12 Days Uganda Grand Safari

After breakfast, you begin the drive from Entebbe to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Ziwa is the best place in Uganda for rhino tracking and gives you the chance to see rhinos on foot with experienced guides. This experience completes the Big Five element of your Uganda safari when combined with the other wildlife sightings in the national parks.

After rhino tracking, you continue to Murchison Falls National Park with lunch en route. On arrival, you check in at your lodge and relax after the journey. Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest national park and is famous for savannah wildlife, the River Nile and the powerful waterfall where the Nile forces itself through a narrow gorge.

After an early breakfast, you go for a morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. The northern sector of the park offers good chances to see giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, lions and many bird species. The open savannah scenery also gives you beautiful photography opportunities during the morning hours.

In the afternoon, you enjoy a Nile boat cruise toward the base of Murchison Falls. The boat cruise gives you excellent chances to see hippos, crocodiles, water birds and animals along the riverbanks. As you approach the falls, you enjoy views of the powerful Nile squeezing through the rocks before dropping into the lower river.

After breakfast, you visit the Top of the Falls, where you see the River Nile rushing through a narrow rock gap before plunging down with great force. This is one of the most dramatic viewpoints in Uganda and gives you a closer look at the power of Murchison Falls.

After the visit, you begin the scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park. The journey takes you through western Uganda’s countryside, towns, farmlands, tea plantations and beautiful highland scenery. You arrive near Kibale in the evening and check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.

After an early breakfast, you transfer to Kibale Forest National Park headquarters for briefing before chimpanzee trekking. Kibale is one of the best places in East Africa for chimpanzee trekking, and the forest is known for its rich primate life, birdlife and beautiful rainforest atmosphere.

You enter the forest with ranger guides who help you follow chimpanzee calls, fresh tracks and feeding signs. Once the chimpanzees are found, you observe their natural behaviour, movement, feeding, grooming and communication in the forest. The experience is active, exciting and a major highlight of this Uganda grand safari.

In the afternoon, you may enjoy the Bigodi Wetland walk. This community-guided nature walk is known for birds, monkeys, swamp scenery and local community experiences. It is a good addition after chimpanzee trekking and gives you a softer nature experience outside the main forest.

After breakfast, you leave Kibale and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey is scenic, with views of crater lakes, tea plantations, local villages and the western Uganda landscape. This transfer connects Uganda’s rainforest primate region with one of the country’s most famous wildlife parks.

On arrival in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you check in at your lodge and relax. Depending on arrival time, you may enjoy a short evening game drive around the nearby tracks, searching for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs and other wildlife.

After an early breakfast, you go for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kasenyi plains are one of the best areas for wildlife viewing, with chances to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, antelopes and many bird species.

In the afternoon, you enjoy the famous Kazinga Channel boat cruise. This boat experience is one of the top highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park and offers excellent chances to see hippos, crocodiles, water birds and animals coming to drink along the shoreline.

After breakfast, you drive through the Ishasha sector, which is famous for tree-climbing lions. The area is known for open plains, fig trees and a quieter wilderness atmosphere. You search for lions resting in tree branches, along with elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs and other savannah wildlife.

After the Ishasha experience, you continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive takes you through scenic highlands, villages, terraced hills and beautiful southwestern Uganda landscapes. On arrival near Bwindi, you check in at your lodge and prepare for the next day’s gorilla trekking experience.

After an early breakfast, you transfer to the park headquarters for briefing before gorilla trekking in Uganda. Park officials explain the trekking rules, safety guidelines and how to behave when you meet the mountain gorillas.

You then enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with ranger guides and trackers in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek may take a few hours or longer depending on the movement of the gorillas. Once found, you spend a special time observing them as they feed, rest, play and interact in their natural forest home.

After the trek, you return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. The rest of the day is spent enjoying the peaceful forest atmosphere and reflecting on one of Africa’s most powerful wildlife encounters.

After breakfast, you leave Bwindi and drive to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda’s most scenic and peaceful lakes. The journey takes you through beautiful highland landscapes, terraced hills, local communities and countryside views.

On arrival at Lake Bunyonyi, you check in at your lodge and relax. This lake is a perfect place to rest after gorilla trekking, with calm waters, island views, fresh air and a peaceful atmosphere. Depending on arrival time, you may enjoy relaxation by the lake, photography, a canoe ride or a simple scenic walk.

After breakfast, you leave Lake Bunyonyi and drive to Lake Mburo National Park. This small but beautiful savannah park is a perfect final wildlife stop before returning to Entebbe or Kampala. The park is known for zebras, impalas, elands, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos, birds and scenic acacia landscapes.

On arrival, you check in at your lodge and later enjoy an evening game drive or optional boat cruise depending on timing. Lake Mburo gives this itinerary a relaxed ending with wildlife viewing in a peaceful setting.

After an early breakfast, you enjoy a walking safari or short morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park. The walking safari gives you a different way to experience wildlife and scenery, with chances to see zebras, impalas, elands, birds and other animals on foot with a trained guide.

After the activity, you begin the return journey to Entebbe or Kampala with lunch en route. You may stop at the Equator for photos and a short break before continuing to your hotel or Entebbe International Airport. This marks the end of your 12 Days Uganda Grand Safari.