21 Days Uganda Safaris and Wildlife Safari

21 Days Uganda Safaris and Wildlife Safari : This 21 Days Uganda Safaris and Wildlife Safari  will take you to all exciting destinations in Uganda including Sipi falls, Murchison falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth and many more.

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport—Hotel in Kampala (Estimated distance: 45 minutes)

Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe International Airport, our company representative or safari guide will meet you to transfer you to your hotel in Kampala for check-in and rest after your long flight. Dinner and overnight stay at the luxury option (Sheraton Hotel/mid-range option) Fairway Hotel/Budget Option: Forest Cottages

Day 2: Transfer to Jinja City (estimated distance: 2-3 hours’ drive)

After breakfast, drive to Jinja for an excursion. En route, visit Mabira Forest for a nature walk while birdwatching. Thereafter, continue to Jinja City, the home of the source of the Nile River. After arriving, enjoy lunch. Later in the afternoon, visit the rapid falls on the Nile. Later, explore the source of the Nile by taking a sunset boat cruise on the River Nile. Meet your driver in the evening to check into your booked hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. Luxury option: Jinja Nile Resort/mid-range option: 2 Friends Guesthouse Jinja/Budget Option: Source of the Smile Guesthouse

Day 3: Transfer to Sipi Falls (Estimated distance: 4-5 hours’ drive)

After breakfast, meet your driver at around 8 or 9 am for a transfer to Sipi Falls, which is located further in the eastern part of Uganda on the slopes of Mount Elgon. En route lunch in Mbale town, then proceed to Sipi Falls. Arrive late in the afternoon and check in at your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay at Luxury option – Sipi River lodge/mid-range option Lacam Lodge/Budget option Noah’s Ark Hotel

Day 4: Visit Sipi Falls

After breakfast, meet your driver guide and proceed to the Sipi Falls information centre to secure a guide for your hike. Sipi Falls has three falls located on the Mt. Elgon foothills, with the shortest stretching at 75 meters, the second at 85 meters, and the longest at 100 meters. You can decide to hike all three falls or two, depending on your physical fitness. Optional activity would be rock climbing. After having your packed lunch, visit the coffee plantation around Sipi Falls. This region of Uganda produces some of the world’s best coffee, so you will experience the coffee-making process before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park (estimated distance: 7-8 hours’ drive)

Have a very early morning breakfast and check-out after saying goodbye to the hotel staff for a transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park. Kidepo National Park is located in the far north-eastern part of Uganda in the Karamoja region. The journey takes a considerable amount of time, and certain sections of the road lack proper development. Arrive in Moroto in the late afternoon and take part in the cattle market day, which occurs every Wednesday of the week. Additionally, you should visit the Jie ethic group of the Karamoja, known as the real cattle warriors in Uganda, who are similar to the Masai of Kenya. After lunch in Moroto town, continue your journey to Kidepo National Park, where you will check into your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Luxury option: Apoka Safari Lodge/ Mid-range option Kidepo Savannah Lodge/Budget Option: Apoka Rest Camp and Bandas

Day 6: Game drives in Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley

Have an early breakfast and go for a game drive in Narus Valley, a famous place for game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park. You have chances to see wild cats, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Zebras, buffaloes, elephants, and various species of antelopes are among the other animals you might spot. Later, return to your lodge for lunch. Later in the afternoon, drive to Kidepo Valley, where you will encounter the largest seasonal river in Kidepo and various bird species, with ostriches being the most renowned. Thereafter, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park (estimated distance: 7-8 hours)

After your breakfast, meet your driver for transfer. Explore the Murchison Falls National Park while enjoying an e-route lunch in Gulu town. Proceed to Murchison, entering via Tangi or Wankwa Gate. Connect to your booked lodge with en-route game viewing. Arrive in the evening and check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Luxury option: Paraa Safari Lodge/mid-range option Pakuba safari lodge/budget option: Heritage Safari Lodge

Day 8: Morning game drive and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls

Have an early morning breakfast and proceed for a game drive to explore the park’s wildlife. Murchison Falls is the largest park in Uganda and has the most animals. During the game drive, you are likely to spot animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, waterbucks, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, and Uganda Kob, among others. On a lucky morning, you will sight leopards, lions, and hyenas. Return to the lodge for lunch.

Later in the afternoon, you will go for a boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison Falls along the Nile. During the boat cruise, you will have the opportunity to witness large groups of hippos, buffaloes, and elephants coming to drink water, as well as a variety of bird species such as kingfishers, cormorants, and bee-eaters, among others. Once you approach the falls, you will have a 10-minute window to capture photos before departing. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at as above.

Day 9: Top of the Falls visit and rhino tracking in Ziwa rhino sanctuary and Wildlife Ranch

After breakfast, meet your driver and head to the top of the falls for the most spectacular experience in the park. The falls are interesting to view and relax and you will be amazed by what you will find. After about 2 hours, drive out of the park to transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a home to the remaining wild rhinos in Uganda. The Sanctuary was established to reintroduce Rhinos that had gone extinct during Amin’s time and it now hosts 22 Southern white Rhinos. After enjoying lunch at the lodge, embark on a foot safari to see the rhinos, and then return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Luxury/mid-range option Amuka Safari Lodge/Budget Option Ziwa Rhino guesthouse

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale National Park (estimated distance: 7-8 hrs)

After breakfast, meet the driver for a transfer to Kibale National Park, known as the best destination for chimpanzee trekking with over 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzees. This is a full-day drive with en-route lunch in Hoima town or late lunch in Fort Portal town. Proceed to your lodge arriving in the evening for relaxation, wait for dinner, and overnight stay at Luxury Lodge—Kyaninga Lodge/midrange option—Isunga Lodge/budget option—Chimpanzee Forest Guest

Day 11: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale Forest

After an early morning breakfast, connect to the Kanyanchu Visitors Center for a briefing about the chimpanzee habituation experience. This is a full-day activity where you will accompany researchers to explore the behaviors of semi-habituated chimpanzees, starting from their nesting process. This activity helps you explore the behaviours of chimpanzees and their way of life, including feeding, mating, and nesting, among others. Kibale Forest is the capital of all primates, so expect to see a lot of other primate species during habituation experience. You are likely to also see other animals, like forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, warthogs, and reptiles, as well as colorful butterflies. The chimpanzee group under habituation is normally under research and trying to get used to people until its ready for tracking. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 12: Visit Bigodi Wetland—Semiliki National Park (estimated distance: 2 hours’ drive)

After breakfast, check out and drive to Bigodi Wetland for a nature walk and birdwatching. You will not only enjoy the silence but also the whispers and sounds of different bird species. The Bigodi Wetland offers abundant birdlife and pristine nature, making it an ideal location for bird enthusiasts to observe a wide variety of bird species. Connect to Fort Portal Town for lunch, then proceed to Semiliki National Park. Arrive in the evening with an en-route game drive and check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at a luxury lodge—Semiliki Safari Lodge, Mid-range Lodge, Ntoronko Safari Lodge, or Budget Lodge. Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas

Day 13: Sempaya Hot Springs/Primates Walk and Batwa Community Walk

After breakfast, meet your driver and proceed to the Semuliki National Park Information Centre to obtain a ranger guide for your visit to Sempaya Hot Springs, home to both female and male hot springs. The guide will articulate to you the story behind a female and male hot springs. During the hot spring visit, you are likely going to encounter other species of primates, including red-tailed monkeys, grey-checked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and olive baboons, among others.
Thereafter, do a community cultural walk by visiting the Pygmies (the Batwa), who used to live in forest before it was gazetted as a national park. They have a rich cultural history and lots of entertainment. Thereafter, drive back to Fort Portal tow for dinner and overnight at the luxury option (Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge), mid-range option (Mount of the Moon Hotel), or any budget accommodation in Fort Portal town.

Day 14: Caves and Caterpillar Lakes Visit – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Estimated Distance: 4-5 Hours’ Drive)

After early breakfast, visit the Amabere Ganyamwiru caves and waterfalls. You will also visit the crater lakes, have lunch, and then proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park, known as a medley of wonders and the second largest national park in Uganda. Connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at the luxury option (Mweya Safari Lodge), mid-range option (Parkview Safari Lodge), or budget option (Puma Safari Cottages).

Day 15: Game Drive and Launch Cruise in Queen Elizabeth.

After early morning breakfast, meet your driver for a transfer to the Kasenyi area, the famous place for game drives and mating grounds for antelopes. You will have the opportunity to observe a variety of wild animals such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, various antelopes, and many other nocturnal animals and predators during your game drive. After the game drive, return to your hotel to relax and have lunch.
Later in the afternoon, you will embark on the famous 2-hour launch cruise at Kazinga Channel. While on the launch cruise, you will be able to see what you missed during your game drive. You have a chance to see elephants and buffalos on the shores, crocodiles sunbathing, and schools of hippos. This is a good place to sight different bird species, both original and migratory. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at lodge as above.

Day 16: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (estimated travel time: 6-7 hours)

Have an early morning breakfast before transferring to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in the far south-western part of Uganda. Drive through Mbarara – Kabale Road with en route lunch. Proceed to your hotel depending on your trekking sector of Bwindi for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge; Mid-range option: Icumbi Gorilla Lodge; Budget option: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

Day 17: Gorilla trekking

Have breakfast and drive to the park offices for a briefing about mountain gorilla trekking by the ranger guide. This is where you will be given the gorilla family to track and briefed about the rules that guide gorilla tracking. We estimate that this activity will take 4 to 8 hours, and you will spend 1 hour with the gorillas after your encounter. Time taken looking for the gorillas will depend on the movement of the gorilla family you have been assigned to track. Meeting the gorillas in their natural habitat is one of those life-rewarding experiences that lasts a lifetime. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. After an hour with them, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point and award certificates before you meet your driver to return you back to the lodge to relax, have dinner, and overnight.

Day 18: Golden Monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park (2 hours’ drive from Bwindi Forest)

After a very early morning breakfast, proceed to Ntebeko, the head offices of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where a Ranger guide will provide a briefing on tracking golden monkeys. This activity takes about 2–5 hours, depending on the movement of these primates on that particular day. Just like gorillas, you will also spend 1 hour with them taking photos in close range in their natural habitat, the bamboo. You will return to the starting point, receive your certificate, and then transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, a lava-dammed lake believed to be the second-deepest lake in Africa after Tanganyika, with a depth between 44 m and 900 m and about 7 to 25 km wide. The lake is located between Kisoro and Kabale districts in southwestern Uganda. It’s a 2-hour’ drive from Kisoro town. Dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option: Arcadia Cottages; Mid-range option: Lake Bunyonyi Eco-Resort; Budget option: Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort

Day 19: Explore Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, embark on a boat trip to some of the lake’s fascinating islands, such as Kyahugye Island, home to wildlife such as zebras, water bucks, impalas, and Uganda kobs; Akampene Island, dubbed a punishment island due to the abandonment of pregnant unmarried girls from Kigezi until the early 1960s; Bwama; and Njuyeera Island, the site of a leper colony founded by missionary Dr. Leonard Sharp. Return for lunch at the lodge, then relax in the afternoon at the lake shores or do some of the lake activities like zip-lining and nature walks. In the evening, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.

Day 20: Transfer to Lake Mburo-Igongo Cultural Centre and boat trip and game drive (estimated distance: 5 hours’)

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival in Mbarara town, have lunch and stop over at the Igongo Cultural Centre, where you will visit the museum and learn about the history and culture of Ankole Kingdom. Thereafter, continue to Lake Mburo National Park, connect for a 2-hour boat trip and evening game drive before you check in your hotel, have dinner, and overnight stay at Luxury option: Mihingo Lodge/midrange option; Rwakobo Lodge/budget option; Eagles Nest Lodge

Day 21: Entebbe and departure (Estimated distance: 4-5 hours’ drive)

After early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and transfer to Entebbe with an en-route morning game drive; stop at the Uganda Equator for photography and some souvenirs; and lunch in Masaka town. Proceed to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled flight back home.

End of 21 Days Uganda Safaris and Wildlife Safari