The 12 days Uganda prime tour is one of the best tours which you are not supposed to miss while on your visit to Uganda the pearl of Africa as it will take you around the five top visited National parks of Uganda such as Murchison falls National park, Kibale National park, Queen Elizabeth National park, Bwindi Impenetrable National park and lake Mburo National park.
In all the above National parks, many activities are available for you such as Rhino trekking at Ziwa rhino sanctuary on your way to Murchison falls National park then continue for a game drive and an evening boat cruise there and after head for a chimpanzee trekking in the park and tea experience at the edge of Kibale National park. Proceed with your tour to Queen Elizabeth National park for a game drive and boat cruise and then proceed with the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable national park passing via the Ishasha sector and doing gorilla trekking after which you will head to lake Bunyonyi for a relaxation moment and then transfer to lake Mburo National park for your horseback riding and after departing back to the airport and fly back to your home country.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at the airport in Entebbe and transfer to the hotel in Kampala city
Be picked up by your driver guide immediately after you arrive at the airport who will shortly brief you about this 12 days Uganda prime safari. The briefing is always simple usually comprising of the rules and regulations to follow while on your safari. After the briefing, drive heading to your booked hotel in Kampala city for all of your meals and rest.
Day 2: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary on your way to Murchison falls National park.
Start this beautiful day with a morning breakfast at your hotel and after a drive head for Rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary while on your way to Murchison falls national park. The trek usually takes 1–3 hours and after reaching them, your ranger guide will give you an extra one hour in the presence of these animals taking photos and short videos. After proceeding with the drive to Murchison falls National park and check in at your booked lodge for your dinner and overnight stays.
Day 3: Morning game drive and evening boat cruise
Wake up early in the morning and be served with your breakfast and then after driving to the park main office for your payments and head for a morning game drive where will have a look at many Savanah animals including the olive baboons, African Elephants, Buffalos, giraffes and many more. Drive back to your lodge for lunch.
After your lunch, drive heading for a boat cruise which usually starts at Para. The cruise will help you a chance to look at different water birds such as the kingfishers, pelicans and egrets together with aquatic animals like hippos, crocodiles and snakes. Report back to your lodge for your dinner.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National park
On this 4th day of your safari, have your breakfast at the lodge and then after driving head to Kibale the primate capital of the world. The journey from there will take a 5–6 hour’ drive depending on your speed while having stopovers at key points for photos and stretching your muscles and having your stopover in Hoima city for your lunch. After lunch, continue with the drive and check in at your lodge for your dinner.
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and tea experience
To catch up with time, wake up early in the morning for your breakfast and head for chimpanzee trekking which is one of the most interesting activities in Uganda. Drive to the park headquarters for payments and briefing from the park officials then after the drive head to the starting point in the Kanyanchu visitor’s center where you will start looking for these primates. The activity usually takes 1–8 hours but depending on the movements of the chimps. Immediately after reaching them, an hour will be given to you in their presence as you are taking photos and short videos. Have lunch in the wild and after move to the office for your trekking certificate.
After the trek, a guide from Isunga cultural community will pick you up from your lodge and then take you for a tea experience at the edge of Kibale national park. In this experience, expect to see tea planting processes, such as wedding, plucking, spraying and weighing all with explanations from the guide. You will be given a chance to practice any of the above and after return back to the lodge for your dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park.
Begin your day with a morning dish at the lodge and then drive heading to Queen Elizabeth National park a journey that will cover 2–3 hours’ drive with stopovers in some points for photos and then proceed with the journey having views of Mount Rwenzori ranges and some of the communities in the area. Check-in at the lodge early for meals.
Day 7: Game drive and an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Enjoy your morning breakfast together with a cup of African coffee at the lodge and the drive heading to the park for a morning game drive which usually takes 2–4 hours. In this activity, you will have a chance to look at the lions, zebras, waterbucks, giraffes, antelopes and many more. Return back to the lodge for your picnic lunch.
After lunch, embark on the boat cruise along the 45km on the Kazinga channel. During the boat cruise, expect to see a number of animals such as Elephants, and monitor some lizards, snakes, crocodiles, hippopotamus and some bird species both water birds and terrestrial birds since the park have over 420 bird species. Return back to the lodge for dinner.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable National park via Ishasha sector.
Enjoy your breakfast at the lodge and then after the drive head to Bwindi Impenetrable national park the home of gorillas. You will pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth which is known for hosting the rare tree climbing lions on your end route game drive. You can possibly have sights of other animals like buffalos, elephants and many more. Report to your lodge for your meals.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking
For your efficient experience, wake up early and have your ready prepared breakfast at your lodge so as to reach the park early and then after drive heading for another rewarding activity, gorilla trekking. Drive to the headquarters early for your payments and after move to the starting point where you will meet your armed ranger guide who will brief you shortly about trekking and after start looking for these endangered species. After reaching them, an additional hour is given to you in their presence as you are taking photos and videos. Retreat back to your lodge for your lodging facilities.
Day 10: After gorilla trekking transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and relax.
Having done your trekking, drive to lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda while here, you can take a canoe through the punishment Islands in the evening where you will be told about its cultural stories. While there, a guide will take you on a boat cruise through the Islands which have only one surviving tree on it on this lake. Relax at your lodge at a nearby lodge near the lake for your dinner and night’s stay.
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National park
Have your breakfast at the lodge and then drive to Lake Mburo National park to have lunch en route at Igongo cultural center in Mbarara with the option of visiting the museum center where you will be told about the historical background of the people of the west. After lunch, proceed with the journey and take an evening cruise on Lake Mburo where you have a chance to sight the nocturnal animals in the park. Check-in at the lodge for your meals.
Day 12: Horseback riding and Depart back to Kampala and fly back home.
This is your last day of this 12 days Uganda prime tour, begin it with a morning breakfast at the lodge and head for horseback riding an activity which lasts for 2–3 hours starting at 8:00 am and after embark on a drive to Kampala city having a stopover at the equator in Kayabwe for photographs and stretching your muscles. Proceed with your journey to the city and then to the airport in Entebbe and fly back home.