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12-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

4.4/5  –  396 Uganda Reviews

Uganda is a vastly underrated safari destination. True, it lacks the huge migratory herds associated with the likes of Tanzania and Kenya, but it more than compensates with its extraordinary diversity of tropical habitats, landscapes and wildlife. Despite being smaller than the United Kingdom or the US state of Michigan, Uganda is one of only two places where wild gorillas and chimps can be seen alongside all the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino). It also supports a staggering diversity of forest monkeys and a bird checklist of 1,080 species. A 12-day Uganda safari comfortably allows you to see the best of the country and its diverse wildlife on a compact road loop that runs west from the capital city Kampala and nearby Entebbe International Airport.

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6 Questions About 12-Day Uganda Tours

1. What can I expect from a 12-day Uganda safari?
2. Where should I go in Uganda on a 12-day trip?
3. Is there an ideal time of the year for a trip in Uganda?
4. Which animals am I likely to see?
5. How much does a 12-day safari in Uganda cost?
6. What kind of accommodations can I expect?
 
 

6 Questions About 12-Day Uganda Tours

Answered by Philip Briggs

What can I expect from a 12-day Uganda safari?

“A well-planned 12-day Uganda tour package will provide you with an excellent overview of this varied safari destination. The itinerary should include one or two boat trips on tropical waterways alive with hippos, crocs and birds, and several game drives to look for savannah dwellers such as lion, elephant, buffalo and giraffe. The itinerary should also provide you with a few opportunities to explore Uganda’s rainforests on gorilla and chimp trekking excursions and other guided walks. Wherever you go in Uganda, you can expect to see lush tropical scenery and plenty of colorful birds. You’ll also enjoy the friendly atmosphere, the high standard of guiding in the parks, and attentive service in lodges and camps.”

1

Where should I go in Uganda on a 12-day trip?

“Most 12-day safaris in Uganda loop through the varied array of national parks and other attractions in the country’s far west. This loop can be traveled in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction from Entebbe, a decision that will often rest on gorilla trekking permit availability, especially during busy seasons. Working clockwise, a recommended first stop is Lake Mburo National Park. This relatively low-key park is inhabited by leopard, giraffe, hippo, zebras and a wide variety of antelope. From here, continue to the southwest highlands to chill out at Lake Bunyonyi and track gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. A good next stop is Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the Ishasha sector is famed for its tree-climbing lions. Boat trips on the Kazinga Channel here usually provide close-up encounters with elephant, buffalo and hippo. Heading north from Queen Elizabeth, Kibale National Park harbors a rare wealth of forest primates and is Uganda's premier chimp trekking destination. Highlights of the more northerly Murchison Falls National Park are boat trips to the base of the waterfall or to look for the rare swamp-dwelling shoebill in the delta formed by the Victoria Nile as it flows into Lake Albert. On the drive back to Entebbe, stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch to track Uganda's only rhinos on foot (either as a day trip or overnight stay), or divert to the upper Nile near the city of Jinja (on the shore of Lake Victoria) for white-water rafting.”

2

Is there an ideal time of the year for a trip in Uganda?

“Travel conditions in Uganda are best during the Dry seasons, which run from June to August and December to February. The relatively dry conditions at these times of year are ideal for forest walks (including gorilla and chimp trekking) as well as for game drives in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks. If you can't travel during the Dry seasons, the next best options are September and October. April is the wettest month and best avoided.”

3

Which animals am I likely to see?

“You will be amazed at the amount and variety of wildlife you'll see over the course of 12 days on safari in Uganda. Assuming that you choose to track mountain gorillas and chimps, you can be almost certain of encountering these charismatic apes in their natural habitat. (The success rate for chimp trekking is slightly lower than for gorillas, but most itineraries allow for a second opportunity should you fail on the first attempt.) When it comes to the legendary Big Five, elephant and buffalo are very common in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks, and both parks are quite reliable for lions and more occasionally leopards. Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch is home to Uganda’s only rhinos, which can be tracked on foot. Over the course of a 12-day safari, you’re also likely to see half a dozen forest monkey species, a similar number of different antelope, and other iconic African creatures such as giraffe, zebra and hippo. Most visitors to Uganda are struck by the incredibly varied and colorful birdlife. Depending on how closely you pay attention, you might spot anything from 100 to 350 bird species on a 12-day safari, including the likes of great blue turaco, African fish eagle and shoebill.”

4

How much does a 12-day safari in Uganda cost?

“Budget 12-day safaris through western Uganda typically cost around US$3,000 to US$4,500 per person. More upmarket tours using exclusive accommodations are usually in the US$6,000 to US$9,000 price range. The rate of most such packages will include at least one gorilla and one chimp trekking permit, as well as transport, accommodations, meals, park fees and the services of a skilled driver-guide. It’s safest, however, to check all inclusions and exclusions before you book.”

5

What kind of accommodations can I expect?

“The type of accommodations you can expect on your Uganda safari will depend greatly on the price you pay. Options range from simple campsites to exclusive luxury game lodges and almost everything in between. Unless you are camping, however, you can at the very minimum expect to stay in a comfortable room or large, walk-in tents with electricity, balcony and en suite hot showers and flush toilets. Usually, meals provided by your lodge or camp will be included in the safari price too.”

6

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 396 Reviews
Expert
Mark Eveleigh  –  
United Kingdom UK

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

Fantastic Wildlife and Some of the Friendliest People in Africa Make Uganda Unbeatable
5/5

I spent a month travelling around Uganda with a self-drive, expedition-prepared Landcruiser and visited almost every national park in the country. Uganda was a revelation! I had not expected such a richness of wildlife nor such great...

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Expert
Alan Murphy  –  
Australia AU

Alan is a travel writer and author of over 20 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Southern Africa and Zambia & Malawi.

Uganda – Wildlife Secrets Revealed
4/5

The word is getting out about Uganda. If you haven’t got it on your list of East African safari destinations, I suggest you add it…quickly. Uganda does not have the reputation for the variety or density of wildlife, especially the large...

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Markus Janser  –  
Switzerland CH
Reviewed: Nov 20, 2024
What a nice surprise
5/5

We (Father with two teenagers) headed of to a nine day private Safari in Uganda to see the Gorillas. And we did not get disappointed, we spent an hour with them, an amazing experience. However, we where surprised and charmed by the...

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Jorge Camacho  –  
Spain ES
Reviewed: Nov 5, 2024
Awesome experience
5/5

Our recent trip to Uganda could not have met our expectations more. The country has well deserved the title of ‘pearl of Africa’, the country is impressive, the landscapes are spectacular and having an endangered wonder like the gorilla...

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Leah  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Oct 23, 2024
A beautiful country with exceptional service industry and private wildlife encounters
5/5

We travelled through Uganda and Tanzania over three weeks. The time we spent in Uganda was incredible. The country is a lot quieter to travel through, which makes the game drives feel intimate when you have the wildlife all to yourself...

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Val  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Oct 12, 2024
A new adventure every day
5/5

We toured Uganda for 17 days mid range accommodation. We took many game drives, launch trip on Kazinga Channel, gorillas and Chimpanzee trekking, plus visted Lake Bunyonyi and local villages. We had the most amazing holiday with many...

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All 396 Uganda Reviews