The 12 days Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari is one of the best Uganda safaris you should consider a must to book. This gorilla and wildlife tour covers gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. It also lets you to trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. This Uganda safari tour will begin and end in Kampala/Entebbe.
Trip activities to do on 12 days Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Guided nature walks
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Stopover at the Equator crossing
- Bird sighting
Brief itinerary of your 12 days Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari
Day 1: Leave Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Game drive and launch cruise
Day 3: Travel from Murchison to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale & guided nature walks in Bigodi Wetland
Day 5: Drive from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Game drive & launch cruise via Kazinga Channel
Day 7: Guided nature/forest walks in & around Maramagambo Forest
Day 8: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 11: Game drive in the morning & afternoon boat cruise
Day 12: Return to Kampala or Entebbe
Detailed itinerary of your 12 days Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari
Day 1: Leave Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park
Day 1 of your Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari will begin with breakfast at the hotel in Kampala. After, meet the driver guide for briefing and then begin your road trip which is between 4 and 5-hours’ drive from Kampala through Luweero Triangle-Masindi route. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary will be your stopover point for rhino tracking and Masindi Town for lunch then you access the park through Kichumbanyobo gate in the south. Get to this safari park early and proceed to the top of Murchison Falls. This is one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls and today, you will witness it squeezing itself in a narrow gorge of 7m before breaking down about 43m.
Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge
- Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge, Red Chili Rest Camp
Day 2: Game drive and launch cruise
Enjoy your breakfast and later, your second day of the 12 days gorilla & wildlife safari will start with morning game drive through the Northern circuit of Murchison Falls National Park. This will take you about 2-3 hours and it lets you spot out wildlife species such as elephants, Rothschild giraffes, birds, buffaloes, lions, hartebeests, bush bucks, warthogs and many more. Return to the lodge in your 4×4 safari vehicle to have lunch and then take part in an afternoon boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls.
En-route to the base of the falls, expect to sight hippos, the Nile crocodiles, avifaunal birds like the kingfishers, bee-eaters, fish eagles. This water sport lasts from 3-4 hours and disembark from the boat at Baker’s rock then take a hike to top of Murchison falls.
Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge
- Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge, Red Chili Rest Camp
Day 3: Travel from Murchison to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, drive from Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest National Park, approximately 7 hours. Along the way, expect breathtaking view of the rift valley escarpment, farmland and the Rwenzori Mountain range. In Hoima Town, make a stopover to enjoy your lunch then continue to Kibale through Fort Portal.
Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park
- Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge, Primate Lodge
- Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale & guided nature walks in Bigodi Wetland
A trek to view chimpanzees, have an in-depth exploration about their daily behaviors begins early in the morning with breakfast and later, briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Center at 7:00am. At 8:00am, the actual chimpanzee will commence and you will be accompanied by park ranger guide. Your primate adventure will last for 2 to 4 hours and it covers 1 hour of magical encounter, photography. Note, chimpanzees share 98 percent of their DNA with humans which makes them our closest relatives. As well, expect to see L’Hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, grey cheeked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, birds to mention but a few.
At 2:00pm, you will engage in a guided nature walk in Bigodi Wetland. This is for you to search for more primates including red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys plus birds. Drive back to your lodge to dine and spend a night.
Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park
- Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge, Primate Lodge
- Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Day 5: Drive from Kibale in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5 of your 12 days Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari commences with a cup of tea or coffee and then check out ready to drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park about 3 hours. Have lunch at the lodge in Queen and later, engage in an afternoon game drive for you to spot out buffaloes, birds, elephants, lions, leopards, warthogs, antelopes to mention but a few.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
- Mid-range: Twin Lakes Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge
- Budget: Bush Lodge, Mweya Hostel
Day 6: Game drive & boat cruise via Kazinga Channel
Meet an experienced tour guide after a hefty breakfast and then set off for the morning game drive through Kasenyi Plains for you to see the African elephants, leopards, African lions, buffaloes, warthogs, birds, Uganda Kobs and many other antelopes. This will cover 2 to 3 hours and after, drive back to be served lunch in your lodge.
At 2:00pm, a boat cruise via Kazinga channel lets you to view hippos, Nile crocodiles as they bask along the banks. After, get back to relax, dine and spend a night at your safari lodge.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
- Mid-range: Twin Lakes Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge
- Budget: Bush Lodge, Mweya Hostel
Day 7: Guided nature walk in Maramagambo Forest
The 7th day of your Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari commences with breakfast and later, you will participate in a guided nature walk in Maramagambo Forest. This lets you come across variety of primate species, butterflies and forest birds. Drive back to have lunch then you will sum up your afternoon on a game drive through the Ishasha sector. This is for you to view the tree climbing lions in Ishasha, birds, buffaloes, elephants and a lot more.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
- Mid-range: Twin Lakes Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge
- Budget: Bush Lodge, Mweya Hostel
Day 8: Travel from Queen to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast at the lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, check out and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Make a stopover at Savanna Resort to have lunch then continue to Bwindi to check in at your gorilla safari lodge for dinner and a night stay.
Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge
- Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nshongi Camp
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla adventures in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park start from Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma area where you will be briefed on the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking. You will also be allocated to a gorilla group which will be tracked by a group of 8 tourists. At 8:00am be prepared to start your trek to see mountain gorillas after briefing and this can take you 2 to 6 hours including 1 hour of you striking your imaginations with a group of these rare apes in the wild.
In the evening, expect to pay a visit to the Batwa community where you will have the best of Uganda’s unique cultures. Enjoy the best dances, music performances of the Batwa pygmies-the renowned forest dwellers, hunters and gatherers, explore their lifestyles, traditions and a lot more.
Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge
- Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nshongi Camp
Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast and check out of the lodge, meet the driver guide ready to connect to Lake Mburo National Park, about 6 hours. Dine and spend a night in a lodge.
Accommodation in Lake Mburo National Park
- Luxury: Mantana Tented Camp, Mihingo
- Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
- Budget: Rwonyo Camp
Day 11: Game drive and a boat cruise in Lake Mburo National Park
Get up early to have breakfast and after, you will engage in a game drive which allows you view zebras, giraffes, impalas, lion, leopards, buffaloes, birds and a lot more. Drive back to have lunch then you have an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo for you sight hippos, basking crocodiles along the lake shores and water bird species.
Accommodation in Lake Mburo National Park
- Luxury: Mantana Tented Camp, Mihingo
- Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
- Budget: Rwonyo Camp
Day 12: Return to Kampala or Entebbe
Check out of the lodge in Lake Mburo and later, meet the tour leader for you to make a return trip to Kampala/Entebbe. Make a stopover at Uganda Equator crossing for photography and the proceed to Kampala/Entebbe and this will mark the end of your 12 days Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari.
End of your 12 days Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari
12 days Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari inclusions
- Gorilla permits
- Game viewing
- Rhino tracking
- Bottled drinking water
- Chimpanzee permits
- Park entry fees
- Relevant government taxes
- Travel in 4×4 drive safari vehicle
- Fulltime English-Speaking driver guide
12 days Uganda gorilla & wildlife safari exclusions
- Insurance
- Tips
- Laundry service
- Visa fees
- Alcoholic drinks
- Airfares
- Hotel fees in Kampala after the trip
- Optional activities
- Telephone calls
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5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari