12 days Uganda Safari- Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife and Culture
Take on this 12 days Uganda safari for a mountain gorilla trekking experience and visit the major wildlife and primate parks of Uganda. Get to spend a day in Kampala, visit the Murchison falls national park, visit the Kibaale forest national park, connect to the Queen Elizabeth national park, visit the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park and conclude your safari in the Lake Mburo national park.
This safari package starts and ends in Kampala Uganda and is available to be booked any day of the year.
Trip Highlights
- Day 1: Day in Kampala
- Day 2: Drive to Murchison falls national park
- Day 3: Game drive in Murchison falls and boat trip on the Nile
- Day 4: Transfer to Kibaale forest national park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi wetland and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
- Day 6: Day Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Day 7: Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 8: Lion experience and connect to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park.
- Day 9: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park
- Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo national park (8 hours)
- Day 11: Day in Lake Mburo national park
- Day 12: Transfer to Entebbe
Trip Description
Day 1: Day in Kampala
In the morning, your driver guide will meet you at the agreed pick up point in Entebbe or Kampala and brief you on the next few days. Once you are ready to set off, you will connect to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda for a city tour visiting the Namugongo martyrs shrine, the Kasubi royal tombs, the Kabaka’s lake, Bahai temple and end with the Uganda Museum.
Connect to an authentic Ugandan restaurant for a Ugandan dish and connect to a craft shop to end the day’s activity. You will connect to your hotel to check in, have dinner and rest to prepare for the next day.
Hotel options in Kampala
- Serena Kampala hotel for luxury
- Kampala Naguru skys hotel for midrange
- Forest cottages for budget
Day 2: Drive to Murchison falls national park
Right after enjoying your breakfast, you will meet up with your driver guide to connect to the Murchison falls national park with an enroute stopover at the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. You will stop at the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking and continue further to Masindi town for lunch.
Thereafter drive further to arrive in the Murchison falls national park in the late afternoon hours. You may visit the top of the falls if time allows and further connect to check in at your hotel where you will enjoy dinner and spend the night.
Accommodation options in Murchison falls national park.
- Paraa Safari lodge for luxury option
- Pakuba Safari lodge for midrange option
- Heritage safari Camp for budget option
Day 3: Game drive in Murchison falls and boat trip on the Nile
On the 3rd day of your 12 days Uganda Safari- Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife and Culture, After breakfast, you will connect to the park for a full day of game viewing for a chance to spot the wildlife of the park like the elephants, Buffaloes, lions, leopards, the antelope species and also spot a cheetah on a good day.
Return to your hotel for lunch and later in the afternoon connect for the boat trip in Murchison falls where you get to spot some birds in Murchison falls like the shoebill stork and the goliath heron among the other 400 plus birds of the area. Get to see hippos and crocodiles as you sail in the Nile. Return to your hotel for dinner and night stay as the night before.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibaale forest national park
Have a simple breakfast and check out of your hotel to connect to the Kibaale forest national park. You will arrive in time for lunch at your hotel and settle in. You may take on an optional visit to Stalagmites and stalactites locally known as the “Amabere g’anyinamwiru” in Fortportal.
Settle in at your hotel in the Kibaale forest national park and enjoy dinner.
Hotel options in Kibaale forest national park
- Kyaninga Lodge for luxury option
- Chimpanzee forest guest house for midrange option
- Isunga lodge for budget option
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi wetland and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
On the 5th day of your 12 days Uganda Safari- Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife and Culture, have an early breakfast and later drive to Kibaale forest for your chimpanzee trekking experience. The Kibaale forest is one of the best destinations for chimpanzee trekking and is also a home to 13 other different primate species.
After the chimpanzee trekking, you will connect to the Bigodi wetland where you will get to see the community driven project and is also a great chance to do some birding and after connect for lunch. You will drive further to the Queen Elizabeth national park arriving in the evening in time to check in at your hotel. Have dinner and spend the night in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Hotel options in Queen Elizabeth national park
- Mweya Safari lodge for luxury option
- Elephant hub lodge for midrange option
- Pumba safari cottages for budget option
Day 6: Day Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Have breakfast and set out for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi area where you will spot a number of game like the buffaloes, elephants, elands, African elephants, bushbucks, topis, warthogs, impalas to mention but a few.
Have lunch and later in the afternoon connect for the boat cruise on the Kazinga channel to spot the water animals of the park like the crocodiles and also see the largest concentration of hippos on this boat cruise. This is also a great chance to do some birding and thereafter connect back to your hotel for dinner and night stay.
Day 7: Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park
Right after having breakfast, you will set out to your next destination that is the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. You will drive to the Ishasha sector of the Queen Elizabeth national park and have a brief game drive as this place is famous for its tree climbing lions. Spend the day and night in Ishasha.
Hotel options in Ishasha sector- Queen Elizabeth national park
- Enjojo tented camp for both budget and midrange
- Wilderness camp for luxury
Day 8: Lion experience and connect to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park.
Wake up ready for your lion experience in the Ishasha sector for a chance to get closer and see more lions and also the leopards in this part of the park. After, head out for your next destination that is the Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park arriving in time to check in and have lunch.
You will spend the rest of the day at leisure as you wait for dinner to be served and spend your first night in Bwindi.
Hotel options in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park
- Silverback gorilla lodge for luxury
- Buhoma Haven lodge for midrange
- Buhoma Community rest camp for budget
Day 9: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park
Wake up excited to take on a mountain gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi. You will drive to the park headquarters in time for the briefing ahead of entering the forest in search of the mountain gorillas.
You will search for about 4 hours depending on how far into the forest the mountain gorillas may be that day. Enjoy the 1 hour with them once you meet them and later head back to your hotel to have lunch. You may take on an optional Batwa experience in the evening and return to your lodge in time for dinner and night stay.
Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo national park (8 hours)
Have a tasty breakfast and later head out to leave Bwindi forest for Lake Mburo national park. This is an 8 hour road transfer via Mbarara road and you will have enroute lunch arriving for check in at your hotel and for dinner.
Hotel options in Lake Mburo national park
- Rwakobo Rock lodge for budget
- Arcadia lodge for midrange
- Mihingo lodge for luxury.
Day 11: Day in Lake Mburo national park
On the 1th day of your 12 days Uganda Safari- Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife and Culture, Have a leisurely breakfast and later head out for a walking safari in Lake Mburo. Get to explore this park on foot and spot some game or opt for a horseback ride in the nature. Have lunch and later in the evening take on a boat trip on the Lake Mburo where the park derives its name. You will spend the night in Lake Mburo national park.
Day 12: Transfer to Entebbe
Leave the Lake Mburo national park headed back to Kampala. This is a 4 hour road transfer via the Equator where you may stop for a photo moment and some experiments. You will also have an enroute lunch and continue further for drop off at your preferred location in Kampala.
