20 Days Uganda Safari Trip
The 20 days Uganda Safari Trip means going through the adventure circuit that rewards one of most exciting safari trip. The trip starts from Kampala, goes through the eastern route to the source of the Nile River in Jinja, connects to the northern to Kidepo, and Murchison and Karamoja land, proceeds to the western to Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Parks and then returns to Kampala. The trip will involve visiting the source of the Nile, water rafting, Sipi waterfalls hikes and abseiling, game drives and boat cruise, Karamoja community and cultural visits, chimpanzee tracking, Crater Lake hiking, and tracking the rare tree climbing lions and many other adventures.
Each of the day starts with a breakfast, lunch and dinner for the meal course. This trip suggestion is a mid-luxury trip and an all-inclusive, as mentioned in all the inclusive of the trip below.
Trip Summary
- Day 1: Arrival in Kampala
- Day 2: Transfer to Jinja, Stopover at Mabira
- Day 3: White Water Rafting and Bungee Jumping
- Day 4: Transfer to Mt. Elgon National Park
- Day 5: Hiking the Sipi Waterfalls
- Day 6: Drive to Pian Upe Game Reserve and Moroto
- Day 7: Visiting the Karamoja Community for Cultural Explore
- Day 8: Transfer to Kidepo Vallley National Park
- Day 9: Explore Kidepo Valley National Park
- Day 10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park En-route to Aruu Waterfalls
- Day 11: Murchison Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 12: Sport Fishing and Hiking the Top of the Falls
- Day 13: Budongo Nature Walk and Rhino Tracking at Ziwa
- Day 14: Transfer to Fort Portal
- Day 15: Crater Lake Hiking
- Day 16: Chimpanzee Habituation
- Day 17: Bigodi Community Visit and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 18: Explore Queen Elizabeth NP on Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 19: Visit the Ishasah Sector and Track Lions
- Day 20: Transfer Back to Kampala and Fly Back Home
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kampala
Today will arrive at the Pearl of African through Entebbe International Airport. Upon reaching, Early Trail Expeditions representative will be ready to receive you, just that this person will handle the rest of your day on trip in Uganda. The will brief you, and then will transfer to your hotel. When time allows, can choose to visit some of interesting places in Kampala among which include cultural village on Buganda road. Then will drive to your lodge/hotel and check-in for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Protea Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja, Stopover at Mabira
Transfer to Jinja city eastwards from Kampala with a branch over to Sezibwa and explore these amazing waterfalls. The cool and authentic serene of the waterfalls makes the falls a special spot to consider. Then another en-route will be at Mabira forest and spend the rest of the time here, will particularly undertake Zip lining adventure and sail under tree branches. Afterwards will have to drive for the remaining kilometers to Jinja and check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): 2Friends Lodge
Day 3: White Water Rafting and Bungee Jumping
Today will take the morning session of white water rafting which is about 30 minutes’ drive along the Nile sailing. Rafting at Jinja on the source of the Nile is a world class rafting with 4 and 5 grades. The rafting takes about 3 to 4 hours and after will have to take a sip of an energizing drink and drive back to the bungee jumping spot. The fall leads you to kiss the Nile down to about 45m, with lunch refreshments will draw to the source of the Nile and take a boat ride to the point where the Nile receives it very first drop before setting for the longest journey of any river. After the full packed day of adventure, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): 2Friends Lodge
Day 4: Transfer to Mt. Elgon National Park
This morning will embark on a drive continuing eastwards to Mbale city, and take a visit to Uganda amazing Mt. Elgon National Park. Will take a visit on a hiking trail to some of the notable caves of the Masaba land. With lunch en-route in Mbale town will take an evening drive to Sipi in Kapchorwa, reaching by late evening hours check-in at your lodge dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Sipi River Lodge
Day 5: Hiking the Sipi Waterfalls
This day hike and exploring all the three phases of the beautiful Sipi waterfalls. Hiking through banana and coffee plantation walks will as well take on abseiling on the top of the falls. The waterfalls hikes are indeed amazing and offer a greater tastes at the foothills of scenic Mount Elgon. The hikes will come alongside lunch en-route, and will as well have a taste of the organic coffee at your lodge. Then will check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Sipi River Lodge
Day 6: Drive to Pian Upe Game Reserve and Moroto
Transfer to Moroto with an en-route to Pian-Upe game reserve, Uganda’s second largest protected area after Murchison Falls National Park. Due to greater adventure rewards, the park has started gaining favor before several travelers who opt to explore it. Special things to find here include Ostrich, cheetah, elands, giraffes, lions, leopards, elephants, several semiarid bird species among others. Then after can recommend to drive to Moroto about three hours and check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Kara Tunga Karamoja Safari Campsite
Day 7: Visiting the Karamoja Community for Cultural Explore
This day will spend it in Moroto discovering the special and untouched authentic traditions of the Karamoja people, the dwellers of the region. Will take a cultural visit to the Manyatta communities, discover stories, and get close to the daily lifestyle of these primitive people who have totally defiled the trails of civilization. Learn how cattle rustling is treasured as part of the Karamoja culture. Will visit the Manyattas, and enter into their huts and at end will take a drive alongside lunch en-route. The manyatta tour also takes to you for entertainment from the local people in their communities.
Accommodation (midrange): Kara Tunga Karamoja Safari Campsite
Day 8: Transfer to Kidepo Vallley National Park
Take a relaxed morning, enjoy your served breakfast, and afterwards will take drive to Kidepo Valley National Park. This is an amazing scenic drive through the plateaus and open landscape that stretches to Kidepo Valley National Park. The drive from Moroto to Kidepo Park takes about 4 hours and will reach from the park by noon hours. Check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Kidepo Savanah Safari Lodge
Day 9: Explore Kidepo Valley National Park
Today board alongside your assigned experienced armed ranger guide for a memorable drive. Kidepo is among Uganda’s most rewarding national park with great encounters among which include; prides of lions, leopards, herds of elephants, buffalos, several antelope species, several bird species, zebras, giraffes and many other wild species. The drive will continue through the continuing scenic golden savannah alongside acacia woods. The game drive will last for at least 3 to 4 hours when enjoying the glance on the amazing dwells of the park.
Then, will return to your lodge for refreshment, enjoy your lunch and take an afternoon visit the Karamoja community. Here will enjoy the Karamoja narrations, and their lifestyle stories. There is dancing presentations of which you have to engage. Then will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Kidepo Savanah Lodge
Day 10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park En-route to Aruu Waterfalls
This morning drive to Murchison Falls National Park, consider an en-route to Aruu falls in Padar district along Kitgum-Gulu road. Aruu waterfalls are magnificent and nice looking falls where waters rush over white rocks and forms a larger pool where even guest can swim. Then will drive via Gulu with lunch en-route and finally in the late evening hours will be at Murchison Falls National Park. Then will check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Sambiya River Lodge
Day 11: Murchison Game Drive and Boat Cruise
This morning is a sounding idea to hurry with a well packed breakfast, take an early morning game drive to watch sunrise arrays in the midst of adventure. Encounter this amazing moment to encounter the wild under the arrays of the sunrise, imagine sipping and enjoying your breakfast under the legs of the sunrise. Just know that a game drive at Murchison is a germ of amazing things and expect to watch some of the Big Five animals (lions, leopards, elephants and buffalos). Larger schools of hippos at the delta, highest concentration of antelope species, towers of giraffes, warthogs, several bird species and a lot more. The game drive takes through several made driving trucks will all converge at the delta that has the highest concentration of animals.
After a game drive will relax, then after the lunch delicious served meals will embark for Victoria Nile Boat ride to the bottom of the World’s most powerful waterfalls. The boat ride takes about 2hours packed with views of various wildlife on the banks of the river, and aquatic life including monitor lizards, and crocodiles, several water birds, amazing features like cliffs among many encounters on the boat cruise. Then after will drive back to your lodge and relax for another day, dinner and overnight;
Accommodation (midrange): Sambiya River Lodge
Day 12: Sport Fishing and Hiking the Top of the Falls
Well equipped with your fishing tools with a fishing guide will board a small engine boat to the fishing grounds. If you don’t have any, UWA staff can improvise for hire. The with a fishing guide will take a ride in a private speed boat to either along the Victoria Nile or around the delta and hook out Nile perch. The fishing session takes some hours and here it’s fun as it’s catch and realize adventure. The fishing can last for about 3 hours, with the main catch being Tilapia.
Following the lunch hour refreshments, will take an afternoon hike to the top of the falls. The hike starts from the top of the falls where you have a chance to watch how these huge rapids thunderously force into a narrow gorge forming that astonishing roar of pouring. The moist view of the Murchison Falls from the top is accompanied with a hike through the Baker trail covered with nonstop falls roars.
Accommodation (midrange): Sambiya River Lodge
Day 13: Budongo Nature Walk and Rhino Tracking at Ziwa
This morning will drive to Budongo forest south of Murchison falls National Park. Take an afternoon forest nature walk, the Budongo is among a few reaming tropics in Uganda and gives you the breathtaking feel of authenticity. Several primates, bird species, few of animals and on a luck day will encounter the chimpanzees.
Then afterwards will drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track only wild rhinos in Uganda. This gives a complete list of the Big Five games after watch lions, elephants, leopard, and buffalos in Murchison and Kidepo. Ziwa is the only Wild Sanctuary where to find rhinos in their natural environment. The track can last for about 2 to 3 hours on a nature walk which is accompanied with several wild rewards of antelopes, birds and many other animals. Drive back to Masindi town for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Masindi Hotel
Day 14: Transfer to Fort Portal
This morning will transfer to Fort Portal city, it’s about 4/5 hours of driving. Reaching the city will take a visit to Akira Alira Adventure Park. Will consider going to the Akira Alira adventure park and take adventures like board climbing, and various challenging adventures done at Akira Alira Adventure Park. After will drive to Kibale National Park and check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Akira Alira Lodge
Day 15: Crater Lake Hiking
This is a greater day of experiencing heights. Will take a visit to one of the traditionally believed to be ancestral caves of the Bachwezi dynasty. Driving through Fort Portal will visit the Amabere Caves and take a Crater Lake hike. This is a cultural visit that tales about the ancient Bachwezi dynasty, this will take you to the cave under waterfalls, and finish the visit with a hike. This trail can last between 4 to 5 hours and then will refresh with lunch in Fort portal. The hike gives greater views of the Rwenzori ranges. Then will take your drive back to your lodge and relax.
Accommodation (midrange): Akira Alira Lodge
Day 16: Chimpanzee Habituation
Ensure your energizing morning day break, alongside all your tracking gears will hurry to Kanyachu starting point for the day track. Chimpanzee habituation is a full day adventure where travelers head into the forest, search and follow the chimpanzees. When the chimpanzees are found, trackers have to spend about 4 hours with the apes. So, well prepared with packed eats, enough drinking water, wearing tracking gears. The chimpanzee habituation adventure is more than just a track but a full day spent with the apes. The habituation process is aimed at making the chimps used to human presence, these are known to be shy mammals which in most cases shy away in case of uncertainties. After the track, will return to the starting point, refresh and make your lunch. Then will rest at your lodge for the rest of the hours. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Accommodation (midrange): Akira Alira Lodge
Day 17: Bigodi Community Visit and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today will take a visit to Bigodi community which is about 15km ahead of Kibale National Park. . Around village will understand how the community is involved in the conservation of the protected areas around them. You can as decide to buy some of the souvenirs made from local materials from the wetland. Return back and take a drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park alongside lunch en-route. Reaching the park will check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Elephant Plain Lodge
Day 18: Explore Queen Elizabeth NP on Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Today early morning with your packed breakfast will drive to Kasenyi section of Queen Elizabeth National Park for an incredible game drive. The meaning of driving with packed breakfast is to enjoy morning bloody sunrise with a bit, it’s very amazing. One of the rewarding game drive with variety of wildlife species including; elephants, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, buffalos, lions, warthogs among so many species to watch accompanied by several bird species.
In the afternoon hours with lunch en-route will drive to the Mweya peninsular, for a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The wild boat cruise is an opening of watching more animals. Several animals are seen coming to the channel banks to draw water and the aquatic life seen either socked in water or lousily relaxed at water banks. Then, after will drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Elephant Plain Lodge
Day 19: Visit the Ishasah Sector and Track Lions
This morning will drive southwards of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s a game drive through the Ishasha savannahs decorated with acacia woods which have attracted prides of lions to climb. Tree climbing lions are special wild offer of Ishasha and it’s the finest spot in the East African region to watch the prides under tree branches. The tree climbing lion tracking comes alongside many wildlife species including elephants, buffalos, Kobs, bushbacks, warthogs among others.
Day 20: Transfer Back to Kampala and Fly Back Home
The last day of the trip, wakeup under brighter arrays of sunrise alongside your morning delicious breakfast. Then will take a drive back to Kampala will be supported by stopovers at Mbarara or Kayabwe for lunch refreshments. Also Kayabwe is very profound for the Equator photo shoots. Then, drive straight to Kampala, and your driver will drive you to Entebbe International Airport for your flight back home.
On behalf of Early Trial Expedition Uganda, our driver guide will say goodbye to you. Then, take your flight back to your home. We believed after this trip you become our next ambassador for Early Trail Expeditions Uganda in your country and area. Thank you!
Trip inclusive;
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- All trip fuel
- All meals and soft drinks
- All Park entrances
- Chimpanzee permits
- All the planned trip activities
- Boat rides
- Accommodation
- Driver guide
Exclusive;
- Visa and air ticket
- Laundry
- All hard drinks
- Souvenirs
- Tips
- All international flights
