Experience the incredible diversity of Uganda on this 12 Days Uganda Complete Wildlife Safari, an unforgettable journey through some of the country’s most spectacular national parks and wildlife destinations. This carefully designed safari takes you from the lush landscapes of Murchison Falls National Park to the scenic savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the primate-rich forests of Kibale National Park, and the beautiful plains of Lake Mburo National Park. Along the way, you will enjoy game drives, boat cruises, chimpanzee tracking, nature walks and breathtaking views of Uganda’s landscapes and wildlife. You will have opportunities to see elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, chimpanzees, zebras, antelopes and numerous bird species. With comfortable accommodation, experienced guides and carefully planned transfers, this safari gives you an excellent opportunity to discover the best of Uganda’s wildlife in one remarkable adventure.
Day 1: Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park
Your Uganda safari begins with an early morning departure from Kampala or Entebbe, travelling northwards towards Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. You will enjoy the changing scenery as you leave the busy urban areas behind and travel through rural communities, farmland and traditional villages. Depending on your departure time, you may make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you can enjoy a guided rhino tracking experience before continuing towards the park. After lunch, you will proceed towards Murchison Falls National Park and enter the park through one of its main gates. As you drive towards your lodge, keep your eyes open for wildlife such as antelopes, warthogs, elephants and giraffes. You will arrive at your accommodation in the evening, relax and prepare for the exciting activities planned for the following days.
Accommodation options: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2: Murchison Falls Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise
You will wake up early for a morning game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park, one of the best areas for wildlife viewing in Uganda. The early hours provide excellent opportunities to encounter animals when they are most active, including elephants, buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, hartebeests, Uganda kobs and various antelope species. With luck, you may also spot lions and leopards moving through the grasslands in search of prey. After returning to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation, you will embark on an afternoon boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. From the boat, you can see large numbers of hippos, crocodiles and elephants gathering around the riverbanks, together with numerous water birds. The cruise provides a spectacular perspective of the park and the powerful Nile River before you return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, you will leave Murchison Falls National Park and begin your journey southwards towards Kibale National Park, home to one of Africa’s most remarkable concentrations of primates. The drive takes you through changing landscapes, including rural settlements, green countryside, tea plantations and rolling hills. This is also an opportunity to experience everyday life in Uganda as you pass through local communities and agricultural areas. You will have lunch en route before continuing towards the Kibale Forest region. As you approach the park, the landscape becomes increasingly lush, with dense vegetation surrounding the forest and crater lakes. On arrival, you will check into your lodge and have time to relax after the long journey. The evening can be spent enjoying the peaceful surroundings and preparing for the following day’s exciting chimpanzee tracking experience.
Accommodation options: Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Camp, Primate Lodge Kibale
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Experience
Today you will explore the remarkable primate world of Kibale National Park, beginning with an exciting chimpanzee tracking experience. After breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a briefing before entering the forest with experienced guides and trackers. As you walk through the forest, you will have opportunities to encounter chimpanzees as well as other primates such as red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. The forest is also home to a wide variety of bird species and beautiful tropical vegetation. After the chimpanzee experience, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Later, you can visit the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, where a guided nature walk introduces you to local communities, wetlands, birdlife, butterflies and additional primate species. You will return to your lodge in the evening after a rewarding day exploring one of Uganda’s richest natural environments.
Accommodation options: Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Camp, Primate Lodge Kibale
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Kibale National Park and travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular wildlife destinations. The journey takes you through the beautiful countryside of western Uganda, with rolling hills, tea plantations, forests and crater lakes providing spectacular scenery along the way. You will have opportunities to stop at viewpoints and enjoy photographs of the landscapes before continuing towards the park. After lunch, you will enter Queen Elizabeth National Park and begin your wildlife experience with a game drive as you make your way towards your lodge. The park supports a remarkable range of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs and various antelope species. If conditions are favourable, you may also encounter lions and other predators. You will arrive at your accommodation later in the day, settle in and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the park.
Accommodation options: Buffalo Safari Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Your sixth day begins with an early morning game drive through the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The morning safari offers excellent opportunities to see elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs and other wildlife moving through the grasslands. You will explore different tracks in search of predators, with possible sightings of lions and, with good fortune, elusive leopards. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a period of relaxation. In the afternoon, you will take a memorable boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is famous for its large concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles, while elephants and buffaloes can often be seen drinking along the shoreline. The cruise also provides excellent opportunities for birdwatching, with numerous water birds and other species inhabiting the channel’s shores.
Accommodation options: Buffalo Safari Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel southwards towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to some of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The journey takes you through the scenic highlands of southwestern Uganda, where terraced hills, plantations and small villages create an impressive landscape. Depending on your route and the location of your accommodation, you may enjoy views of the Virunga volcanic ranges in the distance. The drive itself offers an opportunity to experience the beauty and cultural character of this part of Uganda. You will have lunch along the way before continuing towards the Bwindi region. As you approach the forest, the environment becomes increasingly green and mountainous, signalling your arrival in gorilla country. You will check into your lodge, relax and receive preparations and guidance for your gorilla trekking experience the following day.
Accommodation options: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bakiga Lodge
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Experience
Today is one of the highlights of your Uganda safari as you embark on a gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After an early breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority guides and trackers. You will then enter the ancient rainforest in search of one of the habituated mountain gorilla families. The duration of the trek varies depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain, but the experience takes you through beautiful forest vegetation and rugged landscapes. Once you locate the gorilla family, you will have a memorable opportunity to observe their natural behaviour from the permitted distance under the guidance of your ranger. After the trekking experience, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. The rest of the afternoon can be spent resting or enjoying the tranquil surroundings of the Bwindi region.
Accommodation options: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bakiga Lodge
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Bwindi and begin your journey towards Lake Mburo National Park, a scenic destination known for its rolling hills, open grasslands, wetlands and diverse wildlife. The journey provides another opportunity to experience the changing landscapes of southwestern Uganda as you travel through rural communities and agricultural areas. You will have lunch along the way before continuing towards Lake Mburo. Upon arrival, you may begin your wildlife experience with a game drive through the park, depending on your arrival time. Lake Mburo is home to zebras, impalas, elands, buffaloes, warthogs, topi and other species, while the park is also one of Uganda’s best places to see the elegant Ankole cattle. The park’s compact size makes it possible to explore several habitats during a relatively short safari. You will proceed to your lodge in the evening, enjoy dinner and relax in preparation for the following day’s activities.
Accommodation options: Rwakobo Rock, Mburo Safari Lodge, Eagles Nest Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Lake Mburo Game Drive and Nature Walk
You will start your day with a morning game drive through Lake Mburo National Park, exploring its open savannah, woodland and wetland habitats. The park is particularly well known for its populations of zebras and impalas, which can frequently be seen grazing across the plains. You may also encounter buffaloes, warthogs, topi, elands and other antelope species during the drive. Depending on your route, you can also enjoy beautiful views of Lake Mburo and the surrounding hills. Later, you will return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation before taking part in a guided nature walk. Lake Mburo is one of the few Ugandan national parks where you can explore on foot with an armed ranger, providing a different perspective of the wildlife and vegetation. The evening can be spent relaxing at your lodge and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the park.
Accommodation options: Rwakobo Rock, Mburo Safari Lodge, Eagles Nest Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 11: Lake Mburo to Entebbe via the Equator
After breakfast, you will leave Lake Mburo National Park and begin your journey towards Entebbe or Kampala. Before leaving the park, you may have another opportunity for a short game drive, depending on your departure time and flight schedule. The journey continues through the beautiful countryside of central Uganda, passing local communities, farms and roadside markets. One of the highlights of the day will be a stop at the Uganda Equator crossing, where you can take photographs and explore the craft shops and souvenir stalls. You will have lunch at or around the Equator before continuing towards Kampala or Entebbe. The drive gives you an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of the safari, from the forests of Kibale and Bwindi to the savannahs of Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo. You will arrive at your hotel in the evening for your final night in Uganda.
Accommodation options: Papyrus Guest House, Airport View Hotel, Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 12: Departure
After breakfast, you will have a relaxed morning depending on your flight departure time. If you have a late flight, you may have some free time to explore Entebbe, purchase souvenirs or simply relax at your accommodation. Your safari guide will arrange your transfer to Entebbe International Airport in good time for your scheduled flight. This marks the end of your 12 Days Uganda Complete Wildlife Safari, following an incredible journey through Uganda’s national parks, forests, wetlands and countryside. You will depart Uganda with unforgettable memories of chimpanzees in Kibale, mountain gorillas in Bwindi, elephants and predators in the savannah parks, and the beautiful landscapes that make Uganda one of Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations. We hope your experience with Verdant Safaris leaves you inspired to return and explore more of the Pearl of Africa.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch)
End of the 12 Days Uganda Complete Wildlife Safari.
The 12 Days Uganda Complete Wildlife Safari includes;
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Uganda.
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with a professional English-speaking driver-guide.
- Fuel and transportation throughout the safari.
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- All national park entrance fees.
- Murchison Falls game drives.
- Murchison Falls boat cruise on the Victoria Nile.
- Chimpanzee tracking permit in Kibale National Park.
- Bigodi Wetland nature walk.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park game drives.
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
- Gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Lake Mburo National Park game drives.
- Guided nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park.
- Equator stop and sightseeing.
- Bottled drinking water during game drives and transfers.
- All applicable government taxes and fees.
Safari Exclusions
- International flights.
- Uganda entry visa.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry and telephone calls.
- Alcoholic and premium beverages.
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers and lodge staff.
- Souvenirs and other personal purchases.
- Porter fees during gorilla trekking.
- Optional activities not specified in the itinerary.
- Any other services not mentioned under inclusions.
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari.
- Expenses resulting from changes to the itinerary caused by circumstances beyond the control of Verdant Safaris.