12 Days Uganda safari Tour

12 Days Uganda Itinerary: A Guide to Planning your 12-Day Vacation in Uganda

Short on time and looking for a 12-Day Uganda itinerary that covers the highlights of this Pearl  country? You’ve come to the right place!

In the 12 days, you will be able to experience gorilla, chimpanzee trekking & Golden Monkey trekking at a comfortable pace as well as several game drives to see the Big Five and Rhinos. You will also be able to enjoy a walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park and Uganda’s natural wonders such as Murchison Falls, Kazinga Channel and Lake Bunyonyi.

With this Itinerary guide, we are going to dive into the 12 days Uganda safari tour itinerary and our goal is to provide you with everything you need to know, including day-to-day activity planning, accommodations options, best time to do it, tour inclusions and how to book this itinerary so that you can plan the safari vacation of a lifetime!

The 12 days Uganda safari Tour includes short and long drive journeys as you move through villages from one park to another allowing you to see the rural parts of Uganda with unique cultural experiences. The wildlife that you will encounter in different parks is simply wonderful.

While on this Uganda Safari journey, you will  explore Uganda’s major National  parks including Bwindi impenetrable forest national park- home to half of world’s mountain gorillas, Mgahinga National Park, Queen Elizabeth national park, kibale forest national park, Murchison falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. These include amazing landscapes such as rainforests, Virunga volcanoes and kigezi highlands, rift valley, crater lakes, savannah, River Nile and some much more that you will enjoy nature photography.

Wildlife encounters such as coming face to face with the mountain gorillas involves hiking through Bwindi rainforest and can be tiresome to those who older or not fit enough. However, you will have time relax to relax with stay at lodges on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, boat rides, swimming to make out the most of your safari.

How a 12 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary looks like in Summary:

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to your hotel in Entebbe

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park 

Day 3: Full Day Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national Park and Afternoon Boat Cruise

Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking and Village Walk

Day 9: Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 10: Boat Cruise and Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 11: Walking Safari and Transfer to Entebbe 

Day 12: Departure

A Detailed 12 Days Uganda safari Tour Itinerary to Inspire You!

Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe and transfer to Kampala

Welcome to Uganda the pearl of Africa. Your guide will pick you up and transfer to your hotel in Kampala/Entebbe where you can rest and get energy to begin your trip around Uganda. If you arrive early we recommend you to take a short tour of  Entebbe or take a half day Shoebill watching excursion at the nearby Mabamba swamp

Accommodation Option: Sunset Hotel Entebbe ( Budget) Papyrus Guest House ( Mid-range) Hotel Number 5 Entebbe ( Luxury) 

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 2 : Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

Depart Kampala city after breakfast with your guide taking you to Murchison falls national park, the largest conservation are in Uganda. Along the 5 hours journey there will be regular stops and you will visit Ziwa rhino sanctuary, home to 20 white rhinos on the way in Masindi. You will then take a guided Rhino tracking on foot with a ranger and have lunch. After lunch proceed into the park and before you check in your lodge, you take a hike to the top of Murchison waterfalls for beautiful scenic views of the Nile. Dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Option: Ikorom Safari Lodge ( Budget) Pakuba Safari Lodge ( Mid-range), Nile Safari Lodge ( Luxury) 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 : Game drive and Boat cruise -Murchison Falls National Park

At 06:30am after a cup of coffee, you will start the game drive with a ranger to explore wildlife of Murchison falls including herds of elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, lion, giraffes, hyena, topi. Arrive back to the lodge on time for full breakfast. After lunch you will head to Paara enjoy a 2 hours boat cruise on River Nile world’s longest river boasts high concentration of hippos, Nile crocodiles and a variety of water birds such as giant kingfishers, fish eagles.

Accommodation Option: Ikorom Safari Lodge ( Budget) Pakuba Safari Lodge ( Mid-range), Nile Safari Lodge ( Luxury) 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 : Transfer to Kibale forest National Park

Travel from Murchison to Kibale forest national park the primate capital of the world home to 13 species of primates including chimpanzees. Approximately 6-7 hours journey via scenic rift valley landscapes you will stop in Fort portal town for lunch. After lunch you will transfer to your accommodation in kibale for diner and overnight.

Accommodation Option: Bweza Kibale Lodge ( Budget) Tabebuia Safari Lodge ( Mid-range), Kibale Lodge/Mirima Kibale Lodge/Chimpundu Lodge ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 : Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk

After breakfast, chimpanzee tracking starts at 07:30am with briefing on chimps and their natural environment. At 08am begin hiking with guides for 2-5 hours chimp tracking experience. Spot other primates you may encounter including grey checked mangabay, red tailed monkey.

Get back for lunch at the lodge. Later in the afternoon, you will go for a nature walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary, an eco tourism destination managed by local people. Their conservation story while on the nature walk to spot birds, primates gives you a look into how people live in harmony with nature. You may opt to visit the local homesteads before you return for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Option: Bweza Kibale Lodge ( Budget) Tabebuia Safari Lodge ( Mid-range), Kibale Lodge/Mirima Kibale Lodge/Chimpundu Lodge ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 : Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

After breakfast, you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park for arriving in time for an afternoon boat cruise on kazinga channel which boasts over 5000 hippos. The boat cruise provides a sight of Nile crocodiles, elephants, and water birds. After the boat cruise you will check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Option: Enganzi Safari Lodge ( Budget) Aardvark Safari Lodge ( Mid-range), The Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge/ River-Station Lodge ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 : Game drive and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Have a cup of coffee at 06:30am take a game drive with a ranger to spot large mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, lion among antelopes like Uganda kob, topi. Return to the lodge in time for full breakfast. After breakfast, you take another game drive en route to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, a UNESCO world heritage site, stopping along the way in Ishasha wilderness to spot tree climbing lions you may encounter.

Renowned as home to half of world’s mountains gorillas, Bwindi is famous gorilla tracking destination. derived from the Lukiga word, “Bwindi” means a dark place, Bwindi rainforest has remained untouched since the last ice age 250, 000 million years ago. Dinner and overnight at the lodge of your choice.

Accommodation Option: Bweza Gorilla Lodge ( Budget) Four Gorillas Lodge ( Mid-range), A&K Gorilla Forest Lodge/Bwindi Lodge/Kiho Lodge/Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge  ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8 : Gorilla trekking and village walk

Have breakfast and head to the park center to attend briefing on gorilla rules. The walk to search for gorillas can be strenuous, so you are advised to hire a porter to assist carry your backpack. Depending on where gorillas are located, you will be able to see and take their photos for about 1 hour. If you are lucky you spot other primates, many species of birds and look at one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Return for lunch at the lodge, in the afternoon you may go for a village walk in the communities. Visit the women’s craft center and return for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Option: Bweza Gorilla Lodge ( Budget) Four Gorillas Lodge ( Mid-range), A&K Gorilla Forest Lodge/Bwindi Lodge/Kiho Lodge/Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge  ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9 : Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, you will transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park arriving in time for briefing and later golden monkey trekking which starts at 08am with a hike to the bamboo forest at 3000 meters altitude. You hope to see in the bamboo golden monkeys which are critically endangered primates. After the trekking, you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi arriving in time for lunch later dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Option: Milele Lodge ( Budget) Arcadia Lodge-Bunyonyi( Mid-range), Birds Nest Safari Lodge  ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10 : Transfer To Lake Mburo National Park and Afternoon Game Drive

After breakfast, you driver guide will drive you to Lake Mburo National Park arriving in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. A game drive in lake Mburo National Park will guarantee you herds of buffaloes, zebras, impalas, birds and so much more without driving so much. Retire to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Option: Hyena Hill Safari Lodge ( Budget) Rwakobo Rock Safari Lodge ( Mid-range), Mihingo Lodge ( Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11 : Morning Walking Safari and Transfer to Entebbe

After breakfast, you will be met by a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide who will take you through briefing and then for a safari walk on foot. This activity is suitable for those who would like to stretch their legs and view wildlife on foot. At the moment, it’s only in Lake Mburo where you can do safari on foot. You will get an opportunity to see what you could have seen on any game drive except that this time around you will do it on foot. Check out of the lodge and drive back to Kampala with lunch served en route.

Accommodation Option: Sunset Hotel Entebbe ( Budget) Papyrus Guest House ( Mid-range) Hotel Number 5 Entebbe ( Luxury) 

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 12 : Departure

Today you will wake up lazily and enjoy your breakfast at the lodge. Depending on the schedule of your flight, you might decide to do shopping for crafts in Entebbe town or transfer to the Airport marking the end of your trip. 

 End of 12 days Uganda safari 

How to get to Uganda

Frequently Asked Questions About This Itinerary

Is this Tour a Private or Group Package

This 12 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary is a private tour and it will be further tailored to your individual needs at the time of planning and booking. You can customize nearly every aspect of this itinerary including which spots you want to visit, the accommodation type you want between budget, mid-range and luxury, the number of people you want to travel with, when you want to start and end the trip and you will have a private vehicle and driver/guide throughout the trip.

Is Uganda safe to visit for solo travelers?

Uganda is a safe and friendly destination for solo travelers. People are respected in the country, and due to the strong security forces and lack of civil unrest, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a place to travel alone. In general, you are unlikely to experience any form of harassment while in Uganda – our guests have always felt very safe on their solo visit.

Is English widely spoken in Uganda?

English is the official language of Uganda. There are also more than 40 additional languages and dialects spoken throughout the country.

Do I Need a Visa to Visit Uganda For this tour?

Yes, you need a visa to Uganda and the country has a very easy online system for obtaining a tourist visa. Visit their website and apply; it costs US$50. You’ll need a copy of a passport photo, a return ticket and proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Print out the letter and bring it with you for immigration to finalize on arrival, along with your passport photo and vaccination records.

You cannot obtain a Uganda visa on arrival without prior approval, so make sure you plan in advance.

Health and vaccinations

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will need proof of yellow fever vaccination at immigration and its also required when obtaining visa for Uganda.

Uganda has some malaria areas, so ask your doctor whether you need to take medication. Full disclosure: I did not take any malaria medication on my trip to East Africa. But I lived in a malaria-risk country for four years, so I’m very aware of the risks and took steps to prevent bites during my time in Uganda. Pack plenty of repellent, sleep under mosquito nets (all hotels and lodges provide these) and cover up in the evening.

Uganda has some malaria areas, so ask your doctor whether you need to take medication and always take  steps to prevent bites during your time in Uganda. Pack plenty of repellent, sleep under mosquito nets (all hotels and lodges provide these) and cover up in the evening.

Always purchase travel insurance to ensure that all is ok in case of issues while on your Uganda trip

Please note that you should always pack a good first-aid kit with any medications that you might need during your travel. For example you may pack pain-relief medication, medication for tummy troubles, antiseptic cream, antibiotics and Band-Aids among others.

Our Final thoughts on This 12 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary

Uganda is a special country and a must-visit if you’re planning a trip to East Africa. The country is not as touristy as other East African countries but there’s still so much wildlife, natural wonders and warm hospitality to experience.