12 Days Classic Uganda Safari – Long Uganda Tour
12 days classic Uganda safari is an exceptional safari experience set for you to explore and experience Uganda’s natural wonders. It includes mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Southwestern Uganda where about half of all the 1004 mountain gorillas thrive; game viewing in the pristine wilderness of Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park; chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park and relaxation at Uganda Equator crossing. Your 12 days classic Uganda safari will commence and end in Kampala.
Activities to do on the 12 days classic Uganda safari
• Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
• Game viewing
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Guided nature walks
• Relaxation at Uganda Equator crossing
Highlights of the 12 days classic Uganda safari
Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Game drive and launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park and guided nature walks in Bigodi Wetland
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Game drive in the morning and launch trip via Kazinga Channel
Day 7: Guided nature/forest walks in and around Maramagambo Forest and a game drive in the afternoon
Day 8: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 9: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 11: Game drive and boat cruise
Day 12: Drive back to Kampala or Entebbe
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
Embark on 4-5 hours’ drive to Murchison Falls National Park after your cup of tea or coffee. Your safari leader will drive you via Luweero Triangle and your first stopover will be made at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will take part in rhino tracking. The second stopover will be made in Masindi Town for lunch and the third stop will be made when paying a visit to the top of Murchison Falls. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park, extending for over 3840 square kilometers and it derives its name from the scenic Murchison Falls-a powerful waterfalls on planet earth which squeezes itself in a narrow gorge of about 7 meters prior plunging about 43 meters. After your astonishing experiences, you will connect to your lodge of choice for relaxation, dinner and a night stay.
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge
Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp, Heritage Safari Lodge
Day 2: Morning game drive and launch trip
Wake up early in the morning to have breakfast and later, meet your safari leader to begin your morning game drive via Northern Circuit of Murchison Falls National Park. A game drive in Murchison Falls National Park takes you about 3 to 4 hours and it lets you come across several wildlife species including among others African lions, African bush elephants, buffaloes, birds, Rothschild giraffes, antelopes. Get back to the lodge to have lunch as you wait for the afternoon launch trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls.
On a launch trip, you will come across hippos, the Nile crocodiles, water birds such as kingfishers, bee-eaters, as well as other wildlife species. This will take you about 3-4 hours and once you get at Baker’s rock, you can hike to the top of Murchison falls about 45 minutes where you will meet your safari leader who then will drive you back to your lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge
Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp, Heritage Safari Lodge
Day 3: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Begin your day with an early morning breakfast and after, drive to Kibale Forest National Park about 7 hours. On the way, you will enjoy the amazing view of the rift valley escarpment and Rwenzori Mountains. You will stopover for lunch at a hotel in Hoima town then proceed via Fort Portal to Kibale Forest National Park a home to 13 species of primates and over 350 bird species.
Travel time: 7 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Kibale Forest National Park
Luxury: Primate Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge
Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest and guided nature walks in Bigodi Wetland
Meet other trekkers at Kanyanchu Visitor Center after breakfast where you will be briefed on the guidelines for chimpanzee tracking. A search to see chimpanzees starts at 8:00am and can last you about 2-4 hours including an hour of magical encounter. On a chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park, not only will you catch a glimpse at the chimpanzees but also other primate species including among others L’Hoest monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys; birds like rumped tinker bird, little green bul, black bee-eater, green breasted pitta. Chimpanzees share about 98 percent of their DNA with humans making them our closest relative.
Your afternoon will be spent on a guided nature walk in Bigodi Wetland. This wetland is endowed with enormous species of primates including the red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, birds and many other mammal species that will come your way as you on a guided nature walk. After an incredible interaction with nature in Bigodi Wetland, you will return to the lodge to have dinner and a night stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Kibale Forest National Park
Luxury: Primate Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Papaya Lake Lodge
Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Day 5: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, leave Kibale Forest National Park for Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda’s second largest national park which is set in Western side of the country. Your journey cover about 3 hours and on arrival, relax at your lodge, have lunch and then set off for afternoon game drive which will reward you with amazing sights over diverse wildlife species like elephants, buffaloes, birds, lions, leopards and many more.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge
Mid-range: Twin Lakes Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge, Mweya Hostel
Day 6: Game drive and boat cruise
After breakfast, begin your morning game drive via Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This game viewing experience takes you about 3-4 hours and it lets you spot out variety of wildlife species including lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, warthogs, birds and many more. Return to the lodge to have lunch after your game viewing experience.
After lunch, set off for afternoon launch trip via Kazinga channel. This is for you to see hippos, Nile crocodiles, water birds and many other wildlife species.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge
Mid-range: Twin Lakes Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge, Mweya Hostel
Day 7: Guided nature walk in Maramagambo Forest and game drive
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, embark on a guided nature walk in Maramagambo Forest which inhabits diverse primate species, butterflies, bats and birdlife. On a guided nature walk, you will also have a chance to pay a visit to volcanic caves and after, get back to the lodge to have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will embark on a game drive via Ishasha area where you will see the tree climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, birds and many more.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge
Mid-range: Twin Lakes Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge, Mweya Hostel
Day 8: Leave Queen for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have a cup of tea or coffee and later, check out of the lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park ready to drive to Bwindi, approximately 3 hours. On the way, you will have a stopover at Savanna Resort for lunch then proceed to Bwindi National Park.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge
Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorilla trekking begins in Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija or Buhoma area. The park official will brief you on the set guidelines for gorilla trekking and at 8:00am after you have been assigned to a habituated family to trek, the park ranger guide will take you through a search for mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is comprised of about 20 habituated families but only one will be allocated to you to trek in a group of 8 visitors. The length of gorilla trek can take about 2-6 which also includes an hour of magical encounter. You will also come across butterflies, primates, bird species and many plant species.
In the evening, you will visit Batwa Community for a cultural experience which involves interacting with the Batwa pygmies, learn about their lifestyles, enjoy their unique music performances and dances.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge
Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 10: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, check out of the lodge ready to embark on 6 hours’ road trip to Lake Mburo National Park-Uganda’s most accessible national park from Kampala city center. This national park sits in an area of about 371 square kilometers and inhabits 332 bird species, lions, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, oribis, warthogs and many others.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Lake Mburo National Park
Luxury: Mantana Tented Camp, Mihingo
Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
Budget: Rwonyo Camp
Day 11: Game drive and a boat cruise
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, drive via Lake Mburo National Park. This will reward you with amazing sights at impalas, Uganda kobs, zebras, giraffes, lion, leopards, buffaloes and many bird species. Return to have lunch and in the afternoon, you have a boat cruise along Lake Mburo. A boat cruise allows you see hippos, crocodiles and many water bird species.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Lake Mburo National Park
Luxury: Mantana Tented Camp, Mihingo
Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
Budget: Rwonyo Camp
Day 12: Drive back to Kampala or Entebbe
Have breakfast and after, check out of the lodge and then drive back to Kampala. You will have lunch on the way and a stopover at Uganda Equator crossing for relaxation and photo taking.
End of your 12 days classic Uganda safari
Inclusions of the 12 days classic Uganda safari
• Gorilla permits
• Chimpanzee permits
• Park entry fees
• Game viewing
• Rhino tracking
• Bottled drinking water
• Relevant government taxes
• Travel in 4×4 drive safari vehicle
• Service of an English-Speaking driver guide
Exclusions of the 12 days classic Uganda safari
• Tips
• Laundry service
• Uganda visa fees
• Alcoholic drinks
• Airfares
• Hotel fees in Kampala/Entebbe
• Optional activities
• Telephone calls