This 18-day ultimate Uganda adventure is a comprehensive journey designed to immerse you in the country’s most spectacular destinations. This all-inclusive safari takes you from the scenic savannahs of the south to the remote wildernesses of the north, ensuring you experience the best of what Uganda has to offer. You will trek with gorillas and chimpanzees, encounter the Big Five on thrilling game drives, and explore the unique cultural traditions of the Karamojong people. This tour is a perfect blend of adventure, wildlife, and cultural discovery, starting and ending in Kampala/Entebbe.
Tour Highlights
Upon meeting your safari driver-guide in Kampala or Entebbe, you will begin your journey to Lake Mburo National Park. The drive includes a stop at the Equator for a photo opportunity. You will then proceed to your lodge for check-in before an evening game drive. This park is home to a variety of plains animals, including zebra, impala, and a rich diversity of bird species.
Drive Time: Approximately 4-5 hours
After an early breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and go for a sunrise game drive. This is an excellent time to spot wildlife as the animals are most active. Afterward, you will embark on a scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi in southwestern Uganda. Arrive in the evening for a relaxing time at the lodge, followed by dinner and overnight.
Following breakfast, you will enjoy a serene boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi, visiting its historical islands as you learn about the local culture and legends. Afterward, you will drive south to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The journey takes you through beautiful highland scenery. You will arrive in the afternoon, check in to your lodge, and prepare for your gorilla trekking adventure.
Drive Time: 2-3 hours
This is the most anticipated day of your safari. After an early breakfast, you will be briefed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before being led into the forest to begin your search for a mountain gorilla family. The trek can be strenuous, but the reward of spending one hour with these gentle giants is a truly life-changing experience. In the afternoon, you will participate in a Batwa cultural experience, learning about the traditions and forest life of the Batwa Pygmies.
After breakfast, you will drive to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, specifically the Ishasha sector. You will arrive in the afternoon and have an en-route game drive before checking into your lodge. The rest of the afternoon is for relaxing before an evening game drive in search of late grazers.
Drive Time: Approximately 4 hours
Today is dedicated to exploring the wilderness of the Ishasha sector. You will spend the entire day on game drives, with a primary focus on searching for the famous tree-climbing lions as they lounge in the branches of fig trees. Although a sighting depends on luck and nature, this is the best place in Uganda to see this unique behavior. You will also spot other wildlife, including elephants, topi, and various antelopes.
After breakfast, you will drive to the northern part of the park, the Mweya sector. This area is known for its diverse habitats, from open grassland to acacia woodland. You will arrive at your lodge for a hot lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive. This area is home to the Big 4 and a remarkable 604 species of birds.
Drive Time: 1-2 hours
An early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains offers an opportunity to spot lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and various antelopes. After returning to the lodge for a late breakfast and lunch, you will proceed to the pier for an unforgettable boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This boat safari is a highlight of any trip to Queen Elizabeth, offering close-up views of hippos, crocodiles, and a fantastic array of birdlife along the shores.
After breakfast, you will visit the Katwe Salt Lakes to learn about the traditional salt mining process. Afterward, you will embark on a scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park. You will have a stop for lunch en route. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary to see resident monkeys and birds.
Drive Time: 1-2 hours
Following breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters to begin your chimpanzee trekking experience. Accompanied by experienced guides, you will trek into the forest to find a community of chimpanzees. This is an exciting opportunity to be within meters of these highly social apes. The trek can be strenuous as they are highly mobile, but it offers a profound look into their daily lives.
Today, you will drive to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest conservation area. The journey offers beautiful scenery. Upon arrival, you will first visit the Top of Murchison Falls, witnessing the Nile River’s dramatic squeeze through a narrow gorge. Afterward, you will have an en-route game drive as you make your way to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Drive Time: Approximately 6-7 hours
You will go for an early morning game drive in the northern sector of the park to spot giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and, if you are lucky, lions and leopards. After returning to the lodge for lunch, you will embark on a two-hour boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. This cruise provides fantastic views of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species enjoying the banks of the Nile.
This morning, you will embark on a cruise downstream to the Nile Delta, where the river flows into Lake Albert. This area is a haven for wetland and papyrus endemic bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork. The cruise offers a unique opportunity for bird watching and spotting other wildlife. In the afternoon, you can choose to take a second game drive to search for any species you may have missed.
After breakfast, you will begin the long but scenic journey to Kidepo Valley National Park. This secluded park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya. You will arrive in the evening and relax at your lodge before a mini game drive.
Drive Time: Approximately 8-9 hours
Today, you will have full-day game drives in the valleys of both Narus and Kidepo. The Narus Valley is the park’s primary game-viewing location due to its permanent water sources, attracting large concentrations of wildlife. The drive will also take you to the dry Kidepo River, famous for its wide white-sand bed and borassus palms.
Your second full day in Kidepo offers another chance to explore this magnificent wilderness. You will have game drives throughout the day, revisiting key spots and venturing into new areas to search for any animals you may have missed. The vast, open landscape provides superb photographic opportunities and an unparalleled sense of solitude.
After an early breakfast, you will embark on a final morning game drive in the Narus Valley before proceeding to visit a Karamojong village. The Karamojong are a unique pastoralist community, and you will get to visit their homesteads (manyatas) to witness their traditional dances and learn about their culture. Afterward, you will begin your drive to Gulu for an overnight stay to break up the long journey back to Kampala.
Drive Time: Approximately 3-4 hours
This is the final day of your adventure. You will drive back toward Kampala/Entebbe with a final stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Here, you will have a unique opportunity to go rhino tracking on foot. After the trek and a hot lunch, you will proceed with the journey, being dropped off at your preferred location in Kampala or Entebbe to conclude your ultimate Uganda safari.
This 18-day ultimate Uganda adventure is a comprehensive journey designed to immerse you in the country’s most spectacular destinations. This all-inclusive safari takes you from the scenic savannahs of the south to the remote wildernesses of the north, ensuring you experience the best of what Uganda has to offer. You will trek with gorillas and chimpanzees, encounter the Big Five on thrilling game drives, and explore the unique cultural traditions of the Karamojong people. This tour is a perfect blend of adventure, wildlife, and cultural discovery, starting and ending in Kampala/Entebbe.
Tour Highlights
Upon meeting your safari driver-guide in Kampala or Entebbe, you will begin your journey to Lake Mburo National Park. The drive includes a stop at the Equator for a photo opportunity. You will then proceed to your lodge for check-in before an evening game drive. This park is home to a variety of plains animals, including zebra, impala, and a rich diversity of bird species.
Drive Time: Approximately 4-5 hours
After an early breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and go for a sunrise game drive. This is an excellent time to spot wildlife as the animals are most active. Afterward, you will embark on a scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi in southwestern Uganda. Arrive in the evening for a relaxing time at the lodge, followed by dinner and overnight.
Following breakfast, you will enjoy a serene boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi, visiting its historical islands as you learn about the local culture and legends. Afterward, you will drive south to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The journey takes you through beautiful highland scenery. You will arrive in the afternoon, check in to your lodge, and prepare for your gorilla trekking adventure.
Drive Time: 2-3 hours
This is the most anticipated day of your safari. After an early breakfast, you will be briefed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before being led into the forest to begin your search for a mountain gorilla family. The trek can be strenuous, but the reward of spending one hour with these gentle giants is a truly life-changing experience. In the afternoon, you will participate in a Batwa cultural experience, learning about the traditions and forest life of the Batwa Pygmies.
After breakfast, you will drive to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, specifically the Ishasha sector. You will arrive in the afternoon and have an en-route game drive before checking into your lodge. The rest of the afternoon is for relaxing before an evening game drive in search of late grazers.
Drive Time: Approximately 4 hours
Today is dedicated to exploring the wilderness of the Ishasha sector. You will spend the entire day on game drives, with a primary focus on searching for the famous tree-climbing lions as they lounge in the branches of fig trees. Although a sighting depends on luck and nature, this is the best place in Uganda to see this unique behavior. You will also spot other wildlife, including elephants, topi, and various antelopes.
After breakfast, you will drive to the northern part of the park, the Mweya sector. This area is known for its diverse habitats, from open grassland to acacia woodland. You will arrive at your lodge for a hot lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive. This area is home to the Big 4 and a remarkable 604 species of birds.
Drive Time: 1-2 hours
An early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains offers an opportunity to spot lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and various antelopes. After returning to the lodge for a late breakfast and lunch, you will proceed to the pier for an unforgettable boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This boat safari is a highlight of any trip to Queen Elizabeth, offering close-up views of hippos, crocodiles, and a fantastic array of birdlife along the shores.
After breakfast, you will visit the Katwe Salt Lakes to learn about the traditional salt mining process. Afterward, you will embark on a scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park. You will have a stop for lunch en route. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary to see resident monkeys and birds.
Drive Time: 1-2 hours
Following breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters to begin your chimpanzee trekking experience. Accompanied by experienced guides, you will trek into the forest to find a community of chimpanzees. This is an exciting opportunity to be within meters of these highly social apes. The trek can be strenuous as they are highly mobile, but it offers a profound look into their daily lives.
Today, you will drive to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest conservation area. The journey offers beautiful scenery. Upon arrival, you will first visit the Top of Murchison Falls, witnessing the Nile River’s dramatic squeeze through a narrow gorge. Afterward, you will have an en-route game drive as you make your way to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Drive Time: Approximately 6-7 hours
You will go for an early morning game drive in the northern sector of the park to spot giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and, if you are lucky, lions and leopards. After returning to the lodge for lunch, you will embark on a two-hour boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. This cruise provides fantastic views of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species enjoying the banks of the Nile.
This morning, you will embark on a cruise downstream to the Nile Delta, where the river flows into Lake Albert. This area is a haven for wetland and papyrus endemic bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork. The cruise offers a unique opportunity for bird watching and spotting other wildlife. In the afternoon, you can choose to take a second game drive to search for any species you may have missed.
After breakfast, you will begin the long but scenic journey to Kidepo Valley National Park. This secluded park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya. You will arrive in the evening and relax at your lodge before a mini game drive.
Drive Time: Approximately 8-9 hours
Today, you will have full-day game drives in the valleys of both Narus and Kidepo. The Narus Valley is the park’s primary game-viewing location due to its permanent water sources, attracting large concentrations of wildlife. The drive will also take you to the dry Kidepo River, famous for its wide white-sand bed and borassus palms.
Your second full day in Kidepo offers another chance to explore this magnificent wilderness. You will have game drives throughout the day, revisiting key spots and venturing into new areas to search for any animals you may have missed. The vast, open landscape provides superb photographic opportunities and an unparalleled sense of solitude.
After an early breakfast, you will embark on a final morning game drive in the Narus Valley before proceeding to visit a Karamojong village. The Karamojong are a unique pastoralist community, and you will get to visit their homesteads (manyatas) to witness their traditional dances and learn about their culture. Afterward, you will begin your drive to Gulu for an overnight stay to break up the long journey back to Kampala.
Drive Time: Approximately 3-4 hours
This is the final day of your adventure. You will drive back toward Kampala/Entebbe with a final stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Here, you will have a unique opportunity to go rhino tracking on foot. After the trek and a hot lunch, you will proceed with the journey, being dropped off at your preferred location in Kampala or Entebbe to conclude your ultimate Uganda safari.
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