Book 20 days Uganda safari adventure, expect to explore all the key regions in the pearl of Africa. From the east to the west, north to the south and in all these regions, you will enjoy myriad of experiences in different destinations.

This enriching trip plan encompasses exciting activities such as rhino tracking, game drives, boat cruise, hiking safaris, cultural experiences, mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, canoeing, coffee tour, white water rafting and lion trekking.

Expect to immerse yourself in Uganda’s finest destinations including Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Sipi Falls, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and the Source of Nile River in Jinja.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Hotel – Transfer to Murchison Falls – Zziwa rhino tracking

Day 2: Morning game drive – Afternoon launch cruise at the bottom of the falls

Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo National Park – Evening game drive

Day 4: Moring game drive and Karamojong culture

Day 5: Morning game drive -Transfer to Pian Upe game reserve

Day 6 Morning game drive in Pian Upe – Transfer to Sipi falls

Day 7: Explore Sipi falls – Hike Sipi waterfalls and coffee tour

Day 8: Transfer to Jinja – Visit Jinja Town

Day 9: White water rafting – Transfer to Kampala

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale national park

Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking – Visit Bigodi swamp

Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – launch cruise along the Kazinga channel

Day 13: Lion tracking – Transfer to Ishasha for Afternoon game drive

Day 14: Game drive in Ishasha sector – Transfer to Bwindi national park

Day 15: Mountain gorilla trekking – visit Batwa Pygmies

Day 16: Golden monkey tracking

Day 17: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and island tour

Day 18: Transfer to Lake Mburo – boat ride – night game drive

Day 19:  Nature walk in the park / game drive – Transfer to Kampala

Day 20: Mabamba swamp canoeing tour – Drop off at the airport

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Hotel – Transfer to Murchison Falls – Zziwa rhino tracking

Enjoy a hefty breakfast in your respective hotels in Kampala and after, meet your driver guide to have your luggage packed in the vehicle. Before you set off, you will be taken through a briefing about your road trip. Today, you will be transferred to Murchison Falls National Park in Northwestern Uganda and this is the biggest of all the 10 Parks in the country.

Driving to Murchison Falls Park takes about 6-7 hours on Kampala-Gulu highway and en-route, you have a chance to make a stopover at Ziwa. While in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you will engage in a trek to see rhinos in the wild and upon finding them, observe their behaviors as well as take pictures.

You will then have lunch at the restaurant in Masindi town and connect up to your lodge. But first, get cleared at the park gate and while driving inside the park, a certain speed will be observed as per the park regulations.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge
  • Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp

Day 2: Morning game drive – Afternoon launch cruise at the bottom of the falls

Depart from your safari lodge and enjoy a guided game drive through the Northern section of Murchison Falls. Today’s session involves spending 2-3 hours and as you drive, get a chance to see the Rothschild giraffes, lions, African bush elephants, warthogs, antelopes like Kobs, hartebeest, oribis; and bird species.

Return from the game drive to be served lunch at your respective lodges. Leave the lodge for a boat cruise starting from Paraa jetty to the base of the falls. This 2-hour excursion allows you view aquatic life like hippos, crocodiles and birds.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge
  • Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp

Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo National Park – Evening game drive

After breakfast, set off from the scenic Murchison Falls Park to Kidepo Valley National Park in the extreme Northeastern Uganda. Arrive early and check in your lodge for relaxation then later in the evening, proceed with a game drive. This will get you exposed to myriad of nocturnal species as they become active and other mammals plus birds.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Adere Safari Lodge/Apoka Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Kidepo Savanna Lodge
  • Budget: Apoka Rest Camp

Day 4: Moring game drive and Karamojong culture

Meet your driver guide after having breakfast and today, expect to start your day with a guided game drive through Narus valley. Along the Narus Valley, expect to come across numerous wildlife including cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and on the lucky day, leopards can also be spotted.

Drive back to have lunch and some relaxation then you will be accompanied on a guided community visit to the Karamojong community. Learn different cultures, traditions and enjoy the dances or music performances as showcased by locals.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Adere Safari Lodge/Apoka Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Kidepo Savanna Lodge
  • Budget: Apoka Rest Camp

Day 5: Morning game drive -Transfer to Pian Upe game reserve

Embark on a guided game drive in Kidepo for you to encounter more wildlife and after, you will be transferred to Pian Upe Game Reserve.

Accommodation

  • Pian Upe Savanna Lodge

Day 6 Morning game drive in Pian Upe – Transfer to Sipi falls

Set off for a game drive through the finest Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. This wildlife reserve is blessed with wildlife species such as buffaloes, Uganda kobs, reedbucks, roan antelopes, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffes, and others. After the game drive, settle for lunch and later, transfer to Sipi Falls.

Accommodation

  • Sipi River Lodge
  • Noah’s Ark Lodge

Day 7: Explore Sipi falls – Hike Sipi waterfalls and coffee tour

After breakfast, you will be led by an experienced guide on a hike to the Sipi Falls. You will be exploring the 3 series of Sipi falls available at varying elevations of 75m, 85 and 100m.

Today, you will also have a combed coffee tour experience. This involves visiting the nearby community for you to learn how coffee is grown and all other stages it goes to have the final product.

Accommodation

  • Sipi River Lodge
  • Noah’s Ark Lodge

Day 8: Transfer to Jinja – Visit Jinja Town

Have a hearty breakfast and after, you will leave Sipi falls for Jinja. Drive past Iganga town and arrive in Jinja early for you to check in your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation

  • Nile Resort Jinja

Day 9: White water rafting – Transfer to Kampala

After breakfast, meet the experts for briefing about white water rafting safety guidelines. Before setting off for actual rafting experience, ensure that you have a rafting jacket and expect to conquer the toughest grades on the Source of the Nile River. Return to have lunch early then set off for Kampala.

Accommodation

  • Serena Hotel Kampala
  • Cassia Lodge

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast, depart Kampala for Kibale National Park via Mityana, Mubende to Fort Portal city. This covers an en-route lunch break in Fort Portal town and later, proceed to the lodge for relaxation.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
  • Midrange: Chimps Nest/Primate Lodge
  • Budget: Isunga Lodge

Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking – Visit Bigodi swamp

The morning chimpanzee trek will begin with briefing at Kanyanchu where you will get to know the dos and don’ts to be followed. The trek with Kibale chimp trek will begin at 8:00am and expect to spend 2-4 hours with an hour guaranteed for your up close and personal encounter.

After the trek with Kibale chimps, walk back and at the lodge expect to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, you will be embarking on Bigodi wetland walk. In Bigodi, look out for more primates and interesting birds, etc.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
  • Midrange: Chimps Nest/Primate Lodge
  • Budget: Isunga Lodge

Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – launch cruise along the Kazinga channel

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will check in the lodge pre-booked for you and after having lunch, you will go for the Kazinga channel boat cruise. Along the Kazinga, you will be viewing hundreds of hippos, basking crocodiles and plenty of aquatic bird species.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Bush Lodge/Elephant Plains/Buffalo Safari Lodge

Day 13: Lion tracking – Transfer to Ishasha for Afternoon game drive

Have breakfast then exit the lodge for a guided lion tracking experience. This involves spending good time searching for lions and observe their behaviors, etc. After the lion tracking in Kasenyi, drive back for you to have early lunch and check out of the lodge.

From Kasenyi, get transferred to Ishasha where the afternoon game drive will be enjoyed in your 4×4 safari vehicle. Today’s game drive will have you exposed to species like the tree climbing lions.

Accommodation

  • Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Day 14: Game drive in Ishasha sector – Transfer to Bwindi National Park

After a hot cup of tea/coffee, embark on a game drive early morning. Explore the Ishasha during today’s morning game drive and search for topis, tree climbing lions, and birds. After, you will have lunch and then drive off to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Gorilla Heights
  • Midrange: Engagi Lodge/Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
  • Budget: Buhoma Community Camp

Day 15: Mountain gorilla trekking – visit Batwa Pygmies

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at your lodge and after, you will be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offices for briefing. Meet the park official who will take you through the guidelines for gorilla trekking and he or she will also allocate to you a habituated gorilla family.

About 22 habituated gorilla families are open for gorilla tourism but you will be visiting only one in your group of 8 visitors. Each group of visitors will be led by an interpretive guide and expect to spend 2-6 hours in the wild. Your adventure will include an hour of up close with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild, and it is during this session that you will have enough time to take pictures.

After trekking gorillas, a certificate will be provided to you by the park official and then you will return to the lodge. In the afternoon, you will be accompanied to the Batwa pygmies’ community for a cultural interaction. Find the Batwa pygmies, the indigenous people in Uganda –the forest dwellers. Explore their unique traditions, cultures, the ancient hunting and gathering techniques. After the cultural encounter and entertainment from the Batwa, you will get back to chill at the lodge.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Gorilla Heights
  • Midrange: Engagi Lodge/Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
  • Budget: Buhoma Community Camp

Day 16: Golden monkey tracking

Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and after, you will be transferred to Ntebeko centre for briefing about golden monkey tracking safety measures. Expect to begin your adventure early with the park guide accompanying you into the jungles to search for the golden monkey troop. When you find golden monkeys, you will be allowed to spend a maximum of an hour face-to-face with these primates, observe their behaviors and also take photos.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
  • Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort/Travelers Rest Hotel
  • Budget: Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp

Day 17: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and island tour

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale. This is Uganda’s deepest lake and has 29 islands. You will check in your lodges at Lake Bunyonyi and later, proceed with the afternoon canoeing experience. This involves navigating via the lake with dotted islands and you will also pay a visit to one of them preferably, the Punishment Island.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
  • Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
  • Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Resort

Day 18: Transfer to Lake Mburo – boat ride – night game drive

Have a leisurely cup of tea or coffee and after, check out of your camp/lodge around Lake Bunyonyi. From here, you will set off for Lake Mburo National Park, home to abundant zebras, impalas, topis, elands and buffaloes, etc. On arrival, check in your respective lodges for lunch then later in the afternoon, you will embark on a boat ride.

A boat ride will be enjoyed on Lake Mburo with a guide. Get a remarkable treat to aquatic life sightings ranging from hippos, crocodiles and birds.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kigambira Safari Lodge/Mihingo Lodge
  • Midrange: Mburo Safari Lodge/Rwakobo Rock
  • Budget: Rwonyo Rest Camp

Day 19: Nature walk in the park / game drive – Transfer to Kampala

Have an early morning cup of tea/coffee and after, you will have a guided nature walk or opt for a game drive. Nature walks usher you to different habitats to see the park’s wildlife on foot and a game drive will involve navigating some of the enriching game tracks in the park.

Lake Mburo National Park is famous for its diverse animal species including zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elands, topis, Uganda kobs, oribis and also holds over 350 bird species, some of which will be spotted on a game drive. After the morning activities, you will drive back to Kampala and en-route, make a stopover at the Equator crossing.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kampala Serena Hotel
  • Midrange: Protea Hotel by Protea Kampala
  • Budget: Fairway Hotel

Day 20: Mabamba swamp canoeing tour – Drop off at the airport

After you have enjoyed your breakfast, set off from Kampala to enjoy birding excursion in Mabamba swamp. Using a canoe, spend quality time searching for interesting birds that live in this wetland including shoebill storks, goliath heron, papyrus gonoleks, black faced rufous warblers, orange weavers, winding cisticolas, and others. After the birding session, you will be dropped off to Entebbe International Airport (EBB) where you will depart back home.

End of Safari

Safari inclusions

  • Game drives
  • Chimpanzee, golden monkey & gorilla permits
  • Boat cruise
  • Canoeing
  • Park entrance fees
  • Accommodation and all meals
  • All fees for ground travel for 20 days
  • Service of an experienced guide or driver

Safari exclusions

  • Tips
  • Laundry services
  • Insurance
  • Optional activities
  • Extra accommodation fees
  • Cigarettes
  • Telephone bills