12-Day Uganda Discovery Safari

On this Uganda safari, you will get the best of the scenery, meet the Big 5 and walk with the endangered mountain gorillas, and the chimps. You will start with rhino tracking before doing a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. Here you will not only seek out wildlife, but also take a cruise safari on the Nile River to Murchison Falls. You will move south to walk with chimps, and gorillas, and later the giraffes of Lake Mburo. The crown of your tour is off course the mountain gorillas in the southern highlands.

What's Included

1. Gorilla tracking permit (one per person).
2. Chimpanzee tracking permit (one per person)
3. Golden monkey permits (one per person).
4. Rhino tracking permit (one per person)
5. All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
6. A professional English-speaking Driver/Guide
7. Specialist Guides and Rangers as required on Chimp, Gorilla, Golden monkey treks.
8. All transportation.
9. All Taxes/VAT
10. Boat safari cruise
11. Meals
12. Bottled water in the vehicle
13. All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade).
14. Roundtrip airport transfer.

Your Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Uganda

Today you arrive in Uganda and our guide will receive and transfer you from the airport to your accommodation. Depending on arrival time, you can choose Entebbe or Kampala.

Day 2: Walk with the Rhinos

After breakfast, you depart for northern Uganda and its endless savannah plains. The first stop is at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you get to walk with the rhinos. This is the only place in Uganda where you will find this member of the African Big Five. Proceed later for lunch and onto to your accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park.

Day 3: Game Drive and Safari Cruise to Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest park in Uganda. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife, thus giving amazing game-viewing drives. You may even get the chance to find hunting or feeding lions. Look out for elephants, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, cape buffalos, and if you are lucky, leopards. In the afternoon go for a safari cruise on the Nile River. Hike to the top of the Murchison Falls.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast travel south on to Kibale National Park. The drive will take you through beautiful landscapes along the edge of the Great Western Rift Valley. You will go past the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains, Africa’s highest mountain range, and on to your accommodation just outside the Kibale National Park.

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Nature Walk

Kibale National Park is best known for the chimps – and for a good reason it is fondly referred to as the chimp capital of the world. There are also other primates, lots of birds, and butterflies you will be seeing on this nature trek. In the afternoon take another excursion to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Engage the locals on this trail.

Day 6: Transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park

After a leisurely breakfast travel further south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through Kasese on the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. Cross the equator to the park and continue to your accommodation. Depending on your time you could relax or explore the crater and salt lakes here.

Day 7: Game Drive and Boat Safari

Morning game drive seeking out Africa’s big 5 – lions, elephants, buffalo, and leopards. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most visited parks in Uganda. In the afternoon go for a water safari on the Kazinga channel. The water safari takes you close and safely to the wildlife. There are over 600 bird species in this park and you would need days just to go out birding.

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi

Today transfer to Bwindi through the southern sector of the national park. Look out for tree-climbing lions on your way as you go through the Ishasha sector. This is only one of two places in the world where you will find lions spending more time in the huge trees, than on the ground. And that is what makes them special – the tree-climbing lions.

Day 9: A Moment with the Mountain Gorilla Family

This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment – trekking with mountain gorillas in this old-world forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A trek may last anything from 2 hours to more depending on where the gorilla families are.

Day 10: Seek out the Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga

Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to spend the day seeking out the golden monkeys. The golden monkeys have bright-colored fur with long golden hair mixed with orange. This is the only national park in Uganda and one of three in Africa where you will find golden monkeys.

In the afternoon transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and you should be getting there in the late afternoon.

Day 11: Walk with Giraffes, Zebra

Set out early in the morning for a walking safari with your guide and wildlife ranger. Walking will bring you up close to the zebras and the giraffes—giving you a totally different experience compared to being in a game drive vehicle. In the afternoon, visit communities near the park for a cultural engagement.

Day 12: Departure

Wake up to breakfast as the sun rises over the savanna plains of Uganda. You will transfer to Kampala with a stopover at the Equator as you move from the southern into the northern hemisphere. This is a great time for photo opportunities.