15 Days Best of Uganda Safari, the 15 days best of Uganda Safari is designed to perfection for nature lovers looking forward at exploring Uganda full. It takes you to most of Uganda’s iconic national parks including Murchison falls national park, Kidepo Valley National park, Kibale forest National park, queen Elizabeth national park, Mgahinga gorilla National park, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Lake Mburo National park. The itinerary offers an authentic experience which combines wildlife encounters, waterfalls, golden monkey trekking and also gorilla trekking.
15 Days Best of Uganda Safari in Brief
15 Days Best of Uganda Safari will start with pickup and eventually relaxation on the shores of lake Victoria. Then it proceeds to the true African wilderness known as Kidepo valley National park with the most scenic wilderness views, harbors ostrich the largest bird and over 75 mammal species including leopards, Oryx, wild dogs, elands, cheetah and rare kudus. Thereafter, proceed to Murchison falls National park for thrilling game drives, dramatic boat cruise to the bottom of the falls.
Additionally, you will delve into Kibale forest National Park the primate capital of the world home to over 13 primate species. While in Kibale national park, you will be able to get a close encounter with our closely related cousins the chimpanzees as you proceed to explore the plain savannahs of queen Elizabeth National Park and get a chance to see the rare dramatic tree climbing lions.
Following the end of the 15 Days Best of Uganda Safari, you will then meet the golden monkeys of Mgahinga gorilla National park where silver meets gold. An encounter with these primates leaves a lifetime impression. Additionally, go ahead and traverse the jungle of Bwindi in search for the mountain gorillas to make the safari more of a life time souvenir and a never outdated story to tell. Therefore the pearl of Africa 15 Days Best of Uganda Safari ends with exploring Lake Mburo National Park which is rich in wildlife and fascinating plain savannah and woodlands.
Day 1: arrival at Entebbe international airport, pickup and transfer to hotel.
This ultimate 15 Days Best of Uganda Safari starts at Entebbe international airport. Upon arrival, our experienced and friendly driver guide will pick you up, take you through the itinerary and then proceed to your hotel in Entebbe. Eventually, you will be able to experience already the calm and welcoming environment of Uganda. Check in and unwind from the long journey.
Location: Entebbe
Accommodation:
Luxury: Protea hotel Entebbe, Victoria hotel
Midrange: 2 friends beach hotel
Budget: via via Entebbe
Meal plan: dinner
Day 2: Entebbe to Ziwa rhino sanctuary and transfer to Gulu
After an early breakfast, your drive guide will pick you up from the hotel to a scenic drive via the luweero triangle to Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking. During rhino tracking, you will be guided by armed guides for security purposes, they will teach you about rhinos as you enjoy the beauty and lush greenery nature of Uganda.
In the afternoon, you will have lunch in Masindi and then proceed to Gulu. Upon arrival, you will check-in, relaxation, dinner and then an overnight.
Location: Gulu
Accommodation option: Boma hotel or similar
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: transfer to Kidepo valley National Park
Early breakfast to brighten up the day, day 3 of our 15 Days Best of Uganda Safari starts with pickup from the hotel in Gulu and then transfer to the true African Wilderness. On your way you will get to enjoy beautiful views of Uganda’s diverse landscape. A short game drive as you heading to the lodge looking out for the first encounters amongst the 75 mammals that the park inhabitants. Upon arrival, check-in and have lunch, relaxation later have dinner and overnight.
Location: Kidepo valley National Park
Accommodation option
Luxury: Apoka safari lodge or zebra safari lodge
Midrange: Kidepo savannah lodge or Mara safari lodge
Budget: Apoka rest camp
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Full day Game drive in Kidepo valley national park
You will have early breakfast, and then proceed for the game drive with binoculars and fully charged cameras for clear views and capturing memories. Additionally, the game drive will be conducted from Kidepo valley, enjoy the fascinating game drive in a true gem with abundance of wildlife totaling to over 75 mammal species and about 475 bird species. Mammals to be spotted include buffaloes, lions, water bucks, cheetah, wild dogs, kudus, giraffes, leopards, lions and many more plus bird species. For example Egyptian vulture, ostriches, red throated bee eater, pygmy falcon and many more. You will then have a picnic lunch in the vast wilderness of the Kidepo valley national park and continue with the game drive as you drive back to the lodge. Have your dinner and retire for a night.
Location: Kidepo valley National Park
Accommodation option
Luxury: Apoka safari lodge or zebra safari lodge
Midrange: Kidepo savannah lodge or Mara safari lodge
Budget: Apoka rest camp
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Full day game driver in Narus valley
Early breakfast, the 5th day of the 15 days best of Uganda safari takes you for a game drive in the Narus valley the sector of Kidepo valley national park with the highest concentration of wildlife due to the presence of Narus River. During the game drive expect to see ostriches, herds of cape buffaloes, pygmy crocodiles in the Narus River, water bucks, giraffes, Oryx, leopards and many more as you enjoy the raw beauty of the true African wilderness. Back to the lodge for lunch and later enjoy the evening sunset on the pool side of your lodge. Dinner and overnight.
Location: Kidepo valley National Park
Accommodation option
Luxury: Apoka safari lodge or zebra safari lodge
Midrange: Kidepo savannah lodge or Mara safari lodge
Budget: Apoka rest camp
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Visit the Karamojong community and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Following your breakfast, you will then proceed for a community visit to the Karamojong. Karamojong are people that reside around Kidepo valley national park, they have unique culture from dressing, dancing, food and lifestyle that will amaze you. Furthermore, you will be entertained by the Karamojong’s from dance, drama to fascinating stories about their origin and lifestyle.
In the afternoon, you will thereafter transfer to Murchison falls National park with an enroute lunch. Upon arrival, check-in, dinner and unwind from the long day.
Location: Murchison falls national park
Accommodation
Luxury: Paraa safari lodge or Nile safari lodge
Midrange: Murchison River lodge or sambiya
Budget: red chill rest camp or shoebill campsite
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Morning game drive, boat cruise and night game drive in Murchison falls national park
On this day 7 of the 15 Days Best of Uganda Safari, enjoy an early breakfast to brighten up the day, your guide will pick you up for a morning game drive. The game drive will be carried out from the buligi trail where you expect to encounter different mammals including leopards, elephants, lions, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, giraffes and different bird species including marabou stork, giant kingfisher and many more.
In the afternoon, return to the lodge for lunch and then proceed for an afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. This boat cruise is a relaxing activity that will help you get relieved and relaxed as you enjoy the beautiful view of the mighty Murchison falls as it stretches through a narrow gorge forming thunderous water falls. Expect to see mammals coming to quench thirsty and different bird species including the rare shoebill stork.
You will then return back to the lodge for rest as you prepare for an evening to night game drive that will start at 7pm after dinner. During the night game drive we will be on lookout for the missed mammals and the nocturnal including leopards, bird species like night jars and many more making the night memorable and rewarding. Return to the lodge for an overnight
Location: Murchison falls national park
Accommodation
Luxury: Paraa safari lodge or Nile safari lodge
Midrange: Murchison River lodge or sambiya
Budget: red chill rest camp or shoebill campsite
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale forest national park and visit Bigodi wetland
After an early breakfast, Day 8 of the 15 Days Best of Uganda Safari takes you to Kibale forest national park in western Uganda home to over 13 primate species including the joyful chimpanzees. You will traverse the picturesque country side of Uganda, upon arrival, check-in and have lunch.
In the evening, you will embark on a guided nature walk in bigodi wetland. The wetland is famous for its rich biodiversity, beautiful scenery, over 200 bird species to be spotted including great blue turaco, yellow breasted pitta, and primate species including red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many more. Additionally, you will visit the local community, listen to their exciting stories and get to know their way of life. Return to the lodge for dinner and a soothing night as you listen to the beautiful sounds of the birds in the forest.
Location: Kibale forest national park
Accommodation
Luxury: chimpundu lodge
Midrange: turaco treetops
Budget: chimpanzee forest lodge
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, you will head to visitor center for briefing to get to know the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee trekking for example keep a distance from chimps, cameras should not have flash, do not feed the chimps and many more, then proceed to the misty jungle of Kibale Forest in search for the chimpanzee. It will take around 30 minutes to 6 hours to find the allocated chimpanzee troop and you have an hour to enjoy them play, feed, nest in their natural habitat. Additionally, an encounter with these majestic primates is a lifetime memory.
After lunch, rest a little and then proceed to Queen Elizabeth national park. Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth National park is the largest Uganda’s savannah park rugged on the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains and also famous for its rare tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector.
Arrival, check-in and proceed for a rewarding evening boat cruise on Kazinga channel. Enjoy the fresh waters of Uganda with beautiful views of sunset perfect for photography and different mammals on the water banks including hippos up-close. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-Range: Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Budget: Enshama Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Queen Elizabeth National park Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Early breakfast, start your day with a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth’s savannah plains the most rewarding wildlife viewing park in Uganda, which offer excellent chances to spot predators such as lions and leopards, particularly in the Kasenyi and Mweya sectors. Herds of elephants and buffaloes roam the plains, while warthogs, waterbucks, and bushbucks are common. The park is also home to mongooses, hyenas, side-striped jackals, and giant forest hogs all of which are likely to be spotted on a game drive.
In the afternoon after lunch, head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat safari, one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth national park safari. This waterway attracts a dense concentration of wildlife, especially during dry seasons. Along the banks, observe massive pods of hippos, wallowing buffaloes, elephants drinking, and an astonishing array of birds including pink-backed pelicans, open-billed storks, African spoonbills, yellow-billed storks, and pied kingfishers. The close proximity to animals during this cruise offers unmatched photography opportunities. Eventually, you will spend the evening relaxing at your lodge, absorbing the sights and sounds of the bush.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-Range: Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Budget: Enshama Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Game drive in Ishasha sector and proceed to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
An early breakfast and head to an exhilarating morning game drive through the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth national park the prime game viewing area, the game drive will be targeting tree climbing lions. Be on a look out for predators including lions, leopards you may luckily find them on move. Other mammals likely to be spotted include buffalo, warthogs, and herds of Uganda kob, bird species including crested cranes, bee-eaters and lapwings. Have lunch on the way heading to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Continue to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park a haven to nearly half of the remaining worlds mountain gorillas and about 22 gorilla families wondering in the four sectors of the park namely Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo. Upon arrival, check-in, diner and retire for a night.
Location: Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Accommodation
Luxury: mahogany springs lodge
Midrange: bakiga lodge
Budget: ride 4 a woman
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla National Park
Breakfast at around 6am and prepare for the ultimate gorilla trekking experience. You will then proceed to the visitor’s center for briefing about gorilla trekking dos and don’ts. Dressed appropriately with a bottle of water, camera set with no flash, embark on the search for the majestic mountain gorillas in the jungle of Bwindi forest. The search takes around 30 minutes to 6 hours to find the allocated gorilla family. Upon finding them, you have a full hour watching them play, nest feed and enjoying their daily life in their nature habitat making the safari enjoyable, magical and worth every effort.
After the trek, you will then receive your certificate as a memory for your gorilla trekking safari and a sign of appreciation for supporting gorilla conservation.
Following the trek and a short lunch break, drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, nestled within the dramatic Virunga volcano range with eye catching views. Upon arrival, you will settle into your lodge with views of the towering volcanoes and enjoy the fresh mountain air.
Location: Mgahinga National Park
Accommodation Option
Luxury: Mutanda Lake Resort
Mid-Range: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Budget: Mondi Lodge Kisoro
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Golden Monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
An early breakfast, day 13 of the 15 days best of Uganda safari takes you to Mgahinga gorilla National park where silver meets gold for golden monkey trekking. These playful, vividly colored primates are endemic to the Virunga forests and are also known for their swift movements and social behavior. Watching them leap among the bamboo stems is a joy for both photographers and nature lovers.
After briefing you will head to the misty forests in search for the golden monkeys and this will take about 30 minutes to 6 hours, on finding the golden monkeys you are free to take photos but with a flash less camera, enjoy them in their natural habitat nest, feed, play, communicate and living their daily life all this within an hour.
In the afternoon after the trek and lunch, embark on the journey to the smallest savannah park that spans on 260 sq. km of land but very rich in nature with over 350 bird species and 68 mammal species. Upon arrival, check-in, freshen up and then have dinner and overnight.
Location: Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation option
Luxury: Mihingo lodges or Kigambira safari lodge
Midrange: Emburara farm lodge or Rwakobo rock
Budget: Rwonyo rest camp
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 14: morning game drive and Night game drive in Lake Mburo National Park
Breakfast early, and proceed for a game drive. The park’s landscape is open and lightly wooded, making wildlife spotting easier, expect to see wildlife such as the zebras grazing in large herds, elands, and the largest antelope species in Africa impala which are only found in Lake Mburo in all of Uganda, warthogs, buffaloes, topis, and giraffes. The game drive in Lake Mburo National park is rewarding and amazing due to a huge number of mammals roaming in a small savannah park.
Thereafter, return to the lodge for lunch and rest preparing for a night game drive. The night game drive takes about two hours and it starts at 7pm.
Acquire one of the best life time safari experiences in Africa while on a night game drive in Lake Mburo National Park in search for nocturnal animals including leopards, porcupines, bush babies and other animals that may be found on move hunting for dinner and winding up for a night
Return to the lodge, dinner and overnight.
Location: Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation option
Luxury: Mihingo lodges or Kigambira safari lodge
Midrange: Emburara farm lodge or Rwakobo rock
Budget: Rwonyo rest camp
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 15: walking safari and transfer back to Kampala
Breakfast at your time and then proceed for a walking safari in the plain savannahs of Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo is a small park but blessed with over 68 mammal species including water bucks, buffaloes, giraffes, zebra, water bucks, over 350 bird species including pied kingfisher, yellow breasted apalis, African wattled lapwing, ground hornbill and many more that are likely to be spotted on the walking guided safari wrapping your safari in a perfect ending full of memories.
Have lunch in the afternoon. Proceed to Kampala with a stopover at equator for water experience, buying souvenirs and refreshment. Depending on your flight time, you will be dropped either at Entebbe international airport or at your hotel around Kampala or Entebbe.
Meal plan: breakfast and lunch
Tour includes
- English speaking driver guide
- Accommodation on full board
- Bottled drinking water
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- All mentioned activities
- Park entry fees
- Transportation to and from Kampala or Entebbe
Tour excludes
- Laundry
- Alcoholic beverages
- Insurance
- Accommodation on final day