24 Days Uganda Safari tour
This 24 Days Uganda safari tour is a special adventure holiday with Uganda’s primate, wildlife, cultural and birding experience. It will take you all round Uganda with a lifetime opportunity to visit Uganda’s top destinations/attractions emerged with rich cultural and wildlife experiences starting from the Eastern to far North Eastern to Western and to far south-western parts of Uganda covering the whole country.
You will start this long trip from Entebbe/Kampala and ends back to Entebbe with a drive or domestic flight to reduce on the long distance drive.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Drive to Sipi falls (Mount Elgon national park)
Day 2: Coffee and cultural tour – Sipi falls hike
Day 3: Day hike of Mount Elgon national park
Day 4: Transfer to Kidepo Valley national park – Optional evening game drive
Day 5: Full day game drive in Narus valley – Karamonja Community tour
Day 6: Explore Kidepo Valley
Day 7: Drive to Murchison Falls national park (7-8 hours’ drive)
Day 8: Morning Delta Boat trip and afternoon boat cruise to bottom of the falls – evening game drive
Day 9: Budongo Chimpanzee tracking experience – Top of the falls visit
Day 10: Morning game drive – transfer to Ziwa rhino sanctuary – Nature walk
Day 11: 2025: Rhino tracking – Transfer to Kibale Forest national park
Day 12: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp visit
Day 13: Mount Rwenzori day hike – transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 14: Lion tracking and Morning game drive – afternoon Launch cruise on the Kazinga channel and crater exploration
Day 15: Kalinzu Chimpanzee trek – Ishasha game drive
Day 16: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Visit Buhoma Hospital and community tour
Day 17: Gorilla trek in Bwindi forest Park
Day 18: Transfer to relax at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 19: Transfer to Kisoro – Batwa community tour and Lake Mutanda canoe ride
Day 20: Golden Monkey tracking – Mgahinga national park
Day 21: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Walking Safari and Night game drive
Day 22: Morning game drive and boat cruise on Lake Mburo
Day 23: Transfer to Entebbe – Visit Mabamba Swamp
Day 24: Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Sipi falls (Mount Elgon national park)
Following your arrival at Entebbe airport, meet your safari guide, do your own shopping. Later embark on your journey to Mount Elgon national park (Mbale). It’s about 6 hours’ drive with en-route sights of Tea, sugar plantations, and other countryside and en-route lunch. Upon arrival, check-in at your booked accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay at Sipi Guesthouse for budget/ Sipi Heritage lodge for mid-range
Day 2: Coffee and cultural tour – Sipi falls hike
After breakfast, connect for your coffee plantation experience where you will have a wide experience of the Coffee tour from the plantation to the final product. You will also have a sebei cultural experience before you retur for lunch at the lodge.
After lunch, take on a Sipi falls hike experience. This activity may take about 2-3 hours’, get a local guide who will guide you to the Sipi falls. There are 3 levels of Sipi falls, the highest fall being at 100 meters, second at 85 meters and the third falls at 75 meters. Depending on the time, you may visit all of the falls or one or two of them before night fall. Other experiences during the walk includes; cave adventure and a sunset walk. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above
Day 3: Day hike of Mount Elgon national park
After breakfast, connect to Mount Elgon offices to register for your day hiking experience. You will choose one of these trails among short trails for your hiking experience. Have a briefing then with the rangers, embark on your day hike. Carry your snacks and water along with. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
- Chebonet Falls loop which is 5km and takes 3 hours
- Bamboo forest loop which is 7kms and takes 5 hours of hiking through the Kaptum cave and Chebonet waterfalls.
- Tutum cave hike which is 11km and takes 9 hours of hiking.
Day 4: Transfer to Kidepo Valley national park – Optional evening game drive
As early as 6 am, have your breakfast, check-out of the lodge to embark on 8-9 hours’ drive to Kidepo valley national park. It’s a full day drive with en route breaks for lunch and stretching and sites of the eastern and far North Eastern region of Uganda with its beautiful people. Arrive in the park late afternoon and proceed to check-in your booked accommodation to refresh. Depending on time of arrival, have an en-route game drive. Dinner and stay overnight at Kidepo Savannah lodge (Self-contained tents for mid-range) – (Non-self-contained for budget)
Day 5: Full day game drive in Narus valley – Karamonja Community tour
After breakfast, drive to the wild for your morning game drive and explore the park in Narus valley. This area has most of the animals including the zebras, buffaloes, elephants, on lucky days the lions, cheetah, leopards and hyenas. Return for hot lunch at the lodge and later afternoon/evening, visit the Karamojong community for a cultural experience. Before nightfall, drive back to your lodge to rest, have dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Explore Kidepo Valley
After breakfast, drive for a game drive in Kidepo valley in anticipation of seeing some more of the animals like the Ostrich birds, cheetah and so many other animals. Return for hot lunch at the lodge. After lunch or so, you may stay relaxing at the lodge or choose to go for another evening game drive in Narus valley for another opportunity to see more of the animals. Return to the lodge Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 7: Drive to Murchison Falls national park (7-8 hours’ drive)
Very early after breakfast, depart Kidepo national park to connect to Murchison falls national park via Gulu for lunch en-route. Upon arrival in Murchison falls national park, connect to your booked lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight stay at Pakuba safari lodge or Murchsion River Lodge for mid-range/Tilenga Safari Lodge or Red Chill Rest Camp for budget
Day 8: Morning Delta Boat trip and afternoon boat cruise to bottom of the falls – evening game drive
After your breakfast, connect for your morning boat trip to the delta, this boat is interesting in that it increases your chances to see the shoebill stock and animals as most of them converge at the delta for water. It’s a 3-4 hours’ experience before your return to your lodge for lunch.
Later afternoon at 2 pm, go for a launch 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 riverbanks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater. After the boat cruise, connect for an evening game drive to find some of the animals if not all. Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 9: Budongo Chimpanzee tracking experience – Top of the falls visit
On this day, after having early morning breakfast, you go for Chimpanzee tracking in Kaniyo Eco tourism site in Budongo forest which is the biggest mahogany forest in East Africa and a home to about 80 habituated chimpanzees. You will arrive very early so that you can start the forest walk in search of the chimpanzees, you will also enjoy the view and sound of birds and you will spend about 2-4 hours in search depending on their movement. Once finding them, you will stay for one hour with them watching them eat, rest and play.
After the adventure, drive to the top of the falls for a fascinating experience of the thunderous falls. Know the history and view the falls at different viewing points getting closer to the falls and the crocodile bank. Thereafter drive back to the ferry and cross back to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 10: Morning game drive – transfer to Ziwa rhino sanctuary – Nature walk
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will go for a morning game drive in the northern part of the park where we find most of the animals. The time spent on a game drive depends on the availability of the animals. Expect to find animals including the Elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis, waterbuck, warthogs just to mention a few.
After game drive, drive out of the park and connect to Ziwa rhino sanctuary. Its’ about 3 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, check-in have lunch and connect for an afternoon nature walk for animals, birds and primates. Dinner and overnight stay at Amuka Lodge for mid-range/Ziwa Guesthouse for budget
Day 11: 2025: Rhino tracking – Transfer to Kibale Forest national park
Optional – Amabere caves and waterfalls visit
After breakfast, report to the starting area for your briefing about the rhinos. Then be escorted by a ranger on a 1-2-hour Rhino trek to see the white rhino. Have your cameras ready as you’ll get as close as 10-15 metres to these magnificent animals. After spending time with the rhinos, embark on your journey to the next destination – Kibale national park (Fort portal). This is about 5-6 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Upon arrival, have an optional en-route visit of the Amabera caves and waterfalls before you connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Isunga Lodge for budget/Chimpanzee Forest Lodge for mid-range
Day 12: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp visit
After breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for your chimpanzee trekking experience. After briefing and getting allocted a group to trek, enter the Kibale Forest in search of the chimpanzees. This may take 2-5 hours’ with also lots of primate species like monkeys and other animals like the forest elephants, bush pig and duiker, warthogs, reptiles, and amphibians as well as a colorful variety of butterflies to see. After trekking, return to the lodge for lunch.
Later afternoon, connect for a nature walk in Bigodi swamp and community. Bigodi swamp has er lunch, go 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 therefore a good place for birders. Return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Day 13: Mount Rwenzori day hike – transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After early morning breakfast, meet your safari guide and transfer to Mount Rwenzori national park, which is about 45 minutes’ drive. Upon arrival, report to the starting point for a briefing and ensure you have your hiking gears. The hike starts at 8 am and the first few kilometres are pretty steady as you hike through the montane forest with tall thick undergrowth trees, streams and rivers. You also have chances of spotting different bird species and primates. As you continue climbing the mountain gets steeper as you climb the ridge to join the highest trail for the day of about 2,373 meters’ hike.
After descending from the hike, meet your guide and drive for about 30 minutes to Queen Elizabeth national park. Dinner and overnight stay at Bush Lodge or Kazinga Wilderness Camp for budget/Elephant Hub Lodge or Marafiki Lodge for mid-range
Day 14: Lion tracking and Morning game drive – afternoon Launch cruise on the Kazinga channel and crater exploration
Early in the morning after breakfast, you will set off for your lin tracking experience in Kasenyi area for wider chances of spotting the lions up-close. Then do your game drive for other animals. The park has a 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. Connect for crater lake exploration before you return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 15: Kalinzu Chimpanzee trek – Ishasha game drive
After breakfast, you will depart for Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest with your tracking gears. The walk in the forest in search of the chimpanzee generally takes around 2‐5 hours. spend an hour with the chimpanzees.
Thereafter, drive to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park with en-route lunch. Connect for your game drive in Ishasha for chances of spotting the tree climbing lions and other animals. Dinner and overnight stay at Enjojo Game lodge for budget/Ishasha Jungle Lodge for mid-range
Day 16: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Visit Buhoma Hospital and community tour
After breakfast, check-out and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. Its’ about 4 hours’ drive with en-route lunch to Buhoma sector of Bwindi forest, connect to visit the Buhoma hospital and community tour. Later afternoon/evening, connect to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Haven lodge for mid-range/ Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget
Day 17: Gorilla trek in Bwindi forest Park
Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the UWA officials, 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 that will entertain you with performances for about1hour. The activity can take 2 -7 hours since the gorillas move up and down. This is an awesome and exciting moment. En-route, there are other types of the primates such as monkeys, birds, and more. Return for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 18: Transfer to relax at Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, connect to Lake Bunyonyi, which is about 2-3 hours; drive from Buhoma Bwindi. Upon arrival, check-in at the lodge and spend your day relaxing at the lodge. You may have an optional boat trip to visit some of the islands. Dinner and overnight stay at Bunyonyi overland resort (budget)/ Arcadia lodge (Mid-range)
Day 19: Transfer to Kisoro – Batwa community tour and Lake Mutanda canoe ride
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Mgahinga national park in Kisoro. This is about 2 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, connect to the park for the Batwa trail experience. Here you will learn about the Batwa pygmies and their cultural practices before they were displaced from the park. Connect to the lodge for lunch. Later afternoon/evening take an optional boat trip on lake Mutanda. Dinner and overnight at Mulehe lodge for mid-range/Travelers’ Rest hotel for budget
Day 20: Golden Monkey tracking – Mgahinga national park
You will have breakfast and head to Mgahinga national park for your Golden monkey tracking experience. Upon arrival at the park headquarters at 7 am, you will receive a briefing from the park officials before entering the montane forest to search for the Golden monkeys. Trekking starts at 8 am taking about 2-5 hours tracking and on finding them, spend an hour with them before you return to meet your driver and drive back to the lodge to relax, have dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 21: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Walking Safari and Night game drive
Early morning, after your breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo national park. Its about 4-5 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, have your lunch. Later afternoon/evening, connect for a 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 dinner, later in the night connect for a night game drive for chances of spotting some nocturnal animals. Overnight at Mihingo Lodge for luxury/ Rwakobo Rock Lodge for mid-range/Eagles’ Nest for budget
Day 22: Morning game drive and boat cruise on Lake Mburo
You will go for an early, have breakfast then connect to Lake Mburo national park for an early morning game drive to find the early risers. It’s a said there are lions and leopards in Lake Mburo national park but quite difficult to see, if you go for a morning game drive, you have chances of seeing them, expect to see other animals such as the Impalas, Topi, Eland, and Klipspringer. Burchells Zebra, Giraffes, Buffalos also graze these areas.
Later afternoon, connect for an afternoon boat ride on Lake Mburo which will get you quite close to Crocodiles and Hippos. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 23: Transfer to Entebbe – Visit Mabamba Swamp
After breakfast, you embark on a journey back to Entebbe, its about 4-5 hours’ drive with en-route stop at the Uganda Equator. Check-in at your booked hotel, have lunch and later evening, connect to Mabamba swamp for a birding experience. You will meet your local guide for your canoe ride to Mabamba swamp, take a boat to the swamp and get chances of meeting a number of birds and most especially the most sought bird that is the Shoebill stock bird. This will take 1-2 hours depending on the availability of the birds. After birding, return to the landing area and meet your driver to drive you back at your own-booked hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Via Via Guesthouse for budget/Best Western Garden Hotel for mid-range
Day 24: Departure
After breakfast and depending on your departure flight schedule, the driver will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your onward flight back home.
End of 24 Days Uganda Safari tour
