18 Days Discover Uganda
Embark on an 18-day Uganda safari and discover the wonders that make Uganda so special. Experience thrilling activities like gorilla trekking in the jungles of Bwindi, chimpanzee trekking, and wildlife encounters in Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Explore golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and don't miss a visit to Jinja, the adventure capital of East Africa.
Day 1: Arrival – Hotel
Upon your arrival at Entebbe Airport, you'll be greeted by your local representative/guide, who will transfer you to Kampala, located 37 km away. After checking into your hotel, you can relax and unwind from your long flight. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner and a restful night at the hotel.
Estimated distance: 1 hour drive
Accommodation and meals: Sheraton Hotel/Fairway Hotel – Half board
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja
Start your day early with breakfast before heading out for an excursion to Jinja. En route, stop at Mabira Forest, Uganda's largest tropical rainforest, where you'll enjoy a nature walk and experience thrilling skyway zip-lining. Continue your journey to Jinja, crossing the bridge into the eastern part of Uganda. Jinja, the country's second-largest town and commercial hub after Kampala, offers a variety of exciting activities for a day trip. In the late afternoon, visit the Source of the Nile and take a scenic sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria. Afterward, return to your lodge, where you can unwind and relax after an exciting day of exploration.
Estimated distance: 2-3 hours drive.
Accommodation and meals: Nile Resort/2 friends Jinja/Gately on the Nile – Full board
Day 3: Rafting and transfer to Sipi falls
After breakfast, meet your driver, who will take you to the starting point for a briefing from expert guides about the rafting experience. Enjoy an exciting half-day rafting adventure, then drive towards the Far East, heading to Kapchorwa District. Arrive in the late afternoon and check into your lodge to relax and unwind.
Estimated distance: 5-6 hours
Accommodation and meals: Sipi River lodge/Lacam lodge/Noah’s Ark
Day 4: Visit Sipi falls
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, drive to the Sipi Falls offices to register and meet your guide for the hike. Sipi Falls, located at the foothills of Mount Elgon, consists of three stunning falls with heights of 85m, 75m, and 100m. During the hike, you'll also have the opportunity to interact with the local community living near the falls. Depending on your fitness level, you can visit all three falls or explore two of them before returning to your lodge for relaxation. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at your chosen lodge: Sipi River Lodge, Lacam Lodge, or Noah’s Ark.
Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo
Wake up early, enjoy your breakfast, and check out of the lodge to begin your journey to the northeastern part of Uganda – Kidepo Valley National Park. This will be a full day drive, with a lunch stop in Moroto Town and a chance to stretch along the way. Arrive in Kidepo by the late afternoon and check into your lodge to unwind after the scenic, long drive. The next morning, enjoy breakfast before heading out to explore the Narus Valley, where you'll experience the stunning landscapes, local communities, and unique vegetation.
Estimated distance: 7-8 hours drive
Accommodation: Apoka Safari lodge/Kidepo Savannah lodge/UWA Bandas
Day 6: Spend the day in Kidepo Valley National Park, searching for wild cats and other wildlife. Kidepo is renowned for its cheetahs, so with a bit of luck, you may spot them along with other animals such as leopards, lions, buffaloes, elephants, and antelopes. The park offers excellent observation points equipped with binoculars, enhancing your wildlife experience.
Afterward, return to the lodge for lunch and relax for a bit. In the afternoon, embark on a drive to Kidepo Valley, near the South Sudan border, to visit the hot springs and observe a variety of bird species, including ostriches. Return to the lodge in the evening, where you can enjoy dinner and spend another peaceful night at your lodge, either Apoka Safari Lodge or Kidepo Savannah Lodge.
Day 7: Transfer to Murchison falls
Wake up early, enjoy your breakfast, and drive through Narus Valley to catch a glimpse of any animals you may have missed. Then, continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Stop in Gulu Town for a timely lunch and a chance to stretch before heading on to the park. Arrive in Murchison Falls by the early evening, check into your lodge, and relax before enjoying dinner and an overnight stay.
Estimated distance: 7-8 hours
Accommodation and Meals: Paraa Safari lodge/Pakuba safari lodge/Fort Murchison lodge- Half board
Day 8: Boat cruise, hike to the falls and evening game drive
After breakfast, head to the 9 a.m. boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls along the Nile, where you'll enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the mighty falls. During the cruise, you’ll likely encounter crocodiles, hippos, and various bird species along the riverbanks, such as kingfishers, cormorants, and bee-eaters.
Once you reach the base of the falls, embark on a hike to the top. Although this hike can be challenging, it offers incredible views of the falls from different vantage points, and reaching the top will leave you in awe. Spend some time at the top to take in the stunning scenery before meeting your driver for the return trip to your lodge for lunch.
In the late afternoon, enjoy a game drive to explore the park's diverse wildlife. Expect to see animals like giraffes, buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeest, Oribi, and Uganda kobs. If you're lucky, you might also spot leopards, lions, and hyenas as evening falls. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Paraa Safari lodge/Fort Murchison lodge/Pakuba lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale
After a hearty breakfast, meet your driver and begin your journey to Kibale Forest National Park in Kabarole District. This will be a full-day drive, with a stop for lunch along the way. Arrive in the late afternoon and head to your lodge to relax and refresh. Enjoy dinner and spend a restful night at the lodge.
Estimated distance: 7-8 hrs
Accommodation: Kyaninga lodge/Chimpanzee Forest Guest house – half board
Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking
Enjoy an early breakfast before transferring to the park head office for a briefing on the endangered chimpanzees. Afterward, venture into the forest with a park ranger, equipped with your tracking gear, packed water, and snacks. The chimpanzee trek can take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours, depending on the movement of the primates. Once you locate them, you'll spend an hour observing their behaviour and capturing memorable photos of these fascinating creatures. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch and refresh. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above on full board
Day 11: Bigodi wetland visit – Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast, your driver will take you on a nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland, where you'll enjoy the peaceful sounds of birds and the untouched beauty of nature. Bigodi Wetland is a birdwatcher's paradise, offering the chance to spot a variety of bird species in their natural habitat. After the walk, return to the lodge for lunch and some time to refresh. In the late afternoon, embark on a 3-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with a stop at the Equator along the way. Once you enter the park, continue to your lodge for check-in and relaxation.
Accommodation and meals: Mweya Safari lodge/Parkview Safari lodge/Pumba safari cottages
Day 12: Lion tracking and boat cruise
Wake up early and meet your guide for an exciting lion tracking adventure, where you'll venture off the beaten path to track and observe lions up close. This activity will conclude around 7 a.m. Afterward, enjoy breakfast before heading out for a game drive in the Kasenyi area, where you'll encounter other wildlife such as buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, and various antelope species. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, embark on a 3-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which flows into Lake Edward. This cruise takes you through an area with the highest concentration of hippos, and you'll likely see a variety of animals drinking at the water’s edge. It's also a fantastic opportunity for photography, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi
Wake up early, enjoy your breakfast and depart the park connecting to Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Kisoro district. Arrive at your lodge at good time for lunch. Later afternoon after relaxing, you will go for an optional community tour where you will learn and be entertained by the local people around the park. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Estimated distance: 5-6 hours
Accommodation and Meals: Mahogany springs lodge/ Ic humbi Gorilla lodge- Half board
Day 14: Gorilla trekking
Have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by a local guide. The time taken is usually between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge. Depending on the time you return from the trekking activity, you may do an optional community tour. Have dinner and overnight stay as lodge above on full board
Day 15: Community tour – Kisoro
You will have breakfast and embark on one of the many optional adventures in Bwindi including Batwa experience, guided forest walk or a tour of the villages around the Park. Have lunch and in the evening, drive to an accommodation near kisoro to spend a night bringing you closer to Mgahinga national park and also have your dinner.
Accommodation and meals: Lake Mutanda Resort/Travelers’ Rest Lodge – Half board.
Day 16: Golden monkeys tracking
After having early morning breakfast, drive to transfer to Mgahinga National Park-one of the parks on the Virunga Mountains, it’s an hour drive from kisoro. Upon arriving at the park, you will be briefed about the activity then set off to search for the primates. This activity takes about 2-5 hours depending on their movement. On finding the golden monkeys, you will be allowed to spend an hour with them while taking pictures and videos. Return to the starting point and meet your driver at the lodge.
Return for dinner and overnight at Lake Mutanda Resort/Travelers Rest Hotel
Day 17: Transfer to Mburo national park – night game drive
Wake up very early and drive to Lake Mburo national park, it’s a 5 hours drive arrival Mburo at good time for lunch. After having your delicious meal, you will go for a boat trip on lake Mburo and return to the lodge and rest.
After your dinner at the lodge, you will go for a night game drive along with a park ranger guide. Lake Mburo is one of the best places to view wildlife in the night. On a very lucky day, you will see the lions and leopards hunting or feeding. Return to the lodge to sleep.
Accommodation and Meals: Arcadia cottages/Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort/Lake Bunyonyi Overland resort – Full Board.
Day 18: Transfer to Kampala & Departure
Enjoy your breakfast and check out of the lodge and drive out of the park to return either Kampala/Entebbe, en route at the Equator for picture moment. Arrive in Kampala at good time for lunch then proceed to Entebbe airport to find your flight to your next destination. End of tour.