12 Days Uganda Flying Safari
Entebbe – Murchison Falls – Kidepo Valley – Kibale – Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi A light-aircraft safari linking Uganda’s best parks without the long road transfers
Trip Overview of the 12-Day Uganda Flying Safari
Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Style Scheduled light-aircraft safari (Bombardier Caravans/similar), private ground transfers and game drives at each stop
Highlights Murchison Falls boat cruise & top-of-the-falls walk, Kidepo Valley’s wild frontier landscapes, Kibale chimpanzee trekking, Kazinga Channel cruise, Ishasha tree-climbing lions, Bwindi gorilla trekking.
Best time to go Year-round; drier months (Dec–Feb, Jun–Sep) suit trekking best
Physical level Moderate to challenging (gorilla trekking can involve steep, muddy terrain)
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe Hotel
Arrive at the Entebbe International Airport and transfer to check-in hotel for relaxation, then proceed on guided afternoon walk through the Entebbe Botanical Gardens watching the vervet monkeys, bird species. After the walk, you shall proceed back to hotel for Dinner and Overnight. Protea Hotel.
Day 2: Fly to Murchison Falls National Park (Game Drive and Boat Cruise)
Morning breakfast then transfer to catch a flight to the Pakuba Airstrip close to Murchison Falls National Park. After reaching here, you shall be transferred to the stunning park where you enjoy a Game Drive as you traverse from one point to another watching many wildlife animals as they wander and these include; Elephants, Buffaloes, lions, Uganda kobs, Leopards, Rothschild’s Giraffes, antelopes, hippos, Jackson’s hartebeest, waterbuck, topis, gazelles, warthogs, etc. After the Game Drive, you shall transfer to have lunch then after proceed on an afternoon Boat Cruise along the Victoria Nile which takes a period of 3 hours as you proceed to the bottom of the falls where you watch many wildlife along the shores breaking their thirst as well as the waterfalls as they plunge into a small gorge. You can watch the rainbow as it descends deep within the falls. After the Boat Cruise proceed back to the lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Pakuba Safari Lodge.
Day 3: Boat Cruise & guided walk to the Top of the Falls
Morning breakfast then transfer to the Park to enjoy a Boat cruise along the Victoria Nile watching many wildlife animals along the banks like elephant, buffaloes, kobs, small antelope, giraffes, topis as well as Hippos, crocodiles beneath the waters as well as various bird species as they fly around their natural habitat. Break off for lunch then transfer to enjoy a guided walk to the top of the falls watching many wildlife animals as well as bird species. After the guided nature walk to the top of the falls, you shall transfer back to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Pakuba Safari Lodge.
Day 4: Fly to Kidepo Valley National Park
Breakfast then transfer to the Pakuba Airstrip to board a domestic flight to the Apoka Airstrip close to Kidepo Valley National Park. You shall reach here then transfer tp the Park that is located close to the remote dramatic park tucked against the Karamoja border with South Sudan and Kenya. On reaching here, you shall enjoy views of the wide-open valleys that inhabit various wildlife animals, Morungole and Napore mountains with the unique IK people that are exceptional to encounter. You shall do this while on Game Drive then at mid day have lunch then later transfer on afternoon game drive across the Narus Valley watching wildlife animals. After the Game Drive, you shall transfer to lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Apoka Safari Lodge.
Day 5: Full Day in Kidepo Valley National Park
Breakfast then transfer on a full day to explore this vast wilderness with dramatically fewer visitors than Uganda’s southern parks. You embark on morning and afternoon game drives across the Narus and Kidepo valleys tracking large herds of buffalo, elephant, Rothschild’s giraffe, lion prides. You can engage on an optional visit to visit the Karamojong homestead for insight into the semi-nomadic pastoralist culture of the region. After the adventure and encounters, you shall proceed to lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Apoka Safari Lodge.
Day 6: Fly to Kibale Forest National Park
Breakfast then transfer to the Apoka Airstrip to board a flight to Kasese Airstrip close to Kibale Forest National Park and after reaching here you shall be welcomed and picked by a driver guide who transfers you to the Park headquarters where you register to trek the chimpanzees the next Day. You shall then proceed to check-in your lodge for relaxation after jet lag and have Dinner as well as Overnight. Primates’ Lodge Kibale.
Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland
Early morning breakfast then transfer to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre where you go through precise briefing on conduct around the chimpanzees. After the briefing, you shall transfer to the green forest to track the habituated chimpanzees as you traverse from one trail to another for a period of 2 to 6 hours depending on their reported location. On your trekking adventure, you shall watch other primates like the red colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and l’Hoest’s monkeys. After a while you shall meet the chimpanzees and stay in their presence taking various photos to keep with you. After trekking the chimpanzees, break off for lunch then in the afternoon transfer to explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary where you watch various bird species like the striking great blue turaco, shoebill stork. Primates’ Lodge Kibale.
Day 8: Fly to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy breakfast then continue to catch a short flight to Kihihi Airstrip near Queen Elizabeth National Park. You shall then get picked up by a driver guide who transfers you to the Park to enjoy a game drive along the Kasenyi plains watching many wildlife animals like lions, elephant, buffalo and large herds of Uganda kobs. After he Game Drive, you shall proceed to check-in lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 9: Boat Cruise Kazinga Channel & Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions
Morning breakfast then transfer to the Park to enjoy a Game Drive watching wildlife animals as they wander from one point to another. After the Game Drive you shall continue to enjoy a Boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel where you watch schools of hippo, crocodiles, animals along the shores. After the boat cruise, you shall transfer to the shores then to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 10: Fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Breakfast then transfer to the Kihihi Airstrip where you board a domestic flight to the Savannah Airstrip and on reaching here, you are welcomed and picked up by a driver guide who transfers you to the National Park. On reaching the park, proceed to the park then to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Buhoma Lodge.
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi Forest National Park
Breakfast then transfer to the park headquarters for short briefing on conduct around the Mountain Gorillas. The Park ranger guide will take you through short briefing on conduct around the Gorillas then later, he shall locate you into groups of 8 with lead rangers who shall take you to the thick forest where you start trekking the rare species of Gorillas. Trek these for a period of 3 to 6 hours depending on their current location in the forest then later you shall meet them and stay in their presence taking various photos to keep. After trekking the Gorillas, stay in their presence taking many photos to keep with you. After trekking the Gorillas, you shall proceed back to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Buhoma Lodge.
Day 12: Fly to Entebbe & Departure
Morning breakfast then transfer to the Savanna Airstrip to board flight to Entebbe International Airport to board flight back home.
Inclusions
All internal scheduled flights between parks
All park entrance fees
Gorilla trekking permit and chimpanzee trekking permit
Private ground transfers and game drives at each location with an English-speaking guide
Accommodation (mid-range or luxury lodges/camps)
All meals as specified
Murchison Falls boat cruise and Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Exclusions
International flights
Uganda visa
Tips and gratuities
Alcoholic and bottled beverages
Travel insurance (including evacuation cover — recommended)
Optional activities