21 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI.
Overview.
The 21 days Uganda Safari is a trip of a lifetime leading you to almost the entire country with destinations in every corner of Uganda explored. This long 3 weeks’ safari involves visiting the source of the Nile, the magnificent Sipi falls, Mabira forest, Mount Elgon National Park, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Kidepo Valley National Park-a real African wilderness, Murchison falls National Park – home to the World’s most powerful waterfalls, Semliki National Park for Sempaya hot springs tour, Kibale Forest National Park for the mesmerizing Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife viewing, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the ultimate gorilla trekking experience, Lake Mburo National Park and Lake Bunyonyi.
You will go across savannah, forests, mountains, Lakes and Valleys discovering the Pearl of Africa and creating memorable experiences. You can call this safari, a trip of a lifetime.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Arrive in Uganda, for the trip of a lifetime.
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our Company representative to connect to your Hotel. Spend the rest of the day and night relaxing at the Hotel and preparing yourself for your first destination. In the evening have a briefing from your safari guide on the departure time and wonderful itinerary for the next 3 weeks.
Day 2: Drive to Jinja for an adventurous discovery of the Nile.
After an early breakfast, you will be picked up by your safari guide who will again welcome and brief you on the safari. Later transfer to Jinja with en-route stop at Mabira forest where you will partake of the adventurous zip-lining between tall trees in the forest. Leave Mabira forest and continue with your journey to Jinja for more adventurous discoveries.
Arrive on time for whitewater rafting, Lunch and in the afternoon visit the source of the Nile through a boat cruise. Slumber and dinner in Jinja Town.
Day 3: Drive from Jinja to Sipi falls, at the edge of Mount Elgon National Park.
Have breakfast and transfer to Sipi falls area in Eastern Uganda, aboard a customized 4WD Vehicle and enjoy Lunch en-route at Mbale Town. Proceed to hike the three breathtaking waterfalls (that are collectively known as Sipi falls) through coffee and banana plantations. Gaze at their lively and thunderous sound, take photos and retreat to the Lodge/Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Mount Elgon climbing experience.
After breakfast, with your Lunch box, hiking gear and permit follow your safari guide for the transfer to Mount Elgon National Park Headquarters. On arrival meet UWA park rangers who will brief you on the activity, then with one of the trails gradually start the hike through field of beautiful flowers and stands of Bamboo while encountering numerous wildlife species including buffaloes, black and white colobus monkeys, bushbucks, olive baboons and giant forest hogs as well as unique bird species.
Come across beautiful waterfalls and Caves with picturesque views of the surrounding local villages and many other stunning attractions. Enjoy a picnic Lunch and descend to the bottom, then connect to the Hotel/Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Drive from Mount. Elgon National Park to Kidepo Valley National Park via Pian – Upe game reserve.
Have Breakfast and with your Lunch box travel to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, the second largest Protected Area in Uganda with a size of whooping 2275 square kilometers. This Reserve is home to unique wildlife and bird species that include Somali Ostriches, Aardvarks, African Rock Pythons, Rock hyraxes, Civets, cheetahs, the four-toed Hedgehogs, serval cats, leopards, Klipspringer and Zebras among others.
Enjoy your packed lunch and continue with the game drive through the Reserve. Since there are no established accommodation facilities in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, dinner and overnight stay will be in Moroto Town.
Day 6: Continue to Kidepo Valley National Park. Game drive and community experience.
Have breakfast at the Hotel in Moroto Town and embark on a journey to Kidepo Valley National Park for another game drive. Immediately start the game drive on finalizing the necessary clearances at the gate where Defassa waterbucks, Roan antelopes, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, Impalas, elephants, zebras, Rothschild’s giraffes, common elands, Dik-Dik, Klipspringers, honey badgers, spotted hyenas and many others. This Park is known for its spectacular savannah grasslands and after the game drive have Lunch at the Lodge in or around the Park.
In the evening be treated to a community walk through Karamojong villages, in the outskirts of Kidepo Valley National Park. Take part in their wonderful and lively traditional dances in addition to undertaking tours around their traditional homesteads (locally known as “Manyatta”). Get back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay, but on the way encounter more of the Park’s diverse wildlife species.
Day 7: Journey to Murchison falls National Park.
Start the morning with a delicious breakfast, then check-out of the Lodge for the 5-6 hours’ journey to Murchison falls National Park. Arrive in the afternoon and as you drive to the lodge, look-out for the wildlife species and be offered a welcome drink on arriving at the lodge in Murchison falls N/Park.
After meals, relax by the lodge’s lounge area or explore some of the exceptional facilities and activities at the Lodge.
Day 8: Whole day to explore the spectacular Murchison falls National Park.
Revel in the entire day spent exploring the hidden treasures of Murchison falls National Park, after a delicious breakfast. The most famous and largest National Park in Uganda, Murchison falls National Park is home to over 79 species of mammals as well as 441 species of birds.
Four of the big five animals (elephants, leopards, buffaloes and lions), giraffes, chimpanzees, common elands, Uganda Kobs, olive baboons, Defassa waterbucks and warthogs are all found here. After the memorable game drive, get back to the Lodge for late breakfast and some nap time until lunchtime, then the boat cruise on River Nile starting at 2:00pm.
In the afternoon be driven to paraa jetty where you will board the boat for a ride to discover the numerous bird species in addition to Hippos and Nile crocodiles, making for the jaw-dropping up-close photogenic opportunities. After this spectacularly rewarding boat excursion, make your way to the lodge to enjoy dinner and slumber.
Day 9: Murchison Falls National Park to Kibale Forest National Park.
In this day we finalize our Murchison falls National Park exploration with an early breakfast and morning game drive before traveling to Kibale Forest National Park. After disembarking, travel westwards through the outstanding escarpment wall, Lake Albert flats, rural homesteads, tea estates and banana plantations, not to forget the breathtaking views of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Be in Fort Portal Town in the afternoon for lunch and at the Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience.
We spend the whole day in the jungles of Kibale Forest National Park, watching chimpanzees undergo Habituation. Breakfast and briefing by 5:30am so that by 6:00am you start the trek through the forest to trek and spend time with a semi-habituated chimpanzee troop.
This activity starts earlier than normal chimpanzee treks because the great apes have to be monitored from the time of leaving their nests, foraging, playing, mating, grooming, making hooting calls and ends in the evening when they finally make nests for overnight. Therefore packed Lunch and enough drinking water is a must have and retire in the evening for cold bathe, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
We leave Kibale Forest National Park and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, through the quiet Towns of Fort Portal and tea estates. We make a stop at Karambi Royal Tombs, where we will learn about the former Kings of Toro Kingdom.
Arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon with a game drive where elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs and giant forest hogs are spotted, have Lunch and relax for the remainder of the evening.
Day 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park.
On this day we explore Queen Elizabeth National Park in totality. This stunning savannah National Park is known for its dense concentration of wildlife and birdlife. The entire day will be spent in discovering its richness and this is through the game drive through Kasenyi area. This area is popular for being a mating ground for Uganda Kobs, thus encountering predators such as lions and leopards is unmissable. Also expect to see elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, bushbucks and common elands among others.
After 3-4 hours of the explosive game drive, return to the Lodge for a cold bathe and later have Lunch. After relaxing head for the Launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel where dense concentrations of Nile crocodiles and Hippos are experienced in addition to an array of bird species. Join your safari driver for a transfer to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 13: Ishasha Game Drive and drive to the spectacular Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today you will be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the once in a lifetime gorilla trekking experience. Have breakfast and board the safari vehicle for a slow drive through Queen Elizabeth National where more wildlife, birdlife and more attractions of the Park can be explored.
There will be a mini game drive in Ishasha sector where the tree climbing lions (if lucky) are spotted, as do Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, Topis and buffaloes and have Lunch enroute.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Africa’s most popular Safari destinations. Over 400 mountain gorillas make their home here, as do other 119 species of mammals, over 300 species of birds, reptiles and butterfly species.
Day 14: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, south-western Uganda.
Enjoy breakfast and get ready for one of the most thrilling days of your life. Today we’ll be trekking the endangered Mountain gorillas in one of their habitats, spending 1-4 hours trying to find them and one hour in their presence. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers over 20 gorilla families (both trekking and research purposes) for trekking experiences that are short of magical.
Get up-close with the mountain gorillas after 1-4 hours of trekking led by expert park ranger and settle for lunch at the lodge.
Enjoy your second activity of the Park-cultural tour to discover the interesting culture of the Bakiga and Batwa people through cultural dance performances as well as stories and tales.
Day 15: Transfer from the Gorilla Trekking destination to Lake Bunyonyi.
The day starts with breakfast and be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi while enjoying awe-inspiring views of the rolling hills, Virunga mountains and rural homesteads. On arriving the Lake Bunyonyi area, settle at a lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the evening embark on a community/village tour or mountain biking experience through the rolling hills.
Day 16: All day Lake Bunyonyi exploration.
Spend an entire day immersed in the breathtaking natural beauty of Lake Bunyonyi as you undertake boat rides to the Islands and if time allows community walks. Have breakfast and transfer to the jetty for the start of this life-changing adventure as you explore the verdant and outstanding Islands on this Lake.
Unmissable Islands here are Akampene (Punishment) Island, Kyahugye, Bucuranuka and Bushara Islands that hold rich historical and cultural significance. Lunch will be within one of the Islands and retire back to your Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 17: Scenic drive to Lake Mburo National Park.
After an amazing breakfast at the Lodge overlooking Lake Bunyonyi, start your road transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. Make a stop at Igongo Cultural Center for Lunch and cultural tour to explore interesting facts about Ankole culture.
Continue to Lake Mburo National Park, get cleared at the Park entrance and straightaway start with your game drive while heading to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 18: All day Lake Mburo National Park wildlife tour.
After breakfast it is time for your morning game drive through Lake Mburo National Park where you will once again get the chance to encounter a wide range of savannah-dwelling wildlife species by an open-roof vehicle. Large herds of Cape buffaloes, impalas, bushbucks, Defassa waterbucks, Topis, zebras, common elands and warthogs along with solitary leopards are likely to be encountered. After 3-4 hours of this unforgettable wildlife viewing experience, it is time to return back to the Lodge to relax and later have Lunch.
Your afternoon in this Park is for the boat ride along Lake Mburo lasting about 2 hours. This Lake is popular for its populations of Nile crocodiles and Hippos as well as bushbucks, buffaloes and warthogs that can be watched up-close and safety during the boat ride.
Also, numerous bird species here especially Kingfishers, African fish eagles, shoebill storks and herons are breathtaking to see and experience. This boat ride sometimes leads to the fishing villages, and end by about 17h00 in time for relaxation and later dinner at the Lodge.
Day 19: Drive from Lake Mburo National Park to Kampala City.
Have breakfast and undertake the last game drive of this Park or a guided bush walk with an armed UWA guide where detailed information on the park, animals, birds and their habitats are provided. Later return back to the lodge for lunch and embark on a transfer to Kampala City. Stopover at Uganda Equator and arrive the City in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 20: All Day tour of the bustling Kampala City.
Breakfast at the Hotel in Kampala and undertake a tour of the bustling City, leading to the King’s (Kabaka) Palace in Mengo, Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo where more than 40 Christian converts were slain under the orders of then King of Buganda, the Uganda National Museum and Gadhafi Mosque where the 360-degree views of the City can be relished.
Lunch will be within one of the top-notch City restaurants and continue with the tour that ends in the evening when you have to return to the Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 21: Departure.
Depending on your flight time, you will visit a spa and Wellness Center within the City to calm/relax your nerves after this long safari. Be driven to the Airport for your flight back home or any other destination of choice.
End of our amazing 21 days Uganda Safari.

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