20 Days Uganda Adventure – Gorillas & Other Wildlife Safari
Explore everything Uganda has to offer on this 20 day Uganda adventure itinerary. Visit vibrant Jinja, spot game in Kidepo, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks; explore the Sipi falls, Bwindi impenetrable forest and Kibale National Parks as well as the stunning beauty of Kampala city. This trip is really a one to savour!
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival- Transfer to Jinja
Welcome to Uganda! You will be picked from the airport/ hotel by a guide and you commence your tour to Jinja. The drive toward the east shall commence with a guided forest walk in Mabira forest, proceed to Ssezibwa Falls and to Jinja where you will check in a hotel and relax after a flight.
Day 2. Horse Back Riding and Boat cruise to the Source of the Nile
Early breakfast and then head for the first adventure of this safari, Boat cruise on the Source of the Nile to both the Speke Monument and to a point where you may vividly see where the waters of the Nile separate from the Waters of L. Victoria. Break for lunch and then proceed for horseback riding. Be prepared for a day of great experiences with speed and excitement. When the experience is over your guide picks you and takes you to the hotel.
Day 3. Transfer to Sipi falls
Departing from Jinja we head east towards Kapchorwa. A landscape characterized by mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests. We spend the night in Rafik Safari Lodge or Sippi River Lodge.
Day 4. Hike on the Sipi falls
This morning after breakfast, you will transfer to the starting point of hiking on Sipi falls where will be marvelling the different attractions and experiencing the hike up. It’s better to start with the first and the second water fall then take a lunch break or relax then continue to the last one, proceed for a community walk in the nearby villages and after return to your accommodation for overnight.
Day 5. Transfer to Kitgum
In the morning, have breakfast as you prepare to transfer to Kitgum. This long day in a car takes approximately 6-7hours; drive slowly via Mbale-Soroti then Kitgum as you have a scenic stop over’s for photography and lunch en route.
Day 6. Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
Wake up for breakfast and after you make the last part of the journey to Kidepo Valley national park. This park is known as one of the last tasted wildernesses in Africa. You will reach the park in time for a game-drive and then get to the lodge for lunch. After some relaxation, you head out for an evening game drive along the Narus valley where you may be able to spot lions, buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffes, reedbucks, zebras, elands, elephants and oribis. Overnight at Kidepo Safari Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Resort or Ng’amoru Wilderness Camp.
Day 7. Game Drive and Cultural Experience in Kidepo Valley National Park
Get up early and enjoy a morning game drive to Kanangorok hot spring area. It is intended that you bisect the park such that you obtain more chances of encountering animals like the Hunting dog, Bat-eared Fox and other animals endemic to Kidepo National Park like the cheetah and the striped hyena. After the game drive, you will have a cultural interaction with Karamajong people at one of the homesteads. You will meet the local elders and have an opportunity to interact with them as you see how they live and learn about their culture.
Day 8. Transfer to Gulu
Another free day in the car as you are making your own discoveries and travelling through the remotest parts of Uganda, see villages and nature passing by the window. Spend the night in Gulu Uganda’s second-biggest town.
Day 9. Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Rise and make your way southwards to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park and home to over 400 birds’ species. The park is also endowed with several attractions including mammal species with four members of the big five, the lion, the leopards, the elephants, and the Buffaloes. Other species include bushbucks, Uganda kob, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, hyenas, hippos and crocodiles among other resident creatures.
You will start the day in the morning and transfer from Gulu. You will continue the drive through the flat scenic landscape with local villages while enjoying the Ugandan countryside. You will arrive at Murchison Falls National Game Park in the afternoon and check-in Paraa, Pakuba or Fort Murchison Lodge.
Day10. Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Today you will begin your exploration of the park with a game drive in the northern circuit of the park. There you will encounter beautiful rolling plains. While in these plains you may view Lions, Giraffes, Hartebeest, Buffalos, and Elephants, Bushbuck, Spotted hyenas, Wild cats, leopards as well as many of the other mammals of the park. For the birders, this area supports the Secretary Bird, Black Chested Snake Eagle, Tawny and Marshal Eagles Carmine and Swallow-Tailed Bee-Eaters among others. In the afternoon, you will go for a boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls where you will view the Nile as it thunders through a small 7-meter gap down to the delta.
This experience is breathtaking and should not to be missed! The banks of the Nile are home to many species. You may see huge Nile Crocodiles, Hippos and other wildlife that may come down to drink from this mighty river. You may see the pre-historic shoebill, saddle-billed stork and many other birds.
Disembark from the boat and take a hike to the top of the falls where you can see the Nile’s beauty perfected!! Marvel at the Nile, return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation.
Day11. Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
The journey takes a long drive out heading to Kibale Forest National Park. Estimated transit time is 7 hours with frequent stops to stretch your legs. The drive takes you through little towns and villages as you observe the African rhythm of life. On arrival, check into your preferred accommodation.
Day 12. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Chimps Trekking
Be woken up by the sounds of the jungle and get ready for your transfer to Kyambura section of Queen Elizabeth National Park where your chimpanzee tracking experience will take place. This is a rare occasion for you to follow the path of evolution as you track “Man’s closest cousins”; chimpanzees. After having lunch and check-in into your lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day13. Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning you wake up early, meet our guides and board our 4×4 game viewing vehicle before setting off for a day of game driving to see the wildlife in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Being one of Uganda’s largest wildlife reserves, Queen Elizabeth offers an immense variety of animals from the mongoose to the famed Big Five.
There is also prolific bird-life. We spend the day seeking out the different animals such as lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephants, de fassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi and bushbuck. With a break over the lunch period and in the late afternoon, we head back for a boat-cruise offers an excellent platform for photography and game viewing. The birdlife is colourful and abundant. You will be privileged to see schools of hippos and Nile-crocodiles sunbathing and opening wide their saw-like jaws. Return to your accommodation facility for overnight.
Day 14. Tree Climbing Lions in Ishasha and transfer to Bwindi National Park
You will spend most of your day en route to Bwindi impenetrable forest, the game drive takes you through the Ishasha sector where you can have another opportunity to spot the tree-climbing lion, elephants, baboons, buffaloes and more, continue as you have scenic stopovers for photography and lunch. Enjoy the changing landscape as the car slowly climbs up towards the misty mountains of the gorillas. On arrival check-in and rest, overnight at the lodge.
Day 15. Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park
Rise for breakfast before assembling for a briefing by the ranger guide. Embark on a once in a lifetime experience of trekking mountain gorillas in their sanctuary. Once you spot them you are allowed to spend an hour watching your closest long lost cousin, the thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, Unforgettable and exciting experience to be long savoured. Many find it to be a rare and moving opportunity. Return to your lodge, and check out heading to the stunningly beautiful Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 16. Relax by Lake Bunyonyi
Today, explore the spectacular beauty of Lake Bunyonyi as you take a canoe ride to experience the islands. Have lunch and hike (optional) or swim and relax by the pool. Overnight at your accommodation.
Day 17. Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
This morning after breakfast, we head along the highway as we travel to Lake Mburo approximately 5-6 hours. On arrival, you can rest or refresh and proceed for an evening or night game drive (optional). Overnight at the lodge.
Day 18. Safari Walk and Game Drive in Lake Mburo National Park
Wake up to the rhythm of nature, attend a briefing by a ranger-guide and then embark on a safari walk to a salt-lick area called Rwonyo. Get the experience of being one with nature as you see the animals close by during the walk. Thereafter return to the lodge and relax a bit before lunch. After lunch in the afternoon, proceed for a game drive in the park, here you can see impalas and zebras. Get back to the lodge to enjoy your last evening in Uganda’s national parks on this totally Uganda experience.
Day 19. Transfer to Kampala
Have a relaxed breakfast and then start the journey to Kampala. Make a stop along the way for lunch and photography at the Equator and take the chance to stand with one foot on either side on the southern and northern hemisphere. After the last part of the drive to Kampala, your guide takes you to the hotel for a relaxed afternoon/evening.
Day 20. Kampala City Tour
In case your departure flight is in the evening, you will have a morning city tour around Kampala; City tour includes the Uganda Museum, Namugongo shrine, Baha’i Temple, Gadafhi mosque, Nakasero Market, and much more. Lunch and then in the afternoon, enjoy guided shopping or transfer to Entebbe for your departure flight. This trip can be modified to fit your special areas of interest.