We provide our 18 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari in Uganda for those who want to travel to every part of Uganda. The 18-day Ultimate Uganda Safari offers the opportunity to experience the Pearl of Africa with chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest, and Kibale National Park. Enquire Now With our 18-day trip, you can visit three different national parks, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park and witness the breathtaking savannah vegetation. In these parks, you can also take pleasure in boat rides and game drives. Thousands of antelopes, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards should be able to see these animals in their natural habitat.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival – Entebbe Airport
As soon as you land at Entebbe Airport, our driver guide will promptly arrive at the Pearl of Africa. He will give you an overview of your 18-day Ultimate Wildlife Safari in Uganda and then take you to your hotel so you can unwind and get ready for the next day’s activities.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel, Imperial Botanical Hotel, Airport Guest House.
Meals: (Dinner).
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp Birding Excursion
After an early breakfast, you leave your Kampala or Entebbe accommodation and travel 50 km to Mabamba Swamp, the capital of Uganda. Discovering several bird species such as Papyrus Gonolek, White Shouldered Tit, Red Cap, Western Banded Snake Eagle, White Winged Warbler, White Spotted Fluftail, and Weyns Weaver can be done throughout the unique experience of driving to Mabamba. When you get at Mabamba Swamp, you board a boat and paddle to the swamp with a local who is knowledgeable about navigating the narrow waterways encircled by lush swamp foliage. Bird watching in Uganda’s Mabamba on Lake Victoria marsh yields numerous bird species, including as the globally threatened Pallid Harrier, the uncommon and vulnerable Shoebill stork, Allen’s and Purple Gallinule, Grey herons, Jacanas, Ruffaus Squaco, and Bellied Heron. It is possible to investigate additional bird species, such as blue swallows, ducks, and egrets. The swamp tour may include an exploration of the Sitatunga antelope, which lives in the swamp. You will drive to Kampala for dinner and an overnight stay after withdrawing from the event.
Accommodation: Kampala Serena, Accasia Lodge, Forest Cottage.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 3: Visit the Source of the Nile in Jinja
After a leisurely breakfast at around 0700, head out on an exciting journey to the source of the world’s longest river, the Nile, which is around two hours’ drive from Kampala. The route to Jinja, the source of the Nile, passes through stunning countryside including tea and sugar plantations and vibrant roadside fruit stalls. Our first stop is Ssezibwa Falls, a stunning cultural site of the Buganda kingdom with a fascinating legend around the falls’ and the river’s origins. Our next destination is a walk into the Mabira Forest, where we will discover more about the rich history of the Ugandan people who once lived there and have the chance to see and hear a variety of bird species, stunning butterflies, primates, and tree species.
The boat voyage to the “Source of the Nile” at the now-submerged Rippon Falls is the final and most exciting part of your tour. This is the starting point of the Nile’s 4000-mile trek from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea. The boat ride may last half an hour or an hour. You will be able to witness the point at which the Nile River begins to diverge from Lake Victoria, which is the second-largest lake in the world after Lake Victoria in Africa.
Accommodation: Jinja Nile Resort.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 4: Transfer from Jinja to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After an early breakfast, you will go to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola, which is approximately a 4- to 5-hour journey from Jinja. Here, you can monitor both black and white rhinos. Get the chance to track these threatened animals and discover more about them.
Accommodation: Amuka Safari Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 5: Visit Budongo Forest for Chimp Trekking
After a hearty breakfast in the morning, make your way to Budongo Forest, a component of the broader conservation area of Murchison Falls National Park. The main activity at the Budongo Central Forest Reserve, which is situated in the Masindi district of southeast Uganda, is hiking with chimpanzees. Situated within the borders of Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest is Uganda’s largest surviving natural forest. It is situated above the Albertine Rift, a portion of the Great Rift Valley. After receiving a lecture at the Budongo Forest headquarters, you will hike with a ranger guide to witness the beautiful chimpanzees in their natural habitat. This is a great experience.
Other primates that can be spotted include Olive Baboons, Red-tailed Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, and Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys. Several species of galago and potto are nocturnal creatures. Following your journey with the chimps, you will drive to Murchison Falls, where you will witness how the Nile waters constrict into a slender gorge before erupting into what has been dubbed the most potent and formidable waterfall, with a flow rate of one million litres per second. Head to your lodge for dinner and a restful night.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Red Chili.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 6: Morning Game Drive – Boat Cruise on the Nile
After eating breakfast, head to Murchison Falls for an early morning game viewing experience. The area is home to over 76 animal and 451 bird species, including buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, lions, giraffes, hyenas, and Jackson hartebeests. The Park is extensively dispersed among the Savannah grasslands, where animals roam free and hunt prey. This explains why the park’s scenery is so breathtaking for game viewing. The Big Four are visible there since it is the largest and oldest national park in the nation. The famous River Nile divides the park into two halves, known as the Northern Bank and the Southern Bank. As you get ready for your boat trip on the Nile, head back to the lodge for breakfast and lunch.
You will take a boat excursion in the afternoon, during which you may see several herds of buffalo, crocodiles, hippos, water bird species, and other wild animals as they swarm the River Nile in search of water. Go upstream to the foot of the falls and see how the water condenses into a little gorge before erupting into what is said to be the most potent and violent falls on Earth.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Red Chili.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 7: Hot Air Balloon – Nile Delta Cruise
After an early breakfast, your drive guide will collect you up for your hot air balloon safari on the Para side of Murchison Falls National Park. If you are staying along the southern bank of the River Nile, everything will come together at Para Lodge to start your journey to the balloon launch point. Along with the pilots and the whole crew, you will be driven to the hot air balloon safari’s beginning location. As the balloon is being constructed, you will be given a cup of tea or coffee. Once this is done, the pilot will give you a quick safety briefing, get you in the balloon, and start your hot air balloon adventure. The entire experience of exploring Murchison Falls National Park could take up to one hour. Certificates will be awarded upon landing, and those who purchased a complete hot air balloon package will be treated to a sumptuous bush breakfast. Arrive at your lodge for some downtime, lunch, and a boat ride to the bustling Albert Delta in the afternoon. Elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles in every well, and the occasional shoebill stock might all be visible to you, depending on your luck.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Red Chili.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.
After breakfast in the morning, you will take a lengthier trip to Kibale National Park, stopping along the way for lunch and to see several bird species.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge, Chimpanzee Guest House, Kibale Forest Camp.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest.
You will be taken to the Kibale National Park headquarters in Kanyakyu after breakfast, where you will meet up with fellow trekkers for a briefing before engaging in chimpanzee trekking. You will go on a guided primate trek within Kibale Forest National Park with your game ranger guide. This forest offers the chance to go to one of the chimpanzees’ habituated communities and spend an hour watching and taking pictures of them. Along with forest birds, Kibale National Park is home to thirteen other kinds of primates. Following your chimpanzee hike, you will take a car to Bigodi Village to participate in a wetland walk that benefits the nearby community of Kibale Forest National Park.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge, Chimpanzee Guest House, Kibale Forest Camp.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 10: Chimpanzee Trekking – Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, you will be taken to the Kibale National Park headquarters in Kanyakyu, where you will meet up with other trekkers for a briefing before going on a chimpanzee trek. Within Kibale Forest National Park, your game ranger guide will lead you on a guided stroll among the primates. It is possible to spend an hour studying and taking pictures of habituated populations or individual chimpanzees in this area. Other thirteen species of primates and forest birds can be found in Kibale National Park. You will drive to Bigodi Village for a wetland walk after your chimpanzee hike, which is intended to help the locals who live near Kibale Forest National Park.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge, Chimpanzee Guest House, Kibale Forest Camp.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 11: Hot Air balloon and Boat Cruise
Discover Queen Elizabeth National Park’s fauna in a fresh, distinctive manner. Get up early to witness the dawn as you glide softly across Queen Elizabeth National Park’s plains. Take in the peaceful tranquilly of the African wilderness and marvel at the herds of buffalo and elephants. You will take out early in the morning and fly for about an hour. As the sun rises, get up and follow the morning winds wherever they may lead you. Take in the best of Uganda from above, with many of chances to capture breathtaking views of the landscape and fauna below.
Following a flawless landing, you can toast to this incredible journey with a bush breakfast and a drink of sparkling juice before heading back to your lodge for lunch and a boat ride in the afternoon. It’s worth taking a two-hour boat ride down the well-known Kazinga Channel to observe animals including warthogs, emus, buffalo, kobs, and elephants. Visitors can also witness amazing birds on this tour. Enjoy supper and spend the night there.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge, Simba Safari Lodge, Bush Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 12: Kyambura Chimpanzee Trekking – Visit Katwe Salt Mines
You will be taken to Kyambura George after breakfast, where you will meet up with fellow trekkers for a briefing before beginning your chimpanzee walk in the gorge. A game ranger guide will assist you in identifying the various plants and animals that call this canyon home. If you locate a group of chimpanzees, you will be granted an hour to take pictures of them. After the hike, head return to the lodge for lunch and leisure. You will visit the Lake Katwe salt mines in the afternoon. The local people mines and harvests salt from Lake Katwe, an explosive container that is endowed with salt. Your tour guide will take you on a trip around salt mines, where they will explain the process of extracting salt, the difficulties encountered, and the opportunities that exist. One of the real-world instances of Queen Elizabeth’s status as one of the world’s conservation areas where people live in harmony with animals is the Lake Katwe salt extraction project. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge, Simba Safari Lodge, Bush Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You will go to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which is situated in the Kabale district of south-western Uganda, after breakfast. Nearly half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is also the only national park where mountain gorillas and wild chimpanzees coexist. You will travel through undulating hills with terraced gardens of Irish potatoes and Kayonza tea estate on your way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will arrive in the late afternoon to spend the night and have dinner.
Accommodation: Trackers Safari Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Buhoma Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 14: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi – Guided Village Walk
After breakfast in the morning, you will be taken to the Park headquarters to receive instructions on what to do and what not to do when interacting with the gorillas. Following this, you will be dropped off at the designated gorilla family’s starting point to begin your trek into the dense Bwindi Forest. Depending on the location of the mountain gorillas, this trip could take anything from 30 minutes to three quarters of a day. As a result, gorilla trekking can be demanding, necessitating a certain level of athleticism. The trip will be worthwhile after you locate the gorillas, and you will get an hour to observe and take pictures of them. After that, you’ll drive back to the park headquarters, where your efforts to support the conservation of the critically endangered mountain gorillas will be acknowledged with a certificate. After unwinding at the lodge, take a stroll through the hamlet to discover more about the locals who call Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home.
Accommodation: Trackers Safari Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Buhoma Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 15: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Drive to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale District from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. One of the three lava-dammed lakes, Lake Bunyonyi was created when water was compelled to flow backward through a blocked river channel caused by lava streaming from one of the volcanoes, filling the empty area to form the lake. Because there are so many small birds in this area, the term “bunyonyi” (small birds) has local meaning. According to reports, Lake Bunyonyi is the second-deepest lake in East Africa and the deepest lake in Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the greatest places to unwind after a gorilla walk and draws visitors due to its natural beauty.
Accommodation: Eagle Nest, Bunyonyi Safari Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 16: Canoeing or Hiking
After breakfast in the morning, you are free to enjoy the stunning views of the lake and the hills surrounding it while canoeing around several islands with fascinating histories. You also have the opportunity to visit the Punishment Island, where girls who bear children through lawful traditional marriages are dumped and left to perish. You will have a great time doing this all day activity. After dinner, head back to the lodge for the night.
Accommodation: Eagle Nest, Bunyonyi Safari Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 17: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After eating breakfast in the morning, drive to Lake Mburo National Park, arriving in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, take a boat ride through the park, where you can see a variety of plants, animals, including crocodiles and bucks, and birds, such as the rare shoebill, crested crane, pelicans, fish eagles, herons, and many other water birds. You will go on an evening game drive later in the evening. Animals including zebras, giraffes, and impalas are common at Lake Mburo National Park. After dinner, head back to the lodge for the night.
Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge, Eagles Nest.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 18: Return to Kampala – Departure.
After a hearty breakfast, take a morning game drive through the park. The following creatures can be seen: Common Zebra, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Buffalo, Bushbuck, Oribi, Deffassa Waterbuck, Bohor Reedbuck, Yellow-winged Bat, Side-striped Jackal, Dwarf and Banded Mongooses, and many more mammals. After that, set out on your journey to Kampala/Entebbe International Airport, stopping along the way to explore the cultures of the ethnic groups in western Uganda at the Igongo Cultural Centre and to take pictures of the Equator crossing.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch).
End of the 18 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari in Uganda.
The 18 Days Ultimate Wildlife Safari in Uganda includes;
- All airport transfers.
- Budongo chimpanzee permit.
- Kyambura Chimpanzee permit.
- Bwindi Gorilla permit.
- Kibale Chimpanzee permit.
- Visit to the source of the Nile.
- Transport by Safari vehicle.
- Services of an English speaking guide.
- Drinking water in the vehicle.
- Game drives.
- 2 Hot Air Balloon safaris.
- Park entry fees.
The package excludes; Airfare, Visa, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, and personal shopping bills.