21-day Uganda wildlife safari takes you right across the country, from rhino tracking and the Nile in the north to the forests and highlands of western Uganda, before finishing with white water rafting in Jinja. The journey begins with rhino tracking on the way to Murchison Falls, then continues through Kibale Forest, Semuliki, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo. Along the way, you’ll track chimpanzees in Kibale, spend one hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi and search for golden monkeys in Mgahinga. There is plenty of time for wildlife too. Game drives take you in search of elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, zebras and antelopes, while boat cruises take you along the Nile and Kazinga Channel. You’ll also visit the Sempaya Hot Springs, travel through the highlands around Lake Bunyonyi and finish the safari with white water rafting in Jinja. The days have a good mix of activity and rest. After a full day in the bush, the itinerary moves into forest walks, scenic drives, lakeside stays and quieter cultural experiences. This gives you time to enjoy each part of Uganda without spending three weeks rushing from one attraction to another.
Safari Highlights
- 21 day private Uganda wildlife safari from Entebbe
- Guided rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Murchison Falls game drives and Nile boat safari
- Nile Delta wildlife and birding experience
- Visit to the top of Murchison Falls
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
- Guided Bigodi Wetland walk
- Sempaya Hot Springs and Semuliki National Park
- Fort Portal crater lake landscapes
- Queen Elizabeth National Park game drives
- Kazinga Channel boat safari
- Search for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- One hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family
- Optional Bwindi forest or community experience
- Golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Lake Mutanda and Virunga mountain scenery
- Lake Bunyonyi boat or canoe experience
- Lake Mburo game drive and boat safari
- Guided walking or horseback safari in Lake Mburo
- White water rafting on the Nile in Jinja
- Source of the Nile boat trip before departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1, Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where your driver-guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. After a long international flight, this is a good day to slow down and settle in. Check into your hotel, exchange money if you need to, organise your safari luggage and go through the route with your guide so you know what to expect over the coming days. If you arrive early and still have some energy, you can spend a little time around Entebbe or Lake Victoria. Otherwise, take the evening to rest and prepare for the safari ahead.
Overnight: Kampala Serena Hotel or Sheraton Hotel.
(Bed and breakfast)
Day 2, Ziwa Rhino Tracking and Transfer to Murchison Falls
Leave Entebbe after an early breakfast and begin the drive north towards Murchison Falls National Park. The journey to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary takes around 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Arrive at Ziwa for a guided rhino tracking experience. With your guide, head into the sanctuary on foot in search of southern white rhinos and spend time watching them in their natural surroundings. The tracking experience gives you a chance to get closer to these impressive animals while learning about Uganda’s rhino conservation work. After the rhino tracking and lunch, continue towards Murchison Falls National Park. The drive from Ziwa to the park takes roughly 3 to 4 hours, depending on where you are staying and the route taken. If you arrive with enough daylight, make your way to the top of Murchison Falls before heading to the lodge. Here, the Victoria Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge before plunging into the river below, creating one of the most powerful sights in the park. Continue to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Overnight: Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Camp
Murchison Falls
Day 3, Murchison Falls Game Drive and Nile Boat Safari
Start the morning early, before the heat builds, with a game drive across the northern savannah. As you drive across the open plains, keep an eye out for giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, hartebeests, oribis, and warthogs. Lions and leopards can also be encountered, although sightings of these big cats are never guaranteed. Return to the lodge for some time to relax and have lunch before heading out again for an afternoon boat safari on the Victoria Nile. The boat takes you along the river towards the base of Murchison Falls, with hippos and Nile crocodiles close to the water and elephants, buffaloes and other animals coming down to the riverbanks to drink. Keep your eyes along the shoreline too, as the Nile is lined with a wide variety of birdlife throughout the boat ride.
Day 4, Nile Delta Wildlife and a Second Murchison Safari
Spend another morning in Murchison Falls National Park, this time heading towards the Nile Delta where the Victoria Nile slows down as it reaches Lake Albert. The delta brings a different feel to the safari, with open water, wetlands and plenty of birdlife. Keep your eyes open for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes and other animals along the way. For bird lovers, this is a particularly rewarding area, with chances to see African fish eagles, herons and kingfishers. With some luck, you may also come across the Shoebill around the delta. After the morning safari, return to the lodge for lunch and some time to relax. Spend the afternoon on another game drive if you would like more time in the park, or take it easy at the lodge and enjoy the rest of the day.
Day 5, Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest
After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls and start the long drive south to Kibale Forest and Fort Portal. The journey takes around 7 to 8 hours, depending on your starting point in the park, road conditions, and stops along the way. As you leave Murchison behind, the scenery gradually changes from open savannah and woodland to greener farmland and rolling hills as you approach western Uganda. This is mainly a travel day, so the focus is on making the journey comfortably rather than adding another major activity. Stop along the way for lunch and short breaks before continuing to Kibale. You should reach the area in the late afternoon or early evening, giving you time to settle in, have dinner and get ready for chimpanzee trekking the following morning.
Overnight: Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest
Day 6, Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland
Start the morning with an early breakfast before heading to Kanyanchu for the chimpanzee trekking briefing. From there, enter Kibale Forest with your ranger and begin the search for a habituated chimpanzee community. The forest comes alive as you follow the sounds of chimpanzees through the trees. Once you find them, you can spend up to one hour watching them as they feed, climb, call to one another, and move through the forest canopy. Along the way, keep an eye out for other primates and forest life that you may encounter during the trek. After lunch, head to Bigodi Wetland for a community-guided walk. The trail takes you through the wetland, woodland, and the surrounding village areas, giving you a quieter afternoon after the morning in the forest.
Day 7, Semuliki National Park and Sempaya Hot Springs
After breakfast, leave Fort Portal and drive towards Semuliki National Park. The journey to the Sempaya area takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, giving you time to settle into the morning before reaching the forest. Continue to the Sempaya Hot Springs and take the forest walk to the springs, where hot geothermal water rises from the ground surrounded by the lush rainforest. The walk also gives you a chance to enjoy Semuliki’s rich birdlife, with species here that are difficult to find elsewhere in East Africa. For travellers interested in local culture, a Batwa cultural visit can also be arranged where available, offering a closer look at communities with longstanding connections to the forest. After the visit, return towards Fort Portal, a drive of roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, and settle in for the evening.
Overnight: Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Fort Portal
Sempaya Hot Springs
Day 8, Fort Portal Crater Lakes and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth
Start the morning with a relaxed drive through the Fort Portal crater lake region, taking in the green hills, crater lakes and countryside around Fort Portal. After lunch, leave the crater lake area and continue towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive to the park takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on the route, road conditions and your final lodge location. As you approach Queen Elizabeth, the scenery gradually changes from the green highlands around Fort Portal to open savannah and woodland. Once inside the park, keep your eyes open for the first wildlife sightings as you make your way towards the lodge. Arrive at Mweya Safari Lodge in the late afternoon, check in and settle in for the evening. Its location on the Mweya Peninsula puts you in a good position for the following day’s game drives and Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 9, Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
Start early in the Kasenyi Plains while the wildlife is active. The morning game drive takes you through open savannah in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbuck, warthogs, hyenas and other plains wildlife. Leopards are also found in the area, although they are much harder to come across. After lunch, head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat safari. The channel connects Lake George with Lake Edward and is one of the best places in the park to get close to hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffalo along the water. The shoreline also attracts large numbers of waterbirds, making the cruise a great way to see the park from a different perspective.
Kazinga Channel for a boat safari
Day 10, Queen Elizabeth Predators, Crater Lakes and Local Experiences
Keep this as another full safari day rather than a free day. Begin with a morning game drive, giving you another chance to find wildlife you may have missed the previous day. If you are particularly interested in lions, you can arrange a lion tracking experience in advance, subject to availability. Later in the day, head into the crater lake area or visit Katwe for a community and salt-lake experience. Having a second full day in Queen Elizabeth gives you more time to follow the wildlife and enjoy the park without trying to fit everything into one schedule.
Day 11, Queen Elizabeth to Ishasha and Tree-Climbing Lion Search
Leave the northern part of Queen Elizabeth and travel south towards the Ishasha sector. The landscape changes as you move into quieter plains dotted with large fig trees, where Ishasha’s famous tree-climbing lions are sometimes seen resting in the branches. Spend the morning and afternoon on game drives, searching for lions as well as buffalo, Uganda kobs, elephants and other wildlife across the Ishasha plains. Lion sightings are never guaranteed, but having time in the area gives you a better opportunity to find them. Rather than continuing straight to Bwindi, spend the night in Ishasha and enjoy the quieter side of Queen Elizabeth before the next day’s journey into the highlands.
Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp.
Ishasha sector tree-climbing lions
Day 12, Ishasha Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi
Start the morning with an early game drive through Ishasha, giving you another chance to enjoy the southern sector before leaving for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After the game drive, continue towards Bwindi. The landscape changes as you leave the open Ishasha savannah behind, with the road climbing through cultivated hills before reaching the dense forest around Bwindi. The drive from Ishasha to the Bwindi trekking area takes roughly 2 to 4 hours, depending on which sector you are heading to and the location of your lodge. Your driver will take you to the sector where your gorilla trek is booked, whether Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo. Arrive at your lodge, check in and settle in for the evening. This is a good time to prepare everything you will need for the following morning, including comfortable trekking clothes, sturdy shoes, drinking water and your camera.
Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp
Day 13, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up early for breakfast before heading to the park briefing point. Your ranger will take you through the trekking guidelines and what to expect before you set off into the forest with your assigned group. The trek can take around 2 to 7 hours, depending on where the gorilla family is and the terrain along the way. Bwindi is steep in places, and the trails can become wet and muddy, so sturdy walking shoes and a comfortable daypack are useful. Once you find your gorilla family, you will spend one hour with them before starting the trek back through the forest. After returning to the starting point, drive back to your lodge and enjoy a quiet evening after a full day in the forest.
Day 14, Bwindi Forest, Community Experience or Rest Day
After the long trek, take a slower morning and enjoy the forest around your lodge. If you still feel like getting out, you can take a guided forest walk or arrange a community visit. Otherwise, this is a good day to rest, enjoy your lodge, and recover before continuing the journey south. Keeping this day flexible gives you time to recharge after the gorilla trek without rushing into another demanding activity.
Cultural Experiences near Buhoma
Day 15, Bwindi to Kisoro and Lake Mutanda
After breakfast, leave Bwindi and drive towards Kisoro through the highlands of southwestern Uganda. The journey to the Kisoro and Lake Mutanda area takes roughly 2 to 3 hours, depending on your starting point in Bwindi and road conditions. As you approach Kisoro, the scenery changes to the volcanic highlands around the Virunga Mountains. Continue to Lake Mutanda, where you can spend the afternoon enjoying the lake and surrounding landscape. You can take a gentle walk, relax at the lodge or simply enjoy the views after the previous days of trekking. For travellers interested in local culture, a Batwa community experience can also be arranged during your stay.
Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort, Lake Mutanda
Day 16, Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga
After breakfast, drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for golden monkey tracking. The drive from the Kisoro area to the park takes roughly 30 minutes, depending on where you are staying. After a briefing with your ranger, head into the forest and follow the golden monkeys through the bamboo-covered slopes of the Virunga Mountains. They are quick and active, so expect plenty of movement as they jump between branches, feed and move through the vegetation. Golden monkey tracking gives you a different kind of forest experience from gorilla trekking. The monkeys are smaller, faster and constantly on the move, keeping you engaged as you follow them through the bamboo zone. After the tracking experience, return to your lodge and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing.
Golden monkey tracking
Day 17, Lake Bunyonyi Boat Trip and Relaxed Afternoon
After breakfast, check out and drive from Kisoro to Lake Bunyonyi. The journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, taking you through the winding roads and terraced hills of southwestern Uganda. On arrival at the lake, settle into your lodge before heading out for a boat or canoe trip. Glide between some of Lake Bunyonyi’s islands while your local guide shares stories about the communities, islands and way of life around the lake. The afternoon is deliberately kept relaxed after several days of trekking. You can enjoy the views from the lodge, take in the terraced hills around the lake, or simply have a quiet afternoon by the water.
Overnight: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Day 18, Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo and Afternoon Boat Safari
After breakfast, leave Lake Bunyonyi and drive north towards Lake Mburo National Park. The journey takes around 4 to 5 hours, depending on your starting point around Lake Bunyonyi and road conditions. Arrive around lunchtime, check in and have some time to settle in before heading out for the afternoon. Lake Mburo is a great place to see zebras, impalas, elands, buffaloes, topi and waterbuck, with the open grasslands and acacia woodland making for a very different landscape from the highlands around Lake Bunyonyi. Later in the afternoon, head out onto Lake Mburo for a boat safari. The boat takes you close to the shoreline where you can watch hippos in the water, crocodiles resting along the banks and a good variety of waterbirds.
Overnight: Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
Day 19, Lake Mburo Walking or Horseback Safari and Transfer to Jinja
Start the morning with one of the best ways to see Lake Mburo beyond the usual game drive. You can choose between a guided walking safari or a horseback safari, depending on your preference and what has been arranged in advance. Walking through the park gives you a different feel for the landscape, while a horseback safari lets you move quietly among the plains. Zebras, impalas and other wildlife are often encountered along the way, making the morning a very different experience from viewing animals from a safari vehicle. After the activity and breakfast, leave Lake Mburo and begin the journey east to Jinja. The drive takes roughly 5 to 6 hours, depending on traffic and stops along the way. Stop at the Uganda Equator for photographs and refreshments, then continue through Kampala towards Jinja. Have lunch along the route before completing the final stretch to the Nile. Arrive in Jinja in the evening, check in and have a relaxed evening before the following day’s rafting adventure.
Overnight: Nile River Explorers Camp
Day 20, White Water Rafting on the Nile in Jinja
After breakfast, head to the rafting base in Jinja and meet the river team. Before getting on the Nile, you’ll go through a safety briefing, learn the paddle commands and get clear instructions on what to do if you fall into the water. Choose the rafting trip that suits your group and level of confidence, with different sections of the Nile offering different levels of rapids. Once you are on the river, the day takes you through a mix of exciting rapids and calmer stretches, with safety kayakers and support teams on hand throughout the trip. After a full day on the Nile, return to Jinja to relax and spend the night. If rafting is not for you, the day can be replaced with a more relaxed Jinja activity.
White Water Rafting on the Nile
Day 21, Source of the Nile and Departure from Entebbe
After breakfast, visit the Source of the Nile for a relaxed final morning in Jinja. Take a boat trip around the point where the waters of Lake Victoria begin their journey along the Nile, with time to enjoy the scenery and take photographs. After the visit, begin the drive towards Kampala and Entebbe. Stop for lunch along the way before continuing to Entebbe International Airport for your departure. If you are flying out of Uganda on this day, choose a late international flight. The drive from Jinja through Kampala to Entebbe can take longer when traffic is heavy, so allow enough time to reach the airport comfortably. Your airport drop-off marks the end of your 21-day Uganda wildlife safari.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included
- Airport pickup and final airport drop-off
- Private safari transport in a 4×4 vehicle
- English-speaking driver-guide throughout the safari
- 20 nights accommodation
- Meals as stated in the confirmed itinerary
- Kibale chimpanzee trekking permit
- Bwindi gorilla trekking permit
- Mgahinga golden monkey tracking permit
- Park entrance fees for activities listed in the confirmed itinerary
- Bottled drinking water during safari drives and transfers
Excluded
- International and domestic flights
- Uganda visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Porter fees during gorilla trekking
- Alcoholic and premium drinks
- Laundry and other personal expenses
- Tips for driver guides, ranger guides, porters and lodge staff
- Personal shopping and souvenirs
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari
- Activities not listed in the confirmed itinerary
- Changes in government permit or park fees after quotation
