Discover the extraordinary wildlife, landscapes and natural beauty of Uganda on this 12 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari Tour in Uganda with Verdant Safaris. This carefully designed adventure takes you through some of the country’s finest national parks, including Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburo National Parks. You will enjoy thrilling game drives, boat cruises, chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking and scenic journeys through Uganda’s beautiful countryside. The safari offers opportunities to see elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos, zebras, antelopes, chimpanzees and mountain gorillas, alongside hundreds of bird species. From the powerful Murchison Falls to the ancient forests of Bwindi and the rolling savannahs of Lake Mburo, every day introduces you to a different side of the Pearl of Africa. With comfortable accommodation, an experienced safari guide and a well-planned itinerary, this is an excellent way to experience Uganda’s spectacular wildlife in one unforgettable journey.
Day 1: Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park
Your 12 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari Tour in Uganda begins with an early morning pick-up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. You will travel northwards towards Murchison Falls National Park, enjoying beautiful views of Uganda’s countryside, local communities, farms and roadside markets along the way. Depending on your departure time, you can make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an optional rhino tracking experience before continuing towards the national park. You will have lunch en route before proceeding to Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest national park and one of the country’s premier wildlife destinations. As you enter the park, you may already begin seeing wildlife such as warthogs, Uganda kobs, hartebeests, elephants and giraffes. You will continue towards your lodge, check in and relax as you prepare for the exciting game drives and boat cruise planned for the following day.
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 rise early and enjoy breakfast before setting off for a morning game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. The early morning is an excellent time to explore the savannah as wildlife is active and temperatures are generally cooler. Your game drive will provide opportunities to see elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Jackson’s hartebeests, waterbucks and warthogs. With good fortune, you may also encounter lions and leopards as they move through the grasslands in search of prey. After the morning activity, you will return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation before embarking on an afternoon boat cruise along the Victoria Nile. The cruise takes you towards the base of Murchison Falls, where you can see hippos, crocodiles, elephants and numerous water birds along the riverbanks.
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. The drive allows you to experience some of Uganda’s most beautiful rural landscapes, with green fields, villages, tea plantations and rolling hills appearing along the route. You will have lunch en route before continuing towards the Kibale Forest region, an area famous for its remarkable concentration of primates. As you approach the national park, the landscape changes from open countryside to lush vegetation and forested hills, creating a beautiful introduction to the environment surrounding Kibale. You will arrive at your lodge later in the afternoon and have time to relax after the journey. The remainder of the evening can be spent enjoying the peaceful forest surroundings while preparing for your chimpanzee tracking adventure the following morning.
Accommodation options: Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Camp, Primate Lodge Kibale
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
Today you will explore the remarkable primate diversity of Kibale National Park with an exciting chimpanzee tracking experience. After breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing before entering the forest with experienced guides and trackers. As you walk through the forest, you will search for habituated chimpanzee communities while also looking out for other primates, including red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. The forest is also home to a rich variety of birds, butterflies, plants and other fascinating wildlife, making the trek rewarding even between chimpanzee sightings. After the activity, you will return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation. In the afternoon, you will visit the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk, where you can enjoy birdwatching, observe primates and learn about the wetland ecosystem and surrounding communities.
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 leave Kibale National Park and travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most celebrated wildlife destinations. The journey takes you through the scenic countryside of western Uganda, characterised by green hills, tea plantations, crater lakes and small rural settlements. You will have opportunities to stop along the way and enjoy photographs of the spectacular landscapes before continuing towards the park. After lunch, you will enter Queen Elizabeth National Park and begin your wildlife experience, depending on your arrival time and road conditions. The park is home to elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks and numerous other species, while lions and leopards can also be encountered. You will continue to your accommodation, check in and relax while enjoying views of the surrounding wilderness before dinner.
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 Cruise
Your day begins with an early morning game drive through the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will explore different tracks in search of wildlife, with opportunities to see elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks and various antelope species. The morning is also a good time to search for predators, and your guide will carefully examine the grasslands and woodland areas for lions and elusive leopards. After your game drive, you will return to the lodge for breakfast or lunch, depending on the day’s schedule, followed by some time to relax. In the afternoon, you will take a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. From the boat, you can observe large pods of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and an impressive selection of water birds along 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 towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. This scenic journey takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, including rolling hills, agricultural areas, local villages and highland communities. Depending on the route and weather conditions, you may enjoy spectacular views of the Virunga volcanic ranges as you approach the Bwindi region. The journey provides a fascinating opportunity to see everyday life in rural Uganda as you pass farms, markets and small settlements. You will have lunch en route before continuing towards your lodge near the forest. On arrival, you will check in and have time to relax, enjoy the surroundings and prepare for the following day’s mountain gorilla trekking experience.
Accommodation options: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bakiga Lodge
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Today is one of the most memorable days of your Uganda safari as you venture into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a mountain gorilla trekking experience. After an early breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning your trek with experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority guides and trackers. You will walk through the ancient rainforest in search of a habituated gorilla family, passing through dense vegetation and sometimes challenging terrain along the way. Once you locate the gorillas, you will have a remarkable opportunity to observe them in their natural forest environment while following the guidelines provided by your ranger. The duration and difficulty of the trek vary because the gorillas move freely through the forest. After completing the experience, you will return to your lodge for lunch, rest and time to reflect on one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife encounters.
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 leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and begin your journey towards Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes you through the scenic landscapes of southwestern Uganda, with rolling hills, farms, local villages and green countryside providing beautiful views along the way. You will have lunch en route before continuing towards Lake Mburo, one of Uganda’s most distinctive savannah parks. On arrival, you may begin a game drive depending on your arrival time, offering an opportunity to spot zebras, impalas, topi, buffaloes, warthogs and other wildlife. Lake Mburo is particularly known for its large populations of zebras and impalas, as well as its beautiful acacia woodland, wetlands and rolling hills. You will continue to your lodge for check-in, dinner and a relaxing evening surrounded by the peaceful sounds of the Ugandan wilderness.
Accommodation options: Rwakobo Rock, Mburo Safari Lodge, Eagles Nest Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Lake Mburo Game Drive and Guided Nature Walk
You will begin the day with an early morning game drive through Lake Mburo National Park, exploring its open grasslands, woodland and wetland habitats. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including zebras, impalas, elands, topi, buffaloes, warthogs and Uganda kobs, providing excellent opportunities for photography and wildlife viewing. You may also see Ankole cattle being herded by local communities outside the park, offering an interesting glimpse into the cultural heritage of southwestern Uganda. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation before enjoying lunch. Later, you will take part in a guided nature walk with an armed ranger, allowing you to explore the park from a completely different perspective. Walking through the wilderness gives you a chance to appreciate smaller wildlife, birds, plants and animal tracks while enjoying the sights and sounds of the African bush.
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 the journey towards Entebbe or Kampala. Depending on your departure time, you may enjoy a final short game drive as you leave the park, providing one last opportunity to see zebras, antelopes, buffaloes and other wildlife. You will then continue through Uganda’s countryside, passing farms, villages and bustling roadside trading centres. One of the highlights of the journey will be a stop at the Uganda Equator crossing, where you can take photographs and explore local craft shops. You will have lunch around the Equator before continuing towards Entebbe. The journey provides time to reflect on the experiences of the safari, from the wildlife of Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth to the chimpanzees of Kibale and gorillas of Bwindi. You will arrive in Entebbe in the evening and check into your accommodation 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 international flight schedule. If your flight is later in the day, you can use your free time to relax at your accommodation, explore a little of Entebbe or purchase souvenirs and crafts to remind you of your Uganda safari. Your Verdant Safaris guide will arrange your transfer to Entebbe International Airport in good time for your scheduled departure. As you travel to the airport, you will have an opportunity to look back on the incredible experiences you have enjoyed throughout the safari. From thrilling game drives and Nile boat cruises to chimpanzee tracking and mountain gorilla trekking, the journey will have introduced you to some of Uganda’s greatest natural treasures. Your 12 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari Tour in Uganda ends at the airport, where you will depart Uganda with unforgettable memories of the Pearl of Africa.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch)
Safari Inclusions
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Uganda.
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle throughout the safari.
- Services of an experienced English-speaking safari driver-guide.
- Fuel and transportation as outlined in the itinerary.
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- All applicable national park entrance fees.
- Murchison Falls National Park game drives.
- Murchison Falls boat cruise along the Victoria Nile.
- Chimpanzee tracking permit in Kibale National Park.
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary guided walk.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park game drives.
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
- Mountain gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Lake Mburo National Park game drives.
- Guided nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park.
- Uganda Equator crossing visit.
- Bottled drinking water during safari journeys and game drives.
- All applicable government taxes and service charges.
Safari Exclusions
- International flights to and from Uganda.
- Uganda entry visa.
- Travel insurance and medical insurance.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and other services.
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages.
- Tips and gratuities for your safari guide, lodge staff and other service providers.
- Porter fees during gorilla trekking.
- Souvenirs, crafts and personal shopping.
- Optional activities not included in the itinerary.
- Additional accommodation before Day 1 or after Day 12.
- Any expenses arising from changes to the itinerary caused by circumstances beyond the control of Verdant Safaris.
- Any other services not specifically listed under the inclusions.