The 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari offers an immersive journey through the breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity of Uganda, famously known as the “Pearl of Africa.” This carefully crafted experience showcases the country’s rolling savannah plains, lush tropical forests, and diverse ecosystems, home to an incredible variety of wildlife in their natural habitat.
During this safari, you will encounter iconic species such as African elephants, Cape buffaloes, rhinos, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, jackals, civet cats, and elusive sitatungas. Uganda is also a bird lover’s paradise, with remarkable sightings including the grey crowned crane, shoebill stork, marabou stork, black-headed lapwing, and a variety of colorful weaver birds. In addition, the country boasts rich primate diversity, offering opportunities to see chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys, among others.
Your journey begins with a scenic drive to Murchison Falls National Park, with an exciting stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for on-foot rhino tracking. You will then continue to Kibale Forest National Park for an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience. The safari proceeds to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will search for the famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. From here, you will journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for the highlight of the trip—tracking the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural forest environment.
After this life-changing experience, you will unwind at Lake Bunyonyi, one of the most beautiful and tranquil lakes in Africa. The adventure continues to Lake Mburo National Park, where you will enjoy more unique wildlife encounters before concluding your safari.
Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport – Drive to your Hotel
Day 1 of the 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari begins with a warm pick-up from Entebbe International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by our professional driver-guide from Magic African Safaris, who will greet you, give you a brief introduction to the safari, and provide all necessary travel information. Thereafter, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in, rest, and relaxation after your journey, preparing you for the exciting adventure ahead.
Location: Kampala
Accommodations
Silver: Latitude 0 Degrees
Gold: Latitude 0 Degrees
Platinum: Latitude 0 Degrees
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Upon waking up on Day 2 of the 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari, you will enjoy a hearty and delicious breakfast at your hotel before setting off for Murchison Falls National Park. En route, you will make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, located along the Gulu Highway, for an exciting rhino trekking experience. Ziwa is the only place in Uganda where you can observe the endangered white rhinos in their natural habitat. While there, you may also spot several other wildlife species such as bushbucks, Uganda kobs, oribis, and waterbucks, as well as a variety of bird species including the Grey Crowned Crane, Shoebill, African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Marabou Stork, Red-billed Oxpeckers, African Grey Hornbill, and White Egret, among others. After the tracking experience, you will return for a special lunch and then continue to Murchison Falls National Park for dinner and an overnight stay.
Location: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Gold: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Platinum: Paraa Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 3: Murchison falls National Park – Morning Game drive – Launch Cruise – Hike to Top of the falls – Evening to Night Game drive
Location: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Gold: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Platinum: Paraa Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 4: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park – Bigodi Wetland and Community Visit
After your heavy morning breakfast on day 4 of your 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari, you will drive to Kibale National park which is located in Western region of Uganda in Kabarole district. This drive will take about 5 hours and it will offer you magnificent scenic views of Uganda’s landscape as you drive to the park. Enroute to your destination, you will have a lunch stopover in Fort Portal Tourism City and then you will proceed to the park’s Bigodi wetland for a swamp walk and during this walk you will spot some butterfly species and birds like the Black-crowned Waxbill, White-spotted Fluff tail, White-breasted Negrofinch, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black Bishop, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Black & white Shrike-flycatcher, Western Nicator, Superb Sunbird, among others. You will then proceed for a community walk where you will see and taste the Gins brewed from bananas, craft making, coffee processing, and then you will return back to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight.
Location: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Gold: Turraco Treetops
Platinum: Chimpundu Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 5: Kibale National park – Chimpanzee Trekking – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5 of the 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari starts with an early breakfast before heading for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. You are advised to wear comfortable trekking gear including long-sleeved shirts, khaki or jeans, a hat, waterproof boots, and a warm sweater, and carry water and snacks as the trek may take 1–5 hours.
After a briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, you will be allocated a ranger and begin your forest trek in search of chimpanzees. Along the way, you may encounter primates such as colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, mangabeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and galagos, as well as birds like the blue-headed sunbird, grey parrot, and blue-breasted kingfisher, plus forest wildlife including elephants and buffaloes.
Upon finding the chimpanzees, you will spend one hour observing their behavior in the wild. Later, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (about 3 hours’ drive), arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Gold: Buffalo Safari Lodge
Platinum: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Experiential Lion and Leopard Tracking – Launch Cruise – Crater Lake Exploration
Day 6 of the 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari begins with an early breakfast followed by an experiential lion and leopard tracking adventure in the Kasenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, you will drive off-road while searching for lions and leopards and learn about their behavior, population, and lifestyle. After the activity, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, offering incredible views of hippos, elephants, Nile crocodiles, and rich birdlife including African fish eagles, storks, kingfishers, bee-eaters, and skimmers among others.
Later, proceed for a crater lakes exploration at Katwe Explosion Craters, where you will enjoy scenic views of the Rift Valley and spot wildlife such as buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, antelopes, and flamingos at Lake Munyanyange. You will also visit the salt mining area at Lake Katwe and learn about traditional salt extraction before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Gold: Buffalo Safari Lodge
Platinum: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 7: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park through Ishasha sector
Day 7 of your 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari will start with an early morning breakfast. And then you will check out of your accommodation to proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Which is located south of Queen Elizabeth National Park and it will take about 5 hours to reach the Northern sector of Buhoma. During your journey out of Queen Elizabeth, you will drive through Ishasha sector. To search for the tree climbing lions and other wildlife like Topis, Aardvark, lions, elephants, monkeys, Uganda kob, Hippos, leopards, water buck among others. Which are found in this sector of the park and then have a lunch stopover in Kihihi. And proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for dinner and an overnight.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Agandi Lodge
Gold: Buhoma Lodge
Platinum: Buhoma Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park – Gorilla Trekking – Batwa Community Encounter
Day 8 of the 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari begins with an early breakfast accompanied by the sounds of birds in the forest. You are advised to wear comfortable trekking gear such as long-sleeved shirts, khaki or jeans, a hat, and waterproof hiking boots, and carry water and snacks for energy during the trek.
After breakfast, you will proceed to the park headquarters in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules and regulations. You will then be assigned a park ranger and a specific gorilla family before starting your trek, which may take 1 to 7 hours depending on their location.
Along the way, you may encounter primates such as colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and grey mangabeys, as well as birds, forest elephants, and antelopes. Once you locate the gorillas, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them as they feed, play, and interact in their natural habitat while learning about their behavior from your guide. After the trek, you will return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Batwa community, the original forest inhabitants of Bwindi, where you will learn about their traditional way of life, hunting techniques, cultural dances, songs, and ancient stories. You will later return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Agandi Lodge
Gold: Buhoma Lodge
Platinum: Buhoma Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 9: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi
Upon waking on day 9 of your 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari, you will have a heavy delicious breakfast. Specifically made for you and then you will drive to Lake Bunyonyi which is a 3 hours’ drive from Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park. Lake Bunyonyi is located in the extreme border between Uganda and Rwanda. And it is known for offering a great rest and relaxation to travelers due to its beautiful and breathtaking views. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda having 29 different Islands. A fresh climate to relax from and also a clear view of the Virunga Mountains. Upon reaching you will spend the whole day relaxing and enjoying the beautiful views of the lake.
Location: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort
Gold: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort
Platinum: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi – Relaxation at Leisure
Your day 10 of the 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari will have fun-filled activities which will rejuvenate your body after a long safari. Among the activities you will engage in include swimming, Canoeing, Cycling, Birding and Community visits depending on your preferences. Spend the rest of the day at your convenience.
Location: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort
Gold: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort
Platinum: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 11: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park – Evening to Night Game drive
Day 11 of the 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari begins with breakfast before transferring to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival, you will check in and enjoy a hearty lunch at your lodge.
The afternoon is spent relaxing at the lodge as you prepare for an exciting evening activity. Later, you will head out for a night game drive accompanied by an armed ranger and spotlight torches to help spot nocturnal wildlife. During the drive, you may encounter animals such as hyenas, porcupines, bush pigs, honey badgers, white-tailed mongooses, jackals, serval cats, civets, galagos, and even leopards. You may also spot hippos grazing on the short grass after leaving the water. After this unique night wildlife experience, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Location: Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation Options:
Silver: Rwakobo Rock
Gold: Rwakobo Rock
Platinum: Mihingo Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 12: Lake Mburo National Park – Nature walk or Horse Riding – Drive to Entebbe International Airport or your Hotel
Final Day of the 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari begins with an early morning breakfast at Lake Mburo National Park. After breakfast, you will enjoy a guided nature walk or optional horse riding experience within the park, lasting about 2 to 3 hours. This activity takes you off the main tracks and deep into the wilderness, offering close encounters with wildlife in their natural habitat.
During the experience, you may see zebras, giraffes, elands, impalas, buffaloes, Defassa waterbucks, oribis, topis, reedbucks, hippos, hyenas, and if lucky, even leopards. After this memorable safari experience, you will begin your journey back to Entebbe International Airport or your hotel, marking the end of your unforgettable Uganda safari adventure.
Location: Kampala (City)
Accommodation Option: No
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Cost Includes on 12 Days Uganda Safari Tours and Vacation:
- Return airport transfers (pick up and drop off)
- Private transport for 12 days in a well-modified safari Extended land-cruiser (4WD,air-conditioned and pop-up roof)
- Rhino Tracking in Ziwa rhino Sanctuary
- Flue for 12 days
- English safari driver guide for 12 days
- Mid-range accommodation for 10 night on full board (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
- All en-route meals and bottled mineral water throughout your tour
- All park entrance and activities feel and all applicable government taxes
- Night game in Lake Mburo National Park
- Bigodi sanctuary swamp and community safari
- 1 Chimpanzee Trekking permit per person (Kibale forest national park)
- 1 Mountain gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park (Buhoma sector )
- A visit to the Equator land mark
- Batwa Community Encounter
Cost Excludes on 12 Days Uganda Safari Tours and Vacation:
- International and domestic flights
- Country entry visa
- Personal travel insurance
- Items of personal nature/laundry/telephone charges
- Souvenirs and gifts, Tips
- Alcoholic and other soft drinks (sodas, special juice order at the lodge and wines)
Special Deals on African Safari 2024-2025 (Rates Per Person in USD)
| Mid-range Safari | 2 People 1 room |
4 People 2 rooms |
6 People 3 rooms |
7 People+ |
| Price Per Person | $000 | $000 | $000 | GET A QUOTE |