Safari Overview
This 12 Days Uganda Safari includes a visit to Kidepo valley national park, a remote but wildlife-rich destination in Northeastern Uganda with amazing cultural experiences. From the Northwestern circuit, continue towards the western circuit to explore destinations such as Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Overall, captivating experiences await you to enjoy on a complete 12-day Uganda Safari starting from Kampala.
The Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up & Transfer to Kampala –By Rivo Safaris Ltd
Day 2: Kampala-Sipi Falls, hike to the 3 waterfalls
Day 3: Coffee plantation tours & Transfer to Kidepo
Day 4: Full-day Kidepo game drive with late afternoon Karamojong community visit
Day 5: Kidepo to Murchison Falls by road
Day 6: Game drive & Boat cruise excursion
Day 7: Drive to Kibale with a professional driver from Rivo Safaris Ltd
Day 8: Chimp trek & Bigodi swamp walk
Day 9: Kibale –Queen Elizabeth Park for afternoon boat tour
Day 10: Game drives –Kasenyi & Ishasha; drive to Bwindi
Day 11: Gorilla trekking + a tour in the Batwa community
Day 12: Departure from Bwindi –by road
The Detailed Itinerary – 12 Days Uganda safari
Day 1: Pick up & Transfer to Kampala –by Rivo Safaris Ltd
Arrive at the Entebbe International Airport (EBB) for you to meet a driver guide from Rivo Safaris Ltd. He will pick you up and drive you safely up to the pre-booked accommodation property in Kampala. At the hotel facility, you will get briefed on your entire program, and after that, you will have a relaxed evening.
Accommodation Options
- Budget/Silver: Cassia Lodge
- Midrange: Latitude 0 Degrees
- Luxury: 4 Points by Sheraton/Protea Hotel (Kampala)
Day 2: Kampala-Sipi Falls, hike to the 3 waterfalls
After a hefty breakfast, meet your expert for pick up, and you set off for Sipi Falls in Eastern Uganda. Traverse through the Mukono-Jinja-Mbale route for about 5-6 hours, and you will be at Sipi Waterfalls. Arrive early, and you will engage in the hike to the magnificent triple waterfalls and later, continue to your lodges for dinner.
Accommodation Options
- Budget/Silver: Sipi Heritage Lodge
- Midrange: Rafiki Lodge Sipi/Mt. Mbale Hotel & Spa
- Luxury: Sipi Falls Lodge/Lacam Lodge
Day 3: Coffee plantation tours & Transfer to Kidepo
Enjoy a delicious breakfast in your lodges at the Sipi region, and after, embark on a guided community tour. You will be led by an experienced coffee farmer on a coffee tour. Visit some of the plantations, learn more about coffee growing and the entire process involved, including the final stages. After the short coffee tour, expect to connect to Kidepo National Park in the Northeastern Uganda.
Accommodation Options
- Silver/Budget: Apoka Rest Camp
- Midrange: Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Adere Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge
Day 4: Full-day Kidepo game drive with late afternoon Karamojong community visit
Go game drive early morning, navigating via the Narus Valley. Embark on a search for Kidepo’s abundant wildlife, ranging from cheetahs, lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and many antelopes. The game drives will be enjoyed in the morning and partially in the afternoon, and then you will continue to the Karamojong community.
Accommodation Options
- Silver/Budget: Apoka Rest Camp
- Midrange: Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Adere Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge
Day 5: Kidepo to Murchison Falls by road
After breakfast, hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park while enjoying the views of the breathtaking plains of the Karamoja region. Arrive early at Murchison Falls and check into the camp for relaxation.
Accommodation Options
- Budget: Heritage Lodge or Hornbill Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Pakuba Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge
Day 6: Game drive & Boat cruise excursion
Catch up with your early morning game drive and today, expect to explore myriad of savanna dwellers on the Northern circuit of Murchison National Park. They include oribis, Uganda Kobs, giraffes, warthogs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and many others. After the successful sunrise game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a short relaxation. In the afternoon, expect to enjoy a boat safari excursion on the Victoria Nile River while seeing crocodiles, hippos, and birds. Also, get to witness the stunning 43-m high Murchison waterfalls and later, return to have leisure time at the lodge.
Accommodation Options
- Budget: Heritage Lodge or Hornbill Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Pakuba Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge
Day 7: Drive to Kibale with a professional driver from Rivo Safaris Ltd
Enjoy the morning breakfast and after, embark on the 7-8 hours’ drive journey up to Kibale National Park. This park is found in Kabarole district, on the Fort Portal-Kamwenge route. It is where more than 13 primate species live in harmony living including 1500 chimpanzees.
Accommodation Options
- Budget/Silver: Rwenzori View Guesthouse/Isunga Lodge
- Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse Cottages/Primates Lodge Kibale
- Luxury: Kibale Lodge/Ndali Lodge
Day 8: Chimp trek & Bigodi swamp walk
After breakfast, report to the visitor centre (Kanyanchu) to clear with the authorities and also join the briefing session. Later, you will meet the ranger guide assigned to you for the actual trek to see chimpanzees. The Kibale chimpanzee trek will take you 2-4 hours through the jungle, and covers an hour for up close and personal interaction, then you return for lunch.
The Bigodi swamp walk will start in the afternoon and is expected to take 2 hours. The walk comes with interesting sightings of diverse primates, including red colobus monkeys, baboons, and birds like the Great blue turacos.
Accommodation Options
- Budget/Silver: Rwenzori View Guesthouse/Isunga Lodge
- Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse Cottages/Primates Lodge Kibale
- Luxury: Kibale Lodge/Ndali Lodge
Day 9: Kibale –Queen Elizabeth Park for afternoon boat tour
Have a hefty breakfast and after, leave for Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese with en route stopover at Kikorongo Equator monument for photography. Proceed to the park to check into your lodges and later, you will engage in the afternoon boat excursion. Get a chance to spot diverse aquatic species and later, return for dinner.
Accommodation Options
- Budget: Simba Tented Camp
- Midrange/Gold: Enganzi Game Lodge
- Luxury/Platinum: Elephant Plains Lodge/Mweya Lodge
Day 10: Game drives –Kasenyi & Ishasha; drive to Bwindi
Explore the northern circuit of Queen Elizabeth National Park on a guided game drive. Get to explore the diversity of savanna species, including cape buffaloes, elephants, lions, warthogs, and Uganda Kobs, etc. It will be an exciting 2-hour excursion, and you will return to have lunch, then continue to Ishasha for another short game drive session. From Ishasha, you will then proceed to Bwindi National Park, where you will spend a night as you wait for the gorilla trekking adventure the following day.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange/Gold: Silverback Lodge/Engagi Lodge
- Luxury/Platinum: Bwindi Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
Day 11: Gorilla trekking + a tour in the Batwa community
At around 6:30am, you will be expected to be present at the Buhoma region for briefing and allocation for gorilla groups and ranger guides. The park official will take you through the safety measures to be followed on a trek with the Buhoma mountain gorillas. The actual visit to the jungle to explore gorillas starts at around 8:00 am, and this is expected to last for 2-6 hours. The trek with gorillas includes one hour for observing these apes and taking pictures.
After the trek, you will have a certificate, and you will proceed to the lodge for relaxation/lunch. Late afternoon will include a visit to the Batwa community for you to learn more about the Batwa pygmies.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange/Gold: Silverback Lodge/Engagi Lodge
- Luxury/Platinum: Bwindi Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
Day 12: Departure from Bwindi –by road
Enjoy a hefty breakfast at leisure and today, marks the end of inspirational 12 Days Uganda safari. Return to Entebbe or Kampala through the Mbarara-Masaka route, 8-9 hours’ drive journey.
End of Safari
Inclusions
- Valid gorilla & chimp permits
- Boat tours
- Cultural experiences
- Game drives/wildlife safaris
- Park entrance fees
- Transportation & driver services from Rivo Safaris Ltd
- Accommodation services & meals
Exclusions
- Visas/crafts/tips
- Airfares/flight tickets
- Optional experiences
- Laundry services expenses
- Hiring porter services
- Cigarettes, etc.