Overview
Take part in this unforgettable 18-day Uganda Safari that takes you on an extraordinary journey through the pearl of Africa. Experience a thrilling gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and marvel at abundant wildlife on game drives in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Not forgetting the unique cultures like the Bakiga, Batooro, Batwa, Banyankole and more through the community walks, tasting traditional dancers, and more. The safari will involve visiting the famous attractions in the city such as museums, zoos, monuments, local markets, and more. This safari combines adventure, wildlife, culture,e and breathtaking landscapes offering the ultimate African experience.
Detailed Itinerary
Day1. Arrival day and optional Entebbe city tour
Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! The driver will pick you up upon your landing at Entebbe International Airport and he will take you through a quick briefing bout this great 18-day Uganda safari. You will have an optional tour in Entebbe depending on your arrival time where you will visit some of the notable attractions like the Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Centre or Botanical Gardens of Entebbe. Later on, head to your lodge-booked hotel.
Day2. Travel to Murchison Falls NP, Ziwa Rhino trekking
Begin the day with breakfast on the balcony of your room and transfer to Murchison Falls NP a home to four of the big five animals. It's also known to have the most powerful waterfalls in the world that is Murchison Falls where the park gets its name.
This is the largest protected area in Uganda bisected into two by the river Nile creating a savannah grassland in the north and forested areas in the southern part of the park. On the way to the park, make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for trekking these unique animals and one of the big five animals. Trekking will last for about 2 hours, have lunch and proceed to Murchison Falls. Arrival and head to the lodge for your dinner and night's stay.
Day3. Game drive, boat cruise, and hike on top of the falls
Take a morning game drive in the park which will take 2 -3 hours and a break at the hippo pool to enjoy bush breakfast or taste some of Uganda's sweet fruits like pineapples, passion fruit, or mangoes. While on the game drive, expect to meet animals like Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes, giraffes, bushbucks, oribis, water bucks, bush pigs, warthogs, and many more.
Have a lunch break which will be followed by a boat cruise on Albert Nile r to watch more wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, water bucks, elephants, fish eagles, and more. Have a beautiful view of the falls from the bottom and take a chance to hike to the top of the falls.
The top offers a thunderous sound which is produced when water passes through the narrow cauldron hence forming a rainbow. Head back to the lodge for your dinner.
Day4. Transfer to Kibale NP, visit tea plantations and crater lakes
Have breakfast and then check to transfer to Kibale National Park in western Uganda. This park is known to be the primate capital of the world with 13 primates and the chimpanzees our close relatives becoming the main attraction. Enjoy the beautiful day journey since it's covered with scenic landscapes covered with banana plantations, coffee gardens, and tea estates.
Have lunch on arrival which will be followed by a walk with a community guide from Isunga Cultural Community Tours/Association to take you through tea growing and harvesting at the edge of Kibale National Park and then visit the crater lakes including a hike to the top of the world to enjoy a panoramic view of the three crater lakes, Kibale forest, tea plantations the different communities. You will learn about the culture of the local people living in this area. Return to the lodge for your dinner.
Day5. Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Swamp walk
Head for an exciting adventure in the wild after your breakfast which will include visiting our closest relative, the chimpanzee through tracking. Head to the Kanyanchu Visitors Centre for briefing, crosschecking the trekking permits, allocation of the park guide and escorts, and more.
Begin the search after being told about the rules and regulations for trekking and meet several primates like olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-checked mangabeys, and many more.
Trekking will last for about 5 hours but an hour will be dedicated to you with fellow trekkers while following chimpanzees. After, head for lunch at the lodge followed by a visit to Bigodi Swamp a wildlife corridor for animals in Kibale National Park. While in the swamp, spot different primates and birds plus other tree species. Return to the lodge for your dinner and sleep.
Day6. Visit Amabere Ga'Nyinamwiru caves and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
The day begins with breakfast and then check out to visit Amabere Ga'Nyinamwiru caves a historical site in Fort Portal that is connected with the Bachwezi dynasty. These are rocks known as the stalactites and stalagmites that produce a milk substance hence the traditions are termed as the breasts.
After, you will proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will encounter wildlife/savannah animals and birds. The journey is amazing with a scenic view of the Rwenzori mountain ranges, endless savannah plains, and local roadside markets. Arrive in the most visited national park in Uganda and check in the accommodation facility booked.
Day7. Game drive and boat cruise
Take a morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise in the park where you will encounter different wildlife including migratory birds on the Kazinga channel. Each activity takes about 2 hours including several stopovers.
Expect to meet animals like African elephants, African buffalo, Ugandan kob, hippos, leopards, lions, warthogs, giant forest hogs, Nile crocodiles, spotted hyenas, African civets, bush pigs, sitatunga, oribis, Bohor reedbuck and birds like pelicans, Gray-crowned crane, Long-Crested Eagle, and Black-and-White-Casqued hornbill. You will have an option of visiting Lake Katwe, a salt mining Lake.
Day8. Transfer to Bwindi National Park through the Ishasha sector
Head to the mighty Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi passing through the Ishasha sector to trek the rare tree-climbing lions. The journey to this park is amazing since you will enjoy different vegetation covers from savannahs to the forested areas through tea estates.
Day9. Gorilla trekking day
Wake up and head to the park offices where you will encounter rules and regulations such as don't feed wild animals, don't use a flashlight camera, always keeping a distance, and more. Trekking will begin at around 8:00 am through the jungle as you spend an hour following the gorillas as you witness the beautiful creatures play, search for food, breastfeed young ones, and more.
The overall experience takes about 5 to 7 hours as you spot different attractions including other primates, plants, butterflies, and many more. After the experience, you will head to the lodge booked for your lunch and leisure.
Day10. Batwa community walk and transfer to Lake Mutanda
The day will begin with breakfast and then head to visit the Batwa community at the edge of the forest. The Batwa community walk takes you through the homesteads of Batwa pygmies, learn about the traditional music and dances, storytelling, and many more. The experience involves firemaking using local tools and many more others. After, head to Lake Mutanda located at the foothills of the Virunga mountain ranges creating a chance to view Mt Muhabura, Mt Sabyinyo, and Mt Gahinga. Arrive and have leisure at one of the resort hotels.
Day11. Leisure on Lake Mutanda
Take a leisure time enjoying the cool breeze from Lake Mutanda with options of taking a canoe ride or a community walk to hike to one of the hills to enjoy a panoramic view of the lake.
Day12. Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Batwa Cultural Trail tour
Leave Lake Mutanda on leisure and head to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park a home to both Golden monkeys and mountain gorillas - the rare primate species. The journey is amazing since you enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Virunga mountain ranges. This park is the smallest among the protected areas in Uganda covering an area of 33.9 square kilometers.
On arrival, take a cultural trail tour of the Batwa where the Twa guide takes you through the forest to explore the beautiful home where these people used to stay. Visit the caves, learn about herbal medicines, hunting techniques, and more. The Batwa people are the early inhabitants of the forest but they were evicted due to conservation efforts. Head back to the lodge and prepare for your next day's experience.
Day13. Golden monkey trekking
Wake up and head to the offices of the park after breakfast. This is where the briefing takes place, including crosschecking the trekking permits, and allocation of the park ranger guide, a porter, and the escorts. After beginning the trek with the help of the park ranger, spot other attractions like the birds and plants. If you are lucky enough, meet the mountain gorillas since these are their territories.
Meeting golden monkeys is a special moment as they are playful since they enjoy flashlight camera. Spending an hour there taking photos is a rewarding adventure while noticing that some of them do not have tails since they are cut off by tree branches as they play. Return to the lodge for a leisurely evening.
Day14. Hike Mt Sabyinyo
Have breakfast and take a 6-hour hike to Mt Sabyinyo one of the most iconic mountains in the Virunga Mountains. This mountain gets its name from the local word which is translated as "old man's tooth" in English due to its shape.
Hiking gives you different experiences such as that one where you get a tweet about the gorillas, golden monkeys, and other creatures of the park, and also have a chance to stand in three countries at the same time and these are Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo.
Day15. Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Head to Lake Mburo National Park the smallest savannah protected area in Uganda located in western Uganda nearing Mbarara city. This park is unique in a way that it has wild animals that can't be found elsewhere in Uganda such as impalas, elands, and more. Have a stopover and new cultural center to get an insight into Bakiga and Banyankole cultures. This will be through visiting the museum and tasting the traditional dishes like "Eshabwe", matoke/banana, and millet bread. Proceed to the park and have a leisurely evening.
Day16. Horse riding and nature walks
Have breakfast and head to the park where horse riding takes place. This experience takes you to a closer look at wild animals such as Zebras, impalas, elands, buffalos, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopards, hippo, hyenas, topi, reedbuck, warthogs, bushbucks, bush pigs, duikers, and waterbucks and many more others. After take a nature walk in the after with an armed park ranger for protection in case of animal attack to enjoy nature at its best.
Day17. Drive back to Kampala on leisure, stopover at the equator
Leave the park after breakfast and head back to Kampala with a stopover at the equator point. Here take photos and enjoy a lunch break after visiting some craft markets. Arrive in Kampala and take an optional tour of some attractions in Kampala before retiring at the hotel.
Day18. Short city tour, head to the airport, and departure flight
Have breakfast and visit the Independence monument, local markets like Nakasero market, the Uganda museum which is known to be the oldest in East Africa, the Kabaka's palace, and many more others. Later, transfer to the Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight hence the end of the tour.