Signature Safari

12 Day best Uganda safari tour of wildlife, Gorillas and chimpanzee

The Experience

This 12-day trip takes you through Uganda's best wildlife and primate habitats. You start in Jinja with rafting on the Nile and visiting the river's source. You move east to Sipi Falls for hiking or a coffee tour with local farmers. The route then goes north to remote Kidepo National Park for game drives, a village visit, and a night drive. You travel west to Murchison Falls, where you see the powerful waterfall from the top and take a boat to its base. The tour continues south to Kibale Forest for chimpanzee trekking and community activities. You pass through Queen Elizabeth Park for game drives and a channel cruise, then go to Bwindi for gorilla trekking and a Batwa community visit. Lake Bunyonyi offers a rest stop before you head to Lake Mburo for a boat ride and walking safari. The final day includes a morning game drive and the drive back to Entebbe Airport.

Duration12Days/11Night

Price00

DestinationsUganda

Ideal ForCouples, Wildlife Fans

Overview

The Journey

Day by Day

Day01

Day 1: Arrival, Transfer to Jinja, Source of the Nile and Water Rafting

After you land at Entebbe Airport, your driver guides you east to Jinja, about a 2-3 hour drive. Jinja sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, and the main activity is visiting the exact spot where the White Nile River begins. A local guide walks you to the monument at the river's source, explaining the history and geology of the area. After lunch, you get ready for the water rafting session on the Nile. The river has several grade 3 to 5 rapids, and you spend about 3 hours on the water with trained safety guides. The rafting company provides helmets, life jackets, and a safety briefing. This day suits travelers who want a mix of history and physical activity before the main safari begins. You return to your Jinja lodge for dinner and an overnight rest.

AccommodationLodge in Jinja

Day02

Day 2: Proceed to Sipi Falls, Hike with Culture or Coffee Tour

Morning departure from Jinja takes you east to Sipi Falls, a collection of three waterfalls on the slopes of Mount Elgon. The drive lasts about 4 hours through changing landscapes of farmland and hills. Upon arrival, you have two options. The first is a 3-hour guided hike to the base and top of the main falls. The guides show you the caves behind the water and explain how local communities use the river. The second option is a coffee tour, where you pick ripe cherries, process them manually, roast the beans over a fire, and taste the final drink. Both activities include interaction with the Sabiny people, who tell you about their daily routines and farming methods. The cooler altitude here offers a break from the heat of Jinja

AccommodationLodge near sipi

Day03

Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo National Park

This is a long travel day, covering roughly 400 kilometers northeast to Kidepo National Park. The drive takes 7 to 8 hours, with stops for lunch and rest along the way. You pass through the towns of Soroti and Moroto, where the landscape changes from green farmland to drier, semi-arid savannah. Kidepo lies in the remote Karamoja region, near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya. The park headquarters at Apoka is where you check in. This area has a different feel from other Ugandan parks—more open, wild, and less visited. The road conditions include paved sections early on, but you switch to dirt roads in the final 2 hours. Carry water and snacks in the vehicle because service stops are limited. You arrive in the late afternoon, settle into your accommodation, and rest for the next day's activities

AccommodationLodge in Kidepo national park

Day04

Day 4: Game Drives, Nature Walks, Culture, and Night Game Drive

Wake up early for a morning game drive on the Narus Valley tracks, which follow the main water sources. Kidepo is home to animals you do not see elsewhere in Uganda, such as cheetahs, ostriches, and bat-eared foxes. The guides use radios to share information about recent animal movements, so you have a good chance of spotting elephants, buffaloes, and giraffes. After breakfast, you take a guided nature walk along the riverine areas. The ranger points out medicinal plants, animal tracks, and bird species. In the afternoon, visit a local Karamojong village. The elders explain their cattle-keeping traditions and show you the manyatta (homestead) structures. After dinner, you go out with a spotlight for a night game drive. This gives you the chance to see bushbabies, genets, and maybe a leopard hunting.

AccommodationLodge in Kidepo national park

Day05

Day 5: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and Evening Game Drive

You leave Kidepo early in the morning and drive southwest to Murchison Falls National Park. This journey covers about 350 kilometers and takes roughly 6 hours, passing through the towns of Kitgum and Gulu. The road is paved in some sections, but parts remain gravel, so prepare for a bumpy ride. You check into your lodge near the park's southern entrance. In the late afternoon, go for a short game drive on the Buligi circuit, which runs between the Nile River and the Albert Nile delta. This area holds large numbers of Uganda kob, hartebeest, waterbuck, and elephants. You also spot giraffes and hippos grazing on the riverbanks during the cooler evening hours. The drive lasts about 2 hours, and you return to the lodge before dark

AccommodationLodge in Murchison Falls

Day06

Day 6: Game Drives, Top of the Falls, and Boat Safari

Start with a morning game drive on the northern bank of the Nile, where the open savannah supports herds of buffaloes and elephants. You also search for lions resting under acacia trees. After the drive, drive to the Top of the Falls viewpoint. A short walk leads to the edge where the entire Nile River forces itself through a 7-meter-wide gorge, dropping 43 meters below. The water spray and noise are powerful. In the afternoon, you board a 3-hour boat cruise upstream from the Paraa jetty. The boat takes you to the base of the falls, passing by crocodiles, hippos, and many waterbirds along the riverbanks. You stop at safe viewing points to take pictures of the cascading water. Returning downstream, you watch the sunset over the river.

AccommodationLodge in Murchison Falls

Day07

Day 7: Transfer to Kibale National Park, Crater Lakes, and Community Engagement

Drive south from Murchison to Fort Portal, a trip of about 6 hours covering 300 kilometers. You pass through the towns of Masindi and Hoima, then enter the lush agricultural area around the Rwenzori Mountains. After checking in at your Kibale accommodation, you go for a crater lake tour. The area contains more than 50 volcanic crater lakes, and your guide takes you to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Nyinambuga and Lake Nkuruba. You walk along the crater rims and see local farmers growing tea and bananas. In the afternoon, you visit a nearby community group. The members demonstrate how they make crafts, roast coffee, and prepare local meals. You can join in and ask questions about their livelihood. This experience shows you the human side of the region, outside the forest boundaries.

AccommodationLodge Near Kibale

Day08

Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking and Afternoon Boat in Queen Elizabeth Park

Morning starts early at the Kibale Forest visitor center, where you get a briefing from the rangers. You walk into the forest in a small group, following the calls and trails of chimpanzees. The trek lasts 2 to 4 hours, depending on where the chimps nested the night before. Once you locate them, you watch them feed, groom, and move through the tree branches. The guides also point out other monkeys like red colobus and black-and-white colobus. After lunch, you drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and take a 2-hour afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This waterway connects Lake George and Lake Edward and holds large numbers of hippos and Nile crocodiles. Elephants and buffaloes come to the shore to drink, while many bird species rest on the banks

AccommodationLodge in Queen Elizabeth National park

Day09

Day 9: Game Drives and Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha

Take a morning game drive through the Kasenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth Park. This open grassland area is good for seeing lions, hyenas, and leopard, in addition to large herds of Uganda kob. The guides know the routes with the most recent predator activity. After the drive, you head south toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, passing through the Ishasha sector. Ishasha is known for its tree-climbing lions, which often rest in the branches of fig trees during the hot hours. You stop to look for them along the main road. From Ishasha, you continue into the highlands of Bwindi. The terrain becomes steep and winding, so the final 2 hours of driving are slower. You reach your lodge near the park boundary in the late afternoon, settle in, and prepare for the next day's gorilla trek.

AccommodationLodge Near Bwindi

Day10

Day 10: Gorilla Trekking with Batwa and Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, report to the Bwindi park office for a ranger briefing. The rangers divide you into groups of 8 and assign a specific gorilla family based on your fitness level. The trek into the thick forest can take between 2 and 6 hours. You walk on muddy trails, cut through vegetation, and climb up and down hills. Once you find the gorillas, you stay with them for one hour, watching them feed, rest, and play. Keep a safe distance and follow the ranger's instructions. In the afternoon, you meet the Batwa (Pygmy) community who lived in the forest before the park was established. They explain their traditional hunting methods and forest-based lifestyle. Afterward, you drive to Lake Bunyonyi, a 20-minute trip, and check into a lodge next to the lake

AccommodationLodge at Lakebunyo

Day11

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, Boat Safari, and Walking Safari

Drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo, a 4-hour journey through the towns of Kabale and Mbarara. The terrain changes from hills to acacia woodland as you approach the park. Check in at your lodge near the lake. In the afternoon, take a boat safari on Lake Mburo itself. The lake supports large numbers of hippos and crocodiles, and you also see waterbirds like African fish eagles and kingfishers. After the boat ride, a park ranger leads you on a guided walking safari along the lake shore. Walking is a different way to see the park because you notice smaller details like tracks, dung, and insects. You walk for about 2 hours, staying within safe areas, while the ranger explains the ecological balance between the animals and the vegetation

AccommodationLodge near Lake Mburo

Day12

Day 12: Early Game Drive and Return to Entebbe Airport

Wake up before sunrise for a final game drive through Lake Mburo National Park. The early morning is the best time to see zebras, impalas, elands, and topis moving across the open grassy areas. You also look for the bushbucks and duikers that hide in the thicker bush. The guide drives along the park tracks for about 3 hours, giving you enough time to enjoy the quiet morning. After the drive, return to your lodge for breakfast and pack your luggage. The drive back to Entebbe takes 4 to 5 hours, covering about 260 kilometers, with a stop in Masaka town for lunch. You arrive at Entebbe Airport in the afternoon. Leave enough time for check-in and security procedures before your departure flight.

What's Included

Gorilla permit ($800 per person)

Chimpanzee trekking permits

Airport transfers on Day 1 and Day 12

Ground transportation in a 4x4 safari vehicle

English-speaking professional driver-guide

Accommodation

Meals as specified (full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Bottled drinking water in the vehicle

Lake Bunyonyi canoe ride or swimming experience

All relevant government taxes and fees

Not Included

International flights to/from Entebbe

Uganda on Arrival

Travel insurance (medical and evacuation coverage mandatory)

Domestic flight

Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and lodge staff

Alcoholic and soft drinks

Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, phone calls)

Optional activities not listed in the itinerary

Any meals not explicitly stated as included

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