20 Day Uganda Safari (All Major National Parks)

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe (Uganda)

A Tusker Trails Holidays representative will be waiting to receive you when you land at the airport. Your safari guide will drive you to our booked hotel in the green beautiful town of Entebbe by the freshwater Lake Victoria shoreline. If you feel like taking a stroll this afternoon, you can visit Entebbe’s wildlife education center, several beaches, restaurants, craft villages, botanical gardens, and or taste Uganda’s nightlife. Otherwise, staying at your hotel to freshen up and kill the jetlag in preparation for tomorrow’s journey might just be what your body needs right now. Either way, our objective is to give you your best time in Uganda. The accommodation options this Safari depend on your package type/comfort level preference, We are happy to recommend top-notch lodge/ Camp options upon inquiry

Day 2: Transfer to Jinja (Source of the Nile)

You will be picked up early in the morning and start you journey to the east. Along the way you will see Mabira Forest, Sugar plantations in Lugazi and finally the World’s longest river Nile. Jinja lies on the shore of Lake Victoria, about 3 hours East from Kampala. This town is famous as the historic source of the river Nile and at the same time the adrenaline capital of East Africa. Besides enjoying peaceful sunsets, birdlife and tranquility, this is also where visitors get their adventurous fix. Enjoy activities such as white-water rafting, kayaking, tubing, quad biking, mountain biking and horse riding. Jinja has a gorgeous natural setting with crumbling colonial architecture. It also has a vibrant downtown and broad leafy residential streets set next to the Nile River that you will also enjoy.

Day 3: Adventure at Sipi falls

You will start your journey to Kumi District to the sipi falls on this day. A drive through the north-eastern part of Uganda, to the foothills of Mt Elgon you reach a plateau 1800m above sea level where the beautiful Sipi Falls are located. These green area has a spectacular series of waterfalls (some nearly 100m high), surrounded by village walking trails and lush green coffee-producing hills. There are three falls separated by steep hillsides. It is quite cool here compared to the other parts of Uganda with temperate weather conditions. You will relax and enjoy the fresh air and the calm environment away from city hustles and traffic. Later in the day, a coffee tour and community visits are some of the activities you can enjoy besides the hikes.

Day 4: Transfer to Moroto and visit the Tepeth community and then, overnight

After breakfast, You will start on your journey to Moroto via Soroti. Moroto is a town situated at the foot of the massive Mt. Moroto and the surrounding savannah plains. A visit here gets you closer to one of Uganda’s most indigenous communities – the Karamojong and the Tepeth. We hope to arrive around 12 or 1pm and after check in at the camp, there will be lunch before we can proceed to visit the Tepeth tribe. These are hunters-gatherers from origin and were the first inhabitants of Karamoja land. When the nomadic pastoral Karamojong migrated into their land, they moved into the highlands till today. This visit will surely offer us an insight into their lives.

Day 5: Travel to Kidepo, have lunch and then afternoon-to-evening game drive

Set off immedietely after breakfast to Kidepo Valley National Park, arriving in time for some rest and lunch before going out for game viewing. You will proceed for game viewing in the Narus Valley in the south sector of Kidepo. Narus is the sector of Kidepo that has savannah grasslands mixed with acacia woodland. It is also the area of the park with permanent water sources throughout the year and for that matter, most of the animals are in this part of the park. Be on the look for large herds of Buffaloes, elephants, many Zebras, antelope species and the lions, the elusive leopards. You will return to the accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Kidepo – Morning game drive and move out for the Karamojong community encounter

Enjoy your breakfast then embark on a sunrise game drive/safari where you will have the opportunity to encounter wildlife including; lions, herds of buffalos, elephants, zebras, or the elusive leopard among others. Return to the lodge for lunch and afternoon relaxation. After a good rest, move out for the Karamojong community, cultural encounter where you will spend a wonderful afternoon (evening) with the Karamojong people and have an insight on their way of life and beliefs. You will later return to your lodge for overnight rest.

Day 7: Early-riser game viewing and then transfer to Murchison Falls NP

You will have breakfast early enough and then proceed for an early-riser game viewing. Thereafter, exit Kidepo and hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. You will reach Murchison and do little but check into your accommodation then have some rest, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Full Day Game Drives in Murchison Falls National Park

You will awake to the strangely beautiful noise of the vibrant wildlife in the park; the chirping of crickets, the twittering of the birds and the sound of the waterfalls. After an early morning breakfast, you will set out for your first safari holidays adventure in the park – a game drive.

A game drive on the Northern bank around Buligi game tracks will allow you to spot elephants grazing, herds of buffalos , the graceful giraffes, duikers, warthogs, reedbucks, bushbucks, the strange-looking hartebeest and the cherished Uganda Kob. Lions maybe seen occasionally and leopards are usually spotted at dusk

Day 9: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Safari

Early morning, we head out for an early morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. We explore the game trails towards the Lake Albert delta where big game such as the Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, and many Antelopes are seen. Murchison falls is the main stronghold in Africa for Rothschild Giraffes. The game drive will last for approximately 3 hours before return to the lodge for breakfast. Back at the lodge there is some time to relax and later enjoy your lunch.

After lunch, take a Launch trip to the bottom of the mighty exciting falls, an amazing 3 hours boat ride along the Nile that will be rewarding with sightings of various animals that include hippos, crocodiles, elephants and a vast array of birds including the rare shoebill stork, lounging on the banks of the Nile. Upon reaching the bottom of the falls, you will have a chance to take amazing photos of the mighty roaring falls from a distance then later cruise back to Paraa ferry point where our guide will be waiting for you to transfer you to our accommodation for dinner and overnight stay

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Early morning after breakfast we check out our lodge in Murchison Falls National Park then embark on the drive to Kibale National Park with another enroute stop at the Top of Murchison Falls to have a last glimpse of the powerful Falls. This scenic drive with an en route lunch stop takes us along the Albertine Rift Valley which offers wonderful views of the rift valley as we travel past big tea plantations. We proceed to Fort Portal to our lodging in Kibale reaching our booked accommodation in the late afternoon for an evening relaxation at lodge.

Day 11: Engage in Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest & Bigodi wetland visit

Wake up so early and head to Kanyanchu by 8:00 am to start your chimpanzee trek in Kibale forest. Chimpanzees are considered to be the closest relatives of human beings since they share 98% of their DNA with that of the Humans.

As you proceed with your search of these beautiful chimps, you will as well view many other primate and animal species including; the LHoests Monkeys, black and White colobus monkeys, red tailed Monkey, grey cheeked Mangabey, pottos, bush babies and many bird species including; the little green bul, yellow spotted nictor, rumped tinker bird, crowed eagle, green breasted pitta, black bee spotted eater as well as the elephants which are the mammals. This National Park is on average 3,300 feet in Elevation and it’s a rain forest with many communities of Chimpanzees, each troop of these chimpanzees has over 100 individuals which a completed social structure. In their groups, the adult males dominate the group and always defend the whole community against any danger and incursions by the males from outside.

These primates are located by listening to their pant hooting calls, and then hurry to the place where they are calling from. You get a chance to observe them as the play, feed, socialize as well as jumping around the trees.
Immediately after , the long trek, return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare to visit Bigodi Wetland sanctuary were you will view more primates like the blue monkeys, baboons, otters, Bush bucks, mongoose , bush pigs and many more.

Day 12: Morning Kasenda Lakes Tour – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning after breakfast we head out for the Kasenda Crater Lakes Tour. The cater tour is walking tour that offers panoramic views and sceneries for perfect photography. We trail goes past the different craters of the region with our destination being the top of the world view point on the highest hill behind Lake Nyamirima where you can see up to 5 crater lakes. Here we shall take opportunity for great photography movements then travel south to Queen Elizabeth National Park passing via the Rwenzori Mountains. We reach Queen Elizabeth National and transfer to our booked accommodation to check in and have our lunch. In the afternoon, we head out for our first game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 13: Morning Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

We wake up early; take a quick cup of coffee or tea with a snack, then set out for the early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. We explore the game trails of Kasenyi popularly known for the highest count of antelopes, the big five among other animal species. We later return back to lodge for relaxation and Lunch. In the afternoon, we take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a water getaway that connects Lake Edward and George. This afternoon 3 – hour boat trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of Hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight stay at Lodge

Day 14: Morning Nature Walk in Kyambura Gorge – Evening Game Drive in Ishasha Sector

Early morning after your breakfast we check out our booked accommodation to transfer to Kyambuga Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park for a Nature Walk. Kyambura Gorge, within the reserve, is reminiscent of a lost world, somewhere intriguing and mysterious. This nature walk will be guided by a ranger while set foot into Kyambura Gorge, look out for the various tree species, birds and butterflies and the member of the 12 other primate species including the colobus, red tail, and vervet monkeys. After this thrilling experience we shall continue on a drive to Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park to check in our booked accommodation for lunch and relaxation. This evening we head out for a game drive in Ishaha sector famously known for tree climbing. At sundown we return to lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 15: Depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On this day, you begin your journey to Bwindi the habitat of gentle giants Mountain gorillas. This journey will take you through Kigezi highlands and its various terraced hills. Have Lunch on your way or from the lodge; it will be dependent on your arrival time. Have dinner and take a rest at our booked lodge

Day 16: Mountain Gorilla tracking safari – Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Talk of gentle giants with a 98% DNA close to that of humans, its the Mountain gorillas which made Bwindi Forest their home. Also other species like butterflies, plants, primates, mammals, butterflies, frogs, among others are also found here. After briefing at the headquarters, you will be led by the rangers into the jungle to track gorillas. This experience usually takes 1 hour to about 8 hours since gorillas move differently also and only 1 hour is granted to capture your greatest moments with the gorillas. Later in the afternoon you shall transfer to the transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Day 17: Golden Monkey Trekking – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, your day’s golden monkey tracking will begin when you report at the park headquarters for a briefing on the golden monkey tracking etiquette. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the golden monkeys and once found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviors, watch them jump up in tree branches, take photos and record videos.

Later in the afternoon you shall transfer to the transfer to Lake Bunonyi for an evening relation on the Islands. You will sail to the various islands on the lake, the Lake is famous for over 29 islands among which is the famous Akampene (Punishment Island) and Bwama and Njuyeera (sharp’s island). A tour to the islands will give you a chance to see over 200 bird species.

Day 18: Lake Bunyonyi – Canoeing & Hiking

After breakfast, you are free to admire the beauty of the lake and its surrounding hills. You will have a choice of either taking a canoe ride on the lake to explore the different Islands with exciting histories behind them. For example, you will visit the Punishment Island. The story about this Island, it is the place where girls who were known to have conceived babies out of legitimate traditional marriage would be dumped and left to die. This is a whole day activity and you will surely enjoy it. Alternatively, you can hike one of the hills around the Lake Bunyonyi. Encounter Africa Safaris supports some projects around this area, which is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). So, for those who want to do something in the community while on their tour, this is another opportunity for you to go for volunteer work. Return to the Lodge for overnight

Day 19: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park via the Great Lakes Museum or Igongo Cultural center to learn more about the cultures of the ethnic groups in western Uganda. Lunch will be served en route. You will arrive at Lake Mburo National Park just in time for an evening game drive. Lake Mburo National Park is popular for animals such as Impalas, Giraffes, Zebras and so much more. Return to the Lodge for overnight.

Day 20: Nature Walk – Transfer Back to Entebbe International Airport

Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelope, Cape buffaloes among others. Optionally you may take a the Trail to the top of the hills and see Lake Mburo and beyond. From this vantage point, you will have a great view of 9 of the twelve lakes surrounding Lake Mburo NP.

Thereafter, you then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch journey back home(1800hrs or later) with an en-route at the Equtor Point at Kayabwe to take some photos and refreshments