20 Days Uganda Holiday Tour Overview
20 days Uganda holiday tour takes you to see primates, enjoy comprehensive game drives, deep and rich African culture, and Uganda scenery, with game viewing on the Savannah plains of Uganda National Parks, including Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo giraffes, elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippo, and leopard among others. Track the fast-moving chimpanzees in Kibale National Park and the endangered Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi. Travel from East to West and North to South and see the diversity of Uganda’s flora and fauna.
20 Days Uganda Holiday Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport, Uganda
You will be received by your driver/guide at the airport. Depending on your arrival time, if you arrive at night time, we check into one of the below accommodations for a relaxation moment after the long flight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe or Hotel No. 5 Entebbe
Midrange: 2 Friends Beach Hotel | Karibu Guesthouse Entebbe | African Root Guest House
Best Budget: Airport Guesthouse Entebbe | African Root Guest House
Meal Plan Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Tour the Sezibwa Falls, Mabira Forest & River Nile in Jinja
After breakfast, an early morning drive on Jinja Road with our first visit being to the historical Ssezibwa Waterfall for 1 hour.
We continue to the Mabira Forest for 2 hours where we have a forest walk. The Mabira Forest is a rainforest area covering about 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) in Uganda, located in Buikwe District, between Lugazi and Jinja. Mabira forest is home to over 300 bird species and many Ugandan primates.
Accommodation:
Luxury: The Haven Lodge | Wild waters Lodge
Midrange: The Haven Lodge
Best Budget: The Haven Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 3: Driving to Sipi Falls
After breakfast, you drive through the eastern part of Uganda takes you to beautiful Sipi Falls, on a plateau 1800m above sea level.
The Sipi River flows over the foothills of Mount Elgon, forming a spectacular series of waterfalls (some nearly 100m high), surrounded by village walking trails and lush green coffee-producing hills. You will stay in a wonderful lodge. From your lodge, you have beautiful views over one of the waterfalls.
All Accommodation is at Sipi River Lodge
Day 4: Tour of Sipi Falls, Mt. Elgon
Prepare yourself for a beautiful day in paradise. After breakfast, choose to go on a 3-hour or – for the real adventurers – a 7-hour hike through the region. A local guide accompanies you on your hike to explain flora, fauna, and culture.
All accommodation is at Sipi River Lodge
Day 5: Karamojong tribe Experience in Moroto
After an early breakfast, you will continue your journey to Moroto town where you have an exclusive cultural interactive experience with the Karimajong tribesmen. Karamoja is an area in North-Eastern Uganda where the Karamajong people live. They are related to the Maasai in Kenya and live and dress similarly. The main difference is that not any other tourist is going here. Only a few years ago, tourism in Karamoja would not have been possible due to armed inter-tribal conflict but nowadays it’s safe.
The Karamajong live in a Kraal, better known as Manyatta or Boma in Swahili. A Kraal is basically a village made out of huts surrounded by fences made of wood and thorns to keep the cattle in and to protect them against rivalling tribes and wild animals. Some of the Kraals are permanent and others are temporary as the Karamojong follow the fresh grass to feed their cattle. The Karamajong are related to the Maasai in Kenya and live a similar lifestyle. The main difference is that the Karamajong is completely unknown and you are therefore
sure, to experience a very authentic and unique visit. In the afternoon you will visit one of the impressive Kraal or Manyatta of this community.
Please be patient and do not expect the services from hotels and restaurants that you would expect in other parts of Uganda.
Accommodation is at Kara-Tunga, Karamoja Safari Camp
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 6: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park
After breakfast leaves Moroto for Kidepo Valley and arrives in time for the afternoon or evening activities depending on the conditions of the roads This afternoon you can either take a game drive around the lodge area or a refreshing dip-in stunning swimming pool. Carved out of a granite kopje the pool affords fantastic views down the Narus valley and over a waterhole frequented by many animals including Bullbull- our friendly elephant and unofficial head gardener, Overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Adere Safari Lodge | Apoka Safari Lodge
Midrange: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Best Budget: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 7: Safari to Kidepo Valley National Park
After an early breakfast, go for a morning game drive to Kanangorok Hot Springs. A variety of animals can be seen roaming around including Ostrich. In the afternoon have a cultural experience that will bring you into contact with the Karamojong people at Karenga. Meet the local elders and have an opportunity to interact with them. They will show you the kraals, the grinding stones, and many more interesting items.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Adere Safari Lodge | Apoka Safari Lodge
Midrange: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Best Budget: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
This morning we shall be departing to another of Uganda’s most popular safari parks, Murchison Falls National Park. If you are able to depart from the lodge before 7 am, we could probably attempt a game drive on our way out of the park.
The journey today is not less than 7 hours of driving via some of the most beautiful sceneries in Africa. This route also gives you an opportunity to enjoy the scenery of Labor Hills and in particular the massive and bare Alerek (Kidi Rwot) rock about 55 km from Kotido.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Baker’s Lodge | Paraa Safari Lodge | Nile Safari Lodge
Midrange: Fort Murchison Lodge | Murchison River Lodge | Pakuba Lodge | Elephant View Lodge
Best Budget: Fort Murchison Lodge | Murchison River Lodge | Red Chilli Rest Camp
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 9: Game drives, Boat trips, and wildlife safaris
Your driver shall be waiting for you at the lodge front desk at 6:3o AM for an adventurous and exciting half-day of game drives in the northern side of Murchison Falls National Park. If you are on the southern side of the River Nile, you will be crossing with the ferry for your game drive activities. The game drives could go on until about 11 AM or so. There is just so much to cover and the tracks are so rich with wildlife and fascinating birdlife.
We will drive back to the lodge for lunch before taking an afternoon boat cruise to the foot of Murchison Falls. This boat trip along the Nile is often cited as being the highlight of a trip to Murchison since it allows you to get up close and personal with the animals. Along this stretch of the river, there are reported to be around 4,000 hippos in addition to some enormous Nile crocodiles.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Baker’s Lodge | Paraa Safari Lodge | Nile Safari Lodge
Midrange: Fort Murchison Lodge | Murchison River Lodge | Pakuba Lodge | Elephant View Lodge
Best Budget: Fort Murchison Lodge | Murchison River Lodge | Red Chili Rest Camp
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 10: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After morning breakfast, Visit the Mubaku Community, return to the lodge, and drive to Kibale Forest National Park. The journey today is about 4 hours of driving and goes along the Lake Albert escarpment, having a good view of the lake among other interesting rift valley scenery.
Accommodation:
Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge
Luxury: Primate Lodge Kibale | Crater Safari Lodge | Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge
Midrange: Isunga Lodge| Kibale Forest Camp
Best Budget: Tents at Kibale Forest Camp | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 11: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
After morning breakfast, later we drive to the briefing point before you embark into the capital of primates
Chimpanzees are man’s closest cousins though they are one of the most threatened primate species. More primates like black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, pottos, and many bird species like the yellow-spotted nicator, rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, green breasted pitta, the crowned eagle, black bee-eater and mammals like elephants can be seen in this walk.
Typically, we locate the chimps by listening to their pant-hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling. We get to observe them as they
feed in fruiting trees, lounge, socialize with each other, or even, occasionally hunt.
In the afternoon we visit a nearby forest swamp that is excellent for viewing primates and other forest animals. At the eastern edge of Kibale Forest is Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is maintained by the local community. You will expect birds like the great blue turaco, blue monkeys, baboons, otters, mongoose, bushbucks, bush pigs, and among others.
Accommodation:
Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge
Luxury: Primate Lodge Kibale | Crater Safari Lodge | Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge
Midrange: Isunga Lodge| Kibale Forest Camp
Best Budget: Tents at Kibale Forest Camp | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 12: Tour Fort Portal, Crater Lakes, Amabeere ga Nyinamwiru Caves & Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will visit the Amabere caves in the Nyakasura area. This is the traditional home of the Bachwezi who were believed to be demi-gods. This area still has the history of the Bachwezi that helps one in understanding the life they lived while still on earth (they later disappeared). You will then take a nature walk to the crater lakes whose history is associated with the mysterious Bachwezi.
We incorporate some crater lake hikes into this program. You will be simply amazed by the beauty of these ancient and not ancient crater lakes found in the Fort Portal area.
After you have witnessed all these amazing landscapes, you will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Ihamba Safari Lodge| Enganzi Lodge | Bush Lodge
Best Budget: Bush Lodge | Pumba Cottages
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 13: Game drives and Kazinga Boat Cruise on Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park Plan
After breakfast, we depart to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is dominated on its northern border by the snow-capped 16,000-foot Rwenzori Mountains – the famed “Mountains of the Moon”. This 767-square-mile conservation area is bordered on the northeast by Lake George and on the southwest by Lake Edward; its western border adjoins the Congo Parc du Virunga.
As we drive through the park, expect to spot teeming herds of impala-like Uganda kob, as well as topi, elephant, and Cape buffalo. There are also several soda lakes filling ancient volcanic calderas where flamingos reside seasonally.
The highlight for most visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park is the 2-3 hours boat trip on Kazinga Channel. The boat trip is best done in the hot hours of the day when most wildlife come out of their hideouts to quench their thirst with the fresh channel waters. All along the 40km channel tourists are able to view the wildlife in their numbers at closer counters. From large schools of hippopotamus huffing just a few feet from your boat to herds of cape buffalo lingering in the shallows, to lions watching out for the careless prey watering along the channel shores. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink-backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle-billed storks, and many others.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Ihamba Safari Lodge| Enganzi Lodge | Bush Lodge
Best Budget: Bush Lodge | Pumba Cottages
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 14: Queen Elizabeth National Park & Maramagambo Forest Bush Walk
We shall be entering the forest with a local guide. Maramagambo forest is especially rich with primates like wild unhabituated chimpanzees, olive baboons, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Blue
Monkeys, and the Black and White Colobus Monkeys. If you have lucky today, you might spot the forest’s shy residents, the pottos, and bushbabies (most easily seen at night though).
The 584 km sq. km forest is also home to 414 species of trees and 378 species of birds. It is a primarily Parinari and Cynometra-Celtis medium altitude moist forest. In total, there are 12 wildlife species found nowhere else in Uganda (9 butterflies, 1 small mammal, and 2 trees) and 10 species endemics to the Albertine Rift (4 trees, 3 birds, and 4 butterflies).
Later in the afternoon, we shall be continuing with our drive to the Ishasha Sector. We shall be proceeding along the deep and wide dry craters that are occupied by savanna grasses and acacia. The drive takes you through the unique western rift valley escarpment and the (southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park) Ishasha sector.
Accommodation
Luxury: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Mid-range: Enjojo Lodge
Budget: Enjojo Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 15: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Before departing to Bwindi, we shall spend our morning on the game drive tracks of the Ishasha Sector of any visible wildlife. Be on the lookout for the famous tree-climbing lions, but also the large herds of elephants, and other big mammals.
After the game drives, we embark on our drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda’s home to the rare mountain gorillas plus 10 other primate species including the blue and red-tailed monkeys. The forest itself is lush and green and there are streams running through it. Depending on the location of the gorilla group you shall be tracking in Bwindi, the drive can be between 3-6 hours on mostly unsurfaced dirt roads.
Accommodation
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge | Mahogany Springs Lodge | Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge | Chameleon Hill Lodge or Gorilla Safari Lodge
Moderate: Engagi Lodge | Gorilla Mist Camp | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Best Budget: Rushaga Gorillas Lodge | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 16: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip – gorilla trekking, which may last the entire day.
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It’s difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2 to 8 hours. Expect to walk long distances in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, the time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.
Accommodation
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge | Mahogany Springs Lodge | Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge | Chameleon Hill Lodge or Gorilla Safari Lodge
Midrange: Engagi Lodge | Gorilla Mist Camp | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Best Budget: Rushaga Gorillas Lodge | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 17: Drive from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi
After having breakfast, we shall take a scenic drive to Kabale taking you through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with a terraced landscape where you can relax and enjoy some reflection time. With its freshwater, bilharzia-free, and beautiful landscapes, Lake Bunyonyi is a small paradise for travellers.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Bird Nest | Arcadia Cottages
Midrange: Bird Nest | Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Best Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
The 370 square kilometre Lake Mburo is home to 350 bird species as well as zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck. Lake Mburo National Park is mostly acacia woodland and
for sure you shall be able to see many acacia-related bird species hard to see anywhere in Uganda
Upon arrival in the park, you will go for the game drive before retreating to your accommodation for overnight and dinner.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge | Mantana Tented Camp
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock Lodge | Arcadia Cottages
Best Budget: Eagles Nest | Leopards Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 19: Game Drive in Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, you will go for the last game drive within the park to search for the early risers and also look out for animals that you missed out in the previous game drive. Evening optional horseback ride.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge | Mantana Tented Camp
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock Lodge | Arcadia Cottages
Best Budget: Eagles Nest | Leopards Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 20: Transfer to the Airport
Morning Breakfast, transfer back to Entebbe with a stopover at the Equator for lunch and photographs; Reach Entebbe in the evening and proceed to check in for your international flight back home.
“END OF YOUR SAFARI & OUR SERVICES”
