Experience the best of Uganda on this 18-day safari tour. This long journey takes you to the country’s top destinations for primates, wildlife, adventure, and culture.
You will enjoy game drives on the savanna plains, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, and cultural experiences.
The trip also includes hiking at Sipi Falls, a walk in Mabira Forest, and white-water rafting at the Source of the Nile in Jinja.
This Uganda safari lasts 18 days and 17 nights, beginning and ending in Entebbe or Kampala.
18-Day Uganda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport & Hotel Transfer
- Day 2: Transfer to Jinja via Ssezibwa Falls & Mabira Forest
- Day 3: Transfer to Sipi Falls
- Day 4: Transfer to Moroto via Pian Upe
- Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
- Day 6: Full Day Safari in Kidepo
- Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls
- Day 8: Game Drive & Launch Trip
- Day 9: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park & Visit Crater Lakes
- Day 10: Chimp Trekking in Kibale & Bigodi Swamp Walk
- Day 11: Transfer to Semuliki National Park & Visit the Sempaya Hot Springs
- Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 13: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Trip
- Day 14: Ishasha Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 15: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 16: Boat Trip on Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 17: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
- Day 18: Game Drive in Lake Mburo & Transfer to Entebbe/Kampala
Detailed 18-Day Uganda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport & Hotel Transfer
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport where your driver-guide will welcome you. After a short briefing, transfer to Kampala for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja via Ssezibwa Falls & Mabira Forest
After breakfast, drive east to Jinja with stopovers at Ssezibwa Falls to learn about Buganda cultural heritage, and Mabira Forest for a guided walk to see primates and birds. Continue to Jinja, check into your lodge, and later visit the Source of the Nile.
Day 3: Transfer to Sipi Falls
After breakfast, travel to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District, located at the foothills of Mount Elgon. Have lunch at the lodge and later take a 3–4 hour hike to explore the three waterfalls and enjoy views of Mount Elgon and the surrounding area. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Moroto via Pian Upe
After an early breakfast, drive through Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve for a game drive, then continue to Moroto for overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
After morning tea or coffee, check out and travel north to Kidepo Valley National Park. Stop for lunch on the way and arrive in time to check into your lodge or camp. Dinner and overnight at the park.
Day 6: Full Day Safari in Kidepo
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive across the vast savannas of Kidepo. Look out for cheetahs, leopards, lions, elephants, buffaloes, and ostriches. Lunch will be picnic-style or at the lodge, then continue with more game viewing. In the evening, visit the Karamojong community for a cultural experience.
Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls
After breakfast, drive for about 5–6 hours to Murchison Falls National Park, with a lunch stop in Gulu. Arrive in the evening and check into your lodge.
Day 8: Game Drive & Launch Trip
After breakfast, enjoy a 2–4 hour game drive in the northern savannas of Murchison Falls. Look out for lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, giraffes, hartebeests, and many birds. Return for lunch, then take an afternoon boat ride on the Nile to the base of the falls. Spot hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. Hike to the top of the falls for a close view before returning to the lodge.
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park & Visit Crater Lakes
After breakfast, drive to Kibale National Park, known as the Primate Capital of the World. Stop in Fort Portal for lunch, then continue to your lodge in Kibale. In the afternoon, visit some of the nearby crater lakes.
Day 10: Chimp Trekking in Kibale & Bigodi Swamp Walk
After an early breakfast, report to Kanyanchu Tourist Centre in Kibale for a briefing on the rules for chimpanzee trekking. Each group of six visitors is assigned a park guide who will lead the trek.
During the trek, you will not only see chimpanzees but also other primates, birds, reptiles, plants, and butterflies. The trek lasts 2–4 hours, including one full hour of observing the chimpanzees, taking photos, and learning about them. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland for a guided nature walk to see primates, birds, and other mammals. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Transfer to Semuliki National Park & Visit the Sempaya Hot Springs
After breakfast, leave Kibale and drive about 2.5 hours to Semuliki National Park. On arrival, hike to the Sempaya Hot Springs, which include the male and female springs, known as one of the park’s main attractions.
Return to the lodge for lunch, then enjoy an afternoon game drive in Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Look out for duikers, elephants, reedbucks, waterbucks, and birds.
Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second largest park. Stop in Fort Portal for lunch before continuing into the park and heading to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Trip
After breakfast, set out for a 2–3 hour game drive in Kasenyi Plains. Look out for elephants, lions, warthogs, antelopes, buffaloes, leopards, and birds. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, take a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake George and Lake Edward. Expect to see hippos, crocodiles, and many water birds.
Day 14: Ishasha Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, drive through Ishasha for a short game drive, where you may see tree-climbing lions and other wildlife. Have lunch at Savanna Resort, then continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and check into your lodge.
Day 15: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After an early breakfast, report to the park offices for a briefing. You will be assigned a gorilla family and guided into the forest. The trek can last 2–6 hours, including one hour with the gorillas.
After this once-in-a-lifetime experience, receive your Uganda gorilla trekking certificate and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for dinner and overnight.
Day 16: Boat Trip on Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, enjoy a boat trip to some of the 29 islands on Lake Bunyonyi. Look out for birds and learn about the history of the islands. Return for lunch, then take a short hike to the nearby highlands or visit a local community for a cultural experience.
Day 17: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, leave Lake Bunyonyi for a 4–5 hour drive to Lake Mburo National Park. If you arrive early, enjoy a short game drive to see impalas, zebras, waterbucks, and birds. Have lunch at the lodge, then take an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo to spot hippos, crocodiles, and water birds such as the shoebill stork.
Day 18: Game Drive in Lake Mburo & Transfer to Entebbe/Kampala
After breakfast, set out for a game drive in Lake Mburo National Park to see more wildlife. Later, drive back to Entebbe or Kampala with a stop at the Equator crossing for photos. You will then be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport for your flight.
End of 18 Days Uganda Safari Tour.
