The 20 days Uganda grand safari is a typical example of comprehensive adventure, a lifetime opportunity for you to immerse yourself into the wilderness. It takes you around Uganda, covering all regions hence guaranteeing you epic adventures. From East to West, North to South, expect to be part of experiences of a lifetime such as white water rafting and boat cruise, hike to the triple Sipi Falls, game drives, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, cultural experiences and many others.
The main destinations to visit on our comprehensive Uganda safari include the Source of the Nile, Sipi Falls, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: From Entebbe Airport (EBB) to the hotel
You will use day one to travel from your home country to Uganda. Meet your driver guide at Entebbe Airport (EBB) for briefing about your trip and after, transfer to the hotel for evening relaxation.
Entebbe Airport lies near Lake Victoria and for early arrivals, there is possibility of undertaking a city tour in and around Entebbe city. The most accessible tourist sites from Entebbe Airport (EBB) worth considering visiting on Entebbe city tour include Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Reptile village, Lake Victoria with a range of beautiful sand beaches and more.
Day 2: Source of the Nile tour
After a leisurely breakfast, set off from Entebbe to Jinja to visit the Source of the Nile River. This is found in Eastern side of Uganda, about 1-2 hours’ drive and en-route, you drive through the cool Mabira Forest, a natural forest that is separated by the Kampala-Gulu highway. When you arrive at Jinja, relax, then you gather for briefing about guidelines for white water rafting experience. Start your adrenaline adventure afterwards, taking you through the Source of the Nile River water. Other activities that Jinja is popular for include quad biking, horseback riding, sundowner cruise, bungee jumping, mountain biking, kayaking and others.
Day 3: Jinja-Sipi Falls
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after, drive to the foothills of Mount Elgon for Sipi Falls expedition. You will have a relaxed afternoon or engage in other activities like abseiling, community visits and then get back to the lodge for overnight stay.
Day 4: Sipi waterfalls hike & transfer to Moroto
A hefty breakfast early morning, after, get out of the lodge and set off for a guided hike to triple Sipi Falls. These waterfalls are situated right at the foothills of Mt. Elgon and they form series of falls, which vary depending the altitude. The overall trekking adventure to the Sipi Falls takes about 3 hours and you will be navigating through the local communities. Take note that, these falls vary with the longest dropping at a height of 100m, 75m and 85m.
After your visit to these charming natural wonders, return to the lodge near the Sipi Falls and you will have lunch. Check out and drive to Moroto to check in at the hotel awaiting the next day’s activities including cultural experience from Karamojong community.
Day 5: Guided nature walk & cultural visit
Leisurely breakfast early morning, after, leave your accommodation for day walk to Mount Moroto (3085m). This is the highest point in Karamoja and it is ancient volcano, comprising of many peaks each offering great adventure. Karamojong community visit will be done after the hike to the top of Mount Moroto. This will be in the afternoon and you will have a deep insight into the Karamojong daily lifestyle, traditions, cultures, dances, music performances and others. The Karamojong share a lot with the Maasai in Kenya.
Day 6: Moroto-Kidepo N/Park
Leave Moroto for Kidepo Valley National Park to check in at the lodge for relaxation and to have lunch. Kidepo lies at the extreme Northeast, and it sits on the land area of 1442sq.kms in Karamoja region. The area is rugged and semi-arid, offering refuge to 4 of the big 5 game; lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, 475 bird species and more. During afternoon game drive, most of these wild animals will be encountered and after, you will return to have a relaxed, dinner evening at the lodge.
Day 7: Game drive – full day in Kidepo
Have breakfast, and after, meet your driver guide fully prepared for a full day game drive. You will explore the park’s diverse wildlife including the big game, antelopes, giraffes, warthogs, birds, caracals, aardwolves, cheetahs and more. In the morning, you will leave with some packed lunch to enjoy in the wilderness while sighting more wildlife species.
Day 8: Kidepo-Murchison Falls N/P
Transfer from Kidepo to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s only park situated in the Northwestern part of the country. Murchison Falls N/P is one of Uganda’s popular parks and a home to one the world’s powerful falls, Murchison Falls where it takes its name. The 3840sq.kms Murchison National Park shelters diversity of wildlife including buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, 451 bird species and others.
Day 9: Game drive, launch cruise -full day experiences at Murchison Falls NP
Early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park will start before sunrise and you will be visiting the Northern tracks. The long game drive takes 2-3 hours and in a 4×4 tourist vehicle, you will clearly see wildlife such as lions, giraffes, leopards, buffaloes, birds, warthogs, elephants, etc.
Afternoon activities begin after lunch and relaxation. You will be taking a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls and this is expected to go for 2-3 hours. Navigating on the Victoria Nile means a great opportunity to watch lots of crocodiles, hippos, aquatic birds, buffaloes and many other wildlife. An addition of hike to the top of the falls will be enjoyed that is if the water levels are low.
Day 10: Nile Delta boat cruise Murchison Falls National Park
Wake up early morning, enjoy breakfast and after, set off for an exciting boat cruise, a recreational activity that takes you through the Nile Delta. It is at the Nile Delta where the Victoria Nile empties its water into Lake Albert. At the river banks, lots of birds can be spotted including the shoebill stork and overall journey takes 2-4 hours. Other wildlife species include hippos, crocodiles, etc. When you return, lunch will be provided and later, set off for an afternoon game drive -optional.
Day 11: Kibale National Park from Murchison Falls N/P
Exit Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) for Kibale Forest a home to 13 primate species, 1500 chimpanzees, reptiles, 375 bird species, butterflies and flora. Lying in Albertine area in Western Uganda, Kibale spans to cover about 795sq.kms and offers the best of chimpanzee tracking. En-route lunch offer will be at the hotel or restaurant at Fort Portal tourism city.
Day 12: Kibale chimp trekking
Your morning will be dedicated for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, 2-4 hours with the park guide leading you through. A visit to see chimpanzees starts after briefing about chimpanzee tracking rules at Kanyanchu. In Kibale alone, there are over 1500 chimpanzees and these apes share about 98% of their DNA with human beings making them our closest cousins in the wild.
In addition to chimpanzees, many other primates live here and can be spotted including red tailed monkeys, gray cheeked mangabeys, l’hoest monkeys, red colobus monkeys, bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys. The park also supports up to 375 bird species including the green breasted pitta.
The afternoon is spared for Bigodi wetland walk after you have had lunch. The swamp walk will have you exposed to more primates including baboons, red colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, birds like the Great blue turacos.
Day 13: Queen Elizabeth N/P for a game viewing tour
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, after, set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park and en-route, don’t forget to capture pictures of the Crater Lakes. At the background, you will be viewing the Rwenzori Mountain ranges and at a distance, the sweeping plains of Queen Elizabeth N. Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is an extensive savanna protected area and it is the 2nd biggest park in Uganda. Over 3840sq.kms is what this park covers and hosts a huge profusion of wildlife including 620 bird species, about 100 mammal species primates inclusive, reptiles, and others. Relax for long day or enjoy sights of animals while at your lodge.
Day 14: Game drive, launch cruise – Queen Elizabeth N/P full day experiences
Enjoy breakfast early morning, after, your day at Queen Elizabeth National Park is dedicated for a game drive and boat cruise. A game drive starts early morning before the sun rises and you will be driven through Kasenyi, a long game track that will offer exceptional view of wildlife such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, warthogs, antelopes and many others. The morning game drive session takes 2-3 hours and you will get back for lunch.
The second activity to be done in afternoon and that will be a launch or boat cruise and this is expected to go for 2-3 hours. Expected aquatic life to be spotted on Kazinga boat cruise include hippos, crocodiles, birds plus elephants, buffaloes as they cool themselves along the shores/banks.
Day 15: Transfer to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking & Ishasha tour
Chimpanzee tracking tour in Queen Elizabeth N/Park involves transferring to Kyambura Gorge. This is a natural wonder of its own, also referred to as Valley of Apes. This is a home to not only chimpanzee communities, but also other primates and you will keep an eye on them while on a 2-4 hours’ chimpanzee tracking adventure. These include black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, etc.
Return from Kyambura Gorge forest to meet your driver guide. From Kyambura Gorge, connect to Ishasha sector, a renowned sector to see the tree climbing lions. These can be watched during a short game drive and in addition, several other animal species will be encountered.
Day 16: Bwindi Impenetrable N/P, Uganda gorilla trekking
Have the best of an African cup of tea/coffee, after, drive Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – BINP. The park is found in the Southwestern side of Uganda and it is where 459 of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas all live, sharing the same habitat with chimpanzees, forest elephants, colobus monkeys, 360 bird species and butterflies.
Day 17: Day to enjoy gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a long day adventure and today, you will spend from 2-6 hours. 4 regions in Bwindi all have fully habituated gorilla families, and in total, 20 groups are open for tourism. You will be allocated to only one gorilla family and you will visit as a group of 8pax. Maximum, one hour will be spent face to face with gorillas, and it includes taking photos, learning their daily behaviors, carefully observe their body gestures. Return to the lodge afterwards for relaxation, lunch and in the evening, add on Batwa cultural experience (optional).
Day 18: Lake Bunyonyi/Mutanda
A hefty breakfast, after, exit Bwindi National Park for Lake Bunyonyi or Lake Mutanda for relaxation. Lake Bunyonyi is a beautiful natural water Lake, with 29 island and it is one water Lake that is free of hippos, crocodiles, hence an ideal swimming spot. A range of activities are offered here but the popular ones include boat ride taking you to the different islands of your choice, cultural or community visit, zip lining, birding, etc. In the evening after boat ride, you may decide to relax at the lodge or swim.
Day 19: Lake Mburo National Park for wildlife encounter
Visit Lake Mburo National Park to have another session of wildlife experience. The park lies in Western Uganda, 4 hours’ drive from Kampala. You will have a boat cruise in the evening on Lake Mburo and keenly observe hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birds. or go horseback riding to see diversity of wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, antelopes like topis, elands, bush bucks, waterbucks, birds and more.
Day 20: Departure
Wake up early morning, set off for a guided nature walk in Lake Mburo or game drive to see more savanna and grazers that live here. After, get back and you will check out of the accommodation and transfer to Entebbe or Kampala, marking the end of 20 days Uganda grand safari.
