The 12 days Uganda safari is off the beaten path with memorable experience of the diverse fauna, flora and culture rarely found elsewhere. The biggest highlights of this trip are the chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Uganda’s 18,783 plant and animal species, ranks her among the top 10 most biodiverse countries in the world. Uganda is notably home to half of world’s mountain gorillas. Kibale forest is home to 13 primate species; a number no other country can outcompete. The cultural, artistic and cultural expressions i.e., cultural beliefs, handicrafts, cultural sites, monuments and antiquities, etc. make Uganda a great tourist destination.
Sir Winston Churchill, in his book – My African Journey referred to Uganda’s forests as more luxuriant than any other forest he had earlier visited. ‘’Birds are as bright as butterflies; butterflies are as big as birds. The air hums with flying creatures; the earth crawls beneath your foot,’’ he wondered.
12 Days Uganda Safari – Trip summary
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the lodge for an overnight stay
Day 2: After breakfast visit Entebbe Wildlife Centre (Zoo). Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary or birding in Mabamba Wetland are optional
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls national park, en route Ziwa rhino tracking
Day 4: Game viewing and afternoon boat cruise to the Top of the Murchison Falls
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking; visiting Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru ( Breasts of Nyina Mwiru) cultural site and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 7: Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi national park
Day 9: Gorilla trekking
Day 10: Golden monkeys tracking and visiting the Batwa (Pygmies) community
Day 11: Boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
Day 12: Transfer back to Kampala with a stop-over at the Equator crossing
Detailed 12 Days Uganda safari
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your lodge
On arrival at Entebbe airport a representative from Gorilla trek Africa will be holding a placard bearing your names. After a short brief he/she will transfer you to the lodge for an overnight stay.
While at the lodge he/she will take time to take you through the itinerary as earlier agreed upon between you and our company. In case you desire to make modifications at this point in time, the company will be ready to incorporate them in your program. Dinner and overnight at Protea by Marriott (High End) / 2 Friends Hotel (Deluxe)
Day 2: Optional tour around Entebbe or Kampala city
Enjoy your breakfast in the morning before doing a city tour. Entebbe vicinity offers the Botanical Gardens and Mabamba Wetland for birders; Entebbe Wildlife Center (Entebbe Zoo) and Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary. In case you intend to do a Kampala city tour, you may visit Bahai Temple (The only one in Africa), The Gadhafi National Moslem Mosque and the Kasubi UNESCO Heritage Site, among others. Overnight stay at either at Protea by Marriott (High End) / 2 Friends Hotel (Deluxe) if in Entebbe, or Mestil Hotel Kampala, Serena Hotel Kampala or mid-range Forest Resort Kampala, etc.
Day 3: Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking
At 7:00 am transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, 166 Km from Kampala ( a 3 hours drive north of Kampala). The sanctuary is a habitat to Black Rhinoceros (Diceros Bicornis Michaeli) and the Northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium Simum Cottoni) which are the indigenous species in Uganda. Tracking can be done any time between 7:00 am to 17:00 hours and the whole experience may take approximately 1 and a half or 2 hours.
Later proceed to the Top of the Falls in Murchison Falls national park for nature viewing before retiring at your lodge for your overnight. The journey from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is 89 Km which a 2 to 3 hours drive.
Stay at the high end Kabalega Wilderness Lodge or midrange Pakuba Lodge or Murchison River Lodge on Full board basis.
Day 4: Game drive in the park and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
Between 6:00 to 7:00 am begin your game drives in the northern sector of the park. Murchison Falls national Park boasts of 144 mammal and 556 bird, 51 reptile and 51 amphibian species. Some of the common mammals include Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, spotted hyenas, etc.
Game drives in this park are mainly carried out in the following tracks: –
- Albert track: This is the most spectacular track in the park. Game drives are done along Albert Nile shoreline. The acacia woodland that extends into Sudan is home the elusive leopards.
- Buligi track: Before oil exploration in this area of the park, this used to be the most prime track in park as herds of Rothschild giraffes and prides of leopards would be sighted in the acacia woodland.
- Victoria track: The 17 Km long track that was created between Queen’s and Buligi tracks that empties into the Nile delta area is blessed with prides of leopards and lions.
- Queen’s track: The 8 miles long track that adjoins the Victoria and Albert tracks offers a lot of lions’ sightings.
- Pakuba track: The track runs past Pakuba lodge ruins that host hyenas and leopards in its debris.
Morning game drives can be done as early as 6:00 am so as to catch up with early risers before they get into hiding from the morning sunshine. In the afternoon a boat cruise to the top of the falls is so rewarding. The upriver cruise as one views the Fajao gorge is one of the most memorable scenic views. Dinner and overnight at the previous lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale national park.
This journey takes 6 hours’ drive on a smooth tarmac road. Overnight stay at Chimpundu Lodge (high-end)/Chimpanzee Tourist Lodge or Turaco Tree Tops lodge (Midrange).
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking
At 7:00 am report at Kanyanchu park headquarters for briefing. At 8:00 am chimpanzee tracking begins. An hour is sufficient for visitors to view chimps in the wild. On return transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – 121 Km (2 hours and 40 minutes’ drive) Southwest of Kibale Forest. Dinner and overnight at Parkview Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge (High End)/Enganzi Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge (Midrange).
Day 7: Game drive in the park and boat cruise along Kazinga Channel
Queen Elizabeth national park famous for its abundant fauna and flora. Some of its abundant wildlife include African Cape buffalo, African elephants, hippos, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, chimps, spotted hyenas, lions and leopards among others. The bird life is one of the best in Africa with over 600 bird species.
The morning game dive along the Kasenyi track is ideal for lions and big herds of kobs and buffaloes. An afternoon boat cruise is a great wildlife experience as one passes by great schools of hippos, crocodiles and a plethora of aquatic and migratory birds. Return to your previous lodge for relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park arriving early enough for lunch at the lodge. This is approximately 5 hours drive to Ruhija sector in Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Dinner and overnight at Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge/Mahogany Springs, or Four Gorillas Lodge.
Day 9: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi
Depending on gorilla permits availability, a guest might do gorilla tracking in either Mgahinga national park; Rushaga – the southern sector of Bwindi Forest or Buhoma – the northern sector of the park. If tracking is to be done in the former, then the guest would not miss out engaging in the Batwa Community walk. The guest, while in Mgahinga national park, can choose to do golden monkey tracking. Thus, adjusting the itinerary on the 10th day to be as such.
Day 10: Gorilla tracking in Mgahinga
Assuming our guests opted to track gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, accommodation would then be booked in Kisoro at Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge.
Day 11: Boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
On this day the guest has an option of settling with Lake Bunyonyi boat cruise or driving straight and stay an overnight in Lake Mburo national park.
Day 12: Game drive in Lake Mburo national park
This day is for a game drive in Lake Mburo national park and a transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight