Uganda · 12 days · MidrangeTop Pick
12 Days Uganda Gorillas, Chimps & Big Five Adventure
A comprehensive twelve-day Uganda journey with extra time at each stop: two nights at Murchison Falls, chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth, two nights at Bwindi and a final stay at Lake Mburo.
- Duration
- 12 days · 11 nights
- Countries
- Uganda
- Starts
- Entebbe
- Ends
- Entebbe
- Tier
- Midrange
- Format
- Private safari
01 / Overview
The journey in brief.
A comprehensive twelve-day Uganda journey with extra time at each stop: two nights at Murchison Falls, chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth, two nights at Bwindi and a final stay at Lake Mburo.
This 12-day midrange itinerary starts in Entebbe and ends in Entebbe. Accommodation: Overnight at the lodge.
- Ideal for
- Longer trips · Primate lovers · Photographers
- Safari style
- Midrange · Private · Photography
Destination guides: Murchison Falls · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth · Bwindi
Route
Entebbe
Start
Ziwa
Stop 1
Murchison Falls
Stop 2
Kibale
Stop 3
Queen Elizabeth
Stop 4
Bwindi
Stop 5
Lake Mburo
Stop 6
Entebbe
Finish
02 / Highlights
What stays with you.
- 01
Two nights at Murchison Falls
- 02
Chimpanzees in Kibale
- 03
Two nights in Queen Elizabeth
- 04
Two nights at Bwindi
03 / Day by day
Travel it day by day.
12 days · driving times are approximate
Day 1
Arrival in Entebbe
Airport pick-up and transfer to your lodge near Lake Victoria.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Overnight
- Entebbe — Overnight at the lodge
Day 2 · Approx. 6–7 hours by road
Entebbe to Murchison Falls via Ziwa
Drive north to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided walk to see white rhinos, the only wild rhinos in Uganda, then continue to Murchison Falls National Park.
- Rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Murchison Falls — Overnight at the lodge
Day 3
Murchison Falls
A morning game drive on the northern bank of the Nile, looking for giraffe, elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob and lions. In the afternoon, a boat trip upstream towards the base of the falls, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge.
- Game drive
- Nile launch trip
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Murchison Falls — Overnight at the lodge
Day 4 · Long travel day · approx. 7–8 hours
Murchison Falls to Kibale
Visit the top of the falls, then drive south to Kibale.
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Kibale Forest — Overnight at the lodge
Day 5
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale
Morning chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park, which has one of the highest densities of primates in Africa. Rangers lead you to a habituated chimpanzee community; forest birds and other primates such as red colobus and L'Hoest's monkeys are often seen. Afternoon walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
- Chimpanzee trek (permit included where quoted)
- Optional Bigodi Wetland walk
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Kibale Forest — Overnight at the lodge
Day 6 · Approx. 2–3 hours by road
Kibale to Queen Elizabeth
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for an afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Queen Elizabeth — Overnight at the lodge
Day 7
Queen Elizabeth National Park
A morning game drive on the Kasenyi plains, looking for Uganda kob, buffalo, elephants and the lions that hunt them. In the afternoon, a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel between Lakes George and Edward brings you close to hippos, buffalo, crocodiles and abundant water birds.
- Kasenyi game drive
- Kazinga Channel boat trip
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Queen Elizabeth — Overnight at the lodge
Day 8 · Approx. 4–5 hours with game viewing
Ishasha to Bwindi
Drive south through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, known for lions that sometimes rest in fig trees, then continue into the hills to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Bwindi — Overnight at the lodge
Day 9
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
An early breakfast and briefing at the park headquarters, then set off with UWA rangers to track a habituated mountain gorilla family through Bwindi's steep rainforest. Once the group is found, you spend up to one hour with them — watching feeding, grooming and young gorillas at play. Return to the lodge in the afternoon; an optional community walk is possible if time allows.
- Gorilla trek (permit included where quoted)
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Bwindi — Overnight at the lodge
Day 10 · Approx. 5–6 hours by road
Bwindi to Lake Mburo
Drive to Lake Mburo National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Mburo — Overnight at the lodge
Day 11
Lake Mburo
Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip or guided walk.
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Mburo — Overnight at the lodge
Day 12 · Approx. 4–5 hours by road
Lake Mburo to Entebbe
Return to Entebbe for your flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch
- Overnight
- End of safari
04 / Where you stay
Comfortable lodges.
Where the itinerary says “overnight at the lodge”, we propose specific lodges with your quotation, based on your dates, preferences and availability.
- Entebbe1 night
Overnight at the lodge
- Murchison Falls2 nights
Overnight at the lodge
- Kibale Forest2 nights
Overnight at the lodge
- Queen Elizabeth2 nights
Overnight at the lodge
- Bwindi2 nights
Overnight at the lodge
- Lake Mburo2 nights
Overnight at the lodge
Quick planning facts
- Duration
- 12 days · 11 nights
- Countries
- Uganda
- Starts
- Entebbe
- Ends
- Entebbe
- Tier
- Midrange
- Format
- Private safari
- Accommodation
- Overnight at the lodge
- Best for
- Longer trips · Primate lovers
05 / What’s included
Clear from the start.
Included
- Arrival and departure transfers at Entebbe International Airport
- Transport in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Lodge accommodation as described in the itinerary
- Meals as listed day by day
- Park entry fees for the parks visited
- Activities listed as included in the itinerary
- Drinking water in the vehicle
- Ziwa rhino tracking
- Nile launch trip
- Kazinga Channel boat trip
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips and gratuities for guides and camp staff
- Alcoholic and soft drinks unless stated
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry and phone calls
- Optional activities not listed as included
- Uganda visa
- Porters on treks (hired locally)
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits unless quoted
06 / Pricing
Honest, complete pricing.
This safari is priced on request. Your quotation covers the complete 12-day package, with the inclusions and exclusions shown on this page.
Price on request
Pricing depends on your dates, group size and accommodation. We will send a clear quote for the complete package.
Optional extras (not included)
- Second gorilla trekAdditional permit required.
07 / Good to know
Questions, answered.
Important notes
- Gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), are limited in number and should be secured as early as possible. Permit fees are set by UWA and are confirmed in your quotation.
- Minimum ages set by UWA: 15 years for gorilla trekking and 12 years for chimpanzee trekking.
- Treks can last from about 2 to 8 hours through steep, muddy forest. Porters can be hired at the trailhead.
- Lodges are proposed with your quotation, based on your dates, budget and availability.
- Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Your guide will adapt the day to recent sightings, weather and road conditions.
- Driving times are approximate and depend on road conditions, stops and wildlife encountered along the way.
- Park and conservancy fees are set by the authorities and may change; any change is passed on at cost.
How much does this safari cost?
This 12-day safari is priced on request because rates depend on your dates, group size and accommodation. Send us your details and we will reply with a full quotation for the complete package.
Where does the safari start and finish?
It starts in Entebbe and finishes in Entebbe.
Is this a private or group-joining safari?
This itinerary is quoted as a private safari with your own vehicle and driver-guide.
What accommodation is used?
The itinerary shows where you stay each night. Lodges are proposed with your quotation, based on your dates, preferences and availability.
Can this itinerary be changed?
Yes. Dates, pace, accommodation level and the order of stops can usually be adjusted. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
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Ready to make this journey yours?
Tell us your dates, group size and travel style and our Nairobi team will tailor the safari.