12-Day Ultimate Uganda Wildlife, Primate & Adventure Safari

Your 12-Day Uganda Safari begins with a pick-up from your hotel in Entebbe or from Entebbe International Airport. Meet your Zamunda Travels guide and start your journey to Jinja, one of Uganda’s most exciting adventure destinations.

The drive to Jinja takes you through beautiful countryside, local communities, farms, and towns. On arrival in Jinja, check in at your lodge and have lunch before relaxing for a while.

In the evening, visit the Source of the Nile, where the Nile River begins its long journey northwards. Enjoy a boat ride or guided visit around the area while taking in the beautiful scenery. You can also learn about the history and importance of the Nile to Uganda and other countries along its route.

Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Nile Resort Hotel, Jinja Nile Resort or a similar lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After an early breakfast, prepare for one of the biggest adventures of your Uganda safari: white-water rafting on the Nile River.

Head to the rafting starting point and receive a safety briefing from the professional rafting team. You will then begin your rafting adventure through the exciting rapids of the Nile. The experience combines thrilling rapids with calm sections where you can enjoy the beautiful river scenery.

White-water rafting is suitable for adventure-loving travelers and provides an exciting way to experience the Nile. Professional guides and safety equipment are provided during the activity.

After rafting, return for lunch and prepare for your journey to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The drive takes you through Uganda’s countryside and local communities.

Arrive at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in the evening, check in at your lodge, have dinner, and relax.

Accommodation Options: Amuka Safari Lodge or a similar lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Wake up early and prepare for a rhino tracking experience at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The sanctuary is one of the best places in Uganda to see southern white rhinos in a natural environment.

With the help of an experienced ranger, walk through the sanctuary in search of rhinos. You will learn about their behavior, conservation, and the efforts being made to protect them for future generations.

After the rhino experience, return to the lodge for breakfast and continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park.

Have lunch after arriving in the Murchison Falls area and then visit the Top of Murchison Falls. Here, the powerful Nile River is forced through a narrow gorge before plunging down the rocks with incredible force.

Enjoy the spectacular views, listen to the sound of rushing water, and take photographs of one of Uganda’s most famous natural attractions.

Later in the evening, enjoy a game drive in the park. This is an excellent opportunity to begin searching for wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, and, with some luck, lions and leopards.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Wake up early for a morning game drive through Murchison Falls National Park. The early hours are one of the best times to search for wildlife because many animals are active before the heat of the day.

The park is home to several species, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, hartebeests, Uganda kobs, warthogs, and many antelopes. You will also see numerous bird species along the savannah and river areas.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari on the Victoria Nile toward the bottom of Murchison Falls. The cruise gives you a different view of the park and brings you close to animals along the riverbanks.

Look out for large numbers of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and water birds. As the boat approaches the bottom of the falls, you will enjoy spectacular views of the powerful water rushing through the gorge.

After the boat safari, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge or Murchison River Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls National Park and begin your journey to Kibale National Park.

The journey takes you through Uganda’s beautiful countryside, with views of local communities, farms, green hills, and traditional ways of life. Enjoy the changing landscapes as you travel towards western Uganda.

After lunch, continue to Kibale National Park, one of Africa’s best destinations for chimpanzee trekking and primate experiences.

In the evening, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run conservation area near Kibale Forest. Take a guided walk through the wetland and look for monkeys, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Bigodi is particularly famous for its birdlife, and you may have the opportunity to see species such as the great blue turaco and other colorful forest birds.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Primate Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Kibale Forest Camp or a similar lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After an early breakfast, head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for briefing before beginning your chimpanzee trekking experience.

Kibale National Park is one of the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in their natural forest habitat. During the trek, walk through the beautiful rainforest with your ranger and search for chimpanzees as they move through the trees and forest floor.

You may also see other primates, including red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and olive baboons.

Once you find the chimpanzees, enjoy watching them feed, climb, call, play, and interact with each other.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch before starting your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Arrive in the evening, check in at your lodge, have dinner, and relax.

Accommodation Options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge or Bush Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Wake up early for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, lions, Uganda kobs, warthogs, antelopes, and many bird species. Your guide will take you along the park’s wildlife tracks in search of animals.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is also known for its beautiful landscapes, including open savannah, crater lakes, forests, and views of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some rest.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the famous Kazinga Channel. The channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and is one of the best places in Uganda for viewing wildlife from the water.

During the cruise, you may see large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and other animals along the shoreline. The channel is also home to many bird species, making the boat safari excellent for both wildlife and bird lovers.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge or Bush Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After breakfast, begin your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas.

Travel through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Keep your eyes open during the drive because you may also see elephants, buffaloes, topis, kobs, antelopes, and other wildlife.

Continue towards Bwindi while enjoying the changing scenery. The landscape gradually changes from savannah to rolling hills and thick green forests.

Arrive in Bwindi, check in at your lodge, and prepare for the following day’s unforgettable gorilla trekking experience.

Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Mahogany Springs, Silverback Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Lake Kitandara Camp or Buhoma Community Camp.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today is one of the biggest highlights of your 12-Day Uganda Safari: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

After an early breakfast, your guide will take you to the park headquarters for briefing. Meet your ranger guides and receive important information about gorilla trekking rules and safety.

Begin your trek through the dense Bwindi forest in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain.

Once you find the gorillas, you will have a memorable opportunity to observe them as they feed, play, rest, and interact with one another. Watching these gentle giants in their natural environment is a truly special experience.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Depending on your energy and available time, you may enjoy a community visit or a guided nature walk in the evening.

Accommodation Options: Mahogany Springs, Silverback Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Lake Kitandara Camp or Buhoma Community Camp.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Today is one of the biggest highlights of your 12-Day Uganda Safari: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

After an early breakfast, your guide will take you to the park headquarters for briefing. Meet your ranger guides and receive important information about gorilla trekking rules and safety.

Begin your trek through the dense Bwindi forest in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain.

Once you find the gorillas, you will have a memorable opportunity to observe them as they feed, play, rest, and interact with one another. Watching these gentle giants in their natural environment is a truly special experience.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Depending on your energy and available time, you may enjoy a community visit or a guided nature walk in the evening.

Accommodation Options: Mahogany Springs, Silverback Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Lake Kitandara Camp or Buhoma Community Camp.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After breakfast, leave Bwindi and travel to the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi.

Lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by rolling green hills and numerous small islands. It is one of the most peaceful places to relax after the exciting gorilla trekking experience.

Arrive at your lodge and have lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the beautiful views of the lake.

You may choose to take a canoe ride, enjoy the peaceful surroundings, or simply relax at the lodge while taking in the scenery.

Lake Bunyonyi is a wonderful place to slow down and enjoy the beauty of southwestern Uganda.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation Options: Acadia Lake View Resort, BirdNest Resort or a similar lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After breakfast, leave Lake Bunyonyi and travel towards Lake Mburo National Park.

Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way as you travel through the rolling hills and countryside of southwestern Uganda.

After arriving at Lake Mburo, check in at your lodge and have lunch. Later in the evening, enjoy a guided walking safari.

Lake Mburo is one of the few places in Uganda where visitors can explore the savannah on foot with an armed ranger. During the walk, you may encounter zebras, impalas, topis, buffaloes, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and many bird species.

The walking safari offers a different perspective of Uganda’s wildlife because you can experience the sounds, tracks, plants, and smaller animals of the savannah at close range.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Mihingo Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp, Rwakobo Rock or Lake Mburo Safari Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board.

After breakfast, begin your final journey back to Entebbe.

Depending on your flight schedule, you may have lunch along the way and make a stop at the Equator crossing. This is a great place to take photographs, buy souvenirs, and experience standing in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Continue to Entebbe and arrive in time for your flight or hotel drop-off.

Your 12-Day Ultimate Uganda Wildlife, Primate & Adventure Safari with Zamunda Travels comes to an end with unforgettable memories of Uganda’s wildlife, forests, rivers, mountains, and warm local communities.

END OF 12-DAY UGANDA SAFARI