18 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI.
Overview.
Join our 18 days Uganda Safari, starting and ending from Kampala/Entebbe in addition to offering visitors with the golden opportunity of tracking Africa’s top two primate species-Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees and other amazing wildlife species. Popular tourist sites to visit during this long safari are Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo valley, and Murchison falls, Semliki, Mgahinga Gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburo National Parks among others.
Interesting tourist activities to expect during this long Uganda Safari include golden monkey tracking, launch cruises, Mountain gorilla trekking, game drives, guided nature walks, game drives, chimpanzee trekking and many others.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and drop-off at the Hotel in Kampala.
On the plane landing at Entebbe International Airport, your driver/guide will welcome you into the beautiful country and brief you on the itinerary including the destinations to be visited. Depending on arrival time, you will either be driven straight to the Hotel or first take part in a City tour before retreating to the Hotel.
Day 2: Drive from Kampala City to Kitgum Town.
Given the long drive from Kampala City to Kidepo Valley National Park, you will require to spend overnight in one of the en-route Towns. Stops at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for two hours’ Rhino Tracking adventure that will allow you spend time with the Southern Black Rhinos in their natural habitat as well as Lunch break at Kabalega Diners. Continue with the scenic drive until Kitgum Town for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Continue to Kidepo Valley National Park.
On the third day of your long safari continue to Kidepo Valley National Park, a remote and secluded National Park within north-eastern side of Uganda, bordering Kenya and South Sudan.
This journey lasts about 3 hours and on arrival at the Park start your adventure with a game drive with anticipation of spotting zebras, Uganda Kobs, Masai giraffes, buffaloes, Topis, elephants, Oribis and many others. Make sure to capture the photogenic views of the vast plains, valleys and rocky terrains among others. Drive to the booked Lodge/Hotel within or outside the Park for Lunch as well as dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Discovering the beauty of Kidepo Valley National Park.
Breakfast at the Lodge and prepare your mood for another breathtaking game drive through the extensive savannah plains of Kidepo Valley National Park, dotted with scenic hills and acacia trees. Watching sunrise across the towering Lotukei Mountains and Lomej Hills in addition to spotting numerous wildlife species in the Narus Valley makes a tip to Kidepo valley National Park magical.
Expect to see cheetahs, serval cats, jackals, lions, caracal, leopards, elephants, Uganda Kobs, zebras, buffaloes, Topis, Roan antelopes and many others in addition to unique bird species such as secretary birds, Karamoja Apalis and Somalia Ostriches among others. Drive back to the Lodge after 3-4 hours of rewarding game drive, be served Lunch and relax for the rest of the morning.
In the afternoon embark on another game drive that will lead to the spectacular hot springs of the Park where a plethora of exceptional wildlife and bird species such as Ostriches, cheetahs and elephants can be seen in large numbers. Delicious dinner and comfortable sleep at the Lodge.
Day 5: Leave the remote Kidepo Valley National Park for Murchison falls National Park.
Murchison falls National Park is about 5 hours’ drive away from Kidepo Valley National Park. Get up early for breakfast and embark on your journey to Uganda’s most popular tourist destination, entering through any of the northern gates. Head for the Lodge for relaxation for the rest of the day, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Early morning game drive, launch cruise to the bottom of the falls and hike to the top of the falls
After a delicious breakfast, start the game drive through wildlife-rich game tracks of Murchison falls National Park where incredible views of big mammals such as elephants and buffaloes, Masai giraffes, Defassa waterbucks, common elands, Oribis, lions, Hippos, olive baboons, Uganda Kobs, vervet monkeys, Warthogs and many others. Also look-out for the different bird species that call this magnificent Park home.
In the afternoon, have lunch and head out for the launch cruise along the Albert Nile to the bottom of the falls where you will leave the boat for the hike to the top of the falls. Relish the incredible views of the Murchison falls with the adjoining Uhuru falls. Common wildlife species during the boat cruise are hippos, elephants, Nile crocodiles and Uganda Kobs as well as bird species. Either connect with your driver/guide at the top of the falls for a drive back to the Lodge or descend and return to Paraa jetty with a boat cruise, then drive back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Depart your Lodge in Murchison falls National Park for Kibale Forest National Park.
In the morning after breakfast, check-out of the Lodge in Murchison falls National Park and continue to your next destination. Kibale Forest National Park is known for sheltering over 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzees that are trekked here for unforgettable experiences. There are also 375 species of birds in this Park and for your time here, you will discover many wonders of this destination.
Drive while appreciating the magical views of the Albertine Escarpment, Banana and tea plantations, rural homesteads and salt mining in Kibiro and have a Lunch break at Fort portal Town. Continue with your journey and arrive your final destination in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking adventure in Kibale Forest and nature walk in Bigodi wetland.
After a relaxed night full of dreams and wonderful memories, start day 8 with breakfast and meet with your safari driver for a transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Center within Kibale Forest National Park. At 8am start the search for chimpanzees whereby other wildlife species like elephants, black and white colobus monkeys, duikers, giant forest hogs and grey-cheeked mangabeys in addition to colorful bird species will be encountered. After your productive time with the chimpanzees, walk back to the Visitor Center where you will meet up with your safari driver for a drive back to the Lodge.
After your sumptuous Lunch, embark for a drive to Bigodi wetland Sanctuary where you will undertake an informative guided walk. This will introduce you to the different exceptional bird species and primates that call this wetland home. Get back on the vehicle for a return to the Lodge for relaxed evening, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Depart for Semliki National Park.
Before sunrise have breakfast and leave Kibale Forest National Park for Semliki National Park. Transverse the stunning Eastern Albertine region and enter the Park with a game drive and straight away undertake a tour to the Sempaya hot springs before continuing to the Lodge for Lunch.
After having Lunch, leave the Lodge for another fully-packaged game drive where sights of nocturnal wildlife species leaving their hideouts will be enjoyed in addition to other wildlife species such as bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, buffaloes, olive baboons and black and white colobus monkeys among others. What makes game drives here more exciting is just randomly driving without expecting much yet be amazed by what the Park offers.
Day 10: Scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After a hefty breakfast leave Kibale Forest National Park and embark on a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to over 95 species of mammals including rare ones and about 600 species of birds, something you will not experience in other Parks in the country. The Park’s diverse ecosystems-forest, savannah grasslands, woodland, Lakes and wetlands make it a biodiversity hot spot. En-route Lunch and enter the Park with a slow drive while identifying wildlife species and continue to tour the Crater Lakes before checking in at a Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Lion Tracking Experience and afternoon Launch Cruise along the Kazinga Channel.
Early in the morning have breakfast and join a team of researchers for the Lion tracking adventure where trackers are placed on animals. Then follow the lions in their habitats, study their behaviors and feeding patterns. Few Parks in Africa offer this amazing experience and on finalizing get back to the Lodge for Lunch.
In the afternoon explore Queen Elizabeth National Park through a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, connecting Lakes Edward and Lake George. This natural water channel is home to the highest Hippo and Nile crocodile population in addition to other visiting animals such as elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks and waterbucks on the banks to drink water or cool themselves. After 3 hours of photography, birding and wildlife viewing get back to the Lodge to have dinner under the stars and overnight stay.
Day 12: Exit Queen Elizabeth National Park for a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This is the day to leave Queen Elizabeth National Park for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha sector where the tree climbing lions live. However, it is not always 100% guarantee that you will see these outstanding tree climbing lions but other wildlife species such as Uganda Kobs, warthogs, Topis and waterbucks will be seen.
Continue with the drive but break the journey at Savannah Resort Kihihi for Lunch while dinner and overnight will be in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 13: Once-in-a lifetime opportunity of trekking the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Breakfast at the Lodge and briefing on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking at UWA Park Headquarters. Briefing doesn’t take more than an hour because at 8:00am you have to follow the lead of the Park rangers through the rugged terrain, thickets and hilly slopes to the home range of the allocated gorilla family with whom you spend one hour. En-route find other wildlife species, birds and so much more. Walk back to the Park Headquarters where your driver/guide will have parked and waiting to transfer you to the Lodge.
Have a relaxed Lunch and unwind around the Lodge for the remainder of the day and, there after transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Kisoro district.
Day 14: Explore Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Golden monkey tracking and cultural tour.
Rise before sunrise for breakfast and be driven to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for the golden monkey tracking adventure. On arrival, continue to Ntebeko Visitor Center for registration with your permit at hand and briefing on the guidelines of tracking the golden monkeys. Enter the forest to search for the golden monkeys that occupy the lower slopes of Virunga Mountains dominated by Bamboo forest, thus making them easier, faster and less hectic to find and afterwards spend one hour with them.
You need to concentrate while taking photos of these swift monkey species, so as to capture the best shots. Return to the Lodge for Lunch and in the evening visit the nearby Batwa pygmies for mind-boggling cultural experiences. Dinner and overnight stay will be at any of the comfortable Safari Lodges in and near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Day 15: Drive from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to Lake Bunyonyi shores.
After a wonderful breakfast at the Lodge in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, prepare your luggage and then check-out for a transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, the second deepest Lake in Africa. After all the days trekking gorillas, golden monkeys and endless game drive, what you need at this point is a well-deserved relation which will be experienced at the serene shores of Lake Bunyonyi. On arrival, check-in and settle in at the Lodge before being served Lunch.
In the afternoon head for the boat ride through the Lake to some of the magnificent Islands that were named according to circumstances and unique attractions in them. Akampene Island (also Punishment Island) was a dumping place for young unmarried girls that became pregnant and left to die, so as to serve as lesson to other girls. After the exciting boat ride retreat to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 16: Road transfer to Lake Mburo National Park.
Leisurely breakfast at the Lodge while enjoying views of the spectacular Lake and immediately leave for Lake Mburo National Park while relishing the views of en-route Towns, the Kigezi highland and many others before arriving Mbarara Town in the afternoon for Lunch.
Register at the Park entrance gate and start the game drive while heading to the Lodge. Freshen-up and relax then undertake a night game drive through the Kigambara loop where leopards, spotted hyenas and bush babies can be encountered. Dinner and overnight stay at any of the Safari Lodges in Lake Mburo National Park.
Day 17: Guided bush walk and afternoon boat ride on Lake Mburo.
After the morning wake-up call, enjoy breakfast and meet with UWA Park guides for briefing and embark on the guided bush walk to witness the beauty of Lake Mburo National Park up-close. These guides have several years of experience and loaded with knowledge on the wildlife, birds and tree species including the Park itself. The walk lasts 3-4 hours and takes you through open savannah plains, Lakeshores and salt Licks. With the experience of these guides, animals can be identified by their footprints and dropping.
In the afternoon undertake a boat ride on Lake Mburo and transfer to the Lodge where a traditional African dinner awaits your arrival and later slumber.
Day 18: Departure.
Breakfast and exit Lake Mburo National Park with a game drive and this offers views of animals that were missed the previous days. En-route Lunch, stop at Mpambire Drum makers for souvenirs and arrive the City in the evening.
End of the 18 days Uganda Safari.

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