12 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari
The 12 days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari experience features visiting Jinja town for interesting water experiences such as white water rafting and the Source of the Nile tour, then Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Semliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Lake Bunyonyi.
Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northwest of Uganda, offering the best experience of the Big Five game. Even though the rhinos cannot be found in any of the savannah national parks, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was put in place to reintroduce the experience of rhinos in Uganda after they were all killed during the reign of President Amin Dada.
Murchison Falls National Park is divided by the River Nile, which flows through a narrow gorge, causing a lot of force as the waters flow through the narrow gorge, thus creating the most powerful falls in Africa—the Murchison Falls.
Kibale National Park is Africa’s best chimpanzee trekking destination, with guaranteed views of the chimpanzees and 12 other primates in the park. It is also a home to 138 species of birds, 250 tree species and 60 species of forest wildlife, including forest elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs and buffaloes.
Semiliki National Park and Reserve is located in the Bundibugyo district near Fort Portal town, adjacent to the Congo’s Ituri rainforest. The park is home to Uganda’s largest Sempaya hot springs, about 53 mammal species, and over 400 bird species, making it one of the top birding destinations in Africa and earning the title of “True Birders’ Haven.”
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the western part of Uganda, offering the great experience of different antelope species. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the tree-climbing lions in Uganda.
The park is occupied by 2 great lakes—Lake Edward and Lake George—which meet at a channel commonly known as the Kazinga Channel. Queen Elizabeth National Park has plenty of animals and other experiences to be enjoyed while on your stay in Uganda ranging from wildlife, culture, and boat cruises to nature walks for bird watching and chimpanzee trekking.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Uganda’s oldest national parks, with a diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and containing about 400 plant species.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and is divided into four sectors: the Buhoma sector, which is the oldest trekking sector; the Rushaga sector, which has the largest number of gorilla families; the Ruhija sector; and finally, the Nkuringo sector.
Your 12-day safari will end with a place to relax and chill after gorilla trekking before going back home; Lake Bunyonyi is the best place because of its cool weather and the freshness of the breeze.
Safari highlights of the 12 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari
- Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kampala City
- Day 2: White water rafting in Jinja and source of the Nile visit
- Day 3: Transfer to Murchison falls national park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 4: Game drive and launch cruise and hike to the top of the falls
- Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
- Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland Visit
- Day 7: Visit the hot springs in Semiliki national park and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 8: Lion tracking/game drive and Boat cruise
- Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 10: Gorilla trekking experience.
- Day 11: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 12: Return to Kampala/Departure
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kampala – City Tour
Upon arrival at Entebbe Airport in the morning, meet and greet your safari guide and transfer to Kampala. Proceed to first check in at your hotel; thereafter, connect for a Kampala city tour. Time available will determine the places to visit, such as the Bahai temple, Uganda Monument, craft market, and Nakasero market. In case there is an event at the Ndere Cultural Center, wind up your day with Ugandan cultural entertainment. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Shereton Kampala Hotel for luxury/Fairway Hotel for Mid-range/Forest Cottages for a budget option
Day 2: White water rafting in Jinja and source of the Nile visit
Wake up quite early, have breakfast and drive to Jinja city; it’s a 2-3 hour drive from Kampala. Upon arrival, connect for your half-day rafting experience. Have lunch in Jinja town while exploring the town, visit the source of the River Nile, and then drive back to Kampala. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel as above
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison falls national park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up by your driver, who will drive you to Murchison Falls National Park, en route to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a 3-hour drive from Kampala for Rhino trekking experience.
After the activity you will have lunch and then connect to Murchison Falls National Park, entering through the Kichumbanyobo gate from Masindi town. Arrive in the park in the evening and connect to your lodge to rest. Dinner and overnight stay Pakuba Safari lodge for mid-range/Paraa Safari lodge for luxury on a full-board basis.
Day 4: Game drive and launch cruise and hike to the top of the falls
Early morning breakfast and then go for a morning game drive at the delta where you may spot various animal species like elephants, giraffes, lions, and Uganda kobs, among others. Return and have lunch; then at 2 pm, you will go for a launch cruise at the bottom of the Murchison Falls along the River Nile, enjoying streaming views of hippos and serried ranges of crocodiles along the sandbanks, as well as large numbers of different species getting down to drink & bathe.
After the boat cruise at the bottom of the falls, you will hike up to the top of the falls where you will be picked up by your driver to return to your lodge. Dinner and an overnight stay at lodge as the above
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Have breakfast and embark on your whole-day drive to Kibale National Park—the best safari destination in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Arrive in the park late evening and connect to your lodge.
Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Guesthouse for mid-range/Kyaninga lodge for luxury on full board basis
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland Visit
After breakfast, you will go for chimpanzee trekking with your packed food and water. Meet your guide at the head office, then enter the rainforest to start searching for the chimpanzees; this will take 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees. On seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures.
After tracking, you will refresh at the lodge, then go for a 2-3 hour nature walk, then proceed to transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is a 3-hour drive from the Fort Portal. Dinner and overnight at Parkview Safari lodge for mid-range/Kyambura Gorge lodge for luxury
Day 7: Visit the hot springs in Semiliki National Park and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Wake up quite early, have breakfast and check out of the lodge to transfer to Semuliki National Park and visit Sempaya hot springs, which are the main attractions of Semuliki National Park. These hot springs are the largest in Uganda, divided into female and male.
However, they both have a geyser that shoots up from 8-meter holes with a high temperature of up to 100 degrees Celsius. The strength and hotness of the springs are amazing, as one can boil eggs and in a few minutes, they are ready to eat.
The community around the park also visits the springs to perform rituals based on their beliefs. Connect to Fort Portal town for en route lunch as you connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s a 3-hour drive with en route views of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Upon arrival, connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge for luxury/Parkview Safari Lodge for mid-range, or Pumba Safari Cottages for budget option
Day 8: Lion tracking/game drive and Boat cruise
After early morning breakfast, go for a lion tracking experience where you are guaranteed to view the lions and enjoy an en route game drive in the Kisenyi area, where you will spot a good number of animals, including elephants, buffalos, and all species of antelopes.
After enjoying your lunch at the lodge, go for your boat trip along the Kazinga Channel for yet another wildlife/birdwatching experience as you cruise on Lake Edward/George. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast, drive out of the park to connect to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (home of Uganda’s mountain gorillas). Your accommodation will depend on your gorilla trekking sector, driving via Ishasha sector for chances for spotting the tree-climbing lions.
Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla lodge/Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range or Mahogany Springs Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Nkuringo Gorilla lodge for luxury
Day 10: Gorilla trekking experience.
Wake up early, have breakfast, and connect to the forest with your packed food and water. The briefing from the park warden about the gorillas starts at 8 am, where you will be guided on highlights about the way of life of the gorillas you will be tracking.
The hike can take anything from 2 to 8 hours. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away. Return to the lodge to unwind and have dinner and an overnight stay as above.
Day 11: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
Wake up for breakfast, meet your guide and connect to Lake Bunyonyi, which is a 2-3 hours’ drive from Bwindi Forest, for a boat experience on Lake Bunyonyi and visit some of the interesting islands on the lake.
Return to the lodge for lunch, then spend your afternoon either enjoying a nature walk in the area with the community or relaxing at the lodge, reflecting on the great memories of your safari.
Before nightfall, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Bunyonyi BirdNest lodge for luxury option/Bunyonyi Eco-Resort/Bunyonyi Arcadia Cottages for a mid-range option/Bunyonyi Overland Resort for budget option
Day 12: Return to Kampala/Departure
After breakfast at the lodge, proceed back to Kampala with en route lunch in Mbarara town and the Equator. Arrive in Kampala/Entebbe late afternoon and connect to the airport to drop the flight back.
End of the 12-Day Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari
