20 Days Best of Uganda Safari
20 Days Best of Uganda Safari
20 Days Best of Uganda Safari is one of the best adventure experiences on an Uganda safari blended with a lot of adventure and relaxation. These 20 Days (20 Days Best of Uganda Safari) cover all the main attractions of Uganda in all the country regions including the Western, Southern western, Northern, Eastern region and central regions. Within 20 day, you are able you know the whole of Uganda by simply visiting its main tourist attractions. The trip features Bwindi Impenetrable national park – home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the whole world, Queen Elizabeth national park – home to the tree climbing lions, Kibale national park – home to the chimpanzees and other 12 primates, Murchison falls national park which is the largest national park and famous for the great Murchison falls the strongest falls in the world, Kidepo national park – Uganda’s renowned wildlife park for the big cats and where we can only find the Cheetah and the Ostriches, Sipi falls, and finally Jinja town which was the former industry town of Uganda, and still the home of the Source of River Nile with a variety of water activities to do. Other experiences to enjoy while on this trip are boat cruising giving you an endless encounter of birds and animals, nature walks, and community encounters.
Highlights of the 20 Days Best of Uganda Safaris
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport – Hotel
- Day 2: Transfer to Jinja City
- Day 3: Adventure on the Nile
- Day 4: Transfer to Sipi falls – Hike Sipi falls
- Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo national park
- Day 6: Narus valley morning game drive and cultural village tour
- Day 7: Kidepo valley tour and visit Kanangorok Hot springs
- Day 8: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
- Day 9: Game drive and River Nile boat cruise
- Day 10: Delta boat trip and top of the falls visit
- Day 11: Transfer to Kibale national park
- Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland visit
- Day 13: Lion tracking and Kazinga boat trip – Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 14: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 15: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 16: Batwa community tour and transfer to Mgainga national park
- Day 17: Hike Mount Sabinyo
- Day 18: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 19: Relaxation and canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 20: Transfer to Entebbe airport and departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport – Hotel
On arriving at Entebbe International airport on day 1 of 20 Days Best of Uganda Safari, you will meet our company representative who will also be your safari guide for the 20 days adventure. Meet and greet at the arrival area then move to the parking, enter the safari vehicle to drive to your booked hotel within Entebbe town. In Entebbe is where we find the only international airport of Uganda, the Statehouse for the president, the Zoo, the reptile village, the botanical gardens, and the beaches given that it’s partly covered by Lake Victoria. In case you arrive during the day, you may explore some of these places of your choice. From the airport to around the town is about 5 minutes’ drive. On locating your hotel, proceed to check-in for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay
Accommodation and meals (Half board)
- Luxury option – Entebbe Protea Hotel
- Mid-range option – 2 Friends Guesthouse
- Budget option – Via Via Guesthouse
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja City
After breakfast at your hotel, check-out and transfer to Jinja City. It is a 3 hours’ drive driving through the beautiful landscapes of tea plantations, sugar plantations, Mabira forest, Lake Victoria and the lovely people from the Eastern part of Uganda. Upon arrival in Jinja via the beautiful bridge, have lunch and later visit the source of the Nile where you will showed the point where River Nile separates from Lake Victoria. Enjoy other activities of your choice including; horseback riding, quad biking, Bungee jumping, or mountain biking. Later evening, connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Accommodation and meals (Half board)
- Luxury option – Jinja Nile Resort/Nile Village Hotel and Spa
- Mid-range option – 2 Friends Guesthouse
- Budget option – Source of the smile Guesthouse
Day 3: Adventure on the Nile
After a delicious breakfast, go for the adventurous experience on River Nile. Report to Nalubage rafting offices for a briefing and get the necessary gears for rafting such as life jacket, thereafter, connect to the starting point of the rafting experience. Rafting is done on an 18km stretch of River Nile. You will be guided by the local guides on all the grades of rapids. Rafting takes a whole day experience. After rafting, you will drive back to your lodge for relaxation and if you are still interested in doing any activity, you will still be able to so. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Day 4: Transfer to Sipi falls – Hike Sipi falls
After breakfast on day 4 of the 20 Days Best of Uganda Safari, check-in out of your hotel very early and embark on your journey to Kapchowra district where we find the Sipi falls located on the slopes of Mount Elgon. It’s a quite a long drive and there is need to start early to reach before night fall. It takes about 5 hours’ from Jinja town reach Sipi falls with en-route lunch.
Connect to the starting point of Sipi falls with your hiking gears where you will meet your local guide who will guide you through the hike. This activity may take about 2-3 hours’ depending on your ability. 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, you may visit all of the falls or one or two of them. Thereafter, proceed to check-in your booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay
Accommodation and meals (Full board)
- Luxury option – Sipi River lodge
- Mid-range option – Noah’s Ark lodge
- Budget option – Lacum lodge
Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo national park
Early morning after breakfast, embark on your long journey to Kidepo valley national park located in the far North Eastern part of Uganda in the semi-arid area of Karamoja region. It’s an 8 hours’ drive through the beautiful scenery of that particular region. Upon arrival in Kidepo national park late afternoon, proceed to check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Apoka Safari lodge/Adere Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
- Budget option: Apoka Rest Camps
Day 6: Narus valley morning game drive and cultural village tour
After breakfast, meet your guide and connect to the Narus valley on a game drive where you will find most of the animals like the elephants, buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, the Cheetahs, lions, leopards can be seen on a very lucky day, and the Elands will be spotted. This will take about 2-3 hours depending on the availability of the animals.
Later afternoon after relaxing, visit one of the Karamojong communities like the Karenna or Kidepo communities on a cultural village tour where you will learn more about the local community in the park in regards to their way of life such as their nomadic lifestyle by visiting homesteads and the kraals of cattle, the traditional spears, headdress, bows and arrows, jewellery, stools, and utensils made by the local natives. Later in the evening, take a sunset game drive to explore more of Kidepo national parl. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Day 7: Kidepo valley tour and visit Kanangorok Hot springs
After breakfast, drive to Kidepo valley which is closer to the Uganda and Sudan border where we find the Kanangorok hot springs. The wild ostriches can also be spotted in this area of the park with other animals while on a game drive. You will have your lunch and spend rest of your evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay your booked lodge as above
- Luxury option: Apoka Safari lodge/Adere Safari lodge
- Mid-range option: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
- Budget option: Apoka Rest Camps
Day 8: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
After your breakfast, check-out and transfer to Murchison falls national park. this park is located in the North western part of Uganda taking about 7 hours’ drive with en-route lunch in Gulu town from Kidepo national park to Murchison falls national park, home of the most powerful falls in Africa driving via Karuma forest. Enter the park Tangi gate and connect to your booked accommodation in the park. The drive to the lodge will get you to see some of the residents of the park like the Elephants, Giraffes and antelopes. Upon arrival at your lodge, check and as you wait for your dinner and overnight at;
- Luxury option – Nile Safari lodge/Paraa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range option – Pakuba Safari lodge/Fort Murchison Lodge/Murchison River lodge
- Budget option – Heritage Safari lodge/Red Chilly Rest Camp
Day 9: Game drive and River Nile boat cruise
After breakfast, embark on a game drive at the delta area where you will find most of the animals. Murchison falls National Park is the only park where you will be able to see most of the animals in the park. This will take about 2-3 hours depending on availability of the animals including Elephants, Rothschild giraffes, Buffaloes, Lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.
Thereafter return to the lodge for lunch and later at 2 pm, you will set off for the boat 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 river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater, drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 10: Delta boat trip and top of the falls visit
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, connect to the top of the Murchison falls to be able to vividly view the falls. The park derived its name from the mighty falls that exist inside the park and are extremely interesting to see how the narrow gorge forces water through creating a strong force of water flow and sound forming a rainbow. This is a must-visit area in Murchison falls national park. After exploring the top of the falls, drive to the landing site to connect to the northern bank of River Nile where your accommodation is located for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Transfer to Kibale national park
Wake up quite early, have breakfast and embark to your next destination that is Kibale national park – home for the chimpanzees and other 12 species of primates. Kibale national park is located in the western part of Uganda close to Fort portal town. It is quite a long journey drive with en-route stops for stretching and refreshing along Papidi road. Have late afternoon lunch in Fort Portal town before you proceed to your booked accommodation and check-in for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury option – Kyaninga lodge/Ndali lodge
- Mid-range option – Chimpanzee Guesthouse
- Budget option – Isunga lodge
Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland visit
After breakfast, drive to the park to report to the Kanyanchu park headquarters for your chimpanzee trekking experience. Trekking starts at 8am after a briefing before you set off for the trekking experience guided by the park armed ranger guides. Trekking may take 2 to 5 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees. Kibale Forest National Park also has a number of forest wildlife that you may find like the forest elephants, buffaloes and different birds species. On finding the chimpanzees, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence. You will return to meet your safari guide who will be waiting to take you to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay booked accommodation as above.
Day 13: Lion tracking and Kazinga boat trip – Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park, about 3 hours’ from Kibale national park. Connect to the Kasenyi area for a lion experience that will last for about 2 hours. Lion experience is a guaranteed experience for visitors to see the lions in Queen Elizabeth national park given the difficulties met during game drives. This activity is only available in Queen Elizabeth national park, you will also enjoy and en-route game drive for animals like the elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, Uganda Kobs, leopards on a lucky day among others as you drive back for lunch at your lodge.
Later in the afternoon, go for a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel where you will spot various water animals like Hippos and crocodiles, the cruise will also enrich you with various water birds. After the boat experience, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option – Mweya Safari lodge/Kyambura Gorge lodge
- Mid-range option – Parkview Safari lodge
- Budget option – Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 14: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After your breakfast, check-out of your lodge in Queen Elizabeth national park and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park and connect to Ruhija sector. It is about 6-7 hours’ drive from Bwindi forest via Ishasha sector where we find the tree climbing lions with en-route lunch. The lions and leopards climb the trees for shed and also to avoid the insect bites on the ground. However, seeing them is not guaranteed. Proceed to Rujija sector where you accommodation is booked for dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury option – Mweya Safari lodge/Kyambura Gorge lodge
- Mid-range option – Parkview Safari lodge
- Budget option – Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 15: Gorilla trekking experience
After early morning breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about the endangered mountain gorillas from the park warden at 7 am before you start trekking at 8 am along with your trekking gear, drinking water and packed lunch, the driver will drop you off at the starting point to trek the gorillas together with the ranger guides. This activity may take between 1-8 hours searching for the gorillas depending on their movement. However meeting them is so rewarding and you will spend maximally 1 hour with them as you take time studying them and taking pictures and videos.
After the gorilla trekking experience, the driver will meet you at the starting point to drive you back to the lodge to relax with great memories of lifetime. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 16: Batwa community tour and transfer to Mgainga national park
After breakfast, go a cultural tour and visit one of the interesting communities of the Batwa people. The Batwa were the indigenous people who used to stay in the Bwindi and Mgahinga forests before they were asked to leave the park as they were to be gazetted for conservation. You will enjoy their performances and also learn more about their way of life. Later afternoon after lunch, drive to your booked accommodation in Kisoro town close to Mgahinga national park to prepare of your next dat mountain climbing experience. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury lodge option: Gahinga lodge
- Mid-range lodge option: Lake Mulehe Safari lodge
- Budget lodge option: Mucha lodges/Travellers’ Rest Hotel
Day 17: Hike Mount Sabinyo
Wake up early, have early breakfast and transfer to the Mgahinga national park head office and report for a briefing from the park officials about your hike. Thereafter set off with your guides to embark on the climb. Mount Sabinyo is surrounded by a lot of forests giving great views of different bird species known as the Albertine birds only found in this area such as the rare Rwenzori Turaco. During your hike, you may get an opportunity to spot the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys if it’s your lucky day. Upon reaching at the top, you will be rewarded crater lakes at the top and you will also be able to view all the 3 countries of Virunga Mountains including Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. It takes 8 hours climbing and descending from Mount Sabinyo. Upon return, meet your guide waiting to return you to your lodge to retire from the tiring day. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 18: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast on day 18 of 20 Days Best of Uganda Safari, drive to lake Bunyonyi which is the second deepest lake in Africa with over 20 islands on this lake and it is one of the most beautiful and relaxation site in the south western part of Uganda. It is also considered safe to swim since it is Bilharzia free. It takes about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kisoro town to Lake Bunyonyi with beautiful sites of the Kigezi hilly region. Connect to your booked accommodation for lunch and spend your afternoon relaxing at the lodge with great sights of the lake and several islands and other attractions surrounding the lake. Dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury lodge option: Bunyonyi BirdNest lodge
- Mid-range lodge option: Bunyonyi Eco-Resort/Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- Budget lodge option: Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 19: Relaxation and Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
On this day, you will spend most of your time relaxing from the long Uganda safari to avoid getting so tired the next day when you will be returning to your home country. Lake Bunyonyi means “place of little birds” and the lake is made of steep hills covered with lush green vegetation showing from the water edges. You will connect for a canoe ride to visit some of the islands on the lake and also sight different bird species. Alternatively, hike to the view point on the hills, go swimming or return to relax at the lodge as booked above
Day 20: Transfer to Entebbe airport and departure
On this day as you end your Uganda safari, have your breakfast and transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe depending on your travel arrangements. It is an 8-9 hours’ drive back to Entebbe. Your safari (20 Days Best of Uganda Safaris) guide will drop you off at a location you advise or drop you off Entebbe international airport for your onward flight back home.
End of the 20 Days Best of Uganda Safari
