12-Days Uganda Safari: Exploring Gorillas, Wildlife, and the Nile River

This 12-day Uganda safari is full of adventure, culture, and stunning scenery. You’ll track rhinos on foot, enjoy a boat ride on the Nile, and trek through the forest to see mountain gorillas in the wild. The journey takes you to Uganda’s top parks, including Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Jinja. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience Uganda’s rich wildlife and beautiful landscapes.

ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 1: Welcome to Entebbe, Uganda

When you land at Entebbe International Airport, a friendly Mond Safaris representative will meet you, help you with customs and baggage, and then take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is for relaxing and getting ready for your adventure.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Victoria Serena Hotel – Deluxe Double

Day 2 & 3: Ziwa Rhinos and Murchison Falls

Day 2:
After breakfast, drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a guided walking safari where you’ll track Uganda’s only wild rhinos. Continue to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and most famous park, home to lions, elephants, giraffes, and hippos. Arrive in the evening, check into your lodge, and enjoy dinner.

Day 3:
Start your day with a boat ride to the Nile Delta, a birdwatcher’s paradise with a chance to spot the rare shoebill stork. After a bush breakfast, head out for a game drive across the savannah to see elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and more. In the afternoon, enjoy a cruise along the Nile to the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the river squeezes through a narrow gorge. Look out for crocodiles, hippos, and other wildlife along the banks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge

Day 4 & 5: Murchison Falls and Kibale Forest

Day 4:
Visit the top of Murchison Falls for incredible views of the Nile crashing below. Later, take a short flight to Kibale Forest. Your guide will drive you through lush tea plantations to your lodge.

Day 5:
Spend the morning in Kibale Forest tracking chimpanzees. This special experience allows you to spend hours watching them in their natural habitat. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Swamp, a community project where you’ll spot more wildlife and learn about local traditions from a village healer.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Chimpundu Lodge

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park & Kazinga Channel Cruise

After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse reserves. On the way, visit a community project supporting local people. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, famous for its large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, and birds. You may also see elephants and buffalo on the shores.

Day 7: Lion Tracking and Game Drive

Join a morning lion tracking experience and learn how rangers monitor these big cats. Continue on a game drive through Queen Elizabeth, known for its tree-climbing lions. In the evening, relax with a sundowner as you watch the sun set over the savannah.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge – Deluxe Double

Day 8 & 9: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 8:
After breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its mountain gorillas. Along the way, enjoy views of rural villages and beautiful landscapes.

Day 9:
Wake up early and head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules. Then set off with guides into the forest to track the gorillas. The trek can take 2–6 hours, depending on where the gorillas are. Spend an unforgettable hour with them before returning to your lodge to relax.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Day 10: Fly to Entebbe and Drive to Jinja

After breakfast, fly from Kihihi Airstrip back to Entebbe, enjoying stunning views from above. From there, drive to Jinja, East Africa’s adventure capital. If time allows, visit the source of the Nile.

Day 11: Cruise to the Source of the Nile

Spend the morning relaxing at your lodge. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise to the source of the Nile, where the world’s longest river begins its journey north. Return to your lodge in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Wildwaters Lodge

Day 12: Departure

After breakfast, drive back to Entebbe. Stop for souvenir shopping if time allows before your transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your flight home. Your 12-day Uganda safari ends here with memories to last a lifetime.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch