Overview

This comprehensive 23-day safari explores Uganda’s cultural experiences, wildlife, primates, ecosystems, and more across central, eastern, northern, southern, and western regions. Journey through Uganda and experience the Pearl of Africa’s full offerings. Start with Kampala city tour, visit scenic Sipi Falls, then travel through remote areas to Kidepo Valley National Park in the far north with untouched wilderness and fascinating Karamojong people. Journey southward to Murchison Falls for abundant giraffes, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino trekking, Kibale Forest for chimp trekking, and Rwenzori Mountains for hiking. Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park for Kazinga Channel boat cruises and tree-climbing lions. Experience the highlight of mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, then relax at beautiful Lake Bunyonyi before seeking zebras at Lake Mburo. Enjoy comfortable accommodations throughout.

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1: Kampala City Tour

Day 2: Transfer to Jinja | Afternoon Boat Cruise to Source of the Nile

Day 3: Mid-Morning Transfer to Sipi Falls

Day 4: Transfer to Moroto via Pian Upe

Day 5: Transfer to Kotido | Afternoon Karamoja Cultural Experience

Day 6: Transfer to Kidepo Valley | Evening Game Drive

Day 7: Game Drive in Kidepo | Karamojong Cultural Experience

Day 8: Transfer to Murchison Falls | Evening Game Drive

Day 9: Morning Game Drive | Boat Cruise

Day 10: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary | Rhino Trekking

Day 11: Transfer to Kibale Forest

Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking | Community Walk

Day 13: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth | Evening Game Drive

Day 14: Game Drive | Boat Cruise

Day 15: Chimps Trekking Kyambura Gorge | Afternoon Community Walk

Day 16: Transfer to Ishasha Sector | Afternoon Game Drive

Day 17: Morning Game Drive in Ishasha | Transfer to Bwindi

Day 18: Gorilla Trekking | Evening Batwa Cultural Experience

Day 19: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park

Day 20: Golden Monkey Trekking | Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 21: Relaxation Day with Activities like Canoeing

Day 22: Transfer to Lake Mburo Savannah Park

Day 23: Morning Game Drive/Safari Walk | Transfer to Entebbe

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: KAMPALA CITY TOUR

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and meet your guide for this 23-day magical Uganda safari. Transfer to Kampala for a city tour visiting important places like Buganda Royal Palace, Kasubi Tombs, and learning about activities in Uganda’s capital.

Overnight: Marries Royal Hotel

Day 2: TRANSFER TO JINJA | AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE

After breakfast, drive to Jinja via Mabira Forest. Target lunch at the lodge, relax, then enjoy a late afternoon boat cruise to the source of the Nile while watching the sunset on the mighty river.

Overnight: Kingfisher Resort Jinja

Day 3: MID-MORNING TRANSFER TO SIPI FALLS

After breakfast, check out for Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa. Journey through sugarcane plantations, arriving at the lodge in the afternoon. After lunch, tour the falls and experience the coffee ceremony. Fitness required for hiking Uganda’s highest waterfall while combining coffee processing with local community interaction. This combination introduces you to the original Sebei tribe.

Overnight: Rafiki Lodge

Day 4: TRANSFER TO MOROTO VIA PIAN UPE

Leave Sipi Falls and journey to Moroto via Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. Enjoy scenic drives, arriving at Pian Upe—a reserve in a unique setting north of Mount Elgon. Stop for picnic lunch with chances of spotting ostriches. Continue through Karamoja wilderness, observing authentic African setups during transit.

Overnight: Mount Moroto Hotel

Day 5: TRANSFER TO KOTIDO | AFTERNOON CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

After breakfast, drive to Kotido, a remote northern Ugandan town. Check in for lunch, then enjoy an afternoon cultural experience viewing kraals and local traditions.

Overnight: Lamansion Hotel

Day 6: TRANSFER TO KIDEPO VALLEY | EVENING GAME DRIVE

After breakfast, drive to Kidepo Valley National Park—a landscape of vast plains and semi-arid savannah framed by jagged mountains and wooded hills. Kidepo ranks among Africa’s wildest and most spectacular reserves. The park features small hills, rocky outcrops, and inselbergs offering stunning panoramic views. Enjoy an evening game drive along Narus River Valley photographing elephants, buffalo herds, jackals, Jackson’s hartebeest, klipspringers, and possibly lions.

Overnight: Kidepo Savannah Lodge

Day 7: GAME DRIVE IN KIDEPO | CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

After early breakfast, take a morning game drive to Kanangorok hot spring area crossing the sand river. Observe ostriches and various roaming animals before returning for lunch. Afternoon cultural experience connects you with Karamojong people at Karenna and Kapedo. Meet local elders, view kraals, grinding stones, and interesting cultural items.

Overnight: Kidepo Savannah Lodge

Day 8: TRANSFER TO MURCHISON FALLS | EVENING GAME DRIVE

Leave the park and transfer through Gulu, Uganda’s biggest northern town. Continue through flat scenic landscape with local villages, enjoying the Ugandan countryside. Arrive at Murchison Falls lodge in the afternoon.

Overnight: Tangi Lodge

Day 9: MORNING GAME DRIVE | BOAT CRUISE

Start with a game drive on broad savannah for best chances of seeing big cats, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and more (76 mammal species checklist). Browse circuits to the Delta point for birds and mammals. After lunch, enjoy the 2-5pm boat ride on the mighty Nile to the falls’ base, seeing hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, and beautiful bird species along banks.

Overnight: Tangi Lodge

Day 10: TRANSFER TO ZIWA | RHINO TREKKING

After Ugandan coffee, enjoy another chance seeing big cats hunting, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and more while browsing circuits to the Delta point. After the game drive, head to Masindi town for lunch, then continue to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Walk with a specialized guide to see these breathtaking animals while learning about rhino reintroduction efforts.

Overnight: Ziwa Guest House

Day 11: TRANSFER TO KIBALE FOREST

After breakfast, transfer to Kibale Forest area. A long drive targeting lunch in Fort Portal—yesterday’s reduced distance lessens pressure and fatigue. Stopovers in typical African villages offer stretching opportunities. View tea plantations along the way. Check in late evening.

Overnight: Lake Nkuruba Lodge

Day 12: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING | COMMUNITY WALK

Head into Kibale’s “Primate City” forest for chimpanzee trekking—a three-hour experience. Kibale Forest hosts over 1,500 chimpanzees. See chimps close-up in their frenzy moods: grooming, building relationships, raising young, thinking, sharing food, plus rare bird species. Nine monkey species inhabit the forest—chances to see red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, and bush babies. After trekking, return for lunch, then connect for the Bigodi Community walk.

Overnight: Lake Nkuruba Lodge

Day 13: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH | EVENING GAME DRIVE

After breakfast, drive to crater lakes area. Hike for black and white colobus, red colobus, vervet monkeys, birds. Enjoy village walks and crater exploration. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth, driving southward with Rwenzori ranges (Africa’s longest) in view through crater lakes in hills. Sample surprising diversity of savannah trees and wildlife. Drive through cultivated villages to Queen Elizabeth park with magnificent endless escarpment views. Evening community walk through villages to the twin lakes.

Overnight: Elephant Hab

Day 14: GAME DRIVE | BOAT CRUISE

Experience Queen Elizabeth National Park in cool morning with early game drive exposing diverse animals: elephants, buffaloes, big cats (lions, leopards), warthogs, hyenas, and more. Rich birdlife includes storks in wetland spots and flamingoes at salt lakes. After lunch, enjoy the 2-hour boat cruise on famous Kazinga Channel (36km linking Lake George to Lake Edward). See hippos yawning, Nile crocodiles along banks, and warthogs—hallmark signs of this animal home. Use binoculars along the peninsula for magnificent bird and animal views, including elephants playing in water.

Overnight: Elephant Hab

Day 15: CHIMPS TREKKING KYAMBURA | AFTERNOON COMMUNITY WALK

Early morning chimpanzee trekking in the gorge. Afternoon visit to Kyambura community, ending with a hike to twin lakes.

Overnight: Elephant Hab

Day 16: TRANSFER TO ISHASHA | AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE

After relaxed breakfast, journey through the park to southern Ishasha sector. If lucky, see elephants, monkeys, beautiful birds, and big cats roadside. Arrive for lunch, then afternoon game drive searching for tree-climbing lions. Ishasha is one of only two African locations where lions regularly climb trees to rest. Also see topis, buffaloes, and lovely scenery.

Overnight: Topi Lodge

Day 17: MORNING GAME DRIVE | TRANSFER TO BWINDI

Early morning drive through Ishasha’s vast savannah seeking interesting sights. After the game drive, return for lunch, then drive to Bwindi Mountains—home of mountain gorillas. Journey from savanna via cultivated hills to jungle-covered mountains.

Overnight: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 18: GORILLA TREKKING | EVENING BATWA EXPERIENCE

The highlight of your 23-day safari: gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The forest teems with birds, butterflies, plant species, forest hogs, forest elephants, sitatungas, and duikers.

Overnight: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 19: TRANSFER TO MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, drive through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest heading to Mgahinga National Park for tomorrow’s golden monkey experience.

Overnight: Travellers Rest Camp

Day 20: GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING | TRANSFER TO LAKE BUNYONYI

After early breakfast, prepare for golden monkey trekking. You’ll spend one hour with golden monkeys after finding them. Return to the lodge for lunch if you didn’t carry packed lunch. After lunch, head to Lake Bunyonyi for evening relaxation.

Overnight: Bunyonyi Eco Lodge

Day 21: RELAXATION DAY

Optional activities: hiking along lakeshores, visiting local Batwa community, canoe ride along Lake Bunyonyi with resident and exotic bird species singing.

Overnight: Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Day 22: TRANSFER TO LAKE MBURO

After breakfast, bid farewell to Lake Bunyonyi. Journey through cultivated hills to the zebra magnet. Target lunch in Mbarara, western Uganda’s biggest city, then game drive viewing zebras, warthogs, Cape buffaloes, and impalas.

Overnight: Eagles Nest Lodge

Day 23: MORNING GAME DRIVE/SAFARI WALK | TRANSFER TO ENTEBBE

On the last day of your 23-day magical Uganda safari, wake to Ugandan tea and either walk in the park or game drive before returning to pack belongings. Say goodbye to Lake Mburo National Park for your flight at Entebbe International Airport.

INCLUDES

• 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
• Driver/guide
• Accommodation on full board meals
• Park entry fees
• Boat cruise fees
• Gorilla permit
• Golden monkey permit
• Chimpanzee permit
• All taxes

EXCLUDES

• Tips
• Drinks
• Personal items
• International flight

End of Safari