12 Days Uganda Safari to Bwindi and Murchison

April 27, 2024

12 Days Uganda Safari to Bwindi, Murchison & Kibale

Tour Overview

This 12-day Uganda Safari to Bwindi and Murchison starts and ends in Kampala. It includes 1 gorilla permit of $800 per person in the final cost. The safari takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in western Uganda. This park has over 500 mountain gorillas making it half of the remaining mountain gorillas remaining in the whole world.

The safari also takes you to Murchison Falls National Park. The park is famous for its variety of wildlife, boat cruises, and other activities. The animal species in this park include; lions, elephants, bush bucks, antelopes, Kobs, birds, and many more. This tour also takes you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for the Kazinga channel and many animal species. These include the tree-climbing lions which you can find in the Ishasha sector of the park.

The other animal species you can find in this park include; the chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge. Also, you can find several bird species, elephants, Kobs, antelopes, etc. You will also get a chance to visit Kibale National Park which is famous for chimpanzee trekking. There are many other primate species in the park including the black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, galagos, and many more. This wildlife safari will also take you to Lake Mburo National Park. This is the smallest park in Uganda and is famous for the Zebras, the Giraffes, and many other animal species.

Detailed Itinerary of 12 Days Uganda Safari to Bwindi, Murchison, and Kibale

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel in Kampala or Entebbe and drive to Murchison Falls National Park. You’ll drive through Luwero town, and have a stopover at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Here, you will be able to track black and white Rhinos. The government established this sanctuary mainly to protect these rhinos from danger and poachers.

Have a stop in Masindi at any hotel for your lunch. After, continue to Murchison Falls National Park and hike to the top of the falls. This will give you beautiful views of these waterfalls. You will gaze at the Nile River which is the longest river in the world, forcing itself through a small gap. The gap is just 7m wide and it flows 43 meters down making it look very beautiful to the viewers.

Dinner and overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Parkside Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full-Board

Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Enjoy your breakfast at your hotel, and later proceed with the search for the wildlife species on a game drive. You will get a chance to view many species including; giraffes, lions, elephants, buffaloes, birds, and many more. The guide will take you back to the lodge to have your lunch. After lunch, relax for a few minutes and then embark on a boat cruise.

This boat will allow you to get close to the water animals which include hippos and Nile crocodiles. The Nile has many stunning bird species that you see on a boat trip. These include; the bee-eaters, colored kingfishers, shoebill stork, grey throated, and the yellow-billed birds.

Dinner and overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge/Parkside Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full-Board

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Transfer early from Murchison Falls National Park after breakfast. You’ll pass via the Lake Albert escarpments, which will give you good views of this beautiful lake.

Have a stopover in Hoima at any hotel to have your lunch. Then later, continue with a journey to Kibale. You will also pass through many traditional villages. This will allow you to see local people carrying out agriculture. Have a chance to take some photos of the rolling hills filled with traditional cash crops.

On arrival to the park, you will check in to your lodge and rest as you await chimpanzee trekking the following day.

Dinner and overnight: Primate Lodge/Turaco Treetops Lodge/Kibale Forest Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest & Bigodi wetland visit

Wake up so early and head to Kanyanchu by 8:00 am to start your chimpanzee trek in the Kibale forest. First, you will attend a briefing about your conduct once you meet the chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are the closest relatives of human beings since they share 98% of their DNA.

As you proceed with your search for these beautiful chimps, you will also view many other primates. These include the L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Black-and-White colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked Mangabey. Also, you may see pottos, bush babies, and many bird species. Bird species here include the little green bul, yellow-spotted nictor, romped tinker bird, crowned eagle, green-breasted pitta, and black bee-spotted eaters.

Immediately after the long trek, return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare to visit the Bigodi Wetland sanctuary. The community visit is a clear manifestation of how communities participate in conservation. Here, you will view more primates like the blue monkeys, baboons, otters, Bush bucks, mongooses, bush pigs, and many more

The place is also famous for many bird species like the great blue turaco, and it is the KAFRED emblem.

Dinner and overnight: Primate Lodge/Turaco Treetops Lodge/Kibale Forest Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park

On this day of the Uganda safari to Bwindi and Murchison, you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park is just 3 hours drive away from Kibale National Park. This national park is famous for a variety of wildlife species and primate species.

This national park also has volcanic calderas which harbor many flamingos on several seasons. On your arrival at the park, check-in and prepare to engage in a game drive within the park. You will spend the afternoon watching many wildlife species including the Kobs, elephants, lions, buffaloes, and many more. Get a chance to visit the baboon cliff which is famous for its beautiful scenery.

You will also enjoy much Savannah vegetation grassland which occupies most of this park.

Dinner and overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge/Engiri Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6: Game drive & afternoon boat cruise

Arise early enough and after breakfast, embark on a morning game drive. Here, you will see various animals like elephants, elands, antelopes, buffaloes, and lions, among others.

Later return to the lodge, relax, and have lunch. During the afternoon, set out for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. You’ll see various numbers of animals like crocodiles, hippos, waterbucks, and buffaloes. Also, you’ll see birds like storks, white egrets, and kingfishers among others.

Dinner and overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge/Engiri Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7: A nature walk within Maramagambo Forest & transfer to the Ishasha sector

On this day of the Uganda Safari to Bwindi and Murchison, Wake up so early and proceed for a walk through the Maramagambo forest. The forest is one of the second largest forests in Uganda. This forest is a habitat for several primates and many forest dwellers.

The forest harbors many wildlife species including; butterflies, birds, and bats. The chimpanzees are in Kyambura Gorge within the forest. This walk will also take you to the volcanic caves which are home to thousands of bat species. It is also home to the predator pythons which prey on the bats living within the cave.

Later in the afternoon after enjoying your lunch, you will proceed for an en-route game drive to the Ishasha sector.

Dinner and overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp/Ishasha Jungle Lodge/Topi Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Morning game drive and Departure for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early morning game drive, head to the Ishasha plains. You will be able to see the tree-climbing lions in the fig trees. Lions here climb trees because the trees provide shade from the scorching sun. Also, these lions climb trees to spot prey from a distance. After the game drive, embark on a journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is home to Mountain gorillas covering an area of 331 sq km. Have dinner and an overnight stay at your lodge.

Dinner and overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Rushaga Havens Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On this day you will have a great time meeting with the Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest! After a tasty breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the lodge. You will then go and attend a briefing at the park headquarters. Later, enjoy the fullness of the mist forest as trek to see the gentle giants and other jungle species.

Only 1 hour is permitted to you with the gorillas. The gorilla Trekking experience takes about 1 hour to 8 hours basing on the location of these gentle giants. After the trek, in the evening you could go for a guided nature walk or a community visit.

Dinner and overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Rushaga Havens Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

On this day, you’ll embark on a transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. The park is among Uganda’s smallest savannah national parks. It was upgraded as a national park in 1983 covering an area of 371 sq km and home to over 332 species. These species include buffaloes, Oribis, Kobs, warthogs, and zebras among others. Upon arrival you will check in at the lodge and, later head for a guided nature walk through the park. Have dinner and an overnight stay.

Dinner and overnight: Mihingo Lodge/Kigarama Wilderness Lodge/Mpogo Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 11: Game drive and an afternoon boat cruise

In the morning have breakfast at your lodge, thereafter set out for a game drive through the park. Your eyes will be fed with amazing sights and wildlife such as Impalas, Kobs, antelopes, also different bird species.

After, head back to your lodge for lunch in preparation for an unforgettable experience on the boat ride along the lake. Still, you’ll see a lot of animals like crocodiles, and hippos among others.

Dinner and overnight: Mihingo Lodge/Kigarama Wilderness Lodge/Mpogo Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 12: Departure to Entebbe to end the tour

On this day, you’ll have breakfast and transfer to Kampala to end the tour. en route, you’ll stop in Masaka for lunch. You’ll also stop at the Equator crossing in Kayambwe for an experiment. Then later proceed to the airport for your flight out.