Ultimate 20 Days Uganda Safari on Self-Drive and Guide Plan

Details of the 20 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary:

Day 1: Pickup and City tour

On arrival, you will be picked up by our guide and be transferred to your hotel, check in and meet up with your guide once again who will drive you for a city tour around Kampala’s major touristic points.

Visit the Bahia temple being the only temple in Africa, Owino market that provides fresh food and giving a memorable experience as you get engaged with the locals in the market, Uganda martyrs shrine Namugongo to learn about the Christian martyrs, Gadaffi mosque the biggest in the country, Uganda museum to also view the historical items kept there, Bulange Mengo to learn more about the Buganda culture and their administrative organization to mention but a few. Dinner and overnight;

• Victoria Serena
• The Boma Guest House
• Golden tulip
• Cassia lodge

Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo and evening game drive with a stopover at the equator

Your 2nd day of the 20 days Uganda safari will begin with a transfer to Lake Mburo National Park the smallest Savannah park in Uganda. Zebras in Lake mburo national parkIt is located in Kiruhura District expediently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda.

As you trans-locate to Lake Mburo National Park, you will have a stopover at the equator as Uganda is one of the few countries crossed by the equator so you will have a chance to take photos at the equator in Kayabwe and also perform a water experiment lunch will be had along the way.

After, embark on your journey to Lake Mburo for an evening game drive as you view different animals within the park.

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Mihingo safari lodge
• Rwakobo
• Mburo Eagles nest

Day 3: Game drive and Boat Cruise

After a morning breakfast head out for a game drive in the park as you will have to spot various animals in different angles of the park the salt lick.

Animals in the park include zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck and it is a birders hub for birders due to the numerous bird species.

Proceed for a boat cruise after the lunch break, in order to view different animals and bird species that come to drink water around the shores of the lake. Water animals around the lake include; hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, buffaloes, and over 3 types of otters.

Also when it comes to the birds, you will view the malachite kingfishers, African Fish eagles, blue headed weavers, Rufuos long tailed starlings, the pied kingfishers, hammer Kobs, Herons, pelicans, the rare shoebill as well as the cormorants.

After the boat cruise head back to the lodge for the evening relaxation at the lodge. As there are other activities that one my opt to partake like horseback ride, biking, culture encounters and nature walks which are regarded as extras meaning an extra fee as paid for them if one opts to partake one.

Dinner and overnight;

• Mihingo safari lodge
• Rwakobo
• Mburo Eagles nest

Day 4: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park

On this day, after your hefty breakfast set off to Mgahinga national park where gold meets silver the only park where gorillas and gold monkeys co exhibit.

Mgahinga Gorilla national park is located along Uganda, Congo and Rwanda border forming the Virunga conservation area. When you arrive at the park, check into the hotel and relax around the lodge.

Dinner and overnight;

• Pakuba safari lodge
• Murchison River lodge

Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking and Batwa trail

Have an early morning breakfast and set off for golden monkey trekking as you will meet the park’s briefing centre to be briefed about the activity, the do’s and don’ts of golden monkey trekking.

You are allowed only 1 hour with endangered primates to take photographs and observe their behavior. With this activity, there is no minimum number of tourists who track each group and age limit is 12 years.

After the fascinating exercise, go back for lunch at the lodge as you prepare to go for the batwa trail. The Batwa Trail leads from the base of Muhuvura Cave. The walk is a living museum where you can learn about the Batwa People, a pygmy’s tribe that used to live in the Mgahinga National Park.

These people were hunter-gatherers and ferocious warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine. In reserving the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, these people were forced out of the park and rehabilitated in the villages that surround the park.

This walk is conducted by Batwa guides who provide insights into their traditional forest life and culture. The Batwa display their past hunting techniques; ways of gathering honey. The guides will point out the medicinal plants that were used and reveal how to make bamboo cups.

Guests are finally invited to the sacred Ngarama Cave, once home to the Batwa King. The women of the community perform a cultural dance and you can join in their dance. Head back to the lodge after the trail.

Dinner and overnight;

• Mount Gahinga lodge
• Travelers rest
• Kisoro tourist hotel

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Wake up to an early morning breakfast as you transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the endangered mountain gorillas.

The park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda covering a total land expanse of 331 sq km. on your 20 days Uganda safari; you will have an encounter with these closely related relatives of ours in their natural habitat. On arrival, check in and relax around the lodge as view the scenery around.

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Chameleon hill lodge
• Ichumbi gorilla lodge
• The Four Gorillas Lodge
• Ride 4 a Woman

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Uganda Safari

On this day, you will have an early morning breakfast as you head out for gorilla trekking. Meet up with the park ranger, who will brief you about the do’s and don’ts of gorilla trekking.

mountain gorilla trekkingAfter briefing set off for gorilla trekking safari since there is no specific time the activity may last ,so a packed lunch is advisable to be carried and a porter hired to help you carry your backpack.

When you meet the gorillas, only 1 hour is spent with them and only 8 people per group are allowed in a day. Gorilla trekking is a vigorous activity that involves hiking and it needs one to be physically fit.

After trekking, go back to the lodge and relax for the evening or if you can still carry on, you would opt for a Batwa trail in the evening to visit the first inhabitants of this forest as they exhibit their culture. It is an optional activity that one may carry out after gorilla trekking.

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Chameleon hill lodge
• Ichumbi gorilla lodge
• The Four Gorillas Lodge
• Ride 4 a Woman

Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

A hefty breakfast for your morning then set off to Queen Elizabeth national park famously known for the climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, the 40km Kazinga channel and the best place for wildlife safari.

It is situated in western Uganda, shared by districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo and Bushenyi and the 2nd largest national park in Uganda Murchison being the largest. A visit to this zoological park will leave you with a lot of memorable incidents due to the various activities carried out. Your lunch will be served along the way.

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Mazike safari lodge
• Parkview safari lodge
• Engazi game lodge

Day 9: Game Drive and Boat Cruise

On a rosy day, you will wake up to a sturdy breakfast as you prepare for a game drive in the 2nd largest park in Uganda blessed with a diversity of wildlife like Cape buffalo, Uganda kob, waterbuck, warthogs, lion, leopard, hyena, giant forest hog, Topis as well as elephants.

Queen Elizabeth national park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park. It was renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. The park covers1978square kilometers and it is located on the rift valley between the Lakes of George and Edward which harbors supports of mammals, birds.

The two lakes are connected by a 40km Kazinga channel where different animal species are found along the shore lines like hippo, buffalo, kob and Nile crocodile it also offers spectacular bird viewing opportunities since it has over 612 species of birds and an afternoon cruise will give you an opportunity to view these different species and animals.

So after your lunch, head out for a cruise on this magnificent channel for a spectacular view and to feel the nature breeze around the channel as you view the two lakes from a distance.

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Mazike safari lodge
• Parkview safari lodge
• Engazi game lodge

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After a tempting breakfast, embark on your journey to Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda. The park was gazetted in 1932 and formally established in 1993 to protect a large area of forest previously managed as a logged forest reserve.

Kibale is one of the last outstanding expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests and in eastern Africa; it sustains the last momentous area of pre montane forest.

Kibale national park is a habitat to wild chimpanzees and other twelve popular primates making it one of paramount national parks to visit while on your 20 days Uganda Safari.

There are a total of 13 species to be found here which, aside from our close relatives the chimpanzees, includes the grey cheeked mangabey, endangered red colobus, black-and-white colobus, blue monkey, olive baboon, potto, bush baby, red-tailed monkey and the, rarely seen, Hoest’s monkey. On arrival at the park, check into the lodge.

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Kyaninga game lodge
• Crater Safari lodge
• Kibale forest camp

Day 11: Chimp Tracking and Bigodi walk

Have an early morning breakfast; meet up with the park ranger to brief you about the dos and don’ts of chimp tracking. After the briefing, proceed to the forest as you start trekking the chimps.

The intriguing chimps tend to be heard before they are seen and their screams wheeze hoots and barks are used by our local tracking experts to bring you even closer to them.

Once you trace the chimps, you will spend up to one hour with them before the forest walk continues in search of other primates such as grey cheeked mangabey, endangered red colobus, black-and-white colobus, blue monkey, olive baboon, potto, bush baby, red-tailed monkey and the, rarely seen, Hoest’s monkey.

After trekking relax for lunch as you get ready for the Bigodi walk. This walk goes to community development projects. Situated just outside the park itself, the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is an underscore of the area, a community-run reserve that provides a great example of how tourism and local communities can work hand-in-hand to benefit the environment.

The sanctuary has over 335 bird species and at least five primate species and these will be viewed when you partake a Bigodi walk.

Dinner and overnight;

• Kyaninga game lodge
• Crater Safari lodge
• Kibale forest camp

Day 12: Transfer to Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National park is sited in a distant corner of southwestern Uganda, protecting an eastern conservatory of the vast Ituri Forest and forms part of a forest continuum that stretches across the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Zaire River.

Semuliki Forest Reserve was created in 1932 and upgraded to national park status in 1993. It is a domicile to 400 bird species 216 of which include the lyre-tailed honey guide forest ground thrush and sassi’s olive greenbul are true forest birds.

There are also other 12 unique bird species, which are tremendously limited in East Africa but can be seen by tourists spending a few days in the Park and these include Western bronze-napped pigeon, yellow-throated cuckoo, piping hornbill, red-sided broadbill, Xavier’s greenbul, capuchin babbler, yellow long bill, blue-headed flycatcher, red-billed helmet-shrike, crested malimbe, pale fronted ant pecker and chestnut-breasted negro-finch among others.

After your succulent breakfast; set off to this fascinating park.

Dinner and overnight;

• Semuliki safari lodge

Day 13: Hiking and Nature walk to the hot springs

Have a morning breakfast and set off for a hike Kirumia Trail that runs through the heart of the forest to the Semuliki River.

This trail is ideal for bird watches as there are higher chances of spotting different bird species since Semuliki national park is a home to over 400 bird species such as the western bronze-napped pigeon, yellow-throated cuckoo, piping hornbill, red-sided broadbill, Xavier’s greenbul, capuchin babbler, yellow long bill, blue-headed flycatcher, red-billed helmet-shrike, crested malimbe, pale fronted ant pecker and chestnut-breasted negro-finch among others.

You will be able to spot buffaloes, Hippos and Crocodiles along the Semuliki River. After lunch, you will head out to Sempaya nature trail –This trail leads you to the Sempaya hot springs.

The walk is through a scrap of forest where you most likely to come across the black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabey. Along the trail to the male hot springs, you will pass by the tree house where you view the abundant birdlife and striking panorama.

The ‘female’ hot springs have a boiling spout at over 1000C. Often you have a chance to cook plantains and eggs in the boiling waters and devour them as you continue your trekking journey.

Diner and overnight stay;

• Semliki safari lodge

Day 14: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Begin your day with a heavy breakfast as you get ready to transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. It is the largest Ugandan park having the strongest water falls in the world; Murchison falls.

It is a home to over 76 species of mammals like the big four and 451 birds such as Shoebill Stork, the Goliath Heron – the largest heron in the world – and pairs of elegant Grey Crowned Cranes – Uganda’s national bird.

Murchison falls Also seen along the banks of the Nile are the Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher, Squacco Heron, African Jacana, Sandpipers, Denham’s Bustard, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Piapiac, Silverbird, Weaver Birds, Pied, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eater, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver and African Quail-Finch.

On your way to Murchison Falls National Park, you may opt to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary the only place to see the rhinos in the world. Check into your accommodation,

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Murchison River lodge
• Pakuba safari lodge
• Reda Chilli

Day 15: Game drive, Boat cruise and hike to the falls

Have an early morning breakfast and set off for the game drive through the savanna, along Lake Albert delta, when seeing profuse wildlife as you move slowly in the park as the sun rise.

Expect to see these animals like lions, leopards, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes, hilarious appearing warthogs. Some of the birds are shoebill stork, the goliath heron- the largest heron in the world- and pairs of elegant grey crowned cranes- Uganda’s national bird.

Then break off for lunch at the lodge. After lunch you hit the road for a boat launch trip up the Nile River with the guide, moving at a snail’s pace along the river bank viewing animals like crocodiles, a profusion of hippos, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, plenty of birds like the fish eagle and stork among others.

You will hike to the top of Murchison falls where the Nile is forced through a narrow opening in the rock. You will view the powerful flow of the falls and the undeviating rainbow formed by the water falls.

Don’t miss seeing the herds of elephants cooling off, crocodiles enjoying an evening sunshine and hippopotamus frolicking in the water. After go back to the lodge for refreshment.

Dinner and overnight;

• Murchison River lodge
• Pakuba safari lodge
• Red Chilli Rest Camp

Day 16: Transfer to Kidepo National Park

After your morning breakfast, meet up with your guide to take you to Kidepo Valley National Park. It is sited in Kaabong district in Northeastern Uganda.

Kidepo Valley is the most isolated national park in Uganda lying in the rugged, semi arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya, gazetted as a national park in 1962.It still stands out to be one of the best virgin places every wildlife viewer can ever visit in Uganda.Buffaloes in Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo National Park being a far park it offers a diversity to view as you travel to this incredible park, expect to view the amazing scenery of the as you head to the north, the stunning culture of the people, lots of wildlife and lots of other things this park has to offer.

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Apoka safari lodge
• Nga’moru wilderness camp
• Savannah lodge

Day 17: Game drive and hike to the Iks

You will have a morning game drive after your breakfast to see the various wildlife in this park and these may include, elephants, giraffes, Lions- zebras, leopards, black and white and side-stripped jackal, spotted hyena, the greater and lesser kudu, Chandlers mountain reedbuck, Burchell’s Giraffe, Carcal, Klipspringer , cheetah, the bat-eared fox and many more.

birding – Best Long Uganda Wildlife Tour to Top Safari ParksAnd for birders you also have an opportunity to view the different birds on your safari such as the Kori bustard, Abyssinian ground hornbill, secretary bird, ostrich, carmine, yellow-billed and Jackson’s hornbills and some ostriches.

Dinner and overnight stay;

• Apoka safari lodge
• Nga’moru wilderness camp
• Savannah lodge

Day 18: Transfer to Mountain Elgon National Park

Mountain elgon national park is situated on the Uganda-Kenya border. it is also the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa and has the largest caldera in the world.

The park was named after the most significant natural feature – Mount Elgon that stands at a height of 4321 meters; Mount Elgon is an extinct Volcanic Mountain once the tallest mountain in Africa but due to erosion it is now the 4th highest in Africa Kilimanjaro being the highest now.

Mountain elgon national park has a lot to offer making it a worth a visit having the most beautiful caves, cliffs, gorges and waterfalls in the country. After your delicious breakfast head out to Mt elgon national park with a lunch stop along the way.

Dinner and overnight;

• Sipi river lodge
• Lakam lodge

Day 19: Sipi Falls

After a mouthwatering breakfast, proceed to Kapchorwa to Sipi Village, nestled between mountains and waterfalls. Get to enjoy a hike to the exquisite Sipi Falls.

Take a walk to the bottom of the eminent waterfall and then continue with a precipitous climb to a series of caves. Experience this exigent trail as you check trail to the other waterfalls. Cool off with a natural shower and enjoy the magnificent views over the valley.

The waterfall leaves with a bravura sunset, one you will never experience again. Loosen up as the sun spreads its final ray of lights over the plains of Eastern Uganda. Feel the ecstasy of your life as you watch the waterfalls.

Dinner and overnight;

• Sipi river lodge
• Lakam lodge

Day 20: Transfer to Kampala and departure(Last day of the 20 days Uganda safari)

Wakeup to a morning breakfast and prepare to head out to Kampala for your return flight. You will pass through Jinja as you continue with your journey.

In Jinja you will be able to enjoy the magnificent views of the town as you also cross the bridge to view the Nile. Lunch will be eaten on the way and proceed to the airport in Entebbe for your return flight or return to the hotel.

End of the 20 days Uganda safari.