12-Day Best of Uganda Safari & Gorilla Trekking

Highlights

  • Game drive and Boat Trip to the Murchison Falls
  • Visit to Kibale Forest National Park
  • Bigodi swamp excursion and visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation
  • Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Overview

Embark on a 12-day adventure in Uganda, starting at Entebbe International Airport and spending the night at your accommodation. A professional guide from Nyanja Safaris Uganda Ltd will take you on a journey through Murchison Falls National Park, with a stop at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. You'll then head to Kibale Forest, explore the Bigodi swamp, and continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Next, you'll transfer to Bwindi through the Ishasha area, renowned for its tree-climbing lions. The highlight is gorilla trekking in Bwindi, followed by relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi and a visit to Lake Mburo National Park. Your journey ends with a return to Entebbe International Airport, offering a diverse and thrilling experience in Uganda's natural beauty. Don't miss the chance to book this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

  • Day 1 - Arrival at Entebbe International Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked Hotel

    Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a Nyanja Safaris Uganda assigned Professional Tour Guide will receive and welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa.

    Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation. You will check in and take your rest – recovering from jet lag, adjusting to time difference. #Optional (extra cost): Just in case you have reached early and interested in some nearby activity, you may consider; an excursion to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens to sight a few primates and birds or an excursion to Mabamba wetland in search of the prehistoric shoebill stork. Otherwise, you may check in and just take your rest.

    Accommodation: (Via Via Entebbe - Budget Level) | Transfer Time: Approx. 20 minutes.
    Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)
    Meals: Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)

  • Day 2 - Transfer to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking and proceed to Murchison Falls NP

    You will have an early morning breakfast and drive off to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Once there, you will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking. From the rhino tracking, you will head to Masindi where you will have a lunch stop. After lunch, embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls NP. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison Falls, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, elephants among others. On top of all that, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. If interested and time allows, you can proceed for a late afternoon-evening game drive.

    Accommodation: (Fort Murchison (Tent) - Budget tented camp located just outside Murchison Falls NP) | Transfer Time: 6-7 hours excluding time in Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
    Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park.
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 3 - Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip to the Murchison Falls

    You will have your breakfast and depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot), Giraffes among others. If you’re a birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive, hence the need to have your Camera ready to capture every moment.

    You will thereafter return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will proceed to the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds and afterwards return to your accommodation and relax.

    Accommodation: (Fort Murchison (Tent) - Budget tented camp located just outside Murchison Falls NP) | Transfer Time: N/A.
    Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 4 - Drive to the top of the falls and transfer to the edge of Kibale Forest NP

    You will have breakfast and then drive to the top of the Murchison falls to truly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of these Falls. From the top, we shall embark on a transfer that will see us overnight at edge of Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic – passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way. Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and just relax. #Optional (extra cost 20$): If interested, you can proceed for the crater lakes excursion. You will enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and the stunning views all over. Otherwise, just enjoy your rest.

    Accommodation: (Rweteera Safari Park - Budget lodge located just outside Kibale NP) | Transfer time: Approx. 7-8 hours.
    Main Destination: Kibale National Park (Commonly known for Chimps)
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 5 - Bigodi swamp excursion and transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP, then game drive

    You will have breakfast and proceed for the Bigodi swamp excursion. The Bigodi wetland boasts of extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primates’ species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and baboons. Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. Among the major bird species within the area is the Great Blue Turaco.

    From Bigodi, we shall embark on a transfer (approx. 2hrs) to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will reach the Park early enough to have lunch, rest and then proceed out for a game drive. During the game drive, look out for wild animals like reedbuck, bushbuck, kob, warthogs, elephants, lions and buffaloes among others. Alternatively, you could choose to go for the Queen’s breathtaking explosion crater drive (instead). Return to the accommodation and take your rest.

    Accommodation: (Irungu Forest Safari Lodge - Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP) | Transfer Time: 2-3 hrs.
    Main Destination: Kibale National Park (Chimps)
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 6 - Chimp tracking in Kalinzu Forest Reserve, boat trip - Kazinga Channel, and Game drive

    You will have an early breakfast and drive out to Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The Forest is home to habituated Chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys and also bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of your day tracking chimpanzees. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. While on this trip, you will have an amazing opportunity to sight wildlife including elephants, the giant hippos, crocodiles among others. You will also see many varieties of birds at the lake shores. After the boat trip, you can proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge.

    Accommodation: (: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge - Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP) | Transfer Time: Approx. 1hr to/from Kalinzu.
    Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 7 - Early morning Game drive via Kasenyi plains and head to Ishasha sector, then connect to Bwindi

    You will be up early and proceed for an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Be on the look for herds of elephants, Cape buffalos, lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the lodge and check out then head to Ishasha sector in search of the amazing tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get to spot them, the sight is worth taking photos and quite memorable. From Ishasha, we shall continue to the accommodation at the edge of Bwindi National Park (Buhoma sector). Once at the lodge, you can choose to just relax OR (at extra cost 15$) move out for the late afternoon-to-evening local community and cultural encounter.

    Accommodation: (Ride 4 a Woman - Budget guest house located just outside Bwindi NP) | Transfer Time: 4-5 hours.
    Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 8 - Bwindi Nature Forest walk/hike - waterfalls trail and transfer to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi

    You will have breakfast and then move out for the nature Forest walk along the waterfall trail. This is the perfect way to experience the depth of this “impenetrable” forest. Starting from Buhoma – at the north gate, Munyaga river trail gets you to some beautiful pristine waterfalls – a truly rewarding experience. Along the way you will encounter some flora and fauna, black and white colobus monkeys, sometimes blue monkeys among others. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi where we will have the gorilla trekking tomorrow. With a strenuous day ahead, we recommend that we take this afternoon relaxing.

    Accommodation: (Broadbill Forest Camp - Budget tented camp located just outside Bwindi NP l) | Transfer Time: 2 hours.
    Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 9 - Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation

    You will have breakfast and move to the trekking starting point. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable and so amazing.

    After the trek, you will return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach a height of (2,200 – 2,478m) but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical — you could admire them all day.

    Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi
    Accommodation: (Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort - Budget Level) | Transfer Time: Approx. 2-3 hours.
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 10 - Relaxation while enjoying the beauty of Lake Bunyonyi

    After days of long drives and of course the strenuous gorilla trekking (previous day) in Bwindi, this day is at your disposal for relaxation. All meals will be served at the accommodation. Optional (at extra cost): Should you wish to go out for an activity, you may consider the following; Historical Islands’ tour, visit to the Batwa/pygmies’ community, Nyombe swamp excursion, Mountain Bike cycling, Zip lining, canoeing or kayaking on the lake. The activity can be arranged onsite with the help of your tour guide. Enjoy your stay.

    Accommodation: (Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort-Budget Level located in or near Lake Bunyonyi) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. n/a.
    Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 11 - Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and enjoy afternoon (evening) Game drive

    You will have breakfast and set off to Lake Mburo National Park via Mbarara City. You will arrive at the accommodation in Lake Mburo in time and rest before moving for an afternoon-to-evening game drive. On the game drive, expect to see the zebras, giraffes, Uganda kob, eland antelopes, topi, impalas and buffalos among others. Later, relax at the accommodation where you will spend the night.

    Accommodation: (Hyena Hill Lodge - Budget lodge located just outside Lake Mburo NP) | Transfer Time: Approx. 4-5 hrs.
    Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park
    Meals: All meals & Drinking water included

  • Day 12 - Morning walking safari in the park and return to Entebbe International Airport

    Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Giraffes, Zebras, and Eland, Topi among others.
    Take the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch flight (1800hrs or later).

    Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour) | Transfer Time: Approx. 5 hours.
    Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)
    Meals: Breakfast, lunch & Drinking water (Dinner not included)

    End of tour
    Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
    You will be dropped off at the airport.

  • Chimpanzee permits, Gorilla permits, All Park Entrance & Activities mentioned, Transportation including Airport Pick & Drop off, Bottled drinking water, Full time Guide / driver, Accommodation (Full Board basis)
  • International flights(Can be arranged on request), Personal expenses i.e. tips, wines/beverages, and laundry services, Extra accommodation other than that mentioned in the itinerary, Other items for personal use, Extra activities not mentioned in the itinerary.

Important Information

Note; The departure dates provided in the details above are only tentative. This same trip is still available on any other dates as long as the booking has been confirmed.

Booking Section

Dates & Availability

No dates are specified by provider.
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