12 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari with Kidepo and Big Five

Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Transfer to Kampala

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your safari driver guide, who will accompany you throughout the journey. After introductions, begin the transfer to your hotel in Kampala, approximately 40 kilometres from the airport. The drive generally takes about 1 to 2 hours, depending on traffic and your hotel location.

Check in and spend the rest of the day relaxing after your international flight. Depending on your arrival time, you can enjoy the hotel facilities and prepare for the long journey to Kidepo the following morning. Your guide will explain the safari route, expected driving times and what to prepare for the national park visits.

Dinner and overnight in Kampala.

Accommodation options: Budget: Forest Cottages · Mid-range: Fairway Hotel and Spa · Luxury: Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz

Drive from Kampala to Kidepo Valley National Park

Have an early breakfast and depart Kampala for Kidepo Valley National Park in northeastern Uganda. This is one of the longest road transfers of the safari. Depending on the route, road conditions and stops, allow approximately 10 to 12 hours or longer. Your guide will plan rest breaks and a lunch stop along the way.

As you travel north through Uganda, the busy towns gradually give way to more open countryside and the rugged landscapes of the Acholi and Karamoja regions. Kidepo lies in a remote corner of Uganda near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya, surrounded by mountains, dry savannah and broad valleys.

Arrive at your lodge in the evening, check in and relax after the journey. Dinner and overnight near Kidepo Valley National Park. This is primarily a transfer day, with wildlife activities beginning the following morning.

Accommodation options: Budget: Apoka Rest Camp · Mid-range: Kidepo Savannah Lodge · Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge or Adere Safari Lodge

Narus Valley Game Drive and Karamojong Cultural Visit

After an early breakfast, head into the Narus Valley for your first full game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park. Narus is the park's main wildlife-viewing area because water remains available here for much of the year, attracting large herds of animals, particularly during the dry season. Spend approximately 2 to 3 hours exploring the savannah, with time for photographs and stops wherever wildlife is found.

Look for African elephants, large herds of Cape buffaloes, Rothschild's giraffes, zebras, elands, Jackson's hartebeests and smaller antelopes. Lions are regularly associated with this part of the park, while leopards and cheetahs are more elusive and depend on good timing and luck.

Return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest. Later in the afternoon, visit a nearby Karamojong community, where a local guide will introduce you to traditional homesteads, cattle keeping, local crafts and aspects of pastoral life. The visit offers a better understanding of the communities living around this remote national park.

If time and park arrangements allow, finish the afternoon with a short sunset game drive before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 2

Explore Kidepo Valley and Kanangorok Hot Springs

After breakfast, travel towards the northern section of Kidepo Valley National Park, a quieter and drier landscape with wide plains, seasonal riverbeds and impressive views towards the surrounding mountain ranges. Unlike Narus Valley, where game viewing is generally more concentrated, this part of the park is especially rewarding for its dramatic scenery, birdlife and sense of remoteness.

Follow the Kidepo Valley route towards Kanangorok Hot Springs, near the South Sudan border. Along the way, look for ostriches, which are among the park's distinctive bird species, as well as buffaloes, giraffes and other wildlife that may be moving through the open grasslands. The sandy Kidepo River bed, Borassus palms and distant hills provide excellent opportunities for landscape photography.

Spend time exploring the hot springs area with your guide, following park regulations and keeping a safe distance from the hot water. Return to your lodge for lunch or a relaxed afternoon, depending on the route and how much time you spend in the valley.

Enjoy the evening at leisure before dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Same lodge as Days 2 and 3

Transfer from Kidepo to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, check out and begin the journey southwest towards Murchison Falls National Park. The route generally passes through the Gulu area, where you can stop for lunch before continuing towards the Nile and the park's northern entrance. Allow most of the day for the transfer, usually around 7 to 9 hours or longer depending on road conditions and your lodge location.

The scenery changes considerably as you leave Kidepo's dry plains and enter the greener countryside of northern Uganda. On entering Murchison Falls National Park, continue towards your lodge, with possible sightings of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and antelopes along the park roads.

Arrive in the late afternoon or evening, check in and enjoy dinner overlooking the river or surrounding savannah, depending on your chosen accommodation.

Accommodation options: Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge or Red Chilli Rest Camp · Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Lodge or Murchison River Lodge · Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge

Murchison Falls Game Drive and River Nile Boat Cruise

Begin the morning with breakfast before setting off for a game drive across Murchison Falls National Park's northern savannah, including the productive wildlife-viewing routes towards the Nile delta where time permits. Early morning is a good period to search for predators and grazing animals before temperatures rise.

Look out for elephants, Rothschild's giraffes, Cape buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Jackson's hartebeests, oribis, waterbucks and lions. Leopards may also be encountered, although sightings are less predictable. The drive normally takes around 3 to 4 hours, depending on animal activity and the route chosen.

Return to the lodge for lunch, then prepare for the afternoon boat cruise along the River Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. The scheduled afternoon cruise commonly departs around 2 pm, subject to the operator's timetable. As you travel upstream, watch for large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles resting along the riverbanks, elephants drinking at the water's edge and birds such as kingfishers, fish eagles, cormorants and bee-eaters.

Near the falls, the river becomes increasingly turbulent as the water surges through a narrow rocky gorge before dropping into the pool below. Enjoy views and photographs from the boat before returning downstream to meet your guide. Transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 5

Visit the Top of Murchison Falls and Track Rhinos at Ziwa

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and drive to the top of Murchison Falls. Here, the Victoria Nile is forced through a narrow gap in the rock before plunging approximately 43 metres into the river below. Walk to the designated viewpoints to experience the force of the waterfall, the spray rising from the gorge and the thunderous sound of the rushing water.

Continue out of the park towards Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola, stopping for lunch along the way. Ziwa is home to southern white rhinos and offers a rare opportunity to observe them on foot under the supervision of trained ranger guides.

On arrival, attend a briefing before beginning the guided rhino tracking activity, which generally lasts about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the animals' location and walking conditions. Your ranger will explain rhino behaviour, safety guidelines and the conservation work taking place at the sanctuary. You will observe the rhinos from a safe distance without disturbing them.

After the experience, check into your accommodation for dinner and overnight near Ziwa.

Accommodation options: Budget: Ziwa Rhino Guesthouse · Mid-range and upgraded option: Amuka Safari Lodge

Transfer from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Lake Mburo National Park

Have an early breakfast and depart Ziwa for Lake Mburo National Park in western Uganda. This is another substantial road transfer, passing through the central region before joining the road towards Masaka and Mbarara. Depending on traffic and stops, allow approximately 7 to 9 hours or more for the journey.

Stop for lunch along the way and visit the Uganda Equator at Kayabwe, where you can take photographs and browse local craft shops. Continue west towards Lake Mburo, a smaller savannah national park known for zebras, impalas, elands, buffaloes and varied birdlife.

As you enter the park, enjoy an introductory game drive along the route to your lodge if daylight permits. Zebra herds and grazing antelopes are often among the first animals you encounter. Check in, relax and spend the evening surrounded by the peaceful landscape of Lake Mburo National Park.

Accommodation options: Budget: Eagle's Nest Lodge · Mid-range: Arcadia Safari Cottages · Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

Guided Walking Safari and Lake Mburo Boat Cruise

After an early breakfast, join an armed ranger guide for a walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park. Unlike a conventional game drive, walking allows you to experience the savannah at a slower pace, paying attention to animal tracks, birds, vegetation and smaller details that are easily missed from a vehicle.

Depending on the route and the movements of the animals, you may encounter zebras, impalas, topis, waterbucks, buffaloes and other plains wildlife. Your ranger will determine safe viewing distances and the most suitable walking route. The activity generally lasts about 2 to 3 hours.

Return to your lodge for refreshments and lunch. In the afternoon, head to Lake Mburo for a boat cruise across the lake's calm waters. Watch for hippos, crocodiles, African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, herons and other waterbirds. The shoreline can also attract grazing animals coming to drink.

After the cruise, return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and a second overnight in Lake Mburo.

Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 8

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, check out and begin the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive typically takes approximately 5 to 6 hours depending on the route, road conditions and stops. Travel through the countryside of western Uganda, passing agricultural landscapes and towns before reaching the park.

On arrival, continue to your booked lodge for lunch and a short rest. Later in the afternoon, head into the Kasenyi plains for an evening game drive. This open savannah is one of the park's best areas for watching Uganda kobs, elephants, buffaloes and predators, including lions. Your guide will also look for other antelopes and birds across the grasslands.

If time permits, enjoy views of the park's crater lake landscapes along the appropriate route before returning to the lodge. The late afternoon light makes this a rewarding time for wildlife photography.

Dinner and overnight in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation options: Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages · Mid-range: Parkview Safari Lodge · Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Lion Tracking in Kasenyi and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

After an early breakfast, travel to the Kasenyi sector for a lion tracking experience, arranged in advance with the appropriate park and research team. Unlike an ordinary game drive, this activity focuses on locating and observing lions while learning about predator behaviour, identification and conservation monitoring.

The experience generally takes around 2 to 3 hours and provides a valuable opportunity to understand the park's lion population. Tracking improves the chances of finding lions, particularly when monitored animals can be located, but a sighting cannot be guaranteed. The activity requires advance confirmation and is subject to availability. If the research activity is unavailable, a conventional Kasenyi game drive can be arranged instead.

Return to the lodge for lunch before heading to the Mweya area for an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The cruise generally lasts about 2 hours, with opportunities to see large groups of hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes and elephants near the water. The channel is also an excellent birdwatching destination, with African fish eagles, pelicans, cormorants, herons and kingfishers among the species to look for.

After the boat cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and your final night in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 10

Return to Kampala or Entebbe for Departure

Enjoy breakfast at your lodge before checking out and beginning the return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. The drive from the Queen Elizabeth National Park area generally takes about 6 to 8 hours or longer, depending on your accommodation location, traffic and stops.

Travel through western Uganda with a lunch break along the way. Your guide will ensure that sufficient time is allowed for the journey and, if you are flying home, for international airport check-in. If your flight is scheduled for this day, an evening departure is generally the more practical choice.

On arrival, your driver guide will drop you at your preferred hotel in Kampala or Entebbe, or at Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight. This marks the end of your 12 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari.