This 12-day Uganda safari with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park takes you on a memorable journey through Uganda’s top wildlife destinations. The safari includes rhino tracking, game drives, boat cruises, chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey trekking, and mountain gorilla trekking. You will also visit the Batwa community, see tree-climbing lions, and explore Lake Mutanda with views of the Virunga Volcanoes.
You will visit some of Uganda’s most iconic national parks, including Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Bwindi Impenetrable, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Other highlights include Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch and Lake Mutanda. The tour starts in Kampala and ends in Kigali City, Rwanda.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa
After breakfast at your hotel in Kampala, your guide will pick you up and drive you to Murchison Falls National Park in northwestern Uganda. You will stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch in Nakasongola to track the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Observe and photograph these beautiful animals before continuing the journey through Masindi.
Stop for lunch in Masindi and then continue into the park. On the way, you might see antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards. Arrive at your lodge, check in, relax, have dinner, and spend the night.
Day 2: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, head for a morning game drive in the northern section of the park. Expect to see lions, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, oribis, and waterbucks. Return to your lodge to relax, have lunch, and then go for a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. You will spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and several bird species. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, check out and drive to Kibale National Park in southwestern Uganda. The scenic drive takes about 4 to 5 hours along the Hoima–Kyenjojo route. Stop for lunch in Fort Portal before proceeding to your lodge near Kibale Forest. Check in, relax, have dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Community Visit
After breakfast, head to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing about chimpanzee trekking. Park rangers will guide you into the forest to locate a habituated chimpanzee group. Spend one hour watching and photographing them before returning to the visitor center.
In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Community near Kibale Forest to learn about local traditions and daily life. Enjoy music and dance performances and buy handicrafts made by local artisans. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Explosion Crater Tour
After breakfast, drive southwest to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Stop at the Equator crossing in Kikorongo for photos before heading to Katwe Explosion Crater Lake to learn about traditional salt mining. Observe the scenic landscape, interact with the miners, and enjoy birdwatching. Proceed to your lodge, check in, have lunch, and relax for the rest of the day. Dinner and overnight stay follow.
Day 6: Game Drive and Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Have an early breakfast and go for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, where lions, leopards, elephants, and Uganda kobs can be seen. Return to your lodge for lunch, then go for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. Spot hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and several water birds before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Ishasha Sector (Tree-Climbing Lions)
After breakfast, drive south to the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is famous for its tree-climbing lions. Enjoy a short game drive to see them resting in fig trees. Take photos and observe their behavior before checking in at your lodge. Have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Rushaga Sector)
After breakfast, travel to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Enjoy scenic views of the Albertine Rift Valley and stop for lunch along the way. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge, relax, have dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Village Visit
Wake up early, have breakfast, and pack lunch. Drive to the Rushaga trailhead for your gorilla trekking briefing. Park rangers will guide you through the forest to locate a habituated gorilla family. Spend one hour observing and photographing the gorillas before returning to your lodge.
In the afternoon, visit a Batwa community to learn about their traditional forest lifestyle. Enjoy their music, dance, and storytelling. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mutanda
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mutanda, about one hour away. Check in at your lodge and spend the day relaxing. You can swim, sunbathe, or enjoy a boat ride on the lake while admiring the beautiful views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 11: Visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Golden Monkey Trekking and Batwa Tour
After an early breakfast, head to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for golden monkey trekking. Park rangers will brief you and lead you through the bamboo forest to find a troop of golden monkeys. Observe and take photos for one hour before returning to the starting point.
After lunch, visit another Batwa community near Mgahinga. Learn about their language, traditions, and forest life through songs, dances, and storytelling. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali – End of Safari
After breakfast, check out and drive to Kigali City in Rwanda. The journey covers about 132 kilometers and takes 3 to 4 hours. Stop at the Cyanika Border for immigration clearance, then continue to Kigali. Have lunch en route and enjoy a short sightseeing drive through the city. You will be dropped off at Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.
Your 12-day Uganda safari with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park ends here.
