12-Day Uganda National Parks Safari

Day-by-day itinerary

Route: Entebbe → Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary → Murchison Falls → Kibale → Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi → Lake Mburo → Entebbe

1. Day 1

   Entebbe to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

   You leave Entebbe after breakfast and head for Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, travelling north from Kampala on the Gulu highway. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into open savanna and wetland managed as a protected breeding sanctuary. Your guide works the area for southern white rhino, alongside antelope, birds and shoebill in the nearby swamp, with sightings varying by season and conditions. Ziwa is where rhino were reintroduced to Uganda, and tracking is done on foot with a ranger. This is a joining departure, so the safari vehicle is shared with other guests. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

2. Day 2

   Entebbe via Ziwa to Murchison Falls

   The day opens in Entebbe via Ziwa with a morning departure for Murchison Falls, travelling north through Ziwa and the Masindi road country. Once you reach Murchison Falls there is time to check in before heading out among open savanna, borassus palms and the Victoria Nile forcing through a narrow rock gorge. This is good country in which to look for elephant, giraffe, lion, hippo, crocodile and Uganda kob. 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. The evening is spent at your Murchison Falls accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

3. Day 3

   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. This is good country in which to look for 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 is served at your Kibale camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

4. Day 4

   Murchison Falls to Kibale

   The day opens in Murchison Falls with a morning departure for Kibale, crossing western Uganda's tea estates and crater-lake country. Arrival is followed by check-in and a first drive into 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 is served at your Kibale camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

5. Day 5

   Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi, travelling the winding roads of the south-western highlands through terraced farmland. Arrival is followed by check-in and a first drive into 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.

6. Day 6

   Kibale to Queen Elizabeth

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Kibale to 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. This is good country in which to look for elephant, buffalo, hippo, Uganda kob and, in the Ishasha sector, lions sometimes seen in fig trees. 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. The evening is spent at your Queen Elizabeth accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

7. Day 7

   Lake Mburo to Entebbe

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Lake Mburo to 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. Dinner is served at your Entebbe camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

8. Day 8

   Queen Elizabeth / Ishasha to Bwindi

   Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Queen Elizabeth / Ishasha to Bwindi, travelling the winding roads of the south-western highlands through terraced farmland. You arrive in time to settle in, and the day continues with a game drive across steep Afromontane rainforest ridges and valleys in south-western Uganda. Your guide works the area for mountain gorillas, forest elephant, many primate species and numerous Albertine Rift endemics, with sightings varying by season and conditions. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a permit-dependent activity, and a permit must be confirmed in advance for every trekker. The evening is spent at your Bwindi accommodation, with dinner and overnight there.

9. Day 9

   Full-Day Entebbe Safari

   Today is spent entirely in Entebbe, beginning with a game drive shortly after first light. The drives cover the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport, moving between habitats as conditions change. 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. The evening returns you to your Entebbe accommodation for dinner and overnight.

10. Day 10

    Bwindi to Lake Mburo

    Following an early breakfast, the day begins with the road transfer from Bwindi to Lake Mburo, travelling the Masaka road through Ankole cattle country. Once you reach Lake Mburo there is time to check in before heading out among acacia woodland, rocky ridges and a chain of small lakes in western Uganda. Wildlife commonly associated with this area includes zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, hippo and the shy sitatunga in swampy margins. Lake Mburo is one of the few Ugandan parks that also allows walking safaris and horseback rides alongside vehicle drives. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Lake Mburo.

11. Day 11

    Full-Day Entebbe Safari

    You have a complete day in Entebbe, starting early while the air is still cool and animals are active. The drives cover the lakeside town on the Lake Victoria shore that serves Uganda's international airport, moving between habitats as conditions change. Entebbe sits on a peninsula in Lake Victoria and is the standard entry and exit point for Ugandan itineraries. Dinner and overnight are again at your Entebbe camp or lodge.

12. Day 12

    Lake Mburo to Entebbe

    You leave Lake Mburo after breakfast and head for Entebbe, following the lakeshore road from Kampala. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through 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. The day ends with a drop-off in Nairobi at your hotel or the airport.