12 Days Uganda Safari Holidays

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Uganda

After breakfast at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe, start your 12 Days Uganda Safari Holidays with a drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Along the way, pass through Luwero and stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

At the sanctuary, you will have a chance to see both black and white rhinos. The entrance fee is $50 per person. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was created to protect rhinos from poaching and other threats.

After the rhino visit, continue to Masindi for lunch. Then proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. On arrival, visit the top of the falls and enjoy amazing views of the waterfalls and the Nile River.

At Murchison Falls, the Nile River passes through a narrow gap before dropping about 43 meters. The powerful water and beautiful scenery make the falls one of the highlights of the park.

Murchison Falls National Park is one of Uganda’s largest national parks. It is home to many animals, including lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles. The park also has many bird species and different types of vegetation, including savannah, wetlands, and forests.

The main activities in the park are game drives and boat cruises on the Nile River.

Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket), Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge (Moderate), Red Chilli Rest Camp or Heritage Safari Lodge (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 2: Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast at your lodge, go for a morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. You will have a chance to see animals such as giraffes, lions, elephants, buffaloes, and many birds.

After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on the Nile River.

During the boat cruise, you will see hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many beautiful birds along the river. Some of the birds you may see include bee-eaters, kingfishers, and shoebill storks.

The boat cruise is a great way to enjoy the wildlife and beautiful scenery along the Nile.

Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket), Murchison River Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge (Moderate), Red Chilli Rest Camp or Heritage Safari Lodge (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

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Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls National Park and start your journey to Kibale National Park. Along the way, pass by the Lake Albert escarpment and enjoy beautiful views of Lake Albert.

Continue to Hoima, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, continue your journey through rural areas, passing villages, farms, and green hills. You will see local people going about their daily activities and farming.

The journey continues to Fort Portal, a beautiful town located near the Rwenzori Mountains. The area is known for its green tea plantations and beautiful landscapes. Enjoy the views of the tea plantations before continuing to Kibale National Park.

Kibale National Park is one of the best places in Africa for seeing primates. The forest is especially famous for chimpanzee trekking. You can also see other primates, including black-and-white colobus monkeys and different monkey species. The nearby Bigodi Wetland is also a great place for bird and primate watching.

On arrival at Kibale, check in at your lodge and relax. If time allows, visit the beautiful crater lakes around Fort Portal. You can enjoy a walk around one of the lakes and take in the peaceful scenery.

Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Kyaninga Lodge (Super Luxury), Primate Lodge or Ndali Lodge (Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse or Mountains of the Moon (Moderate), Kibale Forest Camp (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Visit

Wake up early and have breakfast before heading to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. At around 8:00 am, start your chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale Forest.

Kibale National Park is one of the best places to see chimpanzees in Uganda. Chimpanzees are very close relatives of humans and share about 98% of their DNA with us.

During the trek, you may also see other primates, including L’Hoest’s monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, pottos, and bush babies. The forest is also home to many bird species.

Chimpanzees live in large family groups with a clear social structure. During the trek, you may see them feeding, playing, calling, and moving through the trees. Your guide will help you find them by listening for their calls and following their movements through the forest.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and some rest. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The wetland is home to several primates and other animals, including blue monkeys, baboons, bushbucks, mongooses, otters, and bush pigs.

Bigodi is also a great place for bird watching. One of the most popular birds to look for is the great blue turaco, along with many other forest and wetland birds.

Accommodation Options: Kyaninga Lodge (Super Luxury), Primate Lodge or Ndali Lodge (Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse or Mountains of the Moon (Moderate), Kibale Forest Camp (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast, enjoy a short walk around the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. You will have a chance to see the beautiful peaks, also known as the Mountains of the Moon.

After the walk, continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive from Kibale National Park takes about three hours.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for its beautiful landscapes and many wildlife species. The park is located between Lake Edward and Lake George and was named after Queen Elizabeth II.

The park is home to animals such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, kobs, warthogs, and forest hogs. The Ishasha sector is also famous for its tree-climbing lions.

On arrival, check in at your lodge and have some rest. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive through the park. Look out for elephants, lions, buffaloes, kobs, and other wildlife.

You can also visit Baboon Cliff, a beautiful viewpoint with amazing views of the park, Lake Kikorongo, and the Rwenzori Mountains. Much of the park is covered by open savannah grasslands, which provide a great setting for wildlife viewing.

Accommodation Options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mazike Valley Lodge or Katara Lodge (Upmarket), Ihamba Safari Lodge or Twin Lakes Lodge (Moderate), Bush Lodge in Tents or Mweya Hostel (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 6: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Wake up early and have breakfast before going on a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You may see animals such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, and elands.

After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and some rest.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. During the cruise, you may see hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and buffaloes near the water. You will also have a chance to see many birds, including storks and kingfishers.

The boat cruise offers beautiful views and is a great way to enjoy the wildlife around the Kazinga Channel.

Accommodation Options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mazike Valley Lodge or Katara Lodge (Upmarket), Ihamba Safari Lodge or Twin Lakes Lodge (Moderate), Bush Lodge in Tents or Mweya Hostels (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 7: Maramagambo Forest Walk and Ishasha Game Drive

Wake up early and have breakfast before going for a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest. The forest is one of the largest forests in Uganda and is home to many primates, birds, butterflies, and other forest animals.

During the walk, visit the volcanic caves, which are home to many bats. You may also see pythons that feed on the bats. The walk also takes you to Lake Kimeranjo, the crater lakes, and the beautiful Kyambura Gorge, which is known for chimpanzee trekking.

After the walk, return to the lodge for lunch and some rest.

In the afternoon, go on a game drive in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is famous for its tree-climbing lions. You may also see elephants, buffaloes, kobs, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife.

Accommodation Options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mazike Valley Lodge or Katara Lodge (Upmarket), Ihamba Safari Lodge or Twin Lakes Lodge (Moderate), Bush Lodge in Tents or Mweya Hostels (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas.

The journey takes you through the Ishasha sector, where you may see the famous tree-climbing lions. You will also enjoy beautiful landscapes and views along the way.

On arrival in Bwindi, check in at your lodge and relax. If time allows, enjoy a guided nature walk around the forest.

Later, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Mahogany Springs or Silverback Lodge (Upmarket), Lake Kitandara Camp or Bakiga Lodge (Moderate), Buhoma Community Camp or Trekker’s Tavern (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Today is the highlight of your safari as you meet the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest. After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the lodge and take you to the briefing point.

After the briefing, start your gorilla trek through the beautiful Bwindi forest. You will have a chance to see the mountain gorillas and other wildlife, including monkeys, buffaloes, butterflies, and many bird species.

The trek can take about 1 to 8 hours, depending on where the gorilla family is located. Once you find the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour observing and enjoying their behavior.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and some rest. In the evening, you can enjoy a guided nature walk or visit a local community.

Accommodation Options: Mahogany Springs or Silverback Lodge (Upmarket), Lake Kitandara Camp or Bakiga Lodge (Moderate), Buhoma Community Camp or Trekker’s Tavern (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up and drive you to Lake Mburo National Park. It is one of Uganda’s smallest savannah national parks.

The park is home to many animals, including zebras, buffaloes, impalas, kobs, oribis, and warthogs. It is also home to more than 300 bird species.

On arrival, check in at your lodge and have some rest. Later, enjoy a guided nature walk through the park. This gives you a chance to see wildlife and enjoy the beautiful scenery on foot.

After the walk, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Mantana Tented Camp or Mihingo Lodge (Upmarket), Rwonyo Rock or Lake Mburo Safari Lodge (Moderate), Rwonyo Camp (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 11: Game Drive and Boat Cruise

After breakfast at your lodge, go for a morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. You will have a chance to see animals such as zebras, impalas, kobs, antelopes, and many bird species.

After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and some rest.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. During the cruise, you may see hippos, crocodiles, and many birds around the lake. Enjoy the peaceful waters and beautiful scenery before returning to the lodge.

Accommodation Options: Mantana Tented Camp or Mihingo Lodge (Upmarket), Rwonyo Rock or Lake Mburo Safari Lodge (Moderate), Rwonyo Camp (Basic).

Meal Plan: Full Board.

Day 12: Return to Kampala or Entebbe

After an early breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. After the game drive, start your journey back to Kampala.

Have lunch along the way and make a stop at the Equator. Here, you can do some simple experiments, take photos, and enjoy the experience.

Continue to Kampala and arrive in the evening. If you have a flight that day, your guide can drop you off at Entebbe International Airport.

END OF 12 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI