This 25-day safari in Uganda is a special primate, wildlife, and adventure holiday. It takes you all-round Uganda with a lifetime opportunity to visit the country’s top destinations/attractions. You will start this long trip in Entebbe/Kampala and it includes the Eastern circuit, Northwestern and Western safari circuit destinations.
Details of Safari
Day 1: Arrival (EBB Uganda)
Pick up at the Entebbe Airport by our company representative. You will be transferred from the airport in a comfortable rental car to a hotel for relaxation and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Jinja
Leave Entebbe/Kampala for Jinja in the Eastern side of Uganda. You will branch off to Ssezibwa waterfalls in Mukono and after, continue to Jinja via Mabira Forest. Arrive early and you will embark on half-day whitewater rafting taking you through grade 3-5 rapids. Have an overnight in one of the best hotels while overviewing the Source of the Nile River.
Day 3: Travel to Sipi
After breakfast, drive from Jinja to Sipi waterfalls -3 (triple) charming waterfalls located in Eastern Uganda. Get to Sipi Falls early and embark on a hike to the 3 waterfalls, then relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay will be at the lodge.
Day 4: Sipi-Kidepo
Leave the Sipi Falls area for Kidepo Valley National Park one of the beautiful African safari parks. This is lying in Northeastern Uganda and supports a variety of mammals and birds including large herds of buffaloes, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and more.
Day 5: Game drive & Karamojong cultural tour
Breakfast early morning, after, you will embark on a game drive in Kidepo and this will allow you to see wildlife such as giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and birds. You will retreat from a game drive, enjoy lunch and in the evening/afternoon, visit the Karamojong people in their community.
Day 6: Drive to Murchison
A cup of tea/coffee will be served to you early and after, you will begin your road trip to Murchison Falls NP. This is Uganda’s biggest park and the only one which is in the Northwestern part of the country. You will have enough time to relax at the lodge once you reach your lodge.
Day 7: Game drive & Murchison Falls boat cruise
After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive via the Northern circuit taking you about 2-3 hours. This part of Murchison Falls NP is where you will find plenty of elephants, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, birds, and others. You will get back to have lunch at the lodge and continue to the Paraa jetty for a launch trip along the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls. Aquatic species will be sighted and these include hippos, crocodiles, and birds.
Day 8: The top of the falls visit & Hoima tour
Have a cup of tea or coffee and after, you will drive to the top of the falls in Murchison Falls N/Park. Observe the Murchison Falls as it squeezes itself into a narrow rock of 8m and then falls about 45m down before flowing to the Albertine Nile. After photography, drive to Hoima oil city. En route, enjoy the breathtaking view of the rift valley escarpment and once you have reached, check in. Later, undertake a cultural walk in Hoima.
Day 9: Kibale NP expedition
Leave Hoima for Kibale National Park for a primate encounter and you will make a stopover at Fort Portal for lunch. Proceed from Fort Portal to Kibale to check in at your place of stay.
Day 10: Chimps & Bigodi Wetland
Gather at Kanyanchu for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking guidelines. Kibale N/Park official will allocate guides to take you on a chimpanzee tracking tour in the forest and your primate adventure may go for 2-4 hours with one hour of a magical encounter guaranteed. When you return, lunch will be provided and you will continue to Bigodi Wetland for a nature walk. At Bigodi, expect to see more primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, l’hoest plus birds, especially the Great blue turacos.
Day 11: Kibale-Semuliki
Drive from Kibale Forest NP to Semuliki National Park, home to one of the world’s most powerful hot springs- the Sempaya hot springs. You will enjoy the best guided night game drive and expect to come across nocturnal species such as nightjar birds, mongoose, hyenas, pottos, and more.
Day 12: Birding expedition in Semuliki
Semuliki is renowned not only for its Sempaya hot spring but also for its huge profusion of birds. Over 441 species of birds live in this park including 23 Albertine rift endemic species and Guinea-Congo-forest biome, etc. The park’s birds include among others maxwell’s black weavers, long-tailed hawk, purple glossy starling, Congo serpent eagle, blue-headed coucals, black-wattled hornbill, toro olive greenbul, etc.
Day 13: Nature walk -Queen Elizabeth NP for wildlife expedition
Embark on a walking tour early in the morning along the Sempaya trail, 2-4 hours. This leads you to the Sempaya hot springs which comprise of female and male hot springs. Carry along with you some eggs/bananas for the experiment once you get to the hot spring.
After the nature walk, return to check and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park while viewing the Crater Lakes and banana plantations. Once you have reached Queen Elizabeth NP, check in at the lodge and have a relaxed day.
Day 14: Game drive & launch trip
Meet your driver guide early and you will set off for a game drive through Kasenyi plains. Kasenyi wildlife viewing lets you see buffaloes, lions, warthogs, elephants, antelopes, birds, and others. The Boat cruise excursion will be carried out in the afternoon along the Kazinga channel and you will enjoy the sight of hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds.
Day 15: Ishasha sector
A relaxed cup of tea/coffee early morning, after, you will set off for the Ishasha sector. You will have enough time chilling and you will have a sundowner experience. Ishasha is the Southern wildlife sector of Queen Elizabeth NP, an ideal location to view the tree climbing lions, topis, and other unique birds.
Day 16: Game drive & Bwindi
Have breakfast and after, set off for a normal game drive in the Ishasha sector. Expect to come across the tree climbing lions, topis and other antelopes, buffaloes, elephants plus birds. You will enjoy a bush lunch and continue to Bwindi Impenetrable N/Park.
Day 17: Gorilla trekking
Meet the park official for briefing at the park offices and this starts at 7:00 am. At 8:00 am, an actual trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest begins, and expect to spend 2-6 hours which covers 1 hour of magical encounter. Return after observing how gorillas behave, and taking pictures, and in the evening, you may have an addition of the Batwa cultural experience.
Day 18: Mgahinga tour
Have breakfast and after, you will transfer to Mgahinga NP. This is another area where gorilla trekking is done in Uganda. You will have a relaxed day in a comfortable lodge in Mgahinga National Park, Kisoro district.
Day 19: Golden monkeys
After breakfast, you will transfer to Ntebeko for a briefing about golden monkey tracking rules. The park official will also assign park guides to take you to search for golden monkeys in Mgahinga and one hour is guaranteed for a face-to-face encounter and photography.
Day 20: Batwa trail experience
After breakfast, set off for a cultural tour along the Batwa trail. This cultural trail expedition offers deep insight into the Batwa pygmies and their cultures, traditions, etc. Retreat from the cultural walk, have lunch, and relax. Next destination will be Lake Mutanda/Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 21: Lake Mutanda/Bunyonyi
Have breakfast at the lodge, after, go for a canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi. The canoe ride takes you to one of the historical islands that are also of cultural significance. 29 islands are dotted on Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda’s deepest lake. In the evening, relax at the lodge while viewing the Lake and its surroundings.
Day 22: Transfer to Lake Mburo -wildlife trip
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after, start your trip to Lake Mburo NP a rich home to zebras, cape buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, especially elands, topis, and more. You will be provided with lunch once you arrive and have a relaxed stay at the lodge.
Day 23: Game drive in Mburo NP & Launch cruise
Game drive through Lake Mburo NP savanna grassland is an amazing opportunity to explore the park’s diverse wildlife. These include zebras, warthogs, leopards, giraffes, elands, and birds. A launch cruise will be done for 2-3 hours and this involves spotting aquatic life such as hippos, crocodiles, and birds.
Day 24: Walking safaris/horseback ride/cycling + community visit
After breakfast, set off for a horseback ride or cycling through Lake Mburo, and enjoy the view of the park’s animals while on a horseback or on bicycle. In the afternoon, have a chance to explore the unique cultures and traditions in Ankole region on your cultural expedition in the nearby local community.
Day 25: Depart
You will return to Kampala/Entebbe but breakfast will be served to you. You will set off with an exiting game drive and you will also make a stopover at the Equator crossing for photography then proceed to Kampala/Entebbe.
