Explore the Pearl of Africa on our 18 Days Uganda safari taking you to Uganda’s popular tourism sites. The safari offers you memorable experiences including game viewing, boat cruising, chimpanzee tracking, mountain gorilla trekking and rhino tracking at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary all on one trip. This safari is wholly in Uganda starting and ending at Entebbe Airport.
Safari Activities
• Rhino tracking
• Game viewing
• Chimpanzee trekking
• Boat cruising
• Lion tracking
• Mountain gorilla trekking
Trip Summary
Day 1: Arrive & Transfer to ZZiwa
Day 2: Rhino tracking & transfer to Kitgum
Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park – Evening game drive
Day 4: Morning game viewing, afternoon ostriches and hot springs
Day 5: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park
Day 6: Game viewing, boat cruise & hike to the top of the falls
Day 7: chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest & transfer to Hoima
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest
Day 9: Full day chimpanzee trekking
Day10: Visit Sempaya hot springs
Day 11: Transfer from KFNP TO QENP
Day 12: lion tracking
Day 13: Chimpanzee trekking in Karinzu forest & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 14: Relax at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 15: Gorilla trekking
Day 16 & 17: Relax at the lodge
Day 18: Depart to Entebbe Airport
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive & Transfer to ZZiwa
Upon your arrival at Entebbe international airport, meet your driver-guide (our company representative) and transfer to ZZiwa Rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola western Uganda. Dinner and overnight stay at Zziwa guesthouse.
Day 2: Rhino tracking & transfer to Kitgum
Wake up early, have breakfast and go for rhino trekking in the sanctuary. The trek takes roughly 4 hours but the experience of meeting these critically endangered species is worth the effort. Spend an hour with orphaned rhinos, observe their feeding habits, take photos and learn about their lifestyles. Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon transfer to Kitgum for an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park – Evening game drive
After a morning cup of coffee, drive to Kidepo Valley national park in extreme northeastern Uganda. Join an afternoon game driving to watch numerous animals including elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, buffalos, Uganda kobs and impalas before retiring for night rest. Dinner and overnight stay at UWA Bandas/ Kidepo Savannah Lodge.
Day 4: Morning game viewing, afternoon ostriches and hot springs
Rise up early and go for morning game driving through open plains to catch up with early risers. There you will see countless elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, buffalos, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, warthogs and Topis grazing and hunting. Return t the lodge for late breakfast and thereafter head out to see the towering ostriches only sited in this park. Enjoy the unique characters of these rare birds; observe how they feed on flowers, seeds, and small insects. The male ostriches have are black in color with white wings with tails while females have a brownish-grey color. In the afternoon, visit the Kanangorok hot springs located in the northern part of the park. Dinner and overnight at UWA Bandas/ Kidepo Savannah Lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Murchison Falls National park
Wakeup on a cup of coffee, check out of the lodge and transfer to Murchison falls National Park, Uganda’s oldest and largest park in northwestern Uganda. Explore the towns of northern Uganda including Kitgum and Gulu reaching in the evening. Overnight stay at Pakuba Safari Lodge.
Day 6: Game viewing, boat cruise & hike to the top of the falls
In the early morning, drive to the northern sector of the park for game viewing. Murchison falls National Park is known for having a high concentration of wild animals including herds of elephants, giraffes, buffalos, Lions, Leopards, waterbucks, Warthogs, Topis, Uganda Kobs, Hippos, Oribis, and Jackson’s heartbeats among others. Return to the lodge for late breakfast and thereafter hike to the top of Murchison falls for spectacular views. Enjoy the thundering Nile waters squeezing through a 6-meter gorge falling 43 meters down to form the mighty falls. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. Enjoy the views of a permanent rainbow at the waterfall base plus numerous birds and water animals at the riverbanks. The cool breezes give you a fresh feeling. Dinner and overnight stay at Pakuba Safari Lodge.
Day 7: chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest & transfer to Hoima
Today you wake up early, have breakfast and with your packed lunch transfer to Budongo Forest for chimpanzee trekking. Enjoy a hike through the quiet forest, spend ample time with chimpanzees and have fun with your lost cousins. Later transfer to Hoima town for dinner and overnight stay at Kontick Hotel
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Kibale Forest National park, the capital of primates in Africa. The forest is home to 13 primates, which include the famous chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys black and white monkeys, bamboos and colubus monkeys among others. Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House.
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking
Wake up early, have breakfast and with your packed lunch transfer to Kanyanchiu information center for registration and briefing about chimpanzee trekking. At 8:00 am, start off home to meet the endangered chimpanzees. Pay attention to the loud shouts, hoots, and laughs of chimpanzees, which gives you the direction to follow. Spend the day enjoying the company of a chimpanzee community; observe how they feed, take pictures, play and their human-like characters. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Day10: Visit Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki National park
Today you will visit Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki Valley National park. There you will witness the boiling spring waters, which can cook eggs and bananas to the point of getting ready for eating. Learn about the history of Sempaya hot springs, the mysteries, and cultural attachments. Endeavor to visit both male and female sections for a great experience. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Day 11: Transfer from KFNP TO QENP – Boat Cruise
After breakfast, check out and depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy the scenic drive overlooking katwe explosion crater where salt mining is done. Reach in the afternoon and join the Kazinga channel boat cruise for cool breezes. The boat cruise also offers you spectacular views of birds and animals spotted at the riverbanks. Dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 12: Lion tracking
Rise up early and go for the experimental lion tracking experience in the open plains of Kasenyi. Follow tracks in the park following the directions of radio calls put in the park to track the presence of lions. The experience is the best way to extensively learn about the lifestyle of lions, how they live, feed and play. You will track along with a team of conservationists, doctors, rangers, and researchers. Dinner and overnight stay at Mweaya Safari Lodge
Day 13: Chimpanzee trekking in Karinzu forest & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After a cup of coffee, get you packed lunch and transfer to karinzu forest for chimpanzee trekking. Enjoy the company of chimpanzees, learn about their human-like characters, take photos, capture live videos and have fun with your close relatives. In the afternoon, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for dinner and overnight at Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort.
Day 14: Relax at Lake Bunyonyi
Spend the whole of today relaxing at the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s second deepest lake and home to numerous little birds. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and overnight at Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort.
Day 15: Gorilla trekking
This is the day to trek the famous mountain gorillas. Wake up very early, have breakfast, get your packed lunch and transfer to the respective Bwindi park headquarters for registration and briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. The hike to meet gorillas start at 8:00 am taking as short at 30 minutes to several hours depending on where gorillas will be located that day. On meeting the allocated a gorilla family, spend an hour in their company, observe their social characters, take photos and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience. The time to spend with gorillas is strictly an hour after which you hike back to meet your driver-guide at the starting point. Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort.
Day 16 & 17: Relax at the lodge
Spend these two days relaxing at the lodge, chilling at the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. Enjoy a boat cruise to explore the different islands of Lake Bunyonyi, walk to the nearby local communities, go swimming and refresh your mind. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight stay at Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort.
Day 18: Depart to Entebbe Airport
Have breakfast, check out and transfer to Kampala for your connecting flight at Entebbe international airport.
End of the Safari
Safari Inclusions
• Mountain gorilla permit
• Chimpanzee permits
• Park entrance fees
• Lion tracking fee
• Full-time English speaking driver-guide
• Accommodation & meals
• Bottled drinking water
• All activities in the itinerary
• Miscellaneous
• Government taxes
• Boat cruise
• Pick up & transfers
Safari exclusions
• Alcoholic beverages
• Porters fee
• Tips
• Personal expenses
• Visa fees
• International flights
• Extra activities not in the itinerary
