12 Days Uganda Wildlife and Birding Safari
The 12 Days Uganda Wildlife and Birding Safari is an extraordinary journey that starts and ends in Kampala, taking in six of Uganda’s premier destinations. You will visit Mabamba Swamp to see the prehistoric shoebill stork, Murchison Falls National Park for the Big Five, including rhino at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and Kibale Forest National Park to spend time with chimpanzees.
The itinerary continues to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a face-to-face encounter with endangered mountain gorillas, then to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park for further game drives and boat cruises, taking in buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, lion, leopard, Uganda kob, hippo, giraffe, zebra, impala, oribi, topi, Nile crocodile and warthog along the way.
Trip Snapshot
| Duration | 12 days / 11 nights |
| Starts / Ends | Kampala |
| Main destinations | Mabamba Swamp, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale Forest NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Lake Mburo NP |
| Key activities | Birding, rhino tracking, game drives, boat cruises, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking, walking safari |
| Physical level | Moderate to challenging |
| Best for | Birders and wildlife enthusiasts wanting a comprehensive circuit |
Safari Highlights
- Shoebill stork and wetland birding at Mabamba Swamp
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Game drives and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking and a Bigodi Swamp walk in Kibale Forest
- Game drives and Kazinga Channel cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park
Summary Itinerary
| Day | Overview |
| Day 1 | Pick-up and transfer to a hotel in Kampala |
| Day 2 | Birding at Mabamba Swamp |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary |
| Day 4 | Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park |
| Day 6 | Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Swamp walk |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| Day 8 | Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 10 | Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 11 | Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, walking safari |
| Day 12 | Morning game drive and transfer to Kampala |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick-up and Transfer to a Hotel in Kampala
Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver-guide, briefed on the safari ahead, and transferred to your hotel in Kampala for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Birding at Mabamba Swamp
After an early breakfast, meet your driver-guide for the transfer to Mabamba Swamp, one of the best places in Uganda to see the prehistoric shoebill stork, along with other species such as the black crake, goliath heron, papyrus gonolek and orange weaver. Return afterward for lunch, then spend the rest of the day at leisure before dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, your driver-guide will collect you for the roughly 5 to 6-hour journey to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park. You will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a rhino tracking walk, then continue with a lunch stop in Masindi town.
On arrival at the park, drive directly to the top of the falls for sweeping views of the waterfall and its surrounding spray. Continue to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, your driver-guide will take you for a morning game drive, watching for giraffe, buffalo, elephant, Uganda kob, waterbuck, lion, leopard, warthog and Jackson’s hartebeest. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, take a boat cruise to the base of the falls, where you will see elephant, antelope and buffalo drinking along the shore, hippo and Nile crocodile in the water, and water birds such as hornbill, cormorant, kingfisher, bee-eater and fish eagle. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, check out and set off on the full day’s drive to Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda, passing scenic countryside, tea plantations, the Rwenzori Mountains and crater lakes along the way, with a lunch stop en route. Check in at your lodge on arrival for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
After an early breakfast, your driver-guide will take you to the Kanyanchu park headquarters for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. You will be allocated an experienced park guide and head into the forest in search of chimpanzees, a trek that typically takes between 30 minutes and 4 hours, since chimpanzees range in search of food. Along the way, you may spot other primates including L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black-and-white colobus and grey-cheeked mangabey, along with a wide variety of birds.
Once the chimpanzees are found, you will spend one hour observing them feed, play, fight, hunt and rest. Afterward, trek back to the park headquarters and return to the lodge for lunch, followed by a guided walk in Bigodi Swamp, where you can view further primates and birds. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a relaxed breakfast, check out and set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second-largest national park, enjoying scenic views of the landscape and tea plantations along the way. Check in at your lodge on arrival for lunch, then relax before heading out for an evening game drive, spotting elephant, Uganda kob, buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck and warthog as they return to their resting areas. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, head out for a morning game drive or lion tracking experience in the Kasenyi plains, spotting elephant, buffalo, warthog and Uganda kob grazing the open savanna, along with predators such as lion, leopard and hyena. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. Over two to three hours, you will see large herds of hippo and Nile crocodile in the water, buffalo, elephant, warthog and waterbuck along the shore, and water birds including hornbill, cormorant, fish eagle and kingfisher. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a relaxed breakfast, check out and set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, stopping in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a chance to spot the famous tree-climbing lions resting in acacia or fig tree branches. Continue on with lunch and scenic views of the Kigezi hills and terraced farmland along the way. Check in at your lodge on arrival for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, carry your packed lunch and meet your driver-guide for the transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. You will be allocated a gorilla family and an experienced ranger-guide familiar with the trails and the family’s habits.
Gorilla trekking typically takes between 30 minutes and 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas are located, and along the way you may spot other primates, birds and plant life. Once found, you will spend one hour with the gorillas, observing their behavior and daily activities. Afterward, drive back to the lodge to relax before dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, Walking Safari
After breakfast, check out and set off for Lake Mburo National Park, enjoying scenic countryside views along the way. On arrival, have lunch, then head out for a guided walking safari, one of the few places in Uganda where this is offered, thanks to the park’s low predator density. You will get up close with a variety of wildlife and birdlife on foot. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Kampala
On your final day, enjoy breakfast, check out and head out for a morning game drive to catch any wildlife you may have missed. Afterward, begin the journey back to Kampala, with a stop at the Equator in Kayabwe for photos and souvenirs. On arrival in Kampala, your driver-guide will drop you at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight, or at a location of your choice.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Safari Price Includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Rhino tracking fee
- Lion tracking experience
- Birding at Mabamba Swamp
- Park entrance fees and game drives
- Boat cruise fees
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board accommodation
- Pick-up and drop-off in Kampala/Entebbe
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Safari Price Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry, porter fees and tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this itinerary suitable for dedicated birders?
Yes, alongside the standard wildlife and primate-trekking activities, this itinerary includes dedicated birding at Mabamba Swamp for the shoebill stork and passes through several of Uganda’s best general birding sites along the way.
How many national parks does this safari cover?
This 12-day itinerary covers Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburo National Parks, plus Mabamba Swamp and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Is a walking safari included?
Yes, a guided walking safari is included at Lake Mburo National Park on Day 11, one of the few parks in Uganda where this activity is offered due to its low predator density.
Are gorilla and chimpanzee permits included in the price?
Yes, both the gorilla trekking permit and the chimpanzee trekking permit are included in the safari price.
Book Your 12 Days Uganda Wildlife and Birding Safari
With six destinations, two great ape treks, a shoebill stork encounter and a rare walking safari, this 12-day itinerary is one of the most comprehensive wildlife and birding circuits available anywhere in Uganda.
Get in touch to check availability and start planning your 12 Days Uganda Wildlife and Birding Safari.