12 Days Uganda Wildlife Experience  : A Deep Savannah Safari Itinerary

Safari Overview:

This 12-day wildlife adventure takes you to Uganda’s savannah national parks for a diverse wildlife experience, featuring a range of animals, including the Big Five: Lions, Leopards,

Cape buffalo, Elephants, and Rhinos. Each of these parks has a unique attraction that makes visiting all of them worthwhile. Kidepo National Park and Murchison Falls National Park are located in the north-west of Uganda, and they offer the best experience of the Big Five game. Although the Rhinos cannot be found in any of the savannah national parks, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was established to reintroduce rhinos to Uganda after they were all killed during the reign of President Idi Amin. Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park are located in the western part of Uganda, and they offer a great experience of different Antelope species. This trip starts and ends in Entebbe, Uganda, even though there are quite distances among the national parks. Other things to consider on this trip include: accommodation, meals, Transport, and activities.

Safari Highlights

• On-foot Rhino Tracking: Join rangers at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see Southern White Rhinos.

• Kidepo Wilderness: Visit the only park in Uganda where you can find cheetahs and ostriches.

• Murchison Falls Boat Safari: Sail to the base of the world’s most powerful waterfall.

• Lion Tracking: Participate in a research-based search for lions in the Kasenyi plains.

• Kazinga Channel: Take a boat trip among one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Your safari starts at Entebbe International Airport. Our company representative will meet you outside the arrivals hall. You will transfer to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala, which takes between 15 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Use this evening to rest and prepare for the long drive north the following morning.

Accommodation: Protea Hotel Entebbe (Luxury) or Karibu Guest House (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Dinner.

Day 2: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Gulu

Leave early for the 3-hour drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola. This 70-square-kilometer sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where rhinos live in a protected, natural setting. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the population has grown to 48 rhinos as of July 2025 (Source: UWA Annual Report). You will go on a guided walk with an armed ranger. The trek takes 1 to 2 hours. You can get as close as 10 to 30 meters from these 2,000kg animals. After the trek, continue the drive north to Gulu town for an overnight stay. This breaks up the long journey to Kidepo.

Accommodation: Churchill Courts Hotel (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 3: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park

The journey from Gulu to Kidepo takes about 3 to 4 hours through the Karamoja region. The landscape changes into a dry savannah with jagged mountains in the distance. You will enter the park through the Lokumoit gate. After checking in and having lunch, go for an afternoon game drive in the Narus Valley. This area has the park’s only permanent water points, attracting large numbers of buffalo, elephants, and giraffes.

Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Game Viewing in Narus Valley

Spend the morning in the Narus Valley. Look for the “lions of the rocks,” which often sit on the granite outcrops. This valley is home to over 4,000 buffalo, one of the largest herds in Africa. You might also spot the Jackson’s Hartebeest, Oryx, and the Greater Kudu. In the afternoon, visit a local Karamojong manyatta (homestead). You will learn about their traditional cattle-herding culture and see their unique architecture. The Karamojong are one of the few groups in East Africa that still follow a semi-nomadic lifestyle.

Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 5: Kidepo Valley and Kanangorok Hot Springs

Drive north toward the border of South Sudan. This part of the park is drier and features the Kidepo River, which is a dry sand bed for most of the year. Here, you have the best chance to see the Common Ostrich and the Cheetah, which are not found in other Ugandan parks. You will visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs, a natural site surrounded by mountains. The scenery here is different from the Narus Valley, with more Borassus palms and scrubland.

Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 6: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

This is a full day of driving (about 7 hours) as you move from the far northeast to the northwest. You will pass through Labwor hills and reach Murchison Falls National Park in the late afternoon. You will enter through the Tangi gate on the northern bank of the Nile. This area is famous for its high density of Rothschild’s Giraffes.

Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 7: Game Drive and Nile Boat Safari

Start with a 6:30 AM game drive on the Buligi tracks. This is the best time to see leopards and lions before the sun gets too hot. The park has over 76 species of mammals. You will likely see elephants, Oribis, and the Uganda Kob. At 2:00 PM, board a boat for a 3-hour trip to the base of Murchison Falls. You will see hundreds of hippos and crocodiles along the riverbanks. The boat stops about 10 meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron,” where the Nile forces itself through a 7-meter gap. You can choose to hike to the top of the falls for a view of the water dropping 43 meters into the gorge.

Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 8: Drive to the Albertine Rift Valley

Cross the Nile and drive south toward Fort Portal. The road winds along the Albertine Rift escarpment, offering views of Lake Albert and the Blue Mountains of Congo. You will pass through traditional villages and tea plantations. This is a transit day to position you for the western parks. You will stay near the town of Fort Portal, which sits in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive 2 hours south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. After lunch, head to the Kasenyi plains for an afternoon game drive. This area is a breeding ground for the Uganda Kob, which makes it a prime hunting territory for lion prides. You will also see many crater lakes formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Kasenyi Safari Camp (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Lion Tracking and Kazinga Channel

Join researchers from the Uganda Carnivore Project for a lion tracking experience. Unlike a standard game drive, the researchers use radio telemetry to find lions fitted with collars. This activity is limited to a small number of people to avoid disturbing the cats. You will learn about lion pride dynamics and conservation challenges. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This 32-kilometer natural channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George. It has more hippos per square kilometer than almost anywhere else in the world. You will also see buffalo and elephants bathing in the water during the heat of the day.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Elephant Hab Lodge (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 11: Ishasha Sector Tree-Climbing Lions

Drive to the southern part of the park, known as the Ishasha sector. This area is world-famous for its tree-climbing lions. You will find them resting in the branches of large fig trees during the day. While the exact reason for this behavior is debated, it is thought that they do it to avoid ground insects and to stay cool. You will also look for the Topi, a large antelope often found in these southern plains.

Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury) or Enjojo Lodge (Mid-range).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 12: Return to Entebbe and Departure

After breakfast, begin the 7 to 8-hour drive back to Entebbe. You will stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photos and lunch. You can observe the water experiment that shows how the Earth’s rotation affects water flow in the northern and southern hemispheres. Continue to Entebbe for your evening flight home.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch.

Package Includes;

• Pick up and drop off at Entebbe airport
• Rhino tracking and Lion tracking
• All accommodations as per the itinerary
• 4X4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and Fuel
• Full-time English-speaking driver/ guide
• All meals as indicated, including lunches en route during transfers
• Park entrance fees and Ferry crossing fees
• Boat cruises and Vehicle entrance fees
• Bottled mineral water while on safari
• All activities as indicated

Package Excludes;

• Tips
• Visa fees and Air tickets
• Optional activities
• All items of a personal nature, like laundry, phone calls, beer, etc.
• Anything else not included in the itinerary

Practical Safari Logistics

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 12 days enough to see the Big Five?

Yes. This itinerary includes Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhinos and the major savannah parks for lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo. While leopards are shy, your expert guide will use their knowledge of the terrain to increase your chances.

Why is Kidepo included in this itinerary?

Many shorter tours skip Kidepo because it is far. However, for a true wildlife experience, it is essential. It feels more like the plains of Kenya or Tanzania, but with far fewer tourists. It is the only place in Uganda to see cheetahs and ostriches

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