20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari

20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari

20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari takes round Uganda main tourist attractions in Uganda’s savannah national park for a wildlife experience of all kinds of animals including the big five game such as the Lions, Leopards, Cape Buffaloes, Elephants and Rhinos. Each of these savannah national parks has a unique attraction that makes visiting all of them worth. Kidepo national park and Murchison falls national park are located in the North west of Uganda and they offer the best experience of the big five game. Even though the Rhinos cannot be found in any of the savannah national parks, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was put in place to reintroduce the experience of rhinos in Uganda after they were all killed during the reign of President Amin Dada. Lake Mburo national park and Queen Elizabeth national park are located in the western part of Uganda and they offer the great experience of different Antelope species. Kibale national park is Africa’s best chimpanzee trekking destination with guaranteed best views of the chimpanzees and other 12 existing primates in the park. It is also a home to 138 species of birds, 250 tree species and 60 species of forest wildlife including forest elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs and buffaloes. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains 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; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector. Bwindi forest also shelters some species of mammals including the forest elephants and the different species of antelopes. Mgahinga national park is a home to both gorillas and Golden Monkeys in the Virunga Mountains. Both these activities can be done in the same park giving visitors a feel of Volcanoes national park in Rwanda since the two parks are only separated by the country borders. The Golden monkeys and Gorillas in this park are the same as those of Rwanda however at a lower price as compared to Rwanda.

This trip starts and ends in Entebbe – Uganda even though there are quite distances among the national parks. Other things to consider on this trip include; accommodation, meals, Transport and activities. 

Safari highlights of the 20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari

• Day 1: Arrival and hotel drop off
• Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – evening game drive 
• Day 3: Walking safari/game drive and boat cruise 
• Day 4: Transfer to Mgahinga national park – Kisoro, canoe ride on Lake Mutanda
• Day 5: Golden Monkey tracking – Transfer to Bwindi forest national park
• Day 6: Gorilla trekking – Rushaga sector 
• Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
• Day 8: Morning game drive and boat cruise 
• Day 9: Transfer to Semuliki national park – Hot springs and night game drive
• Day 10: Transfer to Kibale national park – Bigodi swamp walk and chimpanzee trekking
• Day 11: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 
• Day 12: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls 
• Day 13: Morning game drive and boat cruise 
• Day 14: Transfer to Kidepo valley national park
• Day 15: Full day Narus valley and Kidepo valley game drives 
• Day 16: Hike Mount Morungole to visit the IK people
• Day 17: Transfer to Moroto – Cultural tour
• Day 18: Pian Upe game drive and transfer to Sipi falls
• Day 19: Explore sipi falls and coffee tour 
• Day 20: Drive back to Kampala/Entebbe – Departure 

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and hotel drop off

Following your arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel dinner and overnight stay

• Luxury option: Entebbe Protea Hotel
• Mid-range option: 2 Friends Guesthouse
• Budget option: Via Via Guesthouse

Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – evening game drive 

On day 2 of the 20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari, Wake up for breakfast at the hotel and after meet your safari guide who will be with you throughout the trip. Set off for Lake Mburo national park. The driver will pick you up, brief you about the safari then embark on your journey to Lake Mburo national park. It’s about 5 hours’ drive from Entebbe with an en-route stop at the Equator for the equator experiment. Upon arrival at the park, connect to your lodge, check-in and have lunch. Later evening, connect for an evening game drive for animals like the Zebras, Impalas, Oribi, Waterbucks, and Giraffes to mention a few. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at 

• Luxury option: Mihingo lodge
• Mid-range option: Mpogo Lodge 
• Budget option: Eagles Nest Lodge 

Day 3: Walking safari/game drive and boat cruise 

Early morning, after your breakfast, meet your ranger guides for your walking safari, this tour is no different from a game drive except that here you will walk on foot to find the animals. This walking safari will be combined to a game drive. 

Later afternoon, connect for a boat ride on Lake Mburo to see some of the water animals like the hippos and water birds. Lake Mburo is also one of the best birding sites in Uganda and taking a boat trip will enable you see some of the common birds in the park. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 4: Transfer to Mgahinga national park – Kisoro, canoe ride on Lake Mutanda

After breakfast on day 4 of the 20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey to Mgahinga national park with en-route lunch. It’s a 5 hours’ drive to Kisoro close to the Mgahinga national park. Upon arrival at your lodge, check-in refresh. Later afternoon, enjoy a canoe ride on Lake Mutanda with great views of the Virunga Mountains. Relax at the lodge as you wait for dinner and overnight stay at 

• Luxury option: Lake Mutanda Safari Resort 
• Mid-range option: Lake Mutanda Safari lodge 
• Budget option: Travellers’ Rest Hotel

Day 5: Golden Monkey tracking – Transfer to Bwindi forest national park

After breakfast, you will transfer to Mgahinga National Park for briefing about the Golden monkeys with your packed food and water. Later enter the forest to search for the monkeys. On finding them, spend an hour viewing them while taking pictures and videos. Return from the hike and check-out of the lodge to connect to Bwindi forest. It’s about 2-3 hours’ drive to reach your lodge. Upon arrival, check-in and relax with great views of Bwindi forest. Dinner and overnight stay at 

• Luxury option: Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge
• Mid-range option: Ichumbi Gorilla lodge
• Budget option: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

Day 6: Gorilla trekking – Rushaga sector 

Early in the morning, after breakfast, drive to Rushaga sector for your gorilla trekking experience. You will attend a briefing from the UWA officials before you are allowed to set off for the gorilla tracking. This is a once lifetime experience and unforgettable adventure. The ranger guides will lead you into the thick forest and start your search for the endangered Mountain Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures. The activity can take 2 -7 hours since the gorillas move up and down. On finding them, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour in their presence. This is an awesome and exciting moment. Return for dinner and overnight stay as at lodge as above.

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

After enjoying your breakfast, depart the park and embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth national park. It is about 6-8 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. En-route drive via Ishasha sector, this is quite a long drive and the road is not that smooth. Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park is home to the tree climbing lions. The lions can be seen lying on the fig trees. Seeing the tree climbing lions is however not a guarantee that the lions will be seen. Sometimes it depends on the luck and time of reaching the area. Proceed to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at 

• Luxury option: Mweya Safari lodge 
• Mid-range option: Parkview Safari Lodge 
• Budget option: Pumba Safari Cottages 

Day 8: Morning game drive and boat cruise 

Early in the morning after breakfast, you will set out for the game drive in search for early risers in the Kasenyi area. The park has diverse eco-system of grassy plains, rivers, crater lakes, forests, swamps, and lakes. These are home to various types of wildlife and a game drive in Queen Elizabeth will reward you with views of animals such as lions, antelopes, buffalos, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and other types of antelopes.

Return to your Lodge for lunch and after, go for a 3 hours launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This cruise will let you pass through a place of the highest concentration of hippos and you may also see many animals drinking at the water’s edge. The cruise also offers a good platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.

Day 9: Transfer to Semuliki national park – Hot springs and night game drive

After early morning breakfast, transfer to Semuliki national park via Fort portal town, it’s a 4 hours’ drive from Queen Elizabeth national park with great views of Rwenzori mountain ranges with en-route lunch in Fort portal town, proceed to Semuliki national park and visit the Sempaya hot springs. Thereafter, connect to Toro-Semuliki reserve where your lodge is located. Check-in and relax as you wait for dinner and night game drive.

Night game drives are also common in the park that rewards you with nocturnal animals like the white-tailed mongoose and the slender mongoose, the standard and pennant winged nightjars, cats, hyenas, leopards, among others. This park offers surprises because you can never tell what to find and it is also the only park in Uganda that offers a spotlight night drive. Dinner and overnight at 

• Luxury option: Semiliki Safari lodge 
• Mid-range option: Ntoronko Safari lodge 
• Budget option: Bugama Cottages

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale national park – Bigodi swamp walk and chimpanzee trekking

Early morning after breakfast, depart the lodge and connect to Kibale Forest National Park for your chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi swamp walk. It’s 2-3 hours’ drive from Bundibunyo. Upon arrival in Kibale, connect to Bigodi swamp walk. This is where you will find a number of other primates like the Red Colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Red Vevert monkeys to mention a few. Later afternoon after your lunch, connect to for your afternoon chimpanzee trekking. You will be briefed about the experience and later enter the forest in search of the chimpanzees. Trekking takes 2-5 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees. On finding the chimpanzees, you will spend 1 hour in their presence before you transfer to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at 

• Luxury option: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali lodge 
• Mid-range option: Chimpanzee Guesthouse
• Budget option: Isunga lodge 

Day 11: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 

After early morning breakfast, embark on your journey to the north-western part of Uganda to Nakasongola district – home to the only existing rhinos in Uganda. It’s quite a long drive from Fort portal taking about 6-7 hours via Kyenjojo-Hoima road with en-route lunch. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you may do the rhino tracking experience. You will be briefed before you connect to see the rhinos. This will take 2-3 hours depending on the location of the rhinos. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Amuka Safari lodge for luxury/Mid-range option or Ziwa Rhino Guesthouse for budget option

Day 12: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Top of the falls 

After your delicious breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Murchison falls national park. It is about 3-4 hours’ drive from the sanctuary. On arrival at the Kichwabanyobo gate, check-in and proceed via Budongo forest to connect to the Top of the Murchison falls to vividly view the falls at a closer range. The park derived its name from the mighty falls that exist inside the park and are extremely interesting to see how the narrow gorge forces water through creating a strong force of water flow and sound forming a rainbow. This is a must-visit area in Murchison falls national park. After exploring the top of the falls, drive to your booked lodge for lunch, and relax in the afternoon as you wait for an evening game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at 

• Luxury option: Paraa Safari lodge
• Mid-range option: Pakuba Safari lodge 
• Budget option: Heritage safari lodge

Day 13: Morning game drive and boat cruise 

After breakfast, embark on a game drive at the delta area where you will find most of the animals. Murchison falls National Park is the only park where you will be able to see most of the animals in the park. This will take about 2-3 hours depending on the availability of the animals including Elephants, Rothschild giraffes, Buffaloes, Lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.

Thereafter return to the lodge for lunch and later at 2 pm, you will set off for the boat cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater, drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay as above.

Day 14: Transfer to Kidepo valley national park

Early morning after breakfast, embark on your long journey to Kidepo valley national park located in the far North-Eastern part of Uganda in the semi-arid area of Karamojong region. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive through the beautiful scenery of the northern region of Uganda with en-route lunch in Gulu town. Upon arrival in Kidepo national park late afternoon, proceed to check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at 

• Luxury option: Apoka Safari Lodge
• Mid-range option: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
• Budget option: Apoka Rest Camp

Day 15: Full day Narus valley and Kidepo valley game drives 

After breakfast, meet your guide and connect to the Narus valley on a game drive where you will find most of the animals like the elephants, buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, the Cheetahs, lions, leopards can be seen on a very lucky day, and the Elands will be spotted. This will take about 2-3 hours depending on the availability of the animals. 

The later afternoon after lunch, drive to Kidepo valley which is closer to the Uganda and Sudan border where we find the Kanangorok hot springs and the wild ostriches can also be spotted in this area of the park with other animals while on a game drive. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.

Day 16: Hike Mount Morungole to visit the IK people

After breakfast on day 16 of the 20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari, drive to the starting point of Mount Morungole located in the absolute northern hills of Karamoja. Here is where we find the smallest tribe of Uganda called the IK. The IK people lived in nowdays Kidepo national park but were misplaced when the area was gazetted as a national park. The IK now live on Mount Morungole ridges as a community. Visiting the IK people gives visitors a rare insight into the unique tribe/culture in Africa. You will also enjoy the beautiful scenery, the higher the climb takes you, the more breath-taking the scenes in the valleys below and into the Eastern rift valley of Kenya and over to southern Sudan. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Kaabong Resort Hotel

Day 17: Transfer to Moroto – Cultural tour

After breakfast, transfer to Moroto district. It’s about 4-5 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Arrival in Moroto in the afternoon, connect to experience the Karamong culture by visiting one of the Karamojong communities. You will participate in traditional games, daily activities as preparing staples foods, harvesting, beading, learning, dance, traditional friendly wrestling and know how to shoot using a bow and arrow. These activities can be done for a whole day. Dinner and overnight stay Kara-Tunga Karamoja Safari Camp

Day 18: Pian Upe game drive and transfer to Sipi falls

After breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to Pian Upe wildlife reserve. It is about 2-3 hours’ drive from Moroto town. Upon arrival, register at the head offices before you proceed for a gamed rive in the park.  Enjoy a whole day game drive and encounter the species such as the Roan Antilope, Topis, Gazelles, Heartbeest and Eland. Other animals include; the lions, leopards, these can be spotted on a lucky day. 

Later after the game drive, transfer to Sipi falls located in Kapchorwa district at the foothills of Mount Elgon. It is a 4-5 hours’ drive checking in at your booked hotel in Sipi falls late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at

• Luxury option – Sipi River Lodge 
• Mid-range option – Lacum lodge
• Budget option – Casa Sipi falls lodge

Day 19: Explore Sipi falls and coffee tour 

After breakfast, explore Sipi falls at different levels. The Sipi falls consist of 3 waterfalls with the highest fall dropping at 100m. Depending on your ability, you can hike 2 of the waterfalls or hike all the 3 falls. After hiking, meet your guide for a coffee tour. Uganda is one of the best coffee producing countries in Africa and this area has the best Arabic coffee. You will go through the proceed of coffee making until you reach the level of accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 20: Drive back to Kampala/Entebbe – Departure o 

After breakfast on the final day of the 20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari, depart the hotel and embark on your journey to Kampala, the capital of Uganda. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Upon arrival in Entebbe late afternoon, proceed to check-in for your flight back home.

End of the 20 Days Best Of Uganda Wildlife Safari