21 Days Uganda Wildlife and Cultures Safari
21 Days Uganda Wildlife and Cultures Safari
At the start of the 21 Days Uganda Wildlife and Cultures Safari, Our Guide will warmly welcome you upon arrival and take you to explore Uganda’s most picturesque parks, home to abundant wildlife and amazing landscapes. Encounter unique cultures and the Wondulust Gorillas in the Mist, Chimpanzees in their Natural Habitat, and much unique wildlife and widespread landscapes. Choose it as a lifetime list to visit Uganda.
21 Days Uganda Wildlife and Cultures Safari DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
Our driver-guide will meet you upon arrival and transfer you to Airport Link Entebbe for your overnight stay. During the drive, he will brief you on the upcoming tour and confirm your pickup time for the following morning. Depending on your arrival schedule, we recommend exchanging your currency today; you may also have the opportunity to visit Kampala, which is just an hour’s drive from Entebbe.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel (Marriott).
Day 2: To Kidepo Valley National Park
Early morning after breakfast, we will leave Entebbe for Kidepo Valley National Park, which is in the northern part of Uganda. We will stop at the Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary to track the Rhinos. You will have a quick lunch and then proceed to Kitgum overnight at the Cactus Hotel Kitgum.
DAY 03: To Kidepo National Park
After breakfast, proceed to Kidepo Valley National Park, check in at your Hotel, and later have an afternoon game drive in the beautiful Kidepo Valley National Park.
This National Park ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the national Park, a savanna landscape extends in all directions, far beyond the gazetted area of 1442 km2, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges.
Budget Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Self-contained Tents) | Comfortable Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Non-Self-contained Tents)
DAY 04: morning game drive and cultural experience.
Kidepo Valley is home to one of the most exciting faunas of any Ugandan Park, with over 80 species of mammals, several of which are endemic to Kidepo National Park, such as the cheetah, the striped hyena, the Caracal, and over 465 bird species, including ostriches.
In the afternoon, visit the Karamojong village to learn more about their culture, music, and dance. Karamoja has a cattle culture, and the Karamojong are notorious as cattle raiders. Unlike most other Ugandans, many Karamojong shun Western-style clothes and instead”wear a traditional dress “of a blanket-like shawl, often in red and black. The women wear elaborate beadwork.
Budget Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Non-self-contained Tents) Comfortable Accommodation: – Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Self-contained Tents)
DAY 05: To Murchison Falls National Park
After enjoying an early breakfast, you will depart for the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park and stop for lunch along the way. The Victoria Nile bisects the Park, plunging 45 meters over the remnant rift valley wall to create the dramatic Murchison Falls. This powerful waterfall serves as the Park’s centrepiece, marking the final, spectacular event in an 80km stretch of rapids.
The mighty cascade drains the river’s last energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. There are many animals to see along your way to the Hotel through the Park, such as elephants, giraffes, and buffalo. At the same time, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and aquatic birds are permanent residents.
We reach Fort Murchison just outside the Park boundaries later in the afternoon. Here we will stay, and with a cool drink and a fabulous view over the River Nile, the evening will come with all the noise of an African night.
Budget Accommodation: Fort Murchison Tents; Mid: self-contained tents / Pakuba Lodge. Driving time: ± 5 hours
DAY 06: In Murchison Falls National Park
Early morning, head for a game drive on the northern bank of the River Nile. Your guide will help you spot elephants, lions, cape buffalo, Roth child’s giraffe, hartebeest, oribi, bushbuck, bohor reedbuck, hyena and if you are lucky, the leopard.
After lunch, go for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. Here you will see the River Nile, said to be the 2nd longest river in the world, crush through a narrow gorge and form the magnificent Murchison Falls.
During the cruise, you will spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants, waterbucks, and Uganda kobs. This area also serves as a haven for birdlife; look out for species such as the Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican, and bee-eater. Additionally, you may see kingfishers, hornbills, cormorants, and the rare shoebill stork.
Overnight at your Lodge: Accommodation at Pakuba Lodge Comfortable Accommodation: – Fort Murchison (self-contained rooms)
Day 7: To Kibale Forest National Park.
After enjoying an early breakfast, you will drive south through the verdant countryside, passing traditional homesteads and farms on your way to Fort Portal. This charming town rests in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon” and takes its name from Sir Gerald Portal, a British Special Commissioner for Uganda. As you enter the town, you will see his statue gracing the main road.
Kibale Forest National Park is one of Africa’s greatest tropical rainforests and is home to a wealth of wildlife, most notably 13 species of primates, including chimpanzees, and 375 species of birds. We traverse Ugandan traditional Villages, where you see people in gardens nurturing traditional crops such as millet, sorghum, beans, and maize.
Keep eyes open for some bird species along the roads, such as Long-Crested Eagles, Double-Toothed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Sunbirds, and weavers, as we travel. We shall have a stopover in Fort Portal Town for a late lunch, then continue to our Accommodation, check in, and have an evening of relaxation.
Driving time: ± 5 hours
Budget Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp (non-self-contained tents) Comfortable Accommodation: – Kibale Forest Camp (self-contained rooms)
Day 8: Chimp Walk and Swamp Walk
After breakfast, we visit Kibale Forest National Park, which is reputed to have the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. The most famous of its 13 species is the Chimpanzee, our closest relative.
Kibale 1450 Chimpanzee represents Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate. Kibale is also home to the rare I’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates include the black-and-white Colobus, Blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, Red-tailed monkey, and Olive baboon, to mention but a few.
So you will enjoy a guided nature walk through the tropical rainforest in search of wild chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and many others. We have the opportunity to do a community in Bigodi after your Chimp tracking.
Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp (non-self-contained tents) Comfortable Accommodation: – Kibale Forest Camp (self-contained rooms)
Day 9: To Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Early morning departure for Queen Elizabeth. From Fort Portal, we reach Mweya in Queen Elizabeth NP by midday, with a stunning view over the Kazinga Channel. In the late afternoon, we will make a game drive.
Driving time: ± 5,5 hours
Budget Accommodation:- Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (Non-self-contained Tents) Comfortable Accommodation: – Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (self-contained Tents)
Day 10: In Queen Elizabeth National Park
The day begins early with a morning game drive to the mating grounds of the Uganda Kobs. We search for lions, elephants, buffalo, and other wild animals in their natural habitat before returning for lunch. In the afternoon, we take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George.
Thanks to the abundant birdlife and the elephants, buffaloes, and hundreds of hippos cooling off on the shores, this cruise will be superb. Expect to see many aquatic birds, hippos, and crocodiles. We then retire back to our Accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Budget Accommodation: – Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (Non-self-contained Tents) Comfortable Accommodation: – Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp (self-contained Tents)
Day 11: In Queen Elizabeth NP, Ishasha sector (Tree climbing lions)
On this day, we proceed to the Ishasha sector, famous for its climbing lions and home to the largest population of Topis.
Budget accommodation:- Enjojo Tents (Non-self-contained Tents) Comfortable accommodation: – Enjojo Bandas (self-contained Tents)
Day 12: morning drive in search of a wilder and have an afternoon rest.
All-day Game drive in the Ishasha Sector with a Relaxing Evening.
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi
In the morning, we leave Bwindi for Kisoro, the bad road takes us through a beautiful landscape called the “Switzerland of Africa”.
Driving time: ± 4 hours
Comfortable Accommodation: – Trakker’s Ruhija (self-contained rooms)
Day 14: Gorilla tracking
First, we will head to the Park headquarters for a safety briefing on the rules of the jungle. Our guides will then provide you with walking sticks to assist your trek. Before we set off to meet the “Gentle Giants,” please ensure you have packed your lunch and brought plenty of drinking water.
The Gorillas share 95% of their genes with us humans, and staring into their pondering eyes is as overwhelming as it is awe-inspiring. After tracking, we will return to our Lodge to relax, dine, and spend the night.
Comfortable Accommodation: – Trekkers Ruhija (self-contained rooms)
Day 15: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Relaxing at this beautiful place, you can take a boat cruise and learn more about the history of this lake, which comprises 29 small islands, each with its own history.
Accommodation: Crater Bay Cottages, Bunyonyi / Acadia Cottages (mid-range)
Day 16: To Lake Mburo National Park
Early in the morning, we will leave for Lake Mburo National Park. You will have lunch in Mbarara before continuing to Lake Mburo, a small but unique Park and the only one in western Uganda with impalas and zebras. If staying in budget Accommodation, this afternoon will be in the village/cultural walk.
Driving time: ± 5,5 hours
Budget Accommodation: – Eagle’s Nest Camp (Non-self-contained standing tents) Comfortable Accommodation: – Eagle’s Nest Camp (Non-self-contained standing tents)
Day 17: In Lake Mburo National Park
You will start the day with an early morning game walk. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo, followed by a game drive into the early evening. This compact Park hosts 68 mammal species, including the impala—the antelope that gave Kampala its name. As you explore, you will also encounter zebras, Uganda kobs, duikers, bushbucks, Ankole cattle, topis, buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, waterbucks, and oribis.
There are 315 bird species, including the shoebill stork, red-faced barbet, crested crane, and papyrus yellow warbler. The vegetation is mainly an open Savannah of Acacia, Olea, and Boscia.
Lake Mburo serves as a natural haven for diverse flora and fauna, with its banks teeming with vibrant wildlife. While crocodiles and hippos reside here permanently, buffalo frequently visit the water to drink during the dry season. As you explore, you will also encounter zebras, Uganda kobs, duikers, and the impala—the specific antelope that inspired the name “Kampala.” Furthermore, the Park is home to bushbucks, Ankole cattle, topis, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, and oribis.
The wide variety of resident birds includes Malachite Kingfishers, Pied Kingfishers, African Fish Eagles, Rufous Long-tailed Starlings, Blue-headed Weavers, Green-necked Doves, Hammerkops, Pelicans, Herons, Cormorants, and even rare Shoebills.
Budget accommodation: – Eagle’s Nest Camp (Non-self-contained standing tents) Comfortable accommodation: – Eagle’s Nest Camp (Non-self-contained standing tents)
Day 18: Transfer to Entebbe
The transfer to Entebbe includes a stop at the Equator Monument for some pictures and a water experiment.
Day 19: Kampala -Jinja
After enjoying an early breakfast, you will drive toward Jinja in Eastern Uganda. The route offers plenty of vibrant scenery to keep you entertained throughout the journey. We will make our first stop at Sezibwa Falls, where you will stretch your legs on a guided nature walk and soak in the beautiful views.
Thereafter, head to the Forest, one of the largest remaining tropical forests, where you take a nature walk through the. Here, you will see several varieties of tree species and birds, among others. After the activity, the group transferred to Jinja and passed through different sugar and tea plantations. Reaching Jinja town, visit the source of the Nile, take a boat to the source, and also visit Samuka Island for bird viewing.
Check in at your Lodge/Hotel: Jinja Nile Resort (Luxury) or Face of Smile / 2 Friends Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 20: Water Rafting along the River Nile
For your main activity in Jinja, you can enjoy a half-day or full-day white-water rafting adventure on the Nile, the world’s longest river. This thrilling experience offers an unforgettable moment of pure adventure. Afterwards, you will have lunch and drive back, arriving in the evening.
Day 21: Departure| End of 21 Days Uganda Wildlife and Cultures Safari.
21 Days Uganda Wildlife and Cultures Safari Cost Includes
- Full board Accommodation
- Full-time English-speaking professional driver/guide
- All tour activities as detailed in the itinerary
- One Gorilla Permit per person @ $ 800.00
- One Chimpanzee Permit per person @ $ 250.00
- Bottled water while on safari
- Transport 4×4 safari Van
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Park Fee and ferry crossing»
Our 21 Days Uganda Wildlife and Cultures Safari cost excludes:
- Airport Transfer
- We do not include Accommodation on arrival and departure for short trips; however, we can easily arrange these stays for you upon request.
- Flights
- Laundry services
- Beverages/ drinks
- Vaccinations
- Medical Insurance
- Visas (Uganda @ $50, East Africa @ $100 )