22 Days Best of Uganda-Gorilla, Chimps, and Wildlife Safari.
Our 22 Days Best of Uganda Gorilla, Chimps, and Wildlife Safari for travelers who have enough time to visit, spend and explore “The Pearl of Africa”. This tour takes the most known National Parks in Uganda that are both in the Eastern and Western Uganda that include; Kidepo Valley National Park known for having many animals for game driving compared to other Parks and with many chances of spotting antelopes, leopards, lions, elephants, buffalos, hippos, ostriches mention but a few.
And culture tours to learn more about the people living there, visiting Jinja , Sipi falls tour along Mount Elgon, 22 Days Best of Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park known for game drives, boat cruises at the bottom of the falls and providing you a chance for chimp trekking thrice in different areas of Budongo Forest, 22 Days Best of Uganda, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park also known for game drives and boat cruise on Kazinga and Kibale National Park also known for Bigodi Wetland walk. Lake Bunyonyi specifically known for canoe rides, Lake Mburo is known for canoe rides, boat cruises, and game drives, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is mostly known for mountain gorillas tracking and cultural tours to study more about the Bakiga and the Batwa people. This safari starts and ends in Kampala Uganda.
HIGHLIGHTS.
Pick up from the airport/ lodge and Transfer to Jinja.
White water Rafting and Transfer to Mbale.
Hiking Sipi Falls and Abseiling.
Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park and evening game drive.
Morning and afternoon game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Game drive and cultural encounter in Kidepo National Park.
Transfer to Murchison National Park and evening game drive.
Game drive and afternoon nature walk in Murchison.
Boat cruise at the bottom of falls and afternoon cultural encounter.
Drive to Kibale National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Wetland walk in Kibale National Park.
Transfer Queen Elizabeth National Park and evening game drive.
Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel.
Transfer to Southern Queen Elizabeth in Ishasha Sector.
Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla tracking and and optional activities around the Park.
Cultural encounter and afternoon nature walk.
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and afternoon nature walk.
Canoe riding in Lake Bunyonyi.
Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and evening game drive.
Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo.
Drive back to Kampala to end the Safari.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Pick up from the airport/ lodge and Transfer to Jinja
After breakfast, you will be picked by our Safari guide and drive to the Eastern part of Uganda through Jinja -High way having a stopover at Ssezibwa falls for Photography and a brief Cultural tour around the site before proceeding to Jinja. However you will reach Jinja for hot lunch at your Lodge, 22 Days Best of Uganda, check-in, and prepare for an evening boat ride to the source of River Nile the world’s longest river. Have Pictures of an Africa sunset on the banks of the Nile while heading back to the lodge for dinner and overnight,
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Wild waters lodge
Midrange: Kingfisher lodge
Budget; Bilkon hotel Jinja
Day 2: White water Rafting and Transfer to Mbale.
After breakfast, head out for adventures on the white waters of the Nile, there are several thrilling activities along the Nile which you can take part in. White water rafting is one of the most activities enjoyed by travelers while on the Nile. They conquer six Rapids on this Might river before retiring back to the lodge for Lunch. However, there are other several activities which you can engage in like Kayaking, Bungee jumping, and Horse riding along the banks of the Nile. After lunch, you will check out of the Lodge and drive to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Wild waters lodge
Midrange: Kingfisher lodge
Budget; Bilkon hotel Jinja
Day 3: Sipi Falls Hike and a coffee tour.
After an early breakfast, the Sipi Site guides will Pickup you up and embark on your today’s activities, with the help of walking sticks, you will Hike the 3 falls in the area. You can also opt to do abseiling o one of the falls. After the hike, you will go back to the lodge and Prepare for a Coffee tour in the Evening. Return to the lodge for magnificent Sunset views during the Beautiful landscape and falling Horizon.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Sipi River Lodge
Midrange: Rafiki Lodge
Budget; Sipi Falls
Day 4: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park and evening game drive.
After breakfast, you will drive to Kidepo valley which is approximately 380km using 6-7hours from Kapchorwa having your lunch break at Kidepo Savannah Lodge, relax and prepare for a late afternoon game drive. Kidepo Valley National Park has once voted the best National Park in Africa and the only place you can see cheaters and boosts of several pride lions that can be easily spotted compared to other Parks. You will have many chances of seeing elephants, buffalos, giraffes, leopards, bushbucks among many others. You will the back to the lodge for your overnight and dinner.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge
Midrange: Savannah lodge Kidepo
Budget; Apoka Bandas.
Day 5: Morning and afternoon game drive in Kidepo National Park.
After breakfast, you will spend both morning and afternoon doing game drives in the savannah plains of Kidepo Valley National Park. This park hosts a great variety of animal species compared to any other Ugandan park. You will have many chances of seeing the Hunting dog, Bat-eared Fox, Cheetah, Striped Hyena, and the award Wolf while on your drive. The more uncommon ungulates are, roan antelope, Chandler’s mountain Reedbuck, beisa oryx, Klipspringer, and Bright’s Gazelle, which have been greatly decreased by poachers within the past few years.
Among the other big ungulates are elephants, oribi, Burchell’s zebras, bush pigs, warthogs, Rothschild’s giraffes, defassa waterbucks, cape buffaloes, elands, and bushbucks. Five primate species are found within the park of which is the most endemic in the Kavirondo bush baby. Carnivores existing include lions, side-striped jackals, leopards, black-backed jackals, various small cats as well as spotted hyenas. You will drive back to the Lodge for an overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Apoka Safari lodge
Midrange: Savannah lodge Kidepo
Budget; Apoka Bandas.
Day 6: Nature walks and cultural encounters in the Kidepo.
After breakfast, you will go for the nature walk through the Narus Valley, meet members of the endangered IK tribe and wander the splendid Kidepo River Valley between the banks of Borassus palm forest. You will have a lunch break before going for a cultural encounter. Meanwhile Visit the homes of the Karamajong, interact with the elders and get to know more about the lifestyle, culture, and behaviors of the onetime pastoral groups. You will then return to the Lodge for an overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge
Midrange: Savannah lodge Kidepo
Budget; Apoka Bandas.
Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and evening game drive.
After breakfast, you will drive to Murchison Falls National Park which is approximately 290km using 5-6hours from Kidepo National Park. You will have to check-in in your accommodation, have lunch and prepare for an evening game drive through the savannah area to have chances of seeing cape buffalos, elephants, Rothschild’s giraffe, warthog, and hippos among many others.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Paara Safari Lodge
Midrange: Pakuba Safari lodge
Budget; Heritage Safari Lodge.
Day 8: Game drive and afternoon nature walk in Murchison.
Following the early morning breakfast, drive to the northern section of the park known as Paraa for your game drive where you will be able to spot some of the mammals like; the lions, hippopotamuses, Rothschild’s giraffe, warthog, Cape buffalos Uganda kob among others. In this early morning, 22 Days Best of Uganda, you will have a chance to see plenty of games and Nyamsika Cliffs where you can enjoy every moment spent.
Return to the lodge for a lunch break before going ahead with the nature walk through the nearby villages. Nature walks in Murchison are mostly done by travelers who want to explore the wilderness on foot, they go through Kaniyo Pabidi, rabongo forests, and the Albert delta. You will then return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options:
Luxury: Paara Safari Lodge
Midrange: Pakuba Safari lodge
Budget; Heritage Safari Lodge.
Day 9: Boat cruise at the bottom of the falls and afternoon cultural encounter.
After an early breakfast, you will have a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls to witness how River Nile enters Lake Albert and takes you to the bottom. While on the cruise, you will be able to sight waterbucks, crocodiles, buffalos, elephants, and water birds such as fish eagles, kingfishers, ducks, bee-eaters, and the shoebill among others. You will then have a lunch break at the lodge before going ahead with the cultural encounter. Have the chance to visit the Mubako community, Boomu Women’s group, Banyoro culture, and traditional communities and learn more about them. You will then Checkin to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Paara Safari Lodge
Midrange: Pakuba Safari lodge
Budget; Heritage Safari Lodge.
Day 10: Drive to Kibale National Park.
After breakfast, you will drive to Kibale National Park which is approximately 404km via Mubende- Fort Portal road passing through the small town, villages, and great views of the escapements using approximately 7-8hours arriving late evening for your dinner and overnight
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Midrange: Isunga Lodge
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp.
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk in Kibale National Park.
After breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters and join others for a briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the chimpanzees in the forest. You will be divided into small groups of six people headed by one guide who will move with you into the forest to find the chimpanzees because they normally break up into small groups to reduce the competition of food amongst them and they gather in the evening for rest.
Allowed one hour with the chimpanzees for observing and taking photos before going for lunch and then Bigodi Wetland Walk. You will move into the swamp in the tropical jungle, filled with natural wonders that have amazed and delighted thousands each year as they walk through this jungle, you will have a chance to visit the plants, trees, and palms in the Bigodi wetland sanctuary. Transfer to your lodge for an overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Midrange: Isunga Lodge
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp.
Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and evening game drive.
This morning you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which will take approximately 155km via Katunguru-Mbarara-Kasese road using approximately 4-5hours, be prepared for some incredible scenery along the way. You will reach in time for lunch at Buffalo Resort and have the game drive in the plains of Kasenyi to look for the savannah animals for instance lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos among others, and drive back to the lodge overnight.
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge
Midrange: Elephant Hab Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages.
Day 13: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel.
Having breakfast, you will drive back to Kasenyi plains for a game drive to see whatever you missed out on in the previous game drive and it is in the morning when the big cats are out hunting for their prey, buffalos, mongooses, monkeys in Kyambura Gorge, kobs, topis among others. You will then continue with the boat cruise along Kazinga Channel in the afternoon which will take you not less than two hours. Meanwhile See the crocodiles along Kazinga Channel, bathing hippos on the shores and birds how they play around big mammals like buffalos. You will also have a chance to see Katunguru fishing village and by chance watch fishermen as they drop their fishing nets into the water ready to yield fish. After the boat cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for overnight.
Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge
Midrange: Elephant Hab Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages.
Day 14: Transfer to Southern Queen Elizabeth in Ishasha Sector.
After breakfast, you will enjoy morning game viewing en-route to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park known as Ishasha. Enjoy your lunch and thereafter drive to the park in search of the popular tree-climbing lions and chances of seeing them climbing depends on your luck of the day. 22 Days Best of Uganda, Ishasha has other animals like Buffaloes, Elephants, Antelopes, and many others. You may also drive to River Ishasha to see the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Later return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Ishasha River Lodge
Midrange: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Budget; Topi Lodge
Day 15: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After breakfast, you will drive to South-western Uganda; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is home to almost half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas and the only Park where the wild chimpanzees co-exist with mountain gorillas being shared by districts of Kabale, Kanungu. This journey takes you through the Banana Plantations, Farms, and beautiful hills of Kigezi arriving late afternoon for overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Engagi Lodge
Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp
Day 16: Gorilla tracking and optional activities around the Park.
Following the breakfast at the lodge, you will transfer to the park headquarters to join others for the full briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas. After that, you will start your trek into the forest and this trek may take 30minutes-7hours depending on where the mountain gorillas will be. Once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed one hour for observation and taking photos before going biking in-around, Bwindi Forest. You will enjoy this activity and then return to Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Engagi Lodge
Budget: Broadbill forest Camp
Day 17: Cultural encounter and afternoon nature walk.
After breakfast, you will drive to Buhoma to have a cultural visit and begins with the handicraft shop, selling the handmade things that are made by proficient neighborhood talented specialists and women. You also move to the neighboring communities fuse the Batwa, a social affair of people who perform tunes and move about their past life in the forested areas and you will learn more about them. 22 Days Best of Uganda, You will have a lunch break at the hotel before going ahead with nature.
You will move to the nearby village of Buhoma and through the village, you will learn the ways and the culture of the people that live in the Buhoma area on the edge of Bwindi Forest. Be able to learn more about these people with the help of your guide who is friendly and knowledgeable about them. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Engagi Lodge
Budget: Broadbill forest Camp
Day 18: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and afternoon nature walk.
After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the three Lava dammed lakes in Uganda and is the deepest lake. It is called Bunyonyi meaning birds because of the abundance of birds. 22 Days Best of Uganda, You will have your lunch break at Bay Cottages before going for the nature walk. You will visit the famous Batwa pygmy people who have a community on one side of the Lake which you can visit even on the canoe ride; learn about the traditional way of life, hunting techniques, and their traditional dances. You will then drive to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Arcadia lodge Bunyonyi
Midrange: Birds nest Bunyonyi.
Budget; Supreme Adventure Park.
Day 19: Canoe riding on Lake Bunyonyi.
After breakfast, you will view and admire the beauty of the Lake and the surrounding hills. You will have a chance to take a canoe ride on the Lake to explore the different islands with exciting history. Visit Punishment Island were girls who would get pregnant before marriage would be dumped and left to die. Surely enjoy this whole day exploring the lake and learning more about it. Then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Arcadia lodge Bunyonyi
Midrange: Birds nest Bunyonyi.
Budget; Supreme Adventure Park.
Day 20: Transfer to Lake Mburo for an evening game drive.
After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Mburo National Park from Lake Bunyonyi via Igongo Cultural Centre to learn more about the Ankole culture and take photos continuing for a lunch break at Rwakobo Rock before having the evening game drive. Lake Mburo is known for animals like impalas, giraffes, zebras, and many others. You will have a chance to see zebras while on your drive. Finally return to the hotel for your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options,
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Midrange: Rwakobo Lodge
Budget; Mpogo Safari lodge
Day 21: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo.
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will head out to the savannah area of the park to see the animals in Lake Mburo. While on the drive, you are assured of spotting zebras, buffalos, impalas, warthogs, and waterbucks and elands. You will have a lunch break at the hotel before going for a boat cruise on the Lake. Drive to the Eastern banks of Lake Mburo to explore the two-hour boat cruise. have a chance to see various animals and birds while on the boat. Such as crocodiles, buffalos, hippos, colorful kingfishers, magnificent fish eagles, hammer kops, shoebills among others. You will then have your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation option,
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Midrange: Rwakobo Lodge
Budget; Mpogo Safari lodge
Day 22: Drive back to Kampala.
After breakfast, you will drive back to Kampala from Lake Mburo National Park which is approximately 240km via Mbarara-Masaka road using 6-7hour to arrive in Kampala. You will have a stopover at the equator for photos and lunch and then proceed to Kampala arriving late afternoon to end the Safari. Thus the end of the safari.
Tour Exclusions on Best of 22 Days Best of Uganda
- Park fees (for non-residents)
- Gorilla Permit
- Chimpanzee Permit
- Rhino tracking
- White water rafting
- Hiking Sipi falls
- Game drives and Boat cruises
- All activities (unless labelled as optional)
- All accommodation
- All community and Cultural walks.
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals as mentioned on the program
- Drinking water (on all days)
Tour Exclusions on Best of 22 Days Best of Uganda
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at end of the tour, if needed
- Tips
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)