12 days Uganda Safari

Safari Highlights Uganda
The 12 days Uganda Safari offers a great experience of the true African wildness as it takes you to unspoiled corners of Uganda including the Murchison falls National Park. Expect to have a big game drive as you spot some of the Big 5; African lion, Elephant, Buffalo, and Leopard. Take Boat trips to explore more of the prolific birdlife and animals, primates trekking, Gorilla tracking, Cultural walks, Forest walks, excellent bird watching, Mountain hikes in the impenetrable natural forest and photography among others. This tour starts and ends at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.

Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda: Entebbe Airport
On your arrival, you will receive warm greetings from your driver guide and transfer to your Hotel for relaxation and overnight dinner.

Accommodation: Acacia lodge: https://cassialodge.com/

2 friends’ guest house: https://www.2friendshotel.com/

Meal plan:  Bed and breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.
Morning breakfast will be followed by a connection to Murchison falls National Park (7-8hrs drive), pass through Rhino sanctuary have lunch at Rhinos hotel, and proceed to. Murchison Falls is the largest park in the country with a large population of animals, birds and beautiful landscapes of savannah and forests, relax in the evening as you wait for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Fort Murchison: https://naturelodgesuganda.com/about/

Pakuba safari lodge: https://pakubasafarilodge.com/

Meal plan: Full board

Day 3: Full Day in Murchison Falls National Park.

Set out after some tea or coffee and embark on an exciting 3-4-hour early morning game drive to explore the savannah on the Northern bank of the Nile. Expect to see herds of buffaloes, elephants, lions, giraffes, waterbucks, Oribis, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and leopards. Return to the lodge for late breakfast and relax as we wait for lunch.
Gather your strength after lunch for an unforgettable, spectacular, fascinating safari by boat along the magnificent River Nile to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. Expect to find many Hippos, Huge Nile crocodiles and Buffalos basking along the shores. Return for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Fort Murchison/Pakuba safari lodge

Meal plan: Full board

Day 4: Murchison Falls – Albertine Rift Valley – Kibale Forest.
Have breakfast and drive for (7-8 hrs drive) through Lake Albert and the Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking panoramic sceneries en route to Fort Portal; the capital town of Tooro kingdom which lies on the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee forest lodge: https://www.chimpanzeeforestlodge.com/

Chimpundu luxury lodge: https://chimpundulodge.com/

Meal plan: Full board

Day 5: Primates tracking.

After the early morning breakfast drive to Kibale forest park HQ (1hrs drive) Assemble at Kanyanchu tourists centre for a briefing on Chimpanzee tracking. Expect to encounter other primates like black and white colobus, vervet and red-tailed monkeys with over 350 bird species including the rare shoebill.
After lunch, gather your strength for a nature walk to the Bigodi ecotourism project near the Kibale forest National park. Expect to typical/traditional homestead, to hear storytellers, and the local healer and get an idea of the traditional culture of the Batoro and Bakiga.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee forest lodge/Chimpundu luxury lodge

Meal plan: Full board

Day 6: Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park
We shall have breakfast and start a 2-3hrs drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with lots of game viewing en-route. Expect to find early raisers and predators returning to the hideouts; relax as we wait for lunch at your lodge. Embark on a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel, famous for the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa, with huge Nile crocodiles, Buffalos and Elephants along the shores and about 611 bird species. The boat provides a clear platform for photographing. Relax in the evening as we wait for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Enganzi lodge: https://enganzilodge.com/

Buffalo lodge: https://www.buffalolodge.ug/

Meal plan: Full board

Day 7: Wildlife Exploration in Queen Elizabeth

Another extraordinary wildlife experience awaits you this morning! After a cup of coffee,
Go for a game drive along the tracks of Queen Elizabeth, on the Northern side towards Lake George and Kasenyi village. Expect to see lions, herds of elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, and shy/rare leopards.
Gather your strength in the afternoon for more exploration of the park to the Southern Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth. The game drive here rewards you with tree climbing lions which are seen during the hot hours of the day, as they lie resting on top of Figs trees. Also expect herds of buffaloes, elephants, topi antelopes and more. Return for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Enganzi lodge/ Buffalo lodge

Meal plan: Full board

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
After breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; Home to half of the remaining world population of the endangered Mountain Gorillas. Arrive and check-in at the lodge for relaxation, overnight stay and dinner.

Accommodation: Ichumbi lodge: http://ichumbigorillalodge.com/rooms/robin-chat/

Four gorillas: https://fourgorillaslodge.com/

Meal plan: Full board

Day 9: Gorilla Tracking.

After early breakfast, proceed to park headquarters with packed lunch for a briefing about the Dos and Don’ts while with gorillas. Tracking can take 2-9 hours depending on their movements. Tracking involves walking up through steep and densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hour for observation and photography.
In the evening, you can relax at the lodge or take a cultural walk to nearby Batwa communities and learn about their cultures.

Accommodation: Ichumbi lodge/ Four gorillas

Meal plan: Full board

Day 10: Bwindi Forest – Lake Bunyonyi.

Breakfast will be followed by a transfer to Lake Bunyonyi with wonderful sceneries en route. Enjoy one of the most extraordinary wildlife and birding experience by boat as you cross Lake Bunyonyi. The forested green islands on the lake are home to different species of endemic birds which the guide will help you to spot.

Accommodation: Acadia cottages/Bunyonyi eco resort

Meal plan: Full board

Day 11: Optional canoeing and Batwa trail
Accommodation: Acadia cottages: https://arcadialodges.com/

Bunyonyi eco-resort: https://www.lakebunyonyiecoresort.com/en/

Meal plan: Full board

Day 12: Transfer back to Kampala
After breakfast, embark on your journey to Entebbe to catch your onward flight back home.

Midrange option

Price per person: USD: 3,665

Luxury option

Price per person: USD:4,415

Inclusions:

• Transportation
• All fuel for the tour.
• English-speaking Ugandan driver/guide.
• Accommodation
• Meals as indicated.
• All entrance fees
• All activities described in the itinerary.
• 1 Chimpanzee permit per person (USD 200)
• 1 Gorilla permit per person (USD 700)

Exclusions

• International airfares.
• Entry visa Uganda
• Personal (medical/travel) insurance.
• All drinks
• Meals and snacks which are not included in the accommodation.
• A porter for the gorilla tracking (someone who carries your daypack).
• All activities that are not mentioned in the program or activities that are mentioned in the program as an optional activities.
• Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc.
• All expenses of a personal nature