The 18-day Uganda safari tour is an itinerary that lets you discover the main Uganda tour destinations in depth, offering gorilla & chimpanzee trekking, wildlife viewing, and community Uganda tours.
This 18-day safari in Uganda starts and finishes in Entebbe. It encompasses Uganda safaris, primate tours including gorillas and chimpanzees, culture, adventure, and leisure activities.
The tour spots featured in this safari include Jinja to explore the source of the Nile River. The Nile, the world’s longest river, has its source in Jinja, which is a prime location for whitewater rafting.
You’ll also visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking on foot. Then, continue to Murchison Falls National Park for wildlife viewing and an exciting boat cruise. Here, you’ll see 4 of the big 5 African safari animals.
This 18-day Uganda tour will also take you to Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. You’ll visit the Mpanga tea estates for cycling, the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and the Virunga Volcanoes for mountain climbing.
Similarly, you’ll go to Semliki National Park to see the Sempaya hot springs. Queen Elizabeth National Park will offer a chance to search for tree-climbing lions and enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
On this Uganda wildlife safari, you’ll also visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking and Lake Bunyonyi for recreational activities.
Lastly, Lake Mburo National Park will provide a magical game-viewing adventure. It will also include a cultural tour of the Banyankole community, the Batwa of Ntandi, and the Bakonzo of the Rwenzori Mountains.
18-Day Uganda Safari Tour: Highlights
Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your lodge in Entebbe.
Day 2: Travel to Jinja to explore the renowned Nile River.
Day 3: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Day 4: Morning game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park.
Day 5: Visit the top of Murchison Falls and then drive to Hoima District. Stop at Kibiro Salt Gardens en route.
Day 6: Transfer to Fort Portal and have lunch in town. Either go cycling in Mpanga tea estates or visit the Amabere Ga’ Nnyinamwiru caves, hike Fort Portal crater lakes and drive to Kibale National Park.
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park and a nature walk in Bigodi wetland in the afternoon.
Day 8: Transfer to Semliki National Park. Visit the Sempaya hot springs, Batwa of Ntandi, and drive to Kasese. After arriving, visit Africa’s only bronze casting center, the Rwenzori Art Foundation, and the Ruboni Community Craft Village.
Day 9: Full day hiking the Rwenzori Mountains, Africa’s third tallest mountain at 5,109m with snow-capped peaks.
Day 10: Morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park and lunch at Mweya. Afternoon boat trip on Kazinga Channel.
Day 11: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha sector to spot tree-climbing lions.
Day 12: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 13: Either hike one of the 3 Virunga Volcanoes or do Golden Monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Day 14: Follow the Batwa Trail for a cultural experience and drive to Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 15: Canoe or boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi and visit nearby islands, communities, and schools.
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, stopping for a traditional lunch at the Igongo Cultural Center. Later, night game drive in Lake Mburo National Park.
Day 17: Cultural tour of the Ankole community at the Enyemebwa Center. Afternoon drive back to Kampala with a stop at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe.
Day 18: Departure.
18-Day Uganda Safari Tour: Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive At Entebbe International Airport And Transfer To Your Lodge in Entebbe
Upon your scheduled arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll meet your friendly safari guide from Prime Safaris & Tours Limited. They’ll welcome you to Uganda and drive you to your hotel for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
On this first day of your Uganda safari tour, you’ll also receive a briefing about your entire tour in Uganda.
Accommodation Options in Entebbe
Upmarket/Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Hotel
Mid-range/Standard: Cassia Lodge
Budget/Basic: Buziga Country Resort or Camping
Day 2: Travel To Jinja To Explore The Renowned Nile River
After a tasty breakfast, you’ll drive to Jinja, 80km from Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, taking about 2 hours.
This scenic drive will take you through beautiful landscapes on the capital’s outskirts before reaching Lugazi’s sugarcane plantations. You’ll also pass through Mabira’s forested areas before arriving in Jinja for whitewater rafting.
The Nile flows from Lake Victoria at Rippon Falls, continuing its 6650km journey to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. Along the way, it passes through many hard rocks forming rapids and cascades. Taking on this challenging but thrilling rafting is a must-do experience for your Uganda tours and safaris.
Expert guides will accompany you on your rafting adventure, ready to assist if the waters push you off the raft. Local crowds on the Nile’s banks will cheer you on as you navigate the white waters, making you feel part of their community.
The adventure lasts half a day, after which you’ll relax before visiting the Nile’s source in the afternoon. The boat ride to the Nile’s source is rewarding, showing you many beautiful water birds, like kingfishers.
You’ll see the spot where John Speke, the first European to discover the Nile’s source, stood. This takes you back to ancient times when the mysterious River Nile drew great explorers into the unknown.
After this experience, you’ll leave Jinja and stay overnight in Kampala.
Accommodation In Kampala
Upmarket/Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Hotel
Mid-range/Standard: Cassia Lodge
Budget/Basic: Buziga Country Resort or Camping
Day 3: Drive To Murchison Falls National Park With A Stop At Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll start your drive to Murchison Falls National Park, covering about 311km in over 5 hours.
You’ll turn off at Nakitoma, 115 kilometers from Kampala Main Road. From there, it’s 7km to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Headquarters for rhino tracking on foot.
Here, you’ll have the chance to see white rhinos in the only place protecting rhinos in Uganda. They were reintroduced in 2005 after becoming extinct in the country in 1983.
After trekking to see the 32 Southern White Rhinos in their natural habitat, you’ll walk through nature. Passing beautiful plants, unique birds, and amazing landscapes will be a gratifying part of your Uganda wildlife safari.
Meeting the rhinos marks the start of your encounter with the big 5 African safari animals: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos.
After this activity, you’ll continue your drive to Murchison Falls National Park, arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Accommodation In Murchison Falls National Park
Upmarket/Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid-range/Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget/Basic accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge/Wild Camping
Day 4: Morning Game Drive And Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
After an early breakfast at your lodge around 7:00 am, your safari driver guide will take you to the Buligi game area in Murchison Falls National Park’s northern sector.
You’ll enjoy a 3-4 hour game drive adventure where you might see:
Large herds of Rothschild Giraffes
Cape Buffaloes
African Elephants
Many antelope species
Warthogs
Bush-bucks
Hippos
Various birds
If you’re lucky, you might spot lions and leopards, similar to what you’d see on Kenya safaris, Tanzania safaris, & Rwanda safaris.
After your adventure, you’ll return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. At 2 p.m., you’ll be driven for a 2-hour boat cruise on the Nile River.
During the boat cruise, you’ll see diverse water and land animals, such as hippos, elephants, Nile crocodiles, and buffaloes. You’ll also spot beautiful birds like African Fish Eagles, Kingfishers, Cormorants, Pelicans, and many others.
The boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls, the world’s strongest waterfall, will give you a magical view of this natural wonder. After this adventure, you’ll return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 5: Visit the Top of Murchison Falls and Then Drive to Hoima District: Stop At Kibiro Salt Gardens En Route
After breakfast, you’ll drive to the top of Murchison Falls for a new perspective on the world’s strongest waterfall.
The 50-meter-wide Nile passes through an 8-meter gorge and falls 45 meters from a cliff, creating the dramatic Devil’s Cauldron, perfect for photos.
After this activity, you’ll head to Hoima, stopping at Kibiro Salt Gardens, a historic site. This site has supported the local economy for over 900 years. Locals extract salt using traditional methods and trade it for food.
Visiting this site involves walking through steep, challenging landscapes that can only be accessed on foot.
Afterward, you’ll continue to Hoima District in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Accommodation
Kontiki Hotel
Day 6: Transfer To Fort Portal For Lunch
After a delicious breakfast, you’ll drive to Fort Portal, taking about 5 hours. You’ll pass through the beautiful countryside of Kagadi and Kyenjojo, dotted with green vegetation. You’ll also drive past rural homes and farms before reaching Fort Portal for lunch.
Then, you’ll go on a cycling tour of the Mpanga tea estates. The vast green tea plantation covers rolling hills with endless scenic views, perfect for mountain biking. While cycling, you’ll see estate workers plucking tea, and you can join in if you like.
Alternatively, you can visit the Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves and hike the Fort Portal Crater Lake field. Locals who know the area’s history well will welcome you.
The Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves have breast-like features believed to have belonged to Nyinamwiru, daughter of Bukuku, the self-proclaimed King of the Bachwezi.
Legend says Bukuku cut off Nyinamwiru’s breasts to prevent her from breastfeeding her baby Ndahura, as the king was warned Ndahura would take his throne. The white substance flowing from these rock formations is thought to be milk from Nyinamwiru’s breasts.
From here, you’ll hike to the Fort Portal Crater Lake field. On Kyeganywa Hill’s slopes, you’ll take a challenging hike to one of Uganda’s most striking sights—numerous crater lakes and hollows.
From Kyeganywa Hill’s top, you can see the Rwenzori Mountains on a clear day.
After this activity, you’ll drive to Kibale National Park for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Accommodation In Kibale National Park
Upmarket/Luxury: Ndali Lodge
Mid-range/Standard: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget/Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse/Wild Camping
Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park And Nature Walk in Bigodi Wetland In The Afternoon
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll go to Kibale National Park headquarters for a chimpanzee trekking briefing at 8:00 am.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda’s Kibale Forest takes about 2–5 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are. Once you find them, you’ll spend a magical hour watching them.
During this time, you’ll observe them playing, feeding, grooming, swinging in trees, and making their distinctive pant-hooting calls. You can take photos to remember the experience.
On this trail, you might also see other primates like:
L’hoest’s Monkeys
Red-Tailed Monkeys
Blue Monkeys
Black And White Monkeys
Olive Baboons
You’ll also see many forest bird species. After this experience, you’ll return to your lodge for a tasty lunch.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for an exciting nature walk. Bigodi has about 138 bird species, including the beautiful Great Blue Turaco and many other primates.
After this activity, you’ll return to your lodge to relax, have dinner, and stay overnight.
Day 8: Transfer to Semliki National Park. Visit The Sempaya Hot Springs, Batwa Of Ntandi And Drive To Kasese
After breakfast, you’ll drive 78 km to Semliki National Park, taking about 2–3 hours. Upon arrival, you’ll take the famous Sempaya nature walk to visit both the female and male hot springs, Bitente and Nyansimbi.
These hot springs boil at over 1000 °C, with the female hot spring’s geyser shooting up over 2m high. You can even boil eggs or plantains here for a snack.
This adventurous walk will show you the rich plant life of Semliki Forest, an extension of the Congo forest. You might also see primates like Olive Baboons and Black and White Colobus Monkeys.
Next, you’ll visit the Batwa people in Ntandi. The Batwa used to live in the forest before being moved when the park was created. These friendly people will perform dances for you and share their ancient history and traditions.
After meeting the Batwa, you’ll travel to Kasese.
In Kasese, you’ll explore the Rwenzori Art Foundation, Africa’s only bronze casting center. You’ll tour this art gallery with its wide collection of beautiful artwork, and you can even join in the casting process.
If time allows, you’ll visit the Ruboni Craft Village to meet local women making crafts. You can learn a skill like basket weaving.
Then you’ll return for relaxation, dinner, and sleep.
Accommodation In The Rwenzori Region
Upmarket/Luxury: Equator Snow Lodge
Mid-range/Standard: Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget/Basic accommodation: Ruboni Community Camp/Wild Camping
Day 9: Full Day Of Hiking The Rwenzori Mountains
After an early, filling breakfast, you’ll meet at Nyakalengija Park Station to start your full-day hike in the Rwenzori Mountains.
Rwenzori Mountain reaches 5,109m high and has snow-capped peaks despite being near the Equator.
Rwenzori is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known more for its amazing plants than animals. You’ll see beautiful giant lobelias and groundsels. You’ll also see amazing views of the glaciated peaks and glaciers on the mountain.
During your Rwenzori hike, you’ll get great views of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s plains, the rift valley, and Kasese town.
You’ll have lunch on the mountain and return around 5 pm for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 10: Morning Game Drive And Afternoon Boat Cruise In Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, you’ll drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for an exciting morning game drive. Here, you’ll see 4 of the big five African safari animals: lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes.
Other animals you might see include various beautiful antelope species like waterbucks, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, and oribis. You’ll often spot them on the Kasenyi Plains and Mweya Peninsular.
After lunch, you’ll go on a 2-hour boat cruise at 2 pm on the famous Kazinga channel. This channel has the highest concentration of hippos in one place worldwide.
The area also has over 100 bird species, both migratory and resident, as well as many wild animals. These include Nile crocodiles sunbathing on the water edges, African elephants bathing by the shores, and Cape buffaloes playing in the mud along the channel.
As you return to your lodge, you’ll do a game drive along the channel track before relaxing, having dinner, and staying overnight.
Accommodation In Queen Elizabeth NationalPark
Upmarket/Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-range/Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget/Basic accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages/Wild Camping
Day 11: Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Through The Ishasha Sector To Spot The Tree-Climbing Lions
After breakfast, you’ll drive to Bwindi, Uganda for about 3–4 hours, covering a distance of 160km. You’ll go through Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Southern Sector (Ishasha) to look for tree-climbing lions. On the way, you might also see Uganda kobs, buffalos, topis, and elephants.
After seeing the unique tree-climbing lions, you’ll continue to Bwindi, Uganda. You’ll arrive in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Accommodation In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Upmarket/Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge
Mid-range/Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget/Basic accommodation: Broad-bill Forest Camp/Wild Camping
Day 12: Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After an early breakfast, you’ll go to Bwindi Park headquarters with a packed lunch for a briefing at 8:00 a.m.
After the briefing, you’ll enter the misty and hilly jungle of Bwindi impenetrable forest. An armed ranger guide, other trackers, and a park guide will go with you on the trek.
Although the hike is physically demanding, the excitement of the amazing experience ahead will keep you going.
Finding these gentle giants can take about 2–8 hours. Once you meet them, you’ll spend one magical hour watching them feed, play, groom, and interact. You can take photos and enjoy your packed lunch when you return to the headquarters to get your gorilla trekking certificate.
After this experience, you’ll be taken to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Accommodation In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Upmarket/Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Mid-range/Standard: Mucha Hotel
Budget/Basic accommodation: Amajambere Iwachu Community Camp or Wild Camping
Day 13: Either Hike One Of The 3 Virunga Volcanoes Or Do Golden Monkey Tracking In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After breakfast, you’ll go to Ntebeko Park headquarters for a briefing at 8 am. Then, you’ll start a volcano-climbing adventure where you can choose to climb one of the 3 Virunga volcanoes: Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, or Mount Sabinyo.
Sabinyo Mountain, 3,669m high, takes about 8 hours to climb on a 14-kilometer round trip and has many peaks.
Mount Gahinga, 3,474 m high, takes about 6 hours to climb. You might also see golden monkeys in the bamboo zone.
Climbing Muhabura Mountain, 4,127 m high, takes about 8 hours for a 12-kilometer round trip. From the top, you can see Bwindi forest, the Rwenzori Mountains on a clear day, the Virunga Mountain chain, and parts of Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda.
Alternatively, you can go golden monkey tracking to see these unique primates. Mgahinga National Park has over 3000-4,000 golden monkeys, with about 120 living in Mount Gahinga’s bamboo zone that are used to humans.
Their golden fur and playful behavior make them exciting to see on Uganda safaris and tours.
After the day’s activity, you’ll go to your lodge for evening relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 14: Follow The Batwa Trail For A Cultural Experience And Drive To Lake Bunyonyi
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s mountain forest was once home to the Batwa pygmies. They were moved when the park was created.
This trail was made to let you explore the Batwa people’s cultural heritage with Batwa guides.
The trail starts in the morning at Ntebeko. A Mutwa guide will show you many items and explain their importance in their tradition. These include medicinal plants, wild honey collection, bamboo cup and tree house making, and forest hunting methods. They’ll share a lot as you walk to Ngarama cave, their chief’s former home.
Batwa women will sing beautiful local songs about their old forest life and unique culture. This experience takes about 5–6 hours.
After the cultural visit, you’ll drive to Lake Bunyonyi along the scenic Kisoro-Kabale road with some challenging parts.
Turning off at Muko will bring you to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Accommodation Option In Lake Bunyonyi
Upmarket/Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort
Mid-range/Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort
Budget/Basic accommodation: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat or Wild Camping
Day 15: Canoe Or Boat Ride On Lake Bunyonyi; Visit Islands, Communities, And Schools
After a delicious breakfast, you’ll go on a fun boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi. The lake has over 29 islands, earning it the name “lake of a thousand islands.”
Beautiful Kigezi Hills surround it, and it’s the second-deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania. This offers amazing views during your calm water cruise.
The boat trip makes several stops, letting you walk on some islands. You’ll also visit local people and learn about their lifestyle, like cooking traditional foods, making local drinks, watching traditional music performances, and visiting local schools.
After this activity, you’ll return to your lodge to rest and stay overnight.
Day 16: Transfer To Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda For A Night Game Drive
After breakfast, you’ll spend half a day exploring more islands, visiting some of Lake Bunyonyi’s main islands.
You’ll visit Bucurunuka Island, known as the upside-down island. There’s a legend about villagers who refused to give an old woman some beer. She cursed them to drown, causing the island to flip over.
Another island you’ll visit is Akampene Island or Punishment Island. Unmarried pregnant girls were left here to die of hunger or drown while trying to escape. Only a man willing to marry them without paying a dowry could save them.
Other islands you’ll see are Kahugye, Bushara, and Njuyera Islands.
After this, you’ll have lunch at your lodge and then drive 199km (about 5–6 hours) to Lake Mburo Park. You’ll pass through beautiful countryside before nearing Mbarara town, 45km from Lake Mburo National Park. You can choose to have lunch at Igongo Cultural Center or visit the Biharwe Eclipse Monument.
Then, you’ll go to Lake Mburo National Park, check in at your lodge, and relax until dinner.
At 7:00 p.m., you’ll go on a night game drive to see nocturnal animals. These include:
Leopards
Bush Pigs
Side-Stripped Jackals
Spotted Hyenas
Honey Badgers
Serval Cats, Hares
Civets
White-Tailed Mongoose, and many others
You’ll also see daytime animals resting, before returning for the night.
Accommodation In Lake Mburo National Park
Upmarket/Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge
Mid-range/Standard: Arcadia Cottages Mburo
Budget/Basic accommodation: Eagles Nest or Wild Camping
Day 17: Cultural Tour In The Ankole Community At The Enyemebwa Center
You’ll wake up at 6:00 am and go to the Enyemebwa center to join the herdsmen as they start their day milking and doing other tasks.
You can try traditional hand-milking of the long-horned Ankole cattle. You’ll also help treat sick animals, care for cows by brushing them, and take them grazing in the wild.
Later, you’ll visit local women’s traditional huts to see them churning milk in gourds. Then, you’ll explore large banana plantations where you can help with pruning and weeding using traditional methods, and help prepare a traditional lunch.
After this experience, you’ll drive back to Kampala in the afternoon, covering about 240 km in 3–4 hours.
You’ll stop at the Uganda Equator monument in Kayabwe for photos. Then continue to Kampala for evening relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Kampala
Upmarket/Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Hotel
Mid-range/Standard: Cassia Lodge
Budget/Basic: Buziga Country Resort or Camping
Day 18: Departure
On your last day of your Uganda safari, you can do some final shopping before being taken to Entebbe International Airport for your flight home.
End of 18-Day Uganda Safari Tour
