This 12 days Uganda safari is one of the best safaris to consider when planning to visit Africa and particularly Uganda – the pearl of Africa. This safari will start from the airport in Entebbe and end in Entebbe as it takes you to Kampala which is also the capital city of Uganda where you will do a city tour that will enable you to explore attractions in the city such as the king’s palace and later transfer to Murchison falls national park with a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino trekking and then proceed to the park for a game drive and boat cruise.
From there,
the tour will proceed to Kibale national park for chimpanzee trekking and
hiking top of the world and continue to Queen Elizabeth national park for a
boat cruise on the Kazinga channel and a game drive after which drive to Bwindi
impenetrable national park for the mighty gorilla trekking and a cultural
experience of the Batwa. Drive to lake Mburo for a boat cruise and relax as you
prepare for departure to Kampala having a stopover at the Equator in Kayabwe.
Detailed
Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrival at the airport and city tour
Be prepared
for a pick up by your driver guide at the airport as soon as you arrive who
will give you a short briefing about the tour that will consist of the rules
and regulations to follow while on the safari. After briefing, drive to Kampala
for a city tour and visit the kabaka’s palace and his royals and then head to
the oldest market in Nakasero where you will buy some souvenirs like crafts and
much more. Drive to your booked hotel in Kampala for dinner.
Day 2:
Transfer to Murchison falls National Park with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino
sanctuary
On the
morning of your second day of this safari, wake up early to catch up with time
and be given your breakfast after which drive to Murchison falls national park
having your stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino trekking.
Meet your
ranger guide for a briefing and then move to the starting point for Rhino
trekking. The activity usually takes 2-3 hours and an additional one hour in their
presence as you are taking photos and videos. Drive to your lodge for evening
meals and night stays.
Day 3:
Morning game drive and evening boat cruise
Enjoy your
breakfast at the lodge and then drive heading to the park for a morning game
drive an activity that will open you an opportunity to have a look at different
Savanah animals such as African Elephants, olive baboons, buffalos, giraffes,
Uganda kobs and many but to mention a few. Retreat back to your lodge for
lunch.
In the
evening of the same day, drive heading for another interesting activity which
is a boat cruise which is usually done on the river Nile at Paraa which is the
starting point for all cruises while in this area. The cruise usually takes 2-3
hours and visitors have a high chance of spotting both aquatic and terrestrial
animals which live in the water like hippos, and crocodiles and those which
don’t stay in the water like buffalos, giraffes and many more. Return to your
lodging facility for dinner.
Day 4:
Transfer to Kibale National Park
On the fourth
day of your safari, have breakfast well served at your lodge and head to Kibale
national park – the primate capital of the world. On your way to this park,
have a stopover in Hoima city where you will have lunch. Proceed with your
journey and take a second stopover in fort portal from where you will drive and
check in at your lodge for dinner.
Day 5:
Chimpanzee trekking and hike to top of the world
This is the
day you have been waiting for. Begin it with a well-served breakfast at your lodge
and then drive to the park’s main offices for payment and briefing from the
park officials. After the briefing drive to the starting point where you will
meet your ranger guide well-armed who will later lead you to the forest for
trekking.
The activity
usually takes 2-7 hours but the time frame normally depends on the location of
these animals. As soon as you reach them, an hour will be given to you in the
presence of these giant apes. Return to your lodge for lunch
On the
evening of this day, a guide from Isunga community will pick you up from your
lodge and lead you to the top of the world for a hike. While on this walk, meet
some of the crater lakes since the area lies under the Ndali Kasenda craters.
After reaching the top of the world, you will have a chance of viewing three
crater lakes all on the same line, a view of Kibale national park and tea
plantations. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stays.
Day 6:
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and evening game drive
Enjoy your
delicious breakfast at the lodge and then drive heading to Queen Elizabeth a
journey that will take you 1-2 hours’ drive. Proceed with your drive and head
for an evening game drive where there is a chance of spotting some animals such
as Elephants, the rare lions and many Savanah animals grazing in the park.
Day 7:
Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Be given your
morning meals and then after the drive head for a morning game drive which is
usually done on Kasenyi plains or in the Ishasha sector where you have chances
of viewing a number of wild animals such as buffalos, spotted hyenas, African
elephants, leopards, Uganda kobs, lions and many more. Head back to your lodge
for lunch.
In the
afternoon of this day, drive heading for an evening boat cruise which usually
takes 2-3 hours on the Kazinga channel which will give you a relaxing way to
view wild game such as crocodiles, hippos, elephants, antelopes and some water
birds like pelicans, kingfishers and many more. Return to your lodge for your
dinner.
Day 8:
Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park passing via Ishasha sector.
On the eighth
day of your 12 days Uganda safari, have your breakfast and after the drive head
to Bwindi Impenetrable national park the home of the endangered mountain
gorillas passing through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
where you will have chances of spotting the rare tree climbing lions and other
incredible mammals.
Day 9:
Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience
This is quite
another interesting day which you have been waiting for. Enjoy your breakfast
at the lodge and then drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park headquarters
where you will present travel documents and get a briefing. The briefing
session will mainly focus on the way to behave while out trekking.
Immediately
after briefing, your ranger guide will take you to the forest and start looking
for these giant animals an activity that usually lasts for 1-8 hours depending
on their movements made as they are looking for food.
Note that as
soon as you land on these large primates, an additional hour will be given to you
in their presence that will open you a chance to reach them close and take
photos at a close range. Walk back to the starting point for a trekking
certificate after which head to the lodge and relax.
In the
evening, head to the community for a cultural experience with the Batwa who are
also believed to have been forest inhabitants. A Twa guide will explain to you
all the information about the political, social, economic and religious
settings of this group. After drive back to your lodge and enjoy dinner.
Day 10:
Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
On this 10th day of these 12 days of Uganda safari, enjoy a morning meal with a cup of coffee and then drive to another interesting place, Lake Mburo national park where you will have views of the park, animals and green vegetation cover. Check-in at your lodge for dinner and spend a night there for the best of your leisure.