This 19 days Uganda safari is remarkably one of the best offers set for you to discover the hidden treasures that Uganda boasts of. It covers areas of Murchison Falls National Park-Uganda’s largest national park, Ngamba Chimpanzee sanctuary, Source of the Nile at Jinja, Semuliki Valley National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kampala city, Uganda Wildlife Education Center and many other unique touristic sites. It starts and ends in Kampala/Entebbe.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe and transfer to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Day 2: Drive to Jinja
Day 3: White water rafting
Day 4: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 5: Game viewing and boat cruise
Day 6: Drive to Semuliki Valley National Park
Day 7: Bird watching and Lake Albert boat ride
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking and nature walk in Bigodi wetland
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 11: Game drive and chimpanzee tracking
Day 12: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 13: First gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park and community visit
Day 14: Second gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Day 15: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 16: Drive to Kampala
Day 17: Kampala city tour
Day 18: Drive to Entebbe
Day 19: Departure
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe and transfer to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Land at Entebbe International Airport early enough and get a warm welcome from our driver guide. After, transfer to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary where you will have another warm welcome from a caregiver and have briefing about the set rules and regulations you have to observe while at this site. Explore the feeding session of chimpanzees that thrive within this site. Dine and spend a night at Ngamba Island Tented Camp.
Day 2: Drive to Jinja
Get the best of Uganda’s hot tea or coffee and after, head off to eastern Uganda to Jinja. Later, you will still set off to the site where chimpanzees are to experience the feeding session in the morning and after, transfer to Jinja. En-route, have lunch and make a stopover at Mabira forest for you to explore the hidden treasures within this rainforest including mammals, birds (over 315 birds do exist in Mabira forest reserve and they include hooded vulture, white spotted fluftail, crowned eagle, African harrier hawk, yellow billed kite, black headed heron, grey parrot, African emerald cuckoo, eastern grey plantain eater, Great blue turaco and others), butterflies, flora and many others. Have dinner and overnight stay at 2 Friends Guesthouse (Midrange) or Jinja Nile Resort (Luxury)
Day 3: White water rafting
Start the day with breakfast at your respective hotel and after, head off to Bujagali falls for your exciting white water rafting. This is one of the most thrilling water sports that is offered in this particular part of Uganda. It takes you through the magical waters of the mighty source of the Nile at Jinja. You will have lunch at Sunset Hotel and after, proceed to the source of the Nile to a point where John Speke discovered this natural wonder. You will also take a boat ride to a point where the scenic Lake Victoria meets the Nile. Dine and spend a night at 2 Friends Guesthouse (Midrange) or Jinja Nile Resort (Luxury)
Day 4: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Get up early in the morning to have enjoyable breakfast at your respective hotel. After, set off for a road trip to northwestern Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park. En-route, make a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for you to track rhinos that will make your complete list of big five game in Uganda. After, head off to Murchison Falls National Park a home to 4 of the big 5 game. Have rest, dinner and overnight stay at Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Lodge (Luxury), Murchison River Lodge/Heritage Safari Lodge (Midrange) or Red chili/Budongo eco lodge (Budget)
Day 5: Game viewing and boat cruise
After early morning breakfast, set off to northern part of Murchison Falls National Park for a game drive. This will reward you with magical sights at wildlife species such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, warthogs, birds a mention but a few. Return to have lunch at the lodge and after, you have afternoon boat cruise that takes you to the bottom of the falls. While here, get the best of this water sport as it rewards you with incredible views huge concentration of hippos, crocodiles, water birds and several savanna grassland wildlife dwellers that can be spotted roaming at the banks. After, get back to the lodge to have a rest, dinner and overnight stay at Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Lodge (Luxury), Murchison River Lodge/Heritage Safari Lodge (Midrange) or Red chili/Budongo eco lodge (Budget)
Day 6: Drive to Semuliki Valley National Park
Today, you will have lunch and after, embark on a road trip to Semuliki Valley National Park. If you are interested in night game drive, then this package gets you the best experience ever at Semuliki National Park where you will catch a glimpse at varied cats, white tailed mongoose and other nocturnal species. Have dinner and night at Kirimia Guesthouse (Budget), Ntoroko Game Lodge/Semliki Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 7: Bird watching and Lake Albert boat ride
Have breakfast early in the morning and later, embark on a boat ride via Lake Albert with some packed lunch. This will get you the best sights at bird species such as forest francolin, long tailed hawk, Nkulengu rail, spot breasted ibis, hartlaub’s duck, chestnut flanked goshawk, red throated bee-eaters, red-thighed sparrow hawk and may others. You will have lunch at the waterfalls that also offers the best of picnic tour. Dine and spend a night at Kirimia Guesthouse (Budget), Ntoroko Game Lodge/Semliki Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Wake up early in the morning and after, drive to Kibale Forest National Park a home to about 13 distinct primate species. This park offers refuge to varied primate species including over 1500 chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons as well as 350 birds including the rare African green breasted pitta. You will drive to Fort Portal town for a hike and if time allows, pay a visit to the palace to explore more about the unique cultures and traditions. Drive to Kibale National Park to check in at Ndali lodge/Primate lodge (luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Chimp Nest (Midrange) or Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve and Community Campsite (Basic)
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking and nature walk in Bigodi wetland
After breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu Visitor Center for briefing on the set rules and regulations that you have to follow while on a trek to see chimpanzees in the pristine jungles of Kibale National Park. This will take you about half an hour and after, you will be put in groups of 6 people and assigned to park ranger guide. Later, you can kick start your adventure just from the visitor center or drive to a point where treks normally start. Chimpanzee trek in this park can take you about 2 to 3 hours and only 1 hour is given to you to have a face to face encounter with chimpanzees, take as many photos as possible, explore their behaviors, body gestures among other unique traits. After, return to the lodge to have lunch and in the after, head off to Bigodi Wetland sanctuary for a guided nature walk. While here, you will sight at varied primates including the red colobus monkeys, baboons, L’Hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys as well as bush bucks, sitatunga, bush pigs, birds such as the great blue turaco, yellow spotted fluftail, black capped apalis, crowned eagle, collared apalis, weaver birds, papyrus gonoleks, flycatchers and others.
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, set off to Queen Elizabeth National Park about 2 to 3 hours’ drive. Arrive early enough to have lunch. In the afternoon, set off for a boat cruise along Kazinga channel which will reward you with incredible views over crocodiles, hippos, birds like eagle, kingfishers, raptors and many others. Dine and spend a night at Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Game Lodge/Jacana Safari Lodge (Luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge/Marafiki Safari Lodge (Midrange) or Pumba Safari Cottages/Kazinga Channel View Resort (Budget).
Day 11: Game drive and chimpanzee tracking
After breakfast, head off to Kasenyi wildlife track for morning game drive. This pristine part of Queen Elizabeth National Park gets you best views over African bush elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, hyenas, birds and many others. This will take you about 2-3 hours and later, return to have lunch at your respective lodge. After, set off for afternoon chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge. A trek to see chimpanzees at Kyambura Gorge also offers you a chance to catch a glimpse at the black and white colobus monkeys, forest birds and many more. Have dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Game Lodge/Jacana Safari Lodge (Luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge/Marafiki Safari Lodge (Midrange) or Pumba Safari Cottages/Kazinga Channel View Resort (Budget).
Day 12: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, embark on a road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Drive via Ishasha sector where you will have amazing views over the tree climbing lions. En-route, have lunch at Savanna Resort Hotel and then proceed to Bwindi. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury), Silverback Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Nkuringo Gorilla Camp (Midrange) or Buhoma Community Resort Camp (Basic).
Day 13: First gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park and community visit
Have the best of your breakfast at safari lodge and after, gather at the park headquarters to be briefed on the set rules and regulations that you have follow while on gorilla trek. It is today that you will also be assigned to 1 group to track in a group of 8 visitors. After, hit the jungles to look out for these creatures and this may last you about 4-8 hours depending on your hiking speed, location of these apes and nature of habitat. Make sure that you have some packed lunch and bottled water to keep you energized. After the 1 hour of magical encounter, return to the lodge to have a rest and then set off for evening community walk to Batwa community. While here, learn more about the unique traditions and cultures of the Batwa pygmies, their dances and music performances among others. Dine and spend a night at Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury), Silverback Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Nkuringo Gorilla Camp (Midrange) or Buhoma Community Resort Camp (Basic).
Day 14: Second gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Get up early in the morning and be serve breakfast. After, head off to Bwindi National Park headquarters for briefing on rules and regulations that you are supposed to follow while on a trek. After, hit the jungles to search for these creatures but this time round, in a different family. Return to have a rest or embark on community walk to Batwa or Bakiga community for you to get the best of Uganda’s unique cultures and traditions. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury), Silverback Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Nkuringo Gorilla Camp (Midrange) or Buhoma Community Resort Camp (Basic).
Day 15: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast then head off to Lake Mburo National Park. Arrive at this park early enough and have some rest then set off for a boat ride via scenic Lake Mburo. This will reward you with amazing sights at hippos, crocodiles, water birds including fish eagles, herons, African fin foot, cormorants and many more. Return to have a rest, dinner and overnight stay at Mantana Tented Camp/Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury), Arcadia Cottages Mburo/Mburo Safari Lodge (Midrange) or Rwonyo Rest Camp/Conservation Education Center (Budget).
Day 16: Drive to Kampala
After breakfast, you will start your day with a game drive via the spectacular savannas of Lake Mburo National Park. This will reward you with amazing wildlife species including bush bucks, zebras, leopards, lions, giraffes, birds and many others. Later, drive to Kampala about 4 hours’ drive. Arrive early enough to have a rest, dinner and overnight stay at Sheraton Hotel, Protea Hotel Kampala or Hotel Africana.
Day 17: Kampala city tour
Get up early in the morning to have breakfast and after, set off for a city tour in Kampala. On a city tour, pay a visit to Namirembe Cathedral, National Theatre, Kasubi tombs, Bahai temple and many other significant sites. Return to have a rest, dinner and overnight stay at Sheraton Hotel, Protea Hotel Kampala or Hotel Africana
Day 18: Drive to Entebbe
After you have had breakfast, drive to Entebbe for wildlife exploration at Uganda Wildlife Education Center. While here, you will come across wildlife species such as lions, chimpanzees, giraffes, birds and many others. Dine and spend a night in Lake Victoria Hotel or Protea Hotel Entebbe
Day 19: Departure
Today, you will wake up early in the morning to enjoy your breakfast and later, connect to Entebbe Airport for your scheduled flight back home. This will mark the end of your 19 days gorilla safari in Uganda.
End of safari
Safari inclusions
- Chimpanzee and gorilla permit
- Community visit
- White water rafting
- All activities in the itinerary
- Visit to Bigodi
- Stopovers
- Bottled water
- Transport in a 4WD safari vehicle and full time English speaking driver guide
- Accommodation and meals
Safari exclusions
- Visa fees
- Airfares
- Insurance
- Personal expenses like laundry services, beverages, telephone, tips for staff, cigarettes, accommodation and meals, activities outside the travel plan.
