12 Day Uganda Explorer Safari

Your 12-Day Uganda Explorer Safari begins when you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where you will be welcomed by your professional safari guide. After a warm introduction, you will leave the airport and transfer to your hotel in Entebbe.

Depending on your arrival time, the first day can be kept relaxed so that you have time to recover from your journey. If you arrive early enough, you can enjoy a gentle introduction to Entebbe, perhaps taking a walk around the lakeside area or visiting one of the nearby attractions. If your flight arrives later in the day, you will simply check into your accommodation and relax.

This first evening is also a good opportunity for your guide to brief you about the safari ahead, including the different national parks, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking, game drives and boat cruises that will form part of your journey.

After an early breakfast, your Uganda Explorer Safari officially gets underway as you leave Entebbe and travel north toward Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

The journey takes you through the changing landscapes of central and northern Uganda. As the city environment disappears behind you, you begin to experience Uganda's countryside, with roadside markets, villages, farms, banana plantations and local communities forming part of the scenery.

Your major stop today is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Here, you will participate in a guided rhino-tracking experience. Instead of viewing the animals from a safari vehicle, you will explore the sanctuary on foot with an experienced ranger. The ranger will help you understand rhino behavior, conservation efforts and the challenges involved in protecting these magnificent animals.

After the rhino experience, continue toward Murchison Falls National Park. The journey takes you farther into northern Uganda, where the landscape gradually becomes more open and wild.

Upon arrival in the Murchison Falls area, check into your lodge, have dinner and settle into the peaceful atmosphere of the park.

Wake up early because today is dedicated almost entirely to wildlife.

After breakfast, you will head out for a morning game drive through Murchison Falls National Park. The early hours are ideal for wildlife viewing because temperatures are cooler and many animals are active.

As you explore the savannah, you may encounter elephants moving across the plains, large herds of buffalo, giraffes feeding on vegetation and Uganda kob grazing in the open grasslands. Your guide will continually scan the landscape for predators, and with some luck you may encounter lions resting after a hunt or moving through the plains.

After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.

In the afternoon, you will head toward the Victoria Nile for one of the signature experiences of the park — the boat cruise toward the bottom of Murchison Falls.

The cruise takes you along the river where enormous hippos gather in the water and Nile crocodiles rest along the banks. Elephants frequently approach the river to drink and bathe, while buffaloes and antelopes can often be seen along the shoreline.

The boat continues toward the dramatic point where the Nile is squeezed through the narrow gorge before plunging over the falls. This combination of powerful scenery and concentrated wildlife makes the cruise one of the highlights of a Murchison Falls safari.

You will return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and relaxation.

After breakfast, you will leave Murchison Falls and begin the long but scenic journey toward Fort Portal.

Today is primarily a travel day, but it is also an opportunity to see another side of Uganda. Rather than spending the entire journey inside national parks, you will travel through rural communities, agricultural areas, small towns and changing landscapes.

As you move toward western Uganda, the scenery becomes greener and more mountainous. You will begin to notice tea plantations, rolling hills and the lush landscapes surrounding Fort Portal.

Fort Portal is one of Uganda's most beautiful regions and serves as an excellent gateway to Kibale Forest.

Upon arrival, check into your lodge and enjoy a relaxed evening. If you arrive early enough, you can simply enjoy the surrounding countryside rather than adding another demanding activity.

Today you enter one of Uganda's most important primate habitats: Kibale Forest National Park.

After breakfast, you will proceed toward the chimpanzee trekking briefing point. Before entering the forest, park guides will provide information about the trekking experience and responsible behavior around chimpanzees.

The trek takes you deep into the tropical forest, where you will search for one of Kibale's habituated chimpanzee communities.

The forest itself is part of the adventure. Your guide will help identify different tree species, birds, monkeys and other signs of forest life as you move through the vegetation.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend time observing their natural behavior. You may see them feeding, grooming one another, climbing through the trees, communicating or moving between different parts of the forest.

After the trek, return for lunch and spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing at your lodge.

After an early morning  breakfast, leave Kibale Forest and travel toward Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The journey takes you through the beautiful countryside of western Uganda, with crater lakes, tea plantations, rolling hills and rural settlements along the way.

Once you reach Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will have lunch before beginning an afternoon game drive in the Kasenyi Plains.

The open plains provide excellent conditions for wildlife viewing. Watch for Uganda kob, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks and other antelopes. Lions may also be encountered resting in the grasslands or following herds of prey.

As the sun begins to lower, the landscape takes on beautiful golden tones, making this an excellent time for photography.

After the game drive, proceed to your lodge for dinner and relaxation.

Today gives you another full wildlife experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Wake early and head out for a morning game drive while the park is still cool and active. Your guide will explore different sections of the plains in search of wildlife.

The morning may bring encounters with elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, waterbucks, warthogs and other species. The park also has an impressive bird population, making the drive particularly rewarding for birdwatchers.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and some relaxation before lunch.

In the afternoon, you will take a Kazinga Channel boat cruise.

The channel is one of Uganda's most spectacular wildlife-viewing locations. Hippos gather in huge numbers along the water, while crocodiles can be seen basking on the banks. Elephants and buffaloes frequently approach the water, creating excellent photographic opportunities.

The channel is also home to an impressive range of waterbirds.

After the cruise, return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening.

After breakfast, begin the journey toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth.

The Ishasha sector is particularly famous for its tree-climbing lions, so your transfer becomes another wildlife experience.

Your guide will explore the sector looking for lions resting in large fig or acacia trees. You may also encounter elephants, buffaloes, topi and other wildlife across the plains.

After the Ishasha game drive, continue toward Bwindi.

The scenery changes dramatically as you leave the savannah behind. The road climbs into the highlands, with rolling hills, terraced gardens, forests and local communities creating some of southwestern Uganda's most beautiful landscapes.

Arrive at your lodge in the evening and prepare for the following day's gorilla trekking.

Today is the signature experience of your entire 12-Day Uganda Explorer Safari.

After an early breakfast, you will travel to your designated gorilla trekking briefing point. Rangers and guides will explain the trekking rules, safety procedures and responsible gorilla-viewing practices.

Once the briefing is complete, you enter the ancient Bwindi forest.

The length of the trek cannot be guaranteed because the gorillas move naturally through the forest. You may walk for a relatively short period or spend several hours navigating steep slopes and dense vegetation before locating your assigned gorilla family.

When the gorillas are found, the challenging trek becomes worthwhile.

You may observe a silverback watching over the family, mothers caring for young gorillas, juveniles playing and climbing, or individuals feeding quietly among the vegetation.

The encounter provides an extraordinary opportunity to observe mountain gorillas in their natural environment.

After the permitted viewing time, begin your journey back through the forest.

Return to your lodge, enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon recovering from the trek.

After breakfast, leave Bwindi and travel toward the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi.

The journey through southwestern Uganda is spectacular. The road winds through steep green hills, terraced agricultural fields and local communities before eventually opening onto views of Lake Bunyonyi.

The lake is surrounded by hills and dotted with numerous islands, creating one of the most peaceful landscapes in Uganda.

After lunch, enjoy a relaxed afternoon around the lake. Depending on the package, you can take a traditional canoe or boat ride across the water, visiting some of the islands and enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

After several demanding days of wildlife viewing and trekking, Lake Bunyonyi provides the perfect opportunity to slow down.

After breakfast, leave Lake Bunyonyi and continue toward Lake Mburo National Park.

The scenery gradually changes as you leave the highlands and move toward Uganda's central savannah landscapes.

Upon reaching Lake Mburo, have lunch before heading into the park for an afternoon game drive.

Lake Mburo is particularly interesting because its wildlife and landscape differ from the destinations you have visited earlier in the safari. You may encounter large groups of zebras, impalas, elands, topi, buffaloes, giraffes and warthogs.

The park's acacia woodland, open grasslands and wetlands create a beautiful environment for photography.

Depending on timing, you can also arrange a guided nature walk, giving you the opportunity to explore the ecosystem on foot rather than from the safari vehicle.

Return to your lodge for dinner and your final night in Uganda's wilderness.

Your final day begins with breakfast before beginning the journey toward Entebbe.

If your flight schedule allows, you can enjoy a final short wildlife experience in the morning before leaving Lake Mburo. This gives you one last opportunity to see zebras, impalas, giraffes, buffaloes and other wildlife before the safari officially comes to an end.

Continue toward the Equator, where you will have a stop for photographs and a chance to explore the local craft shops.

From the Equator, continue toward Entebbe.

Depending on your international flight departure time, your guide will transfer you directly to Entebbe International Airport. If your flight is late in the evening, you can arrange a day-use hotel or additional activities in Entebbe.