A 12 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary Guide With Hidden Gems

Safari Overview: 12 Days Uganda Safari

The Ultimate 12 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary With Hidden Gems offers Chimpanzee, Gorilla trekking, Wildlife, and White Water Rafting. On your 12 Days Uganda Safari you enjoy white water rafting to the Nile River in Jinja, wildlife, chimpanzee tracking, and a Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. 12-Day Uganda Safari comprises a visit to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.

White water rafting, Rhino tracking, chimpanzee trekking, wildlife viewing, gorilla trekking, boat cruise, hike to the top of Murchison Falls, and a nature walk safari are the activities of this trip. Kibale Forest National Park is the best Uganda chimpanzee trekking safari destination with the highest population of chimps therefore the best tracking experience. This customized safari in Uganda is tailored for the best rafting and wildlife safari experiences. The tour is private, customizable, can be undertaken any time of the year, and can be taken up by any kind of traveler.

However, Gorilla trekking is for travelers above 15 years of age.

Safari by day Highlight: 12 Day Uganda Safari

• Day #1: Arrival and pick up at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Jinja for the start of your 12 Day Uganda Safari
• Day #2: White water rafting and transfer back to Kampala
• Day #3: Transfer from Kampala to Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary then Murchison Falls National Park 
• Day #4: Morning game drive, afternoon boat cruise, and hike to the top of the falls.
• Day #5: Transfer from Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park
• Day #6: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest an evening nature walk in Bigodi wetland
• Day #7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and have an evening game drive.
• Day #8: Morning game drive in Kasenyi trails and Evening boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
• Day #9: Another morning game drive in the Ishasha Sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day #10: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day #11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and have an evening game drive
• Day #12: Morning nature walking safari and transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport marking the end of your 12 Days Uganda safari.

Safari by day Itinerary: 12 Days Uganda Safari

Day 1: Arrival and pick up at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to Jinja

Arriving at Entebbe International Airport, your Uganda tour guide will be there to pick you up for a transfer to Jinja in Eastern Uganda. Depending on your time of arrival, you will visit the source of the Nile river before check-in at your hotel for dinner. The drive to Jinja is a scenic drive taking you past the Mabira forest, several sugar plantations and tea plantations, and locals going by their daily chores.

The drive lasts about 2.5 – 3 hours.
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Wild Waters Lodge, Mid-range: Jinja Safari lodge, Budget: Kingfisher Safaris Resort

Day 2: White water rafting and transfer back to Kampala

Whitewater Rafting on the Nile | Wildwaters Lodge, Jinja, Uganda

Waking up at the banks of the Nile River, you have a relaxed breakfast and then go for white water rafting. Rafting requires no prior experience as practical tips are given before the rafting start. Along with experienced Kayakers you spend about 5 hours on a full-day rafting experience. After rafting, you have late lunch then get back on the drive to Kampala. The drive is scenic and could take about 3-4 hours depending on where you are spending the night and the traffic jam in the city. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Kabira Country Club, Mid-range: Cassia Lodge, Budget: Red Chilli Hideaway

Day 3: Transfer from Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park with Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

From Kampala at your place of residence or lodge, your tour guide will pick you up for a drive northward to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. You reach the sanctuary after about a 2-3 hour drive reaching in time for Rhino tracking which takes about 2 hours. After Rhino tracking, you then have lunch en route to Murchison Falls Park. Arriving in the evening, you have a short game drive en route to your lodge arriving in time for check-in, relaxation, and dinner. You spend a night at a preferred accommodation in Murchison Falls Park. 

Drive time: 4-5 hours
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options: Luxury: Chobe Safari Lodge/Paraa safari Lodge, Midrange: Pakuba safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge, Budget: Heritage safari Lodge/Red Chili Rest Camp

Day #4: Morning game drive, afternoon boat cruise, and hike to the top of Murchison Falls.

Amazing Boat Safari on the White Nile and Hiking to the Murchison Falls, Uganda

In the morning after breakfast, your guide will be ready to take you to the jungle in search of wildlife and bird species.

The game drive exposes you to sightings of wildlife species like Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Giraffes, Kobs, Buffaloes, baboons, and many more. After the game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, you then return to your lodge for lunch and refresh. Transfer for the boat cruise/launch trip to the bottom of the mighty Murchison Falls with spectacular views and a view of several aquatic species on the river banks. From the bottom of the falls, you then start the hike to the top of the falls. The hike lasts about 1 hour with scenic views and great photography experiences. At the top, you meet your driver guide for transfer back to your lodge where you spend the night. 

Drive time: 4-5 hours
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner:
Accommodation options: Luxury: Chobe Safari Lodge/Paraa safari Lodge, Midrange: Pakuba safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge, Budget: Heritage safari Lodge/Red Chili Rest Camp

Day 5: Transfer from Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park

At your choice of accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park, you have breakfast then embark on the drive to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive takes more than 346 Km taking about 6-7 hours along Kyenjojo-Hoima road. Reaching in the evening your Uganda safaris tour guide ensures, check in to a prior booked accommodation facility. You refresh and have dinner then rest through the night at your hotel or lodge. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation options: Luxury: Primate Lodge /Kyaninga safari lodge, Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guest house, Budget/Basic: Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge 

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest an evening nature walk in Bigodi wetland

Chimpanzees of Kibale and Budongo Forest and Birding in Bigodi Wetlands, Uganda

After breakfast at your lodge get ready for a chimpanzee trekking experience. Carry along with your backpack with some drinking water and head out to the park for chimp tracking.

The trek starts with a briefing on the trekking etiquette then heads out to the jungle. Just like gorilla tracking, a maximum of 1 hour is spent in the presence of chimpanzees as you watch them playfully interact in the forest. After the trek, you return to your lodge for lunch and then transfer to Bigodi wetland for a nature walk. Bigodi wetland is just a 5-minute drive from Kibale Forest and host to an array of biodiversity including primates and bird species. Some of the bird species include the Great Blue Turaco, White-collared Olive back, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Superb Sunbird, and many more. After the nature walk at Bigodi, you then return to your lodging facility where you relax, refresh and have dinner. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation options: Luxury: Primate Lodge /Kyaninga safari lodge, Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guest house, Budget/Basic: Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and have an evening game drive.

From your hotel or lodge in Kibale Forest National Park, you have a relaxed breakfast then embark on the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive last 3- 4 hours driving past several plantations and scenic crater lakes. On arrival at the park, you have lunch and then go out for an evening game drive. The game drive offers the chance to see several mammal species including Elephants, Kobs, Buffaloes, and several bird species including Kingfishers. In the evening you return to your hotel/lodge for dinner and spend the night. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge, Budget: Bush Lodge 

Day 8: Morning game drive in Kasenyi trails and Evening boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

Amazing Wildlife Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kazinga Channel Uganda

Have morning breakfast then proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Here you explore an array of wildlife including Elephants, Buffaloes, Topi, warthogs, Hyenas, lions, and several bird species.

The game drive lasts about 4 hours and remembers to carry some drinking water binoculars and a camera. After the game drive, you return to the lodge for lunch and refreshments. In the afternoon, you head for the Kazinga channel boat cruise. This is a great chance of seeing several aquatic species like crocodiles and hippopotami alongside other wildlife and bird species on the river banks. With these amazing encounters on this 6 days wildlife safari in Uganda, you are then driven back to your accommodation facility where you spend the night. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge, Budget: Bush Lodge

Day 9: Another morning game drive in the Ishasha Sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On this day of your trip, you have breakfast then head out to the Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park. You spend about 4 hours on the drive in search of tree-climbing lions and any other mammals. After the game drive, you have lunch in the Ishasha sector. After lunch, you embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Arriving in the evening hours, you check in, refresh, have dinner, and spend the night at a prior booked choice of accommodation in Bwindi. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/chameleon Hill Lodge, Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge/Gorilla Mist Lodge, Budget: Buhoma Community camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge

Day 10: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the rules and regulations for Uganda gorilla safaris. During the briefing, a total of 8 tourists are allocated a single gorilla family depending on their hiking ability. The trek starts with each group being accompanied by a park ranger talking for about 2-6 hours depending on where the gorillas spent their previous night. Upon seeing the gorillas a maximum of 1 hour is allocated in the presence of these gentle giants for photography and amazing moments. After the trek, you return to the park headquarters where you receive a gorilla trekking certificate. Your driver guide then ensures a safe transfer to your lodge for refreshment and relaxation. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/chameleon Hill Lodge, Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge/Gorilla Mist Lodge, Budget: Buhoma Community camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and have an evening game drive

Lake Mburo National Park: Uganda and its Breathtaking Nature will Surprise You

From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park foothills, you have breakfast then embark on a drive to Lake Mburo National Park. The drive lasts about 5-6 hours.

Arriving in the afternoon, you have lunch and prepare for an evening game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. On this game drive, the possible sightings include Zebras, Impalas, Common Eland, African Buffalo, Oribi, Waterbuck, reedbuck, Topi, and many more. Some of the bird species include the Bateleur, Coqui Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Rufous Bellied Heron, and many more. After the game drive, you are driven to your booked lodge or hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mihingo Lodge/Mburo Safari Lodge, Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock Lodge / Arcadia Cottages, Budget: Eagles Nest Camp

Day 12: Morning nature walking safari and transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport

On this last day of your Uganda safari, you will have breakfast then head out for a nature walking safari. Lake Mburo is known to be free from carnivores and therefore offers a very unique experience with a walk so close to nature. After the nature walk, you then have lunch and start the drive to Kampala or Entebbe. You will most probably arrive in the city in the evening for drop-off either in Kampala or at Entebbe International Airport for a way-forward flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

End of the 12 Days Uganda Safari

Your Safari Route: 12 Days Uganda Safari