9 Days Uganda sightseeing safari

9 Days Uganda sightseeing safari : This 9-day Uganda sightseeing safari is good and the perfect package for getting away. This trip comprises hiking, wildlife experiences, and water experiences. Located on the foothills of Mount Elgon, Sipi Falls are renowned as the most beautiful waterfalls in Uganda. Sipi Falls consists of 3 waterfalls separated by steep hillsides outside the boundary of Mount Elgon National Park. Sipi Falls has therefore earned being called the most visited tourism site in Uganda.

Lake Bunyonyi is Uganda and East Africa’s deepest lake, with an estimated depth of about 44 meters to 900 meters deep and a width of about 7 kilometres to 25 kilometres wide. Visiting Lake Bunyonyi is the best way to end your gorilla trekking safari and relax during your trip. There are a variety of fun activities one can do in Lake Bunyonyi, including zip-linking, hiking, community tours, canoe rides, birdwatching, and discovering the islands on the lake while on a boat trip. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Uganda’s oldest national parks, with a diverse rainforest from over 25,000 years ago and containing about 400 plant species. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and it is divided into 4 sectors, including the Buhoma sector, which is the oldest trekking sector; the Rushaga sector, which has the largest number of gorilla families; the Ruhija sector; and finally the Nkuringo sector. It is the best place for gorilla trekking in Africa.

One of Uganda’s top birding destinations is Lake Mburo National Park, a savannah national park home to numerous antelope species. Lake Mburo National Park is the only park with the Eland, Impala, and Klipspringer, and it also has the largest population of zebras in Uganda. The park sits on a 370-kilometre area with a reach in a variety of habitats, including rocky outcrops, open savannah and woodland, lakes and swamps, forests, busy thickets, and animals. Activities enjoyed in Lake Mburo National Park include game viewing safaris, walking safaris, horseback ride safaris, mountain biking safaris, boat cruises on Lake Mburo and birdwatching. With a Kampala city tour, this safari is even more interesting with the beauty of Kampala city, a city with a variety of things to do and see.

Safari highlights

Day 1: Arrival—Kampala city sightseeing tour

Day 2: Transfer to Sipi Falls

Day 3: Transfer to Jinja—Sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria

Day 4: Whitewater rafting and transfer to Kampala

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 6: Optional gorilla trekking/boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 8: Full day Lake Mburo Safari (bicycle and horseback ride)

Day 9: Transfer to Entebbe Airport—Departure

Detailed itinerary                       

Day 1: Arrival – Kampala city sightseeing tour

Upon arrival at Entebbe international airport, meet your safari guide and connect to Kampala city, Uganda. It’s a 45-minute’ drive from the airport without traffic. Connect for a city tour, visiting some of the most interesting places, including the Gadaffi mosque, Bahai temple, Nakasero Market, Uganda Monument, and art and craft market, to mention a few, depending on time with en-route lunch. Proceed to check-in your booked hotel for dinner and overnight stay at the Fairway Hotel for mid-range/Sheraton Hotel for luxury/Forest Cottages of Budget.

Day 2: Transfer to Sipi Falls

In the morning, meet your safari guide and start your journey to Sipi Falls in Kapchwora district. The journey takes 5-6 hours, including a lunch stop en route. After that, you will connect to Sipi Falls, located in the foothills of Mount Elgon, near the edge of Mount Elgon National Park, near the Kenya border. The falls consist of 3 waterfalls, the highest of which is 100 meters high. Depending on your ability, you can hike 2 of the waterfalls or hike all 3 falls. Before nightfall, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Sipi River Lodge.

Day 3: Transfer to Jinja—Sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria

If you were unable to complete the hike the previous day, start the hike in the morning after breakfast, and then proceed to Jinja town. Arrive in Jinja at good time for lunch. Visit the source of the Nile and also connect for a sunset boat cruise along Lake Victoria. Remember to carry your cameras to capture the sunset and the birds on Lake Victoria. Dinner and overnight at Jinja Nile Resort/2 Friends Hotel for mid-range option/Source of the Smile Guesthouse for budget option

Day 4: Whitewater rafting and transfer to Kampala

After breakfast, drive to the starting area for your whitewater rafting experience. On arrival, you will receive a briefing and be given the rafting gear, then proceed to the rafting point for an adventurous rafting activity with lunch provided. Later, late afternoon after trekking, drive to Kampala. It’s a 2-3 hour’ drive, depending on the traffic. Dinner and overnight at Sheraton Hotel Kampala for the luxury option, Fairway Hotel for the mid-range option, or Forest Cottages for the mid-range

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, embark on your journey to the western part of Uganda—Lake Bunyonyi. It’s a 7-8-hour’ drive with an en-route stop at the Uganda Equator and lunch in Mbarara town. Upon arrival, proceed to check-in your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Arcadia Bunyonyi Cottages for mid-range/Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort for Budget option.

Day 6: Gorilla trekking and boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking. The nearest gorilla trekking sector from Lake Bunyonyi is the Ruhija sector, taking about 2 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, you will receive a briefing from the park officials and thereafter enter the forest to search for the gorillas. It takes 2–7 hours, depending on their location. On finding them, you will be allocated an hour to enjoy seeing them while they are feeding, playing, and relaxing.

Drive back to Lake Bunonyi in the afternoon and enjoy a boat trip on Lake Bunonyi. Lake Bunyonyi, which is one of the deepest lakes in Africa. The lake has almost 32 islands. This will enable you to visit most of the islands on the lake. Each island is named according to the bird species found on the island, and some were named because of their purposes for example, the Punishment Island, which is the smallest and was used by the Bakiga people to drop their girls who got pregnant before marriage. After the boat ride, return back to the lodge for relaxation while you watch the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above

Day 7: Zip-lining and Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park—Boot Cruise

Connect for the zip-lining experience. Sturdy ropes are connected between trees on the opposite banks of the lake. You get to swing over the calm waters of the lake and even make half somersaults to touch the waters and feel the breeze on your face. If you are not interested in zip-lining, after breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. Arrive in Lake Mburo National Park at a good time for late lunch. After lunch, enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo for some birdwatching and find some animals like the hippos and crocodiles. Return to your lodge with sights of animals like the zebras and impalas,  to mention a few. Dinner and overnight stay at Mpogo Lodge/Arcadia Cottages Lake Mburo

Day 8: Full day Lake Mburo Safari (mountain biking and horseback ride)

After breakfast, drive to the starting point of your mountain biking safari. You will meet your guide, who will brief and ride with you on this safari. It takes 1 to 3 hours, then drive back to your lodge. Relax as you wait for lunch. After lunch, connect for your afternoon horseback riding safari for 2 hours. Enjoy an evening game drive as you drive back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge at lodge as above

Day 9: Transfer to Entebbe Airport—Departure

After breakfast, embark on a journey back to Kampala/Entebbe with en route lunch and at the Equator for water experiments and photographs; Royal Drum Village at Mpambire for souvenirs. It’s a 7-8 hour’ drive from Kabale to Kampala/Entebbe. The driver will either drop you off at your booked hotel in Entebbe or you will be dropped off at Entebbe airport for your flight back home.

End of 9 Days Uganda sightseeing safari