12 Days Uganda Safari with Chimpanzee & Gorilla Trekking

Tour Plan

This 12-day Uganda safari offers a comprehensive exploration of the country’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, and primate experiences.

Take a journey through savannah parks, lush rainforests, and scenic crater lakes as you enjoy classic game drives, boat safaris, and cultural encounters.

The highlights include chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest and the unforgettable experience of gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

With extended time in each destination, comfortable lodge stays, and expert guiding throughout, this itinerary delivers a deeper, more immersive East African safari experience.

 

Safari Summary

• Start/End: Entebbe
• Status: Private Tour, departs on any day, open all year round
• Vehicle used: : 4/4 Land Cruiser
• Accommodations: Tented Camp/Lodge
• Murchison Falls – 2 Nights, Kibale – 2 Nights, Queen Elizabeth Park – 2 Nights, Ishasha – 1 Night, Bwindi – 2 Nights, Lake Bunyonyi – 1 Night & Lake Mburo – 1 Nights
• Activities: Gorilla trek, photography, nature walk, game drives, sightseeing, balloon ride, cultural visit & birding

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Entebbe – Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Approx. 5 hours

Be picked from your Entebbe hotel ay 6.30a.m and immediately depart for Murchison Falls National Park. Enjoy a lunch stop in Masindi before we enter the park.

Note: There is Rhino tracking activity en route just before you get to the park. This tracking cost $50 per person.

Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Lodge

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 2: Murchison Falls – Morning Game drive and afternoon Nile cruise

After an early morning breakfast you will enjoy a half-day game drive on the northern bank of the Nile. Wildlife in this park includes the elephant, Rothschild giraffe, Jackson harte beast, lions, oribis, waterbucks and a variety of savannah and woodland birds.

After lunch we will go on a Nile cruise for game viewing at close range. Watch how hippos take a bath, elephants come to drink and crocodiles lying lazy at the shores. We then disembark from the boat to visit the magnificent falls where you will enjoy and marvel at the mighty Nile. The famous waterfall is being forced into a seven-meter crevice, to thunder 45 meters below in a series of cascades. This spectacular scenery can be viewed from different points up at the baker’s summit. Return to the lodge later for dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 3: Murchison Falls – Transfer to Fort Portal, Approx. 5-6 hours

After breakfast, we depart Murchison Falls and head towards Fort Portal. The drive will provide stunning views as you pass small African villages and banana plantations. The lovely town of Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the renowned Mountains of the Moon and is famous for the many tea plantations.

Overnight: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyanginga Lodge/Chimp Forest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 4: Kibale – Chimp Tracking & Bigodi Swamp walk

Today have early breakfast and transfer to park’s gates for briefing about chimp tracking. Thereafter, head out to the forest to look for the wild chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey and many others. Kibale Forest is reputable for having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa.

After a hearty lunch we transfer to the Bigodi Swamp for another different nature walk. The Bigodi Swamp Walk is an initiative of the local community and is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates.

Overnight: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyanginga Lodge/Chimp Forest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 5: Kibale Forest – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Approx. 3 hours

After breakfast depart for Queen Elizabeth National park to arrive in time for lunch.

Enjoy amazing views of small lakes, plantations, meandering road and the majestic view of Rwenzori Mountain. Have first game drive on this day or spend time relaxing.

Overnight: The Bush Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth – Morning game drive + Afternoon boat cruise

Have morning game drive after breakfast then later return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George.

Thanks to the abundant birdlife that is sighted, and the elephants, buffaloes and hundreds of hippos that are cooling off at the shores, this cruise will definitely be one of the highlights of your safari.

Overnight: The Bush Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game drive – transfer to Ishasha

Have breakfast then have a short game drive as you head to the Southern part of the park called Ishasha arriving in time for lunch. Later have another final game drive.

Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 8: Ishasha – Transfer to Bwindi

After breakfast, we embark on a game drive in search of tree climbing lions as well as seeing other animals like the topi, elephants, kobs etc. After lunch head to Bwindi arriving in the evening.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs/Buhoma Lodge/Bwindi Lodge/Sancuary Gorilla Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 9: Bwindi, Gorilla tracking

Another highlight of your safari: a meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi! Especially hikers will love the tracking in the beautiful ecosystem of the park. It is difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike, it may take 3 to 8 hours. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorilla. But it will be worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest. A unique and unforgettable experience!

You will carry packed lunch on this day.

Note: For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour.

The ranger guide always briefs you on how to behave with these giant apes. After trekking, return to the lodge for relaxation.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs/Buhoma Lodge/Bwindi Lodge/Sancuary Gorilla Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 10: Bwindi – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, Approx. 3 hours

Have early breakfast then depart for Lake Bunyonyi. This drive is a scenic one; the forest, monkeys on the road, meandering roads, small villages, plantations and lakes, it is very hard for one to get bored. Arrive in Lake Bunyonyi in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon with a boat ride or relax by the lodge.

Overnight: Mihingo Lodge/Mburo Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi – Transfer to Lake Mburu, Approx. 2-3 hours

Have breakfast then drive to a high point where you will be able to see all the islands of Lake Bunyonyi. Thereafter, depart for Lake Mburo to arrive in time for lunch. Afternoon is spent with last game drive of the tour.

Overnight: Mihingo Lodge/Mburo Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 12: Lake Bunyonyi – Transfer to Entebbe, Approx. 4 hours

After early morning breakfast, depart for Entebbe and be dropped off at the airport.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch