12-Day Uganda National Parks Safari

Day-by-day itinerary

Route: Entebbe → Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary → Murchison Falls → Kibale → Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi → Lake Mburo → Entebbe

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Entebbe

   Meet the representative and transfer to the confirmed first-night accommodation. Entebbe is the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. This is a joining departure, so the safari vehicle is shared with other guests. Dinner and overnight are at your hotel in Entebbe.

2. Day 2

   Entebbe via Ziwa to Murchison Falls

   The day opens in Entebbe with a morning departure for Murchison Falls via Ziwa, travelling north through Ziwa and the Masindi road country. Once you reach Murchison Falls there is time to check in before heading out among open savanna, borassus palms and the Victoria Nile forcing through a narrow rock gorge. This is good country in which to look for elephant, giraffe, lion, hippo, crocodile and Uganda kob. At Murchison the Nile is squeezed through a gap only a few metres wide before dropping to the valley below, and a launch trip runs to the base of the falls. The evening is spent at your Murchison Falls accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

3. Day 3

   Murchison Falls Game Drive and Nile Cruise

   Combine game viewing with the Victoria Nile boat programme. The surroundings take in open savanna, borassus palms and the Victoria Nile forcing through a narrow rock gorge. Species commonly associated with the area include elephant, giraffe, lion, hippo, crocodile and Uganda kob. The evening is spent at your Murchison Falls accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

4. Day 4

   Murchison Falls to Kibale

   The day opens in Murchison Falls with a morning departure for Kibale, crossing western Uganda's tea estates and crater-lake country. Arrival is followed by check-in and a first drive into moist tropical forest running along the Albertine Rift, one of Africa's richest primate habitats. Wildlife commonly associated with this area includes chimpanzees, red colobus, L'Hoest's monkey and a long list of forest birds. Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale is a permit-dependent activity arranged through the park authority, and places must be confirmed in advance. Dinner is served at your Kibale camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

5. Day 5

   Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking

   Complete the permit-dependent chimpanzee tracking activity. This is moist tropical forest running along the Albertine Rift, one of Africa's richest primate habitats. Species commonly associated with the area include chimpanzees, red colobus, L'Hoest's monkey and a long list of forest birds. Permit availability is confirmed before the booking is finalised, and tracking follows the park authority's rules on the day. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Kibale.

6. Day 6

   Kibale to Queen Elizabeth

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth, crossing the equator and descending into the western Rift Valley. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into savanna, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George. This is good country in which to look for elephant, buffalo, hippo, Uganda kob and, in the Ishasha sector, lions sometimes seen in fig trees. A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel gives close views of hippo pods, buffalo and one of the densest concentrations of water birds in the region. The evening is spent at your Queen Elizabeth accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

7. Day 7

   Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise

   Combine a game drive with the Kazinga Channel boat cruise. This is savanna, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George. There is the possibility of seeing elephant, buffalo, hippo, Uganda kob and, in the Ishasha sector, lions sometimes seen in fig trees, though sightings are never guaranteed. The evening is spent at your Queen Elizabeth accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

8. Day 8

   Queen Elizabeth / Ishasha to Bwindi

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Queen Elizabeth / Ishasha to Bwindi, travelling the winding roads of the south-western highlands through terraced farmland. You arrive in time to settle in, and the day continues with a game drive across steep Afromontane rainforest ridges and valleys in south-western Uganda. Your guide works the area for mountain gorillas, forest elephant, many primate species and numerous Albertine Rift endemics, with sightings varying by season and conditions. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a permit-dependent activity, and a permit must be confirmed in advance for every trekker. The evening is spent at your Bwindi accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

9. Day 9

   Bwindi Gorilla Tracking

   Complete the permit-dependent gorilla tracking activity. This is steep Afromontane rainforest ridges and valleys in south-western Uganda. There is the possibility of seeing mountain gorillas, forest elephant, many primate species and numerous Albertine Rift endemics, though sightings are never guaranteed. Permit availability is confirmed before the booking is finalised, and tracking follows the park authority's rules on the day. The evening is spent at your Bwindi accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

10. Day 10

    Bwindi to Lake Mburo

    Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Bwindi to Lake Mburo, travelling the Masaka road through Ankole cattle country. Once you reach Lake Mburo there is time to check in before heading out among acacia woodland, rocky ridges and a chain of small lakes in western Uganda. Wildlife commonly associated with this area includes zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, hippo and the shy sitatunga in swampy margins. Lake Mburo is one of the few Ugandan parks that also allows walking safaris and horseback rides alongside vehicle drives. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Lake Mburo.

11. Day 11

    Full-Day Lake Mburo Safari

    Spend the day on the confirmed Lake Mburo wildlife programme. The drives cover acacia woodland, rocky ridges and a chain of small lakes in western Uganda, moving between habitats as conditions change. Species commonly associated with the area include zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, hippo and the shy sitatunga in swampy margins. Its compact size suits a relaxed day and a boat trip on the lake. Lake Mburo is one of the few Ugandan parks that also allows walking safaris and horseback rides alongside vehicle drives. Dinner and overnight are again at your Lake Mburo camp or lodge.

12. Day 12

    Lake Mburo to Entebbe

    You leave Lake Mburo after breakfast and head for Entebbe, following the lakeshore road from Kampala. You reach Entebbe in the afternoon, with the final stretch of road giving time to look back over the journey. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. The day ends with a drop-off in Entebbe at your hotel or the airport.