18 Day Uganda Adventure Safari, Kidepo to Gorillas Circuit
This 18-day Uganda adventure safari is a complete overland circuit for travellers who want Uganda’s remote north, classic savannah wildlife, and primate trekking in one well-paced itinerary. You start with 
rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa, then break the long northern journey with an overnight in Gulu before reaching Kidepo, Uganda’s most dramatic wilderness for game drives in the Narus Valley.
From Kidepo, you hike Mount Morungole to visit the Ik community, then travel south to Murchison Falls for a savannah game drive and a launch cruise on the Nile to the base of the falls. The route continues to Kibale for chimp tracking and the Bigodi wetland walk, then into Queen Elizabeth for the Kazinga Channel boat cruise and an Ishasha sector drive searching for tree-climbing lions. You finish with Bwindi gorilla trekking, golden monkeys in Mgahinga, a recovery stop at Lake Bunyonyi, and a walking safari in Lake Mburo before departure.
Safari highlights
- Best for US and UK travellers who want the full Uganda circuit
- Start and end, Entebbe Airport
- Key parks, Kidepo, Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Lake Mburo
Ziwa rhino tracking on foot
Kidepo Narus Valley game drives
Mount Morungole hike and Ik community visit
Murchison game drive and Nile launch cruise
Kibale chimp tracking and Bigodi wetland walk
Queen Elizabeth game drive and Kazinga Channel cruise
Ishasha search for tree-climbing lions
Bwindi gorilla trekking
Mgahinga golden monkey tracking and Batwa experience
Lake Bunyonyi boat ride
Lake Mburo walking safari and boat ride
Detailed safari
Day 1 Arrival in Entebbe, transfer to hote
Upon your arrival at Entebbe airport, our company representative, together with the guide, will welcome you and transfer you to Kampala, where you will spend a night. Dinner and overnight stay at Fairway Hotel and Spa for mid-range/Forest Cottages for budget. Meal: Half Board If your flight arrives at night, you will stay in Entebbe with airport pick up by the hotel driver. Overnight stay at Best Western Garden Hotel for mid-range/Via Via Guesthouse for budget
Day 2 Ziwa rhinos, transfer to Gulu
On the 2nd day Considering the journey from Kampala to Kidepo requires about 11-12 hours, you will instead end your journey in Gulu reduce the journey. Pick up will be at 7:00 am to set off for Gulu. You will have an en-route stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuaryfor Rhino trekking for 2 -3 hours, have lunch, then proceed to Gulu. Upon arrival, connect to your hotel for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Church Hill hotel
Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo, Narus Valley game drive
Wake up to a hot cup of coffee/tea and embark on a 4-5 hours’ drive to Kidepo National Park with great views of the countryside and the Karamojong people. Upon arrival at the lodge, have lunch and relax before driving to Narus Valley for a game drive. Expect to see large herds of buffalo, Zebras, Elephants, Giraffes, hyenas, and cheetahs. You will enjoy a slow drive, and you can be sure to seize picture moments while on your game drive, and you can have stops at any moment you please. Return to the lodge and spend the evening at leisure, admiring the wilderness. Dinner and overnight at Kidepo Savannah lodge for mid-range/budget/Apoka lodge for luxury
Day 4 Kidepo game drive, hot springs visit
Have breakfast and brace yourself for another thrilling game drive in the vast savannah of Kidepo Valley intercepted by patches of Borassus palm and the rising scenic hills. Enjoy the stunning views of the morning sun shining over the hills of Lomej, the Lotukei Mountains to the north, close to the Sudan border, the Morungole range to the southern boundary of Kidepo, before the rays strike down to the endless valleys of Kidepo valley, while in Kidepo valley, you will be rewarded with views of the ostriches and other animals. Also, visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs before you return.
Day 5 Mount Morungole hike, Ik community visit
After breakfast, 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 the Kidepo National Park but were displaced when the area was gazetted as a national park. The IK now live on Mount Morungole ridges as a community. Visiting them 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 breathtaking the scenes in the valleys below and into the Eastern rift valley of Kenya, and over to southern Sudan. After the hike, drive to check in at Kaabong Resort hotel for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay
Day 6 Transfer to Murchison Falls, Top of the Falls
After breakfast, set off to transfer to Murchison Falls National Park with an en-route lunch in Gulu town. Continue to Murchison Falls and visit the top of the Falls before you proceed to check in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at Pakuba safari lodge for mid-range or Heritage Safari lodge for budget
Day 7 Murchison game drive, Nile boat cruise
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will go for a morning game drive. The activity takes about 3-5 hours, depending on the animals available, and you will find animals including elephants, Rothschild 
giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis, and waterbucks. After the drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch. Later afternoon at 2 pm, go for a launch cruise along the Nile, which will give you an exciting panoramic view of the bottom of the mighty Murchison Falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks, like kingfishers, cormorants, and bee-eaters. You will spend time viewing the falls at the bottom while taking pictures, then later return to meet your driver and connect back to your lodge for a relaxed evening. After viewing the bottom of the falls, sail back to meet your driver who will transfer you back to your lodge with an en-route game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge as above
Day 8 Transfer to Kibale, crater lakes stop
early morning after breakfast, drive out of the park to transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. This Park is home to almost 13 primate species. These include red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkey, and many more. You will have lunch in Kagadi. Upon arrival, explore the crater lakes, then transfer to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at Isunga lodge for budget/Chimpanzee forest guest house for mid-range
Day 9 Kibale chimp tracking, Bigodi wetland walk
After breakfast, you will set out for chimp tracking within the Kibale Forest. During your search, expect to see a lot of primate species like chimpanzees, monkeys, and other animals like the forest elephants, bush pig, and duiker, warthogs, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as a colourful variety of butterflies. Later afternoon, connect for a nature walk in the Bigodi swamp area and look out for most of the water-loving bird species. The forest /Park has almost 335 species of birds and is therefore a good place for birders. Return to the Lodge for lunch.
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth, evening game drive
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to the tree-climbing lions. Arrive at a good time for lunch. Spend your afternoon at leisure with an evening game drive in the Kasenyi area. Return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at Bush Lodge for mid-range/Simba Safari lodge for budget
Day 11 Kasenyi game drive, Kazinga Channel cruise
Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will set out for the lion tracking experience and game drive in search of early risers in the Kasenyi area. The park has a diverse ecosystem 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, buffalo, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob, and other types of antelopes.
Return to your Lodge for lunch, and after, go for a 3-hour Kazinga Channel boat cruise 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 12: Ishasha drive, transfer to Bwindi
On the 12th day, you will set out for the game drive in the Ishasha area and expect to see the rare tree-climbing lions. The lions can be seen upon the fig trees. However, it’s not a guarantee that the lions will be seen. Sometimes it depends on luck and the time of reaching the area. You will have lunch in the Ishasha sector, and after that, you will proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in preparation for your next day Gorilla trek. Dinner and overnight stay at Rushaga Gorilla Camp for budget/Ichumbi Gorilla lodge
Day 13 Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Early in the morning, after breakfast and a briefing from the UWA officials, set off for the gorilla tracking. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an unforgettable adventure. The ranger guides will lead you into the thick forest and start your search for the Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about 1hour. The activity can take 2 -8 hours since the gorillas move up and down. This is an awesome and exciting moment. En-route, there are other types of primates such as monkeys, birds, and more. Return for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 14 Mgahinga golden monkeys, Batwa experience
After breakfast, you will transfer to Mgahinga National Park for a 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. Later, visit the Batwa Pygmies and participate in the cultural performances and so on. Return for dinner and overnight at Mulehe lodge for mid-range/Travellers’ Rest hotel for budget/Gahinga lodge for luxury
Day 15: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, boat ride
After breakfast, you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, which is one of the deepest lakes in Africa. The Lake has almost 32 Islands. The Lake is a good stopover for relaxation for people trekking Gorillas. 
Upon arrival, you will go on a boat ride. This will enable you to visit most of the islands on the Lake. Each Island is named according to the bird species found on the Island and some were named because of their purposes, for example, the Punishment Island, which is the smallest and was used by the Bakiga people to drop their girls who got pregnant before marriage. After the boat ride, return to the Lodge for relaxation while you watch the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Resort/Bunyonyi Birdnest Lodge – Luxury/Bunyonyi Arcadia lodge for mid-range
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo, evening game drive
Start your day with an early morning breakfast, and then you will transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. You will reach Mbarara town in time for lunch. Upon arrival in the park, enjoy a game drive to find some of the animals such as Zebras, buffalo, and elands. Dinner and overnight stay at Arcadia Lodge, Lake Mburo, for mid-range/Eagles Nest lodge for budget
Day 17 Lake Mburo walking safari, boat ride
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. Return to the Lodge for refreshments, Lunch and in the afternoon go for a boat ride on Lake Mburo, which will get you quite close to Crocodiles and Hippos. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 18 Return to Entebbe, departure
Early morning, you will have breakfast and embark on a journey back to Kampala with en-route lunch and at the Equator for water experiments and photographs, Royal drum Village at Mpambire for souvenirs. Proceed to Kampala and drop off at Entebbe airport for your flight back home.
What is included and not included
What Is Included
Airport pickup and transfer in Entebbe on arrival
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel and an experienced English-speaking driver guide
All national park and wildlife reserve entry fees for the itinerary
Rhino tracking permit at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale Forest, one per person
Gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one per person
Golden monkey tracking permit in Mgahinga, if selected
Local cultural experiences as described (Ik community visit, Batwa cultural trail)
Boat launch cruise on the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park
Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary visit with feeding experience
Ranger-guided walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation for 17 nights in the selected lodge category along the route
Meals as specified in the itinerary (breakfast, lunch, dinner, where stated)
Bottled drinking water in the safari vehicle during transfers
Government taxes and statutory safari charges
What Is Not Included
International flights to and from Uganda
Uganda visa fees (East African Tourist Visa if border crossing is used)
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travellers
Porter fees during trekking (gorilla, chimp, golden monkey)
Tips and gratuities for driver guides, rangers, porters, and lodge staff
Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages at lodges
Laundry services and phone/data charges
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, extra activities not listed, spa treatments
Optional upgrades to midrange or luxury lodges, unless quoted
Any flights or charter services not specified in the safari itinerary
