21 Days Best of Uganda safari

21 Days Best of Uganda safari

21 Days Best of Uganda safari is a 3 weeks adventure in Uganda the pearl of Africa taking you to different parts of the country exploring the beauty that lies within the continent. This 21 days Uganda safari includes 21 days and 20 night’s excursion starting and ending in Kampala Uganda. The destinations to explore during this 21 days Uganda safari include; Lake Mburo national park, Lake Bunyonyi, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale forest national park, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Pian –Upe national reserve, Sipi Area and Jinja. All these destinations thrill with plenty of unique attractions that will make your 21 days Uganda safari a memorable one.

Highlights of 21 Days Best of Uganda Safari

• Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport and hotel transfer
• Day 2: Drive to Lake Mburo national park for boat cruise
• Day 3: Morning game drive and walking safari
• Day 4: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi for canoe ride
• Day 5: Sun rise boat cruise/ Zip lining/ nature walk and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
• Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
• Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector
• Day 9: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
• Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge and transfer to Kasese for overnight
• Day 11: Mount Rwenzori Hike and transfer to Kibale forest National Park
• Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk
• Day 13: Drive to Hoima take a visit to the Bunyoro Kitara Heritage Trail
• Day 14: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.
• Day 15: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise – Top of falls hike (Optional)
• Day 16: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park.
• Day 17: Morning game drive and community tour
• Day 18: Trek to Morungole Mountains to visit the IK people
• Day 19: Transfer to Sipi Area and game drive in Pian Upe Game Reserve 
• Day 20: Hike Sipi waterfalls and drive to Jinja
• Day 21: White water rafting and drive to Kampala / Entebbe.

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport and hotel transfer

Arrival and hotel transfer: Start your day 1 of 21 Days Best of Uganda Safari with a pick up from Entebbe international airport upon landing and set off on a drive to your hotel where you will check in for your dinner and grab and overnight rest. 

Day 2: Drive to Lake Mburo national park

Drive to Lake Mburo national park: On day 2 of 21 days Uganda safari, have your breakfast and check out of your hotel ready to meet the safari driver for a transfer to Lake Mburo national park one of the smallest savanna park in Uganda and the nearest park to Kampala capital city of Uganda. Enjoy a stopover at the Equator where you will pose for stunning photographs between the southern and northern poles then proceed to the park for check in and lunch. 

Later in the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise along one of the Lakes in the park with an opportunity of spotting aquatic wildlife like mammals, birds and many more. Return to the lodge with an enroute game drive.

Day 3: Morning game drive and walking safari

Morning game drive and walking safari: After breakfast on day 3 of 21 Days Best of Uganda Safari, meet your safari driver for a thrilling early morning game drive where you will be able to spot several mammals that thrill in this savanna park including; Zebra, Impalas, Buffaloes, elephant, eland, Elephants, waterbuck and many more. Upon completing game drive, return to the lodge in time for lunch then embark on an evening walk exploring different parts of the park on foot. There is yet an option of community tour visiting the local Banyankore with their cattle.

Day 4: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi for canoe ride

Drive to Lake Bunyonyi for canoe ride: Enjoy your breakfast in time on day 4 of 21 days Uganda safari, then check out of the lodge and embark on a drive to Lake Bunyonyi situated in Kabale district. You will enjoy a stunning view of rolling hills of Kigezi. You will arrive in time for lunch then have an evening canoe ride exploring different islands. Lake Bunyonyi is a home to over 29 islands that are worth exploring. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight rest.

Day 5: Sun rise boat cruise/ Zip lining/ nature walk and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Sun rise boat cruise/ Zip lining /Nature walk: After breakfast on day 5 of 21 days Uganda safari, head out for a half day excursion on Lake Bunyonyi. You may choose to have a sunrise boat cruise/ Zip lining or a walk visiting different sites along the Lake. You will be able to view lots of attractions ranging from several bird species, locals and rolling Kigezi hills. After all, return to the lodge for lunch after which you will check out of the lodge and be ready for a drive to Mgahinga gorilla national park where you will spend your overnight.

Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Golden monkey trekking and drive to Bwindi: After an early breakfast on day 6 of 21 days Uganda safari, meet your safari driver for a transfer to the park headquarters where you will join other trekkers for a briefing. After briefing, you will embark on a forest walk to search for the habituated Golden monkey troops that has been habituated and ready for trekking. During Golden monkey trekking, you will be rewarded with an encounter with other wildlife that thrill in the same habitat with golden monkeys. The trek lasts about 2-4 hours after which you will spend only one hour in their presence taking photographs and closely viewing these primates. Exit the forest and return to your lodge for lunch then check out and be driven to Bwindi impenetrable national park for dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park: After breakfast on day 7 of 21 days Uganda safari, meet your driver and head to the trail head for briefing with other trekkers. During briefing, you will be able to get all the information about gorilla trekking, dos and don’ts and many more. After briefing, penetrate the forest and search for the habituated mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. The trek lasts between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of gorillas, the nature of the terrain and the speed of trekkers. Exit the forest and return to the lodge for a relaxed dinner and overnight sleep. 

Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park: After breakfast on day 8 of 21 days Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and meet your safari driver for a drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park one of the best savanna park in Uganda that harbors the mighty tree climbing lions and the Kazinga channel. During your drive to Queen Elizabeth national park, you will enjoy an enroute game drive in Ishasha sector where you will have a thrilling game drive in search of tree climbing lions. These lions are different from normal lions and the reason for their climbing up in tree branches is still unknown. After this game drive, enjoy your picnic lunch and proceed to your lodge for check in, dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 9: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise: After breakfast on day 9 of 21 days Uganda safari, your safari driver will be ready to take you on a memorable game drive in Kasenyi plains where you will spot as many mammals as possible. After game drive, return to the lodge for lunch then embark on an afternoon boat cruise along the mighty kazinga channel that thrills with a huge school of hippos. You will as well view other mammals including crocodiles, and other mammals that visit the water to quench their thirst.

Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge and transfer to Kasese for overnight

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge: Arise from your bed early in the morning for breakfast on day 10 of 21 days Uganda safari then head out for a briefing about chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge as early as 8:00am. You will be briefed about the dos and don’ts during chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park and then penetrate the gorge to start the search of the chimpanzees in their natural habitats. The trek lasts from 2-6 hours and only one hour is allowed upon finding the chimpanzees. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch. Have a guided forest walk in Maramagambo forest to visit the bat caves where the Pythons and bats leave harmoniously. Later in the evening, you will drive to kasese for dinner and overnight rest.

Day 11: Mount Rwenzori Hike and transfer to Kibale forest National Park

Mount Rwenzori hike and transfer to Kibale forest national park: Enjoy an early breakfast on day 11 of 21 days Uganda safari and head out for a hike along Mount Rwenzori known as the mountain of the moon that thrills with the best vegetation cover that is worth an adventure while on a Uganda safari. During the hike, you will be able to encounter with different species of mammals, birds and many more. Return to your lodge for lunch then check out of the lodge and be driven direct to Kibale forest national park.

Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk in Kibale forest national park

Chimpanzee trekking and bigodi nature walk: Enjoy your breakfast at the lodge on day 12 of 21 days Uganda safari then be driven to Kanyanchu visitor’s center where all park activities in Kibale forest national park are conducted. You will be briefed about chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest and later on be led into the forest to search for the chimpanzees that have been habituated for trekking all year round. The trek lasts from 30 minutes to 5 hours but only one hour is allowed between you and these chimpanzees. After trekking, exit the forest and be returned to your lodge for lunch.

After lunch, return to the forest for a guided bigodi walk where you will be able to spot different species of birds, botanical species, mammals and many more. This wetland is indeed a birders haven where you will spot even the rare and endangered bird species including the rare shoebill stork. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 13: Drive to Hoima take a visit to the Bunyoro Kitara Heritage Trail

Drive to Hoima: After breakfast on day 13 of 21 days Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and meet your driver for a drive to Hoima via the stunning fortpotal town where you will enjoy an enroute lunch before proceeding to Bunyoro Kitara kingdom to explore the beauty of Bunyoro heritage sites including the royal tombs. Retire to your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 14: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.

Drive to Murchison falls national park: After breakfast on day 14 of 21 days Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and be driven to Murchison falls national park. Being a full day drive, you will enjoy an enroute lunch then proceed to the park entering through Bugungu gate. Proceed to your lodge for check in, dinner and overnight sleep. 

Day 15: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise – Top of falls hike (Optional)

Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise: After breakfast on day 15 of 21 days Uganda safari, your safari driver will take you on a thrilling game drive in the savanna plains of Murchison falls national park. Murchison falls National Park is considered the largest and oldest park in Uganda the pearl of Africa with plenty of wildlife species including mammals, birds, butterflies and many more. During game drive, you will encounter with several mammals including; elephant, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Giraffes, bushbucks, warthogs and many more. After game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and embark on an afternoon boat cruise along River Nile. The boat cruise will take you upstream to the bottom of the water falls with an opportunity of viewing the waterfalls at a distance. There is an option of Top of falls hike that takes about 45 minutes but most hikers have actually given up on this hike on the day of hiking.

Day 16: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park

Drive to Kidepo valley national park: After breakfast on day 16 of 21 days Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and be driven to Kidepo valley national park the most beautiful savanna park in Uganda situated in the border with south Sudan and Kenya. Lunch will be enroute either in Gulu or Kitgum on the way to the park where you will arrive in the evening with an enroute game drive as you proceed to the lodge for check in, dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 17: Morning game drive and Karamojong community tour

Morning game drive and cultural tour: After breakfast on day 17 of 21 days Uganda safari, pack some lunch and head out for a game drive in this stunning vegetation of the Narus valley where you will be able to spot several mammals in the park including elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, warthogs, elands and plenty of bird species including ostriches. After game drive, return to the lodge for lunch then proceed with an evening community tour to the local Karamojong people that reside in Manyattas. These people are known to be pastoralists thus you will take time to practice all the procedures used in milking and milk preservation. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 18: Trek to Morungole Mountains to visit the IK people

Trek Mount Morungole Mountains to visit the IK people: Have your breakfast served on day 18 of 21 days Uganda safari then pack a lunch box and be taken on a hike to Mount Morungole where you will meet with the local IK people the minority group of people in Uganda that reside on top of Morungole. This is considered a full day adventure thus lunch will be enjoyed with the IK people as picnic lunch. Spend some time with these people then descend back to your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.

Day 19: Transfer to Sipi Area and game drive in Pian Upe Game Reserve

Transfer to Sipi Area: After breakfast on day 19 of 21 days Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and embark on a drive to Sipi Area with an enroute game drive in Pian Upe game reserve one of the least visited reserve in Uganda with plenty of wildlife including mammals such as Topis, Civets, Leopards, hyenas, Serval cats, primates such as Olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, Patas monkeys and many more species that thrill in the wilderness of Pian –Upe.

Day 20: Hike Sipi waterfalls and drive to Jinja

Hike Sipi falls and drive to Jinja for overnight: After breakfast on day 20 of 21 days Uganda safari, you will spend time hiking up all the 3 beautiful water falls that thrill in Sipi Area. The hike starts with the highest at 100M to 85M and finally the shortest at 75M. During the hike, you will be rewarded with plenty of encounters including the farmlands of the local community members that reside at the foot hill of Mount Elgon. Upon completing the hike, meet your driver for a transfer to your lodge for lunch then check out and be driven direct to Jinja where you will spend your overnight.

Day 21: White water rafting and drive to Kampala.

White water rafting and drive to Kampala/ Entebbe: Enjoy a relaxed breakfast on day 21 which is yet the last day of your 21 days Uganda safari. Well, after breakfast, enjoy a half day white water rafting where you will raft up to grade 5. Return to your lodge for lunch then check out and be driven direct to Kampala/Entebbe for hotel drop off or airport drop-off in case you have a later evening or night flight.

END OF 21 DAYS UGANDA SAFARI