This 12 Days best of Uganda adventure takes you to Uganda’s commonly visited sightseeing destination including Kampala City where you will find most of the existing attractions that will blow your mind, featuring visiting Jinja city, Murchison falls national park, Kibale national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, and last but not the least Bwindi Impenetrable national park and finally Lake Bunyonyi. These are the most popularly visited places in Uganda blended with different activities and experiences all enjoyed in 12 days in Uganda. You will start and end this trip in Kampala as the nearest city to connect to Entebbe airport. Book this Uganda safari and enjoy a lifetime experience.
Highlights of the Safari
- Day 1: Arrival – Hotel (1-hour drive)
- Day 2: Kampala city tour and transfer to Jinja
- Day 3: White water rafting and visit the source of River Nile
- Day 4: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
- Day 5: Morning game drive and boat cruise
- Day 6: Transfer to Kibale national park
- Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking – Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – Boat cruise and evening game drive
- Day 9: Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 10: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 11: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 12: Transfer back to Kampala – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kampala city
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will meet our company representative/guide who will be waiting to receive you and transfer you Kampala city which is 37km away. You will be transferred to your hotel to check-in and rest from the long flight. Depending on the time and interest in the nightlife of Uganda, you will experience the night life of Uganda visiting cultural sites like Ndere cultural centre, casinos, and fun catching places. Later in the night, drive back to your hotel for overnight stay
- Luxury option: Kampala Sheraton Hotel
- Mid-range option: Fairway Hotel and Spa
- Budget option: Forest Cottages
Day 2: Kampala city tour and Transfer to Jinja
After breakfast at your hotel, drive out of the hotel for a Kampala city tour. Some of the places to visit may include; Gadaffi mosque, Bahai temple, King’s palace in Mengo and drive through the interesting places of Kampala city like Nakasero market, and Buganda road craft market with the guidance of your driver. After the city tour, have your lunch is a restaurant to enjoy some of the local dishes. Thereafter, transfer to Jinja city. It is a 2-3 hours’ drive depending in the road traffic. Arrive in Jinja in the evening with great views of the upcountry and its people. Proceed to check-in your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury/Mid-range option: Jinja Nile Resort/Jinja Front Hotel, 2 Friends Guesthouse
- Budget option: Gately Inn Hotel/Source of the Smile Guesthouse
Day 3: white water rafting and visit the source of the Niles
After breakfast, transfer to Nalubale offices for briefing about the rafting and also get your rafting gears. Start your rafting experience taking 6-7 hours’ depending the number of rafts you wish to do, have late lunch after rafting. Relax for a while before you connect to visit the source of River Nile where you will also be able to take a boat trip on Lake Victoria. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at hotel as above.
Day 4: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls visit
On the 4th day of your 12 Days Best of Uganda Adventure, After breakfast, transfer to Murchison falls national park – Uganda’s largest savannah national park and home to the most powerful falls in Africa. It is a 3 hours’ drive from Nakasongola entering the park via Kichwabanyobo gate. Proceed through Budongo forest and connect to the top of the Murchison falls. It a refreshing moment to explore the Murchison falls as they are incredible to view as the water escapes via a narrow gorge creating a white form and strong sound. Sometimes a rainbow is seen deep inside the gorge.
Proceed to check-in your booked accommodation for lunch, check-in and relax for some time. Later evening connect for an evening game drive to find some of the famous animals found in the park such as the lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes to mention a few. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
- Luxury accommodation option: Paraa Safari lodge/Nile Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Pakuba Safari lodge/Murchison River lodge
- Budget option: Heritage Safari lodge/Red Chilly Rest Camp
Day 5: Morning game drive and boat cruise
After breakfast, connect to the delta area for your early morning game drive for chances of seeing the early risers and other animals. This will take 2-3 hours depending on the availability of the animals. Return for lunch at your lodge then connect for your afternoon boat cruise on the Nile. This is yet another exciting activity to enjoy while in Murchison falls national park. There are both land and water animals to encounter on this boat cruise that ends with view of the falls at the bottom. Encounter animals like the hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and also different bird species. This boat trip takes about 2-3 hours. Return to relax at your lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale national park
After early morning breakfast, you will be picked up by your safari guide to start your safari with a transfer to Kibale national park- the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Kibale forest has 13 species of primates including the chimpanzees. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive from through Papidi – Hoima. Upon arrival with late lunch in Fort portal town before you proceed to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay
- Budget option: Isunga Lodge
- Mid-range option: Chimpanzee Guest house main house
- Luxury option: Kyaninga lodge for luxury
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk
After your breakfast, connect to the park headquarters with your trekking gears and water. Meet with other trekkers and gather for a briefing from the park officials where you will be guided on the expectations of Chimpanzee trekking. Thereafter, in only a group of 12 people and ranger guides/researchers, set off for Chimpanzee trekking. The search may take 2-5 hours depending on their location. The chimpanzees in Kibale are quite easier to find and you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with them on finding them.
You will proceed to Bigodi wetland for a nature walk experience of primates and birds. It takes about 2-3 hours walking in a wetland full of different bird species and if you are birder, this is the best place to be. Encounter other primates like the Colobus monkeys, Red vervet monkeys and many more. Thereafter, connect to your booked accommodation where you will refresh, relax, have dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – Boat cruise and evening game drive
On the 8th day of your 12 Days Best of Uganda Adventure, After breakfast, meet with your guide and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. It’s a 3 hours’ drive with a stop at the Equator and crater lakes. Proceed to your lodge for check-in, have lunch before you connect for a boat cruise on Lake Edward. The boat trip takes 2-3 hours along the Kazinga channel. You will be rewarded views of both water and land animals and birds, such as elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, to mention a few. Later evening drive to Kasenyi area for an evening game drive to find some of the animals like the lions, hyenas, leopards on a lucky evening. Dinner and overnight at
- Budget option: Pumba Safari Cottages
- Mid-range option: Parkview Safari lodge
- Luxury option: Kyambura Gorge lodge
Day 9: Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast early in the morning, you drive to Bwindi via the Ishasha sector for chances of spotting the tree climbing lions with en route lunch. It’s a 5-7 hours’ drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park. Upon arrival at the your trekking sector, connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Chamleon Hill Lodge/Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge
- Mid-range option: Ichumbi Gorilla lodge/Lake Mulehe Safari lodge
- Budget option: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Day 10: Gorilla trekking experience
On the 10th day of your 12 Days Best of Uganda Adventure, Have an early morning breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing by the ranger guides before embarking on your gorilla trek. Head into the forest and trek until you find the gorillas. Gorilla trekking can take 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. After finding the gorillas in Bwindi, you will be allowed only 1 hour and then return. Your driver / guide will drive you back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above
Day 11: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, drive to lake Bunyonyi which is the second deepest lake in Africa with over 20 islands on this lake and it is one of the most beautiful and relaxation site in the south western part of Uganda. It is also considered safe to swim since it is Bilharzia free. It takes about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kisoro town to Lake Bunyonyi with beautiful sites of the Kigezi hilly region. Proceed to check-in your lodge for lunch before you connect to explore Lake Bunyonyi on a boat trip visiting some of the accessible islands on lake. Connect to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight
- Luxury option: Bunyonyi BirdNest Lodge
- Mid-range option: Bunyonyi Arcadia Lodge
- Budget option: Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 12: Return to Kampala – Departure
Wake up early and enjoy your breakfast. Later meet with the guide/driver for your long day transfer back to Kampala. This journey takes 8-9 hours on road including en routes for lunch. Arrive in Entebbe and proceed to the airport for your return flight back home. End of 12 days best of Uganda adventure
