covers about 50 km, taking roughly 1 to 1.5 hours depending on road conditions. The evening game drive is carried out on open savannah tracks where animals such as Uganda kob, waterbuck, warthogs and occasionally elephants can be seen grazing as the sun sets. Accommodation option include Semliki safari lodge
Day 7: Lake Albert boat ride and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
On arrival at the lake, you meet local guides and fishermen who help prepare the boat experience. The boats used here are usually traditional wooden fishing boats or small motorized vessels, depending on the operator and water conditions. Before setting off, you receive a short briefing about safety, local fishing activities and what wildlife to expect on the water. The boat slowly moves along the shoreline, allowing you to observe daily life on the lake. You will see local fishermen casting nets or pulling in their catch, often using techniques that have been passed down through generations. During the canoe ride you may spot large pods of hippos , kingfishers, African fish eagles and herons. Crocodiles may also be seen basking along sandy shores. The boat ride is slow-paced usually lasting 1 to 2 hours depending on conditions. This allows time for photography and birdwatching.
After the boat experience, you begin your journey of approximately 3 to 4 hours toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you travel, the geography gradually changes from the lakeshore lowlands into rolling hills, volcanic crater lakes and fertile agricultural land. The route passes through small towns and rural villages along the roadside. You will see children playing, farmers tending crops and roadside markets selling fresh produce. Along the way you can have a stop at the crater lake region near Fort Portal. This area is known for its chain of volcanic crater lakes surrounded by green hills and tea plantations. The scenery here is often described as one of the most picturesque landscapes in Uganda and it offers great photo stops along the way. You may also pass views of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park in the distance on clear days with their snow capped peaks rising above the clouds.
Queen Elizabeth National Park lies along the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley and features a wide range of ecosystems including savannah plains, wetlands, crater lakes and tropical forests. The park is home to a wide range of animals including elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hippos and Uganda kob. It is also famous for its tree-climbing lions found in the Ishasha sector. In addition, the Kazinga Channel which connects Lake Edward and Lake George supports one of the highest concentrations of hippos in the world. Accommodation options include Parkview Safari Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge and Enganzi Safari Lodge
Day 8: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise
After an early breakfast, you set off for a morning game drive across the Kasenyi plains and the Queen’s Mile inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. This open savannah lies within the Albertine Rift Valley and offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the park. Game drives here usually start very early around 6:30 am or in the afternoon at about 2:00 pm, when animals are most active. During the morning drive, you may come across a variety of wildlife including side-striped jackals, spotted hyenas, warthogs, cape buffaloes, elephants, topis, Uganda kobs, waterbucks and sometimes even leopards resting or moving through the grasslands. The park is also rich in birdlife and some of the birds you might see include the African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, black bee-eater, white-winged warbler, pink-backed pelican and martial eagle.
After the game drive, you return to your lodge for some rest and lunch. In the afternoon, you head to Mweya Jetty for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel which begins around 2:00 pm. The cruise takes you along a 45-kilometre waterway that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. The boat ride gives you close views of wildlife along the shores. You will likely see large groups of hippos in the water, herds of buffaloes cooling off near the banks and crocodiles resting along the channel edges. The area is also full of bird species both resident and migratory. The slow movement of the boat allows you to enjoy wildlife at a close and relaxed pace. Later in the evening, you can take another short game drive along the channel track where animals are often more active as the day cools down. After the activities, you return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay with options such as Parkview Safari Lodge or Enganzi Safari Lodge.
Day 9: Kyambura chimpanzee tracking and experiential tourism
On the 9th day of your trip, you explore the unique and dramatic landscapes in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kyambura Gorge also known as the valley of Apes is a deep forested canyon which cuts through the savannah and feels like a hidden world below the open grasslands. Kyambura Gorge is home to a small and semi-isolated community of Chimpanzee. Unlike Kibale Forest where chimps are more easily found, tracking here is more challenging because the population is smaller and they move deeper inside the dense forest inside the gorge.
Your day begins early with a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You are guided on what to expect, how to behave around chimpanzees and how to move safely in the steep terrain. After the briefing, you begin the descent into the gorge. The walk down is steep and sometimes slippery with thick vegetation, vines and tall trees forming a green tunnel below the savannah plains above. As you go deeper, the temperature becomes cooler and the forest feels more humid and enclosed. Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura is done by following signs left by the chimps such as fresh nests, broken branches, vocal calls and droppings. Rangers communicate with each other to locate the group and sometimes you may hear loud hooting calls echoing through the forest before you see them. The search can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours depending on their movement. Once the chimpanzees are found, you spend a short time observing them. You may see them feeding on fruits, grooming each other, playing or moving through the trees. After the trek, you climb back out of the gorge and return to the park area for rest and lunch.
In the afternoon, you continue with experiential tourism activities that connect you more closely with local life around Queen Elizabeth National Park. One option is a visit to Lake Katwe where you learn about traditional salt mining. Here, local people work in shallow salt pans, carefully harvesting salt using methods passed down through generations. You can walk through the salt pans and see how salt is extracted. Another option is mongoose tracking experience. This activity takes place in areas around the park where groups of banded mongooses are habituated to human presence. With a guide, you follow the mongoose groups as they move through open grasslands and near lodge areas in search of food. You may see them digging for insects, communicating with chirping sounds and moving together in coordinated groups. The tracking is done on foot and is relatively easy compared to chimp tracking. It gives you a closer look at smaller wildlife that is often missed during game drives.
You can also choose a cultural village visit, where you interact with local communities, learn traditional dances, listen to stories and experience daily life in the areas surrounding the park. By the end of the day, you return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Game drive in Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will depart for a 6 hour journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park depending on the gorilla family and sector assigned on your permit. The journey takes you through the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, particularly the Ishasha sector where you will go for an en route game drive. This area is famous for its rare tree-climbing lions often seen resting in large fig tree branches, especially during the warm mid-morning hours. As you continue the drive, you will pass through changing landscapes of open savannah, rolling hills and rural communities before stopping for lunch at Savannah Hotel in Kihihi town. This is a convenient stopover point for refreshments before continuing the journey.
After lunch, the journey proceeds toward Bwindi, with an optional cultural stop in the Kanungu communities. Here, you can learn about traditional coffee growing practices, how coffee is harvested and processed and its importance as a major source of income and cultural pride for local people. Upon arrival in Bwindi, you will check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options include; Mahogany Springs, Four Gorillas Lodge(luxury), Bakiga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge(deluxe) and Trekker’s Tavern Cottage(budget).
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern Uganda near the border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for dense rainforest and rich biodiversity. The park is famous for being home to almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. It is also home to other primates, birds, butterflies and forest wildlife. Bwindi is divided into different trekking sectors including Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo each offering different gorilla families and trekking experiences.
Day 11: Gorilla trekking
After breakfast at the lodge, you will be given a packed lunch before being transferred to the park headquarters depending on the gorilla trekking sector indicated on your permit. On arrival at the headquarters, you will be welcomed with local cultural performances usually from the Bakiga or Batwa communities giving you a taste of the traditions around Bwindi. After this, a detailed briefing is conducted by the senior park warden. This session covers the history of gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, conservation efforts for the mountain gorillas, their behavior, trekking rules and safety guidelines as well as how gorilla tourism benefits surrounding communities. The briefing usually starts between 7:30 am and 8:00 am. You will then be grouped into a maximum of eight people and assigned a ranger guide who will lead you into the dense tropical forest in search of the mountain gorillas. The trek can sometimes take an hour or even longer, depending on where the gorilla family is located. As you move through the forest, you will navigate steep, rugged and sometimes slippery terrain under thick tree canopies that often make the forest feel dark even during daytime.
Along the way, you will notice the rich biodiversity of Bwindi including various tree species, colorful flowers and other primates such as l’hoest monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and vervet monkeys. You may also encounter wildlife like bush pigs, warthogs, bushbucks, yellow-backed duikers, giant forest hogs and occasionally forest elephants. The forest is also alive with many species of butterflies.Once the gorillas are located, you will spend about one hour observing them as they feed, groom, rest and interact with each other while maintaining a safe distance of at least three meters. If you are doing a gorilla habituation experience, you may spend more time with them, including watching playful young gorillas and observing their natural behavior more closely. After the experience, you will hike back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a trekking certificate as a memory of the adventure. From there, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. Accommodation options include; Mahogany Springs, Four Gorillas Lodge (luxury), Bakiga Lodge, L. Mulehe Safari Lodge (deluxe) and Trekker’s Tavern Cottage (budget).
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali and departure
After breakfast, you drive through southwestern Uganda into Rwanda via the Cyanika or Katuna border post. The journey takes about 4 to 6 hours depending on the border crossing process. The route passes through rolling hills, tea plantations and scenic countryside before reaching Kigali, one of Africa’s cleanest and most organized cities. Depending on your flight time, you may have a short city tour or transfer directly to the airport for departure.