18 Days Best Of Uganda Safari
18 Days Best of Uganda Safari takes you around Uganda through Mountain Elgon national park where you experience a hike to the sipi falls adventure the Source of the Nile in Jinja where white water rafting is done, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for white Rhino tracking, Murchison Falls National Park to adventure the Marvelous Murchison falls, Semuliki National Park for Sempaya Hot springs, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable n for mountain gorilla trekking, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo national park, Ssese islands and city tour of Kampala.
In Jinja, the Nile starts its course/journey crossing four countries, including Uganda, South Sudan, North Sudan, and Egypt, and later it pours its waters into the Mediterranean Sea. Other attractions in Jinja include the looming water sports such as the white-water rafting on the Nile falls/ rapids, kayaking, boat cruises on the Nile, bungee jumping, city walks, Cultural performances, and so many things to gaze at, such as the beautiful African crafts that are almost sold everywhere in the town.
Mount Elgon National Park, Uganda mountain hiking tour and Safari Destination located in Eastern Uganda, bordering Uganda and Kenya. Uganda mountain hiking trips are where to go for a Mountain hiking tour in Uganda.
Mount Elgon is an extinct volcanic mountain with the largest surface area in the world (50km by 80km) and a caldera with a diameter of about 8 km. The highest peak is Wagagai, 4.321 m. It lies on the border with Kenya. The National Park is 1.145 km in extension.
Trip Highlights
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and Kampala City tour
Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Jinja – The Source of the River Nile adventure. Transfer to Mbale
Day 3: Hike to Sipi Falls and in the afternoon return to Jinja City for Overnight
Day 4: Transfer from Jinja city to Rhinos of Ziwa sanctuary for white Rhino tracking.
Day 5: Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park in the morning from Masindi
Day 6: Full-day adventure in Murchison Falls National Park involving a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile
Day 7: Transfer from Murchison Falls National Park to Fort Portal at the foothill of the Mountains of the Moon
Day 8: Take on an adventure to Sempaya Hot Springs in Semuliki National Park
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a wildlife safari tour in the Oldest Uganda national park
Day 10: Go Chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge
Day 11: Have an exciting game drive in the Ishasha sector to sight Tree-Climbing Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, then stretch to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 12: Full day encounter with mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, in the evening, drive to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation
Day 13: The wonderful adventure at Lake Bunyonyi, involving a boat cruise and bird watching at the lake
Day 14: Transfer from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park for another wildlife tour
Day 15: Drive from Lake Mburo National Park to Masaka or Entebbe to Board a boat to the Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria
Day 16: Go for another great adventure to the Ssese island of Lake Victoria after a long, tiring drive and gorilla trekking
Day 17: The Ssese Islands tour, including the Ecological Nature Walk and Bugala Village tour
Day 18: Kampala city tour
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport.
Our representative will meet, greet, and transfer you to your Hotel in Kampala for the overnight.
Day 2 of the 18 Days Best of Uganda Safari – The Source of the River Nile
Transfer to Mbale, east of Uganda, driving through Jinja, the second largest town in Uganda. It is characterized by the Asian quarters, the brewery industries, and the colorful gardens.
Visit the Source of the Nile on Lake Victoria, the monument of Gandhi, and then proceed to the spectacular Itanda Falls on the River Nile, a few kilometers from the source. In the afternoon, drive to Mbale for dinner and overnight.
The activities for this day start with the nature walk to the spectacular waterfalls on the river Sipi, which originates from Mount Elgon. The starting point is at Crow’s Nest, a camping and lodging site.
You will see the caves, plantations of coffee, matooke, and sugarcane plantations along the way. We ensure that you have a packed lunch for the day. Return to Jinja in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Rhinos of Ziwa Sanctuary
Leave Jinja early in the morning for Masindi via Kampala. You will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you will enjoy a nature walk to see rhinos in the wild.
The journey is long but enjoyable as you go through the green countryside with typical Ugandan villages and farms. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Murchison Falls National Park
After a relaxed breakfast, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest protected area in Uganda, named after the famous falls on the Nile. Lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive through the northern part of the park, where you will be able to spot elephants, lions, cape buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, hartebeests, waterbucks, oribi, bushbucks, spotted hyenas, and, if you are lucky, leopards. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6: The boat cruise on the River Nile
You start with an early morning game drive in the park. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Relax at the swimming poolside. After lunch, you will safari upstream by boat to the calm Victoria Nile, and the base of the falls, just ten meters from the Devil’s Cauldron.
There, you can marvel at toothsome hippos, crocodiles, and over the 17-kilometer stretch, you may also see elephants, waterbucks, and Uganda Kobs.
This is also the habitat of many bird species, including Goliath herons, Egyptian geese, pelicans, bee-eaters, kingfishers, Hornbills, cormorants, and the rare shoebill stork. The boat leaves you near the falls, and you will hike to the top.
It is an exciting experience that brings you very close to the rushing whitewater as it squeezes itself through the narrow crevice below. Relax a bit at the top, where you can enjoy the beauty of the Nile.
The ground can be felt trembling from the 43-meter drop of the falls, and the resulting mist from the turbulence often produces rainbows. Your guide will be waiting for you here.
Day 7: Fort Portal at the foothill of the Mountains of the Moon
Since it’s a long distance between MFNP and Fort Portal, you will have an early breakfast and leave the park heading Southwest via the Albertine Escarpment of the Western Rift Valley.
Drive through Hoima, the capital of the Bunyoro kingdom, passing through the verdant countryside, tea plantations, and traditional homesteads. You arrive in the colorful and pretty town of Fort Portal, the capital of the Tooro kingdom, in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon (Rwenzori). Dinner and overnight.
Day 8 of the 18 Days Best of Uganda Wildlife Safari – The Semliki Hot Springs
Today, we visit the magical Semliki National Park for a game drive and visit the male and female hot springs. Have lunch and visit the Kasenda Crater Lakes, which dominate all the areas with incredible panoramic views. Return for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain Range, most of the journey arriving in time for lunch.
After lunch, enjoy the unique two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This trip goes through possibly the highest concentration of animals and birds as they may be seen drinking at the water’s edge.
This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous, with well over 550 resident species. You will then take a ride through the fascinating Crater Lake region. Dinner and overnight.
Day 10: The Kyambura Chimp Trekking
After a cup of coffee, embark on an early morning game drive along Kasenyi tracks and Queen’s mile in the park, and expect to see lions, elephants, cape buffaloes, warthogs, spotted hyenas, mongooses, waterbucks, kobs, and the leopard if lucky, plus a lot of small animals and birds.
Drive back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, drive to Kyambura Gorge for a forest walk in search of the habituated chimpanzees and other primates. This gorge is 16 km long in the Rift Valley and 100 meters deep. The Rangers will provide you with a walking stick for this trek. Dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Climbing Lions of Ishasha.
With your packed lunch, drive to the Ishasha sector of the park for a game drive in search of the rare tree-climbing lions found only in this part of Uganda. The landscape is an open savannah with acacia trees. Proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for dinner and overnight.
Day 12: The encounter with mountain gorillas
After the briefing from the rangers, we set off for the mountain gorilla tracking inside the Bwindi Forest. This would be the highlight of your tour. You need to carry drinking water, a packed lunch, a rain jacket, and jungle boots, while the rangers will provide you with a walking stick.
Gorilla tracking is one of the unique activities you will enjoy. Photograph and observe the gorillas in their natural habitat. After tracking, leave for Kabale through the beautiful, rolling hills and terraced landscape. This region is referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa. Dinner and overnight.
Day 13:Visit Lake Bunyonyi
Today we start with a boat ride on the lake, around the various islands for bird viewing and sightseeing. Visit the Bakiga Museum. Lunch.
After lunch, depart for Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest in size but fascinating. Dinner and overnight at Mihingo Lodge / Arcadia cottages(C) or Agip Motel (B) in Mbarara. FB
Day 14: Lake Mburo National Park
Morning game drive in search of the beautiful impalas, zebras, cape buffaloes, elands, oribi, and topi. Along with the game drive, many visitors also enjoy a boat trip on Lake Mburo. The park is a very good opportunity for bird watchers, who will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found here. Return to Kampala for dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Go for another great adventure to these islands of Lake Victoria after a long, tiring drive and gorilla trekking
Depending on your flight schedule, you may spend the day at leisure shopping for souvenirs or taking city tours for cultural, historical, or religious sites. With your unique experience and great memories, you may now say goodbye to the Pearl of Africa and transfer to the airport for your flight. Extension:
Day 16: The Ssese Islands of Lake Victoria
After breakfast, drive to Entebbe to board the ferry boat, which will take you to Ssese Islands, an archipelago of 84 islands on Lake Victoria. Meantime, you can visit the wonders of the botanical garden in Entebbe.
After lunch, enjoy the navigation on the lake, which looks like an immense and peaceful sea. You reach the beautiful bay of Lutoboka, in Bugala Island, for dinner and overnight at Pearl Gardens resort, with a magical location on the beach.
Day 17: The Ssese Islands tour.
You will journey through the Ssese Islands and enjoy the beauty of the lake and forested islands. You will explore three islands, a fishing village, settlement island. Return to your Hotel, relax by the beachside while swimming and sunbathing. Dinner and overnight.
Early breakfast before going for a relaxing ecological nature walk in the uncontaminated forest on the islands with the services of our guide, who will tell you all you need to know about the forest. Return for lunch and relax.
Evening village tour on a motorbike and you will visit the mail and traditional fishing village on Bugala Islands, a palm tree farm, and the pineapple farm. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 18: Kampala City Tour
After breakfast, board the ferry boat and return to Entebbe. Spend the afternoon at leisure or craft and souvenir shopping. Transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your flight.