12-Day Uganda Honeymoon Safari

Day-by-day itinerary

Route: Entebbe → Murchison Falls → Kibale → Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi → Lake Bunyonyi → Entebbe

1. Day 1

   Entebbe to Murchison Falls

   After breakfast you leave Entebbe and travel on toward Murchison Falls, travelling north through Ziwa and the Masindi road country. You arrive in time to settle in, and the day continues with a game drive across open savanna, borassus palms and the Victoria Nile forcing through a narrow rock gorge. There is the possibility of seeing elephant, giraffe, lion, hippo, crocodile and Uganda kob, depending on movement and conditions on the day. At Murchison the Nile is squeezed through a gap only a few metres wide before dropping to the valley below, and a launch trip runs to the base of the falls. Your safari vehicle and guide are used by your party alone. The evening is spent at your Murchison Falls accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

2. Day 2

   Entebbe to Murchison Falls

   Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Entebbe bound for Murchison Falls, travelling north through Ziwa and the Masindi road country. You arrive in time to settle in, and the day continues with a game drive across open savanna, borassus palms and the Victoria Nile forcing through a narrow rock gorge. Look for elephant, giraffe, lion, hippo, crocodile and Uganda kob as the light softens through the afternoon. At Murchison the Nile is squeezed through a gap only a few metres wide before dropping to the valley below, and a launch trip runs to the base of the falls. Dinner is served at your Murchison Falls camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

3. Day 3

   Kibale to Queen Elizabeth

   Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Kibale bound for Queen Elizabeth, crossing the equator and descending into the western Rift Valley. You arrive in time to settle in, and the day continues with a game drive across savanna, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George. Your guide works the area for elephant, buffalo, hippo, Uganda kob and, in the Ishasha sector, lions sometimes seen in fig trees, with sightings varying by season and conditions. A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel gives close views of hippo pods, buffalo and one of the densest concentrations of water birds in the region. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Queen Elizabeth.

4. Day 4

   Murchison Falls to Kibale

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Murchison Falls to Kibale, crossing western Uganda's tea estates and crater-lake country. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through moist tropical forest running along the Albertine Rift, one of Africa's richest primate habitats. Wildlife commonly associated with this area includes chimpanzees, red colobus, L'Hoest's monkey and a long list of forest birds. Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale is a permit-dependent activity arranged through the park authority, and places must be confirmed in advance. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Kibale.

5. Day 5

   Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi

   The morning starts in Bwindi, from where you continue overland to Lake Bunyonyi. You arrive at Lake Bunyonyi, check in and have time to settle before the next stage of the journey. Your guide sets the pace, allowing time for photographs where the country opens up. Dinner is served at your Lake Bunyonyi camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

6. Day 6

   Kibale to Queen Elizabeth

   Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Kibale bound for Queen Elizabeth, crossing the equator and descending into the western Rift Valley. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into savanna, crater lakes and the Kazinga Channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George. There is the possibility of seeing elephant, buffalo, hippo, Uganda kob and, in the Ishasha sector, lions sometimes seen in fig trees, depending on movement and conditions on the day. A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel gives close views of hippo pods, buffalo and one of the densest concentrations of water birds in the region. Dinner is served at your Queen Elizabeth camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

7. Day 7

   Full-Day Entebbe Safari

   You have a complete day in Entebbe, starting early while the air is still cool and animals are active. You travel through the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport, working the areas your guide judges most productive on the day. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. You return to your camp or lodge for dinner and a second night at Entebbe.

8. Day 8

   Queen Elizabeth / Ishasha to Bwindi

   The morning starts in Queen Elizabeth / Ishasha, from where you continue overland to Bwindi, travelling the winding roads of the south-western highlands through terraced farmland. Once you reach Bwindi there is time to check in before heading out among steep Afromontane rainforest ridges and valleys in south-western Uganda. This is good country in which to look for mountain gorillas, forest elephant, many primate species and numerous Albertine Rift endemics. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a permit-dependent activity, and a permit must be confirmed in advance for every trekker. Dinner is served at your Bwindi camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

9. Day 9

   Full-Day Entebbe Safari

   You spend the day in Entebbe, heading out early and returning as the light goes. You travel through the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport, working the areas your guide judges most productive on the day. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. You return to your camp or lodge for dinner and a second night at Entebbe.

10. Day 10

    Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi

    The morning starts in Bwindi, from where you continue overland to Lake Bunyonyi. You arrive at Lake Bunyonyi, check in and have time to settle before the next stage of the journey. Expect a straightforward road journey, with the exact timing depending on conditions. The evening is spent at your Lake Bunyonyi accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

11. Day 11

    Full-Day Entebbe Safari

    You spend the day in Entebbe, heading out early and returning as the light goes. Much of the day is spent among the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. Depending on the plan for the day, lunch is served at camp or packed to eat in the field. You return to your camp or lodge for dinner and a second night at Entebbe.

12. Day 12

    Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe

    Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Lake Bunyonyi bound for Entebbe, following the lakeshore road from Kampala. Once you reach Entebbe there is time to check in before heading out among the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. You are dropped at your Nairobi hotel or the airport in the late afternoon.