12 Days Uganda National Parks Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and Kampala City Tour

Your Uganda safari begins with arrival at Entebbe International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Verdant Safaris. After completing the necessary airport formalities, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe, depending on your arrival arrangements. If you arrive early enough, you can enjoy a relaxed introduction to Kampala, Uganda’s bustling capital, with visits to selected cultural, historical or craft attractions. You will have an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the city and learn more about Uganda’s history, culture and contemporary way of life. Your safari guide will also brief you about the journey ahead, including the destinations, wildlife experiences and daily schedule. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner at your hotel and rest in preparation for the start of your wildlife adventure.

Accommodation Options: Latitude 0 Degrees, Cassia Lodge, Speke Hotel Kampala

Meals: (Dinner)

Day 2: Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park

After an early breakfast, you will leave Kampala and begin your journey northwards towards Murchison Falls National Park. The drive takes you through changing landscapes, rural communities, agricultural areas and small trading centres, giving you an opportunity to observe everyday life in Uganda. You may stop along the way for refreshments and photographs before continuing towards the Murchison Falls Conservation Area. If time permits, you can make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided rhino tracking experience before continuing towards the national park. As you approach Murchison Falls, the scenery changes into woodland and open savannah, signalling your arrival in one of Uganda’s major wildlife areas. You will check into your lodge, enjoy dinner and relax as you prepare for the following day’s game drive and Nile boat cruise.

Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise

You will start the morning with an early breakfast before heading out for a game drive across the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. The cooler morning hours provide an excellent opportunity to search for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, lions and a wide range of bird species. Your professional safari guide will follow the park tracks and explain the behaviour, habitats and conservation of the wildlife you encounter. After the morning game drive, you will return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax. In the afternoon, you will embark on a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls, where you can observe hippos, crocodiles, elephants and numerous water birds along the riverbanks. The cruise offers a different perspective of the park and provides excellent opportunities to appreciate the dramatic scenery surrounding the Nile.

Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Murchison Falls and Transfer to Kibale Forest

After breakfast, you will visit the spectacular Murchison Falls area, where the Nile is forced through a narrow gorge before continuing towards Lake Albert. You will enjoy views of the powerful waterfall and surrounding landscape before beginning your long but scenic journey towards western Uganda. The drive takes you through rural settlements, farmland, woodland and rolling countryside as you gradually approach the Fort Portal and Kibale region. Along the way, you will have opportunities to stop for photographs and refreshments while your guide provides information about the communities and landscapes you pass. Upon reaching the Kibale area, you will check into your selected lodge surrounded by forest and countryside. The evening will be dedicated to relaxation and preparation for your upcoming primate and forest experiences.

Accommodation Options: Primate Lodge Kibale, Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Experience

Today you will explore one of Uganda’s most important forest ecosystems, with a focus on its remarkable primate population. After breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning your guided chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest. As you walk beneath the forest canopy, you will look for chimpanzees while keeping an eye out for other primates, birds, butterflies and forest wildlife. Following the forest experience, you can enjoy lunch before visiting the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. A guided wetland walk provides opportunities to see monkeys, colourful birds and other species while learning about local conservation and community initiatives. The day combines forest wildlife with community-based tourism and gives you a deeper appreciation of the natural environment surrounding Kibale.

Accommodation Options: Primate Lodge Kibale, Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, you will leave Kibale and travel southwards towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey takes you through the beautiful landscapes of western Uganda, including tea-growing areas, crater lakes, villages and rolling hills. As you approach Queen Elizabeth National Park, the landscape gradually opens into savannah, wetlands and woodland habitats. After arriving at your lodge and having lunch, you will have time to relax before embarking on an afternoon or evening game drive. You will explore the park’s tracks in search of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs, antelopes and other wildlife. With the changing light of the late afternoon creating beautiful scenery across the plains, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Enganzi Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise

Your day begins with an early morning game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, giving you another opportunity to explore its diverse wildlife habitats. You will search for elephants, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, warthogs and other species while your guide interprets animal tracks and behaviour. The morning drive is also an excellent opportunity for bird watching, as the park supports a remarkable variety of bird species. After returning to the lodge for lunch and relaxation, you will embark on a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel. From the water, you can observe large numbers of hippos and crocodiles as well as elephants, buffaloes and birds gathering around the channel. After the cruise, return to your lodge and enjoy a relaxed evening surrounded by the sounds of the national park.

Accommodation Options: Mweya Safari Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Enganzi Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8: Ishasha Sector Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, you will travel towards the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park before continuing to Bwindi. This section of the park is known for its beautiful savannah scenery and large fig trees, and you will have the opportunity to enjoy a game drive as you pass through the area. Your guide will search for elephants, buffaloes, topi, antelopes and other wildlife, while keeping an eye out for the famous tree-climbing lions associated with Ishasha. After the game drive, you will continue towards southwestern Uganda through a dramatic landscape of rolling hills, cultivated slopes and local communities. As you approach Bwindi, the scenery becomes increasingly mountainous and forested. You will arrive at your lodge in the evening, enjoy dinner and rest ahead of the next stage of your safari.

Accommodation Options: Buhoma Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Forest Experience and Community Visit

Today you will experience the unique environment surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Depending on the selected programme and your interests, you can enjoy a guided forest walk, nature experience or community activity around the park. The forest environment provides opportunities to observe birdlife, butterflies, plants and other forest species while learning about the importance of conserving this exceptional ecosystem. You may also visit a local community or cultural initiative to learn about traditional practices, crafts and livelihoods in the area. Your guide will explain the relationship between the surrounding communities and conservation efforts in southwestern Uganda. The day provides a more relaxed experience after several days of game drives and long-distance travel. In the evening, return to your lodge for dinner and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the forested hills.

Accommodation Options: Buhoma Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 10: Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, you will leave the Bwindi region and begin your journey towards Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes you through the scenic highlands of southwestern Uganda before gradually descending towards the savannah landscapes of the Ankole region. Along the way, you will pass through rural communities, farmland and cattle-keeping areas, providing a fascinating view of life outside the national parks. After arriving in the Lake Mburo area, you will have lunch and some time to settle into your lodge. Later, you will embark on an afternoon game drive through the park, searching for zebra, impala, buffaloes, eland, topi, warthogs and other wildlife. The park’s combination of open grassland, woodland and wetland habitats creates a different safari experience from the larger parks visited earlier in your journey.

Accommodation Options: Mihingo Lodge, Mburo Safari Lodge, Rwakobo Rock

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 11: Lake Mburo Morning Game Drive and Return to Kampala

You will begin your final full day of wildlife exploration with an early morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. The morning provides another opportunity to observe zebra, impala, eland, topi, buffaloes, warthogs and other animals in their natural surroundings. Depending on your preferred programme, you may also enjoy a guided nature walk or another available park activity before leaving the area. After breakfast or lunch, you will begin the journey towards Kampala, travelling through the Ankole countryside and passing through local communities along the way. You will make a stop at the Equator crossing, where you can take photographs, browse local crafts and enjoy a brief geographical experience. Continue to Kampala or Entebbe for your final overnight stay and enjoy a farewell dinner before your departure the following day.

Accommodation Options: Latitude 0 Degrees, Cassia Lodge, Speke Hotel Kampala

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 12: Departure

Your final day is reserved for departure from Uganda. After breakfast, you will have some free time depending on the timing of your international flight. If your flight schedule allows, Verdant Safaris can arrange a short city excursion, shopping stop or relaxed time at your hotel before your airport transfer. You will then be driven to Entebbe International Airport in good time for your departure procedures. Your safari guide will ensure that you reach the airport comfortably and assist with any final arrangements required before you leave Uganda. As you depart, you will take with you memories of Murchison Falls, the Nile, Kibale’s forests, Queen Elizabeth’s savannahs, Bwindi’s highland landscapes and Lake Mburo’s wildlife. This marks the end of your 12 Days Uganda National Parks Wildlife Safari with Verdant Safaris.

Meals: (Breakfast)