12 Days Best Uganda Safari Itinerary

12 Days Best Uganda Safari Itinerary allows you to explore Uganda with wildlife, primate tracking, and an adrenaline adventure experience at the Source of the Nile in Jinja. This 12 Days Best Uganda Safari Itinerary includes several iconic destinations in Uganda specifically taking you to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park for a chimpanzee trekking safari, Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife viewing, and Bwindi for mountain gorilla trekking safari. This 12-day Best Uganda Safari Itinerary also allows you to take a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest lakes in Africa and an iconic tourist attraction in Southwestern Uganda.

Highlights of the 12 days Best Uganda Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport and drive to Kampala capital city

Day 2: Drive to Jinja and Explore the Source of the River Nile

Day 3: Transfer from Jinja to Murchison Falls via Kampala city

Day 4: Game drive and afternoon launch trip to the bottom of the Murchison Falls

Day 5: Transfer from Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park through Fort Portal

Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest & Bigodi wetland guided nature walk

Day 7: From Kibale Forest drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a boat cruise

Day 8: Morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park then drive to Bwindi via Ishasha

Day 9: Explore Bwindi on a mountain gorilla trekking safari experience

Day 10: From Bwindi, drive to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 11: From Lake Bunyonyi transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 12: Return from Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala or Entebbe

Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

Safari Price includes

• Gorilla permit @ $700
• Chimpanzee permit @ $200
• Park entrance fees
• All activities as listed in the itinerary
• Bottled water on safari
• Travel in a 4×4 safari van or 4×4 Land cruiser with pop-up
• Service of an English-speaking Uganda safari guide

Safari Price excludes

• Tips
• Visa fees
• Shopping expenses
• Optional activities
• Laundry services
• Other beverages
• Personal insurance
• Telephone bills
• Airfares/air tickets
• Cigarettes

Detailed 12 Days Best Uganda Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport and drive to Kampala capital city

From Entebbe International Airport, your driver-guide will meet you for pick up. Transfer from Entebbe to the hotel you are in Kampala for an overnight stay.

Accommodation options

Up-market: Sheraton Hotel Kampala, Serena Hotel Kampala

Moderate: Fairway Hotel, Protea Hotel Kampala

Basic: Hotel Ruch, Hotel Sojovalo

Day 2: Drive to Jinja and Explore the Source of the River Nile

Leave your hotel in Kampala for Jinja to engage in a white water rafting experience on the source of the Nile, and visit the Itanda Falls.

You will drive on the Kampala-Jinja highway through Mabira Forest. Dinner and a comfortable stay at booked lodge or hotel.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Jinja Nile Resort

Moderate: 2 Friend Guesthouse

Basic: Sunset Hotel

Day 3: Transfer from Jinja to Murchison Falls via Kampala city

Depart Jinja for Murchison Falls National Park. Stop visits can be made for rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and lunch break at Masindi Hotel. Get to the park home to the 4 big games and Murchison Falls, one of the world’s powerful waterfalls.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge, or Nile Safari Lodge

Moderate: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge

Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge, Red Chili Rest Camp

Day 4 of 12 Days Best Uganda Safari: Game drive and afternoon launch trip to the bottom of the Murchison Falls

An early morning breakfast, followed by a game drive along the Northern section of Murchison Falls National Park.

This lasts for 2-3 hours rewarding you with the amazing sight of lions, buffaloes, elephants, oribis, spotted hyenas, Rothschild giraffes, waterbucks, leopards, hartebeests, and birds.

Lunch break at the lodge and later an afternoon boat cruise along the calm Victoria Nile as you head to the base of Murchison Falls. On a 17kms stretch, expect to enjoy remarkable wildlife ranging from hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge, or Nile Safari Lodge

Moderate: Pakuba Safari Lodge or in Murchison River Lodge

Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge, Red Chili Rest Camp

Day 5: Transfer from Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park through Fort Portal

From Murchison Falls National Park, Travel to Kibale Forest National Park, a 7-hour drive via Hoima. Lunch break will be at a hotel in Fort Portal Tourism City. Complete 26kms’ drive from Fort Portal to Kibale to check into your lodge for an overnight stay.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Crater Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge

Moderate: Primate Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp

Basic: Isunga Guesthouse, Chimpanzee Guesthouse

Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest & Bigodi wetland guided nature walk

On the 6^th day of the 12 days Uganda safari, you adventure Kibale Forest National Park on a chimpanzee trek after breakfast and briefing on guidelines.

The actual activity begins at 8:00 am taking you 2-4 hours and there is an opportunity to also sight other primates, butterflies, and birds in addition to chimpanzees.

Lunch be offered at the booked lodge and after, go for the Bigodi wetland nature walk an exciting on-foot walk experience. This allows you to come across diverse primates, birds, and other mammals. Dinner and overnight at the lodge after a nature walk.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Crater Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge

Moderate: Primate Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp

Basic: Isunga Guesthouse, Chimpanzee Guesthouse

Day 7 of 12 Days Best Uganda Safari: From Kibale Forest drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a boat cruise

From Kibale National Park, Set off to Queen Elizabeth National Park after breakfast; 3-hour drive through Fort Portal city. As you access the park, enjoy a short game drive with expectations to sight leopards, buffaloes, waterbucks, elephants, and birds.

In the afternoon, undertake a launch cruise on 45kms Kazinga Channel joining Lake Edward and Lake George. Expect a great sight of submerged hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birds,

Day 8: Morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park then drive to Bwindi via Ishasha

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the 8^th day of your 12 days Uganda safari and later, go for a game drive along the Ishasha area to spot the tree-climbing lions. Continue to Savanna Resort for lunch and later transfer to Bwindi for dinner and overnight stay at the lodge you booked.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge

Mid-range: Ichumbi Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp

Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nshongi Camp

Day 9: Explore Bwindi on a mountain gorilla trekking safari experience

Discover what Bwindi has to offer on mountain gorilla trekking adventure starting at 8:00 am after breakfast and briefing on rules. You should have bottled mineral water and snacks, then go enjoy your 2-6 hours gorilla trek.

On finding a family of mountain gorillas a maximum of one hour will be allowed for you to take photos and explore more about these apes.

Retreat from your breathtaking primate adventure to relax at the lodge. Later in the afternoon, go explore and experience the Batwa cultural experience. Interact with Batwa pygmies, and learn about their traditions, cultures, and lifestyles as you also get entertained by their dances and music performances.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge

Mid-range: Ichumbi Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp

Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nshongi Camp

Day 10 of 12 Days Best Uganda Safari: From Bwindi, drive to Lake Bunyonyi

After taking breakfast, leave your lodge for Lake Bunyonyi via the stunning rolling hills of Kabale. This region is best known as the Switzerland of Africa and lunch will be served to you at Heritage Lodge.

Arrive at Lake Bunyonyi early, Uganda’s deepest Lake and you will embark on a boat ride to one of the 29 islands. This is one of the most beautiful places to be in Uganda.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Birdnest@ Lake Bunyonyi Resort

Moderate: Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi, Bunyonyi Safaris Resort

Basic: Bushara Island Camp, Byoona Amagara Island Resort

Day 11: From Lake Bunyonyi transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, leave Lake Bunyonyi for Lake Mburo National Park a home to zebras, buffaloes, oribis, elands, and diverse birds including brown-faced lapwings, and papyrus gonoleks. You will get a good sight of these wildlife species on a game drive.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

Moderate: Rwakobo Rock

Basic: Rwonyo Rest Camp, Eagle’s Nest

Day 12: Return from Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala or Entebbe

Take 4 hours drive from Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala after your breakfast and a game drive or boat cruise on Lake Mburo. Have a stop at the equator line for photography and lunch en route. Your drop-off point will be either a place of residence or hotel in Kampala or the Entebbe International Airport for a departure flight.

End of the 12 Days Best Uganda Safari Itinerary