12 Day Classic Uganda Safari
Overview
This Classic Uganda Safari is one of our most sensational Uganda tours that offers a suggested itinerary loaded with unforgettable wildlife encounters. You can tailor your Ugandan safari experience to include hikes through lush rainforest in search of chimpanzee, listening to the chatter of some 700 species of bird in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and getting up close and personal with hippo along the Kazinga Channel.
But the biggest thrill of any Uganda tour must be to trek deep into the jungle and discover endangered mountain gorilla in their natural habitat. It may well be the biggest thrill of your life, not just your tour of Uganda.
This package includes the following
- Local English speaking guide/driver
- 11 nights’ accommodation in Uganda incl. full board
- Crossing the Equator
- Queen Elizabeth National Park – Morning safari and boat trip
- Kibale Chimpanzee tracking incl. permit (value USD 200)
- Ishasha – Morning safari in search of the tree climbing lions
- Gorilla tracking incl. license (worth USD 700)
- Lake Mburo National Park – Safari after dark
- Park entrance fees
- Airport & Hotel Transfers
- Emergency hotline staffed 24/7 throughout your trip
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 – Catch your flight to Entebbe
Your journey through Uganda begins with an overnight flight to the capital, Entebbe.
Day 2 – Arrival at Entebbe Int. Airport
We’ll meet you and take you to The Boma Entebbe, where you can relax in scenic tropical gardens before the next stage of your adventure begins. There’s plenty to look forward to. Once described by Winston Churchill as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is where the jungles of West Africa meet the savannahs of East Africa, leading to an astonishing diversity of landscape and wildlife.
Overnight at Papyrus Guest House – Breakfast & Dinner
Day 3 – Entebbe – Kibale Forest
Driving west to Kyaninga Lodge you’ll be immersed in the lush scenery of rural Uganda. Keep your camera handy as you pass Kyaninga Lake, where you’ll see traditional stilted cottages lining the shore and enjoy stunning views of the Mountains of the Moon, a source of the River Nile.
Overnight at Kyaninga Lodge – Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4 – 5 – Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest National Park provides a rich habitat for some 12 species of primate, including chimpanzee and red colobus monkey. There are also more than 300 species of bird here too nesting in the dense canopy. Over the next few days, you’ll enjoy a series of guided walks through the lush rainforest to see and learn to identify the screeches and squawks that surround you.
Overnight at Kyaninga Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 – Kibale – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Journeying on to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you’ll arrive at one of the finest birding destinations on Earth. It’s thought that over 700 species make their home in the park, so the dawn chorus is naturally unforgettable. You’ll stay at the Kyambura Lodge, on the park’s eastern edge, enjoying superb views all the way to the Rwenzori Mountains, otherwise known as the Mountains of the Moon.
Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Safari Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 – Queen Elizabeth National Park
While birding is of course the main attraction in Queen Elizabeth, this dramatic wilderness offers a range of diverse activities. We recommend a boat trip up the Kazinga Channel to see hippo or guided treks among the fig trees in search of the famous tree-climbing lion. Another ever-popular tour here is the winding Crater Drive along the valley floor.
Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Safari Lodge – Standard Lodge – Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 – Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi
Spectacular Bwindi National Park is next on your Uganda tour, home to over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla. Tracking these rare and magnificent creatures and experiencing them in their natural habitat, is rightly considered one of the ultimate travel experiences. The luxurious Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is the perfect place to begin a gorilla-watching trek. You’ll stay at this mountainside tented camp for the next two days.
Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp – Dinner
Day 9 – Gorilla Trekking
Expert guides lead you deep into the jungle to encounter these immensely powerful, yet charmingly playful, animals on their own turf. It’s a privilege very few people have the opportunity to enjoy. Mandatory permits allow you to spend only an hour at a time with a habituated group, but it’s sure to be one of the most intense hours of your life.
Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10 – Bwindi National Park – Lake Mburo
You’ll move on to the eco-friendly Mihingo Lodge, where private tents overlook a landscape covered by green forest and lakes. Mealtimes in Lake Mburo National Park are a highlight of relaxing stays here, as they come with excellent views of a nearby waterhole and salt lick that attract the local wildlife.
After breakfast, we depart to Lake Bunyonyi, the second deepest lake in Africa. The drive itself is very scenic through small villages, coffee and banana plantations and rolling hills. Upon arrival, there should be ample time to relax, visit the local village or explore the surroundings by boat.
Overnight at Mihingo Lodge – Standard Bungalow – Breakfast & Lunch
Day 11 – Lake Mburo – Entebbe
Your Uganda tour comes to a satisfying conclusion with a final drive out to the Boma Entebbe, where you can toast your experiences with a cold beer to soothe the lump in your throat.
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 – Return Flight
Take your flight back home with a bag of memories to share.
Enquire or Request A Quote
Trip Highlights
Start/End: Entebbe – Uganda
Places Visited: Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth N.P, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Lake Mburo N.P
Major Activities: Game Drive, Boat Safari, Lion Safari, Chimps Tracking and Gorilla Trekking