21 Days Expedition in Uganda – A comprehensive way to explore one of Africa’s most beautiful nation. After this 21 days Uganda safari, Uganda will be surely home.
From the rare apes – Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the south western corner, plenty of wildlife in Uganda’s most scenic places, trekking the towering Rwenzori ranges and a mix of adventure and cultural experiences.
And what more? Come and enjoy the Pearl of Africa with this massive Uganda safaris tour that includes 2 free gorilla permits.
21 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & City Tour
Welcome to Remarkable Rwanda! You’ll be met with a smile from one of our company experienced guides who will be ready to pick you up from Kigali International Airport and transfer to your pre- booked hotel in the heart of Kigali city, one of the liveliest, warm, organized and cleanest city in Africa.
Depending on your flight time, dedicate the entire morning to pay visit to the emotive Genocide Memorial Museum, located in Gisozi, Kigali. It’s a popular destination of interest for visitors who come around to learn more and pay their last tribute to the victims of this tragic genocide that befell Rwanda in 1994 and claimed over 1,000,000 lives and up to 245,000 people were buried on this site. Other sites to visit include monuments, Kigali craft market, presidential palace museum, etc. After this excursion, retire to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Mgahinga, Evening Cultural Tour
Leave Kigali city early after breakfast, and embark on a journey to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This is roughly a 6 hour drive traversing the beautiful Rwandan countryside to the ancient rain forests of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southern Uganda. On the way, admire the mountainous north -western region of Rwanda through terraced hillsides dotted with traditional settlements.
Cross to Uganda via Cyanika border and arrive at the picturesque accommodation on the outskirts of the forest in late afternoon or have an overnight in Kisoro town depending on your lodge choice. Optional activity this evening can be a visit to the Batwa people who live in the neighborhood of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Lear about their amazing traditional performances, history and their way of life. Dinner and overnight at Camp/Lodge.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Habituation Experience
After an early breakfast, dedicate half of this day and undertake it to golden monkey habituation experience within the bamboo sections of Mgahinga national park. Other than seeing these rare primates, visitors are rewarded with equally amazing views of numerous monkeys, birds, amphibians, mammals as well as plants.
The golden monkeys are some of the most endangered and elusive primate species endemic to the foothills of Virunga ranges, in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda as well as Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda.
Track until you meet them, and spend up to four hours of interaction, photography and the guide will explain their way of life, family composition and conservation status.
Unlike trekking, golden monkey habituation is more detailed and you are able to follow up on the daily activities of these species for up to four hours.
Enjoy your picnic lunch and retreat from this activity later in the late afternoon, return to the lodge for relaxation and relaxed evening.
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, Sunset Boat Cruise
Leave Mgahinga national park after a relaxed breakfast and head for Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest in Africa, and home to up to 29 islands. Drive for about 2 hours via Kigezi’s lush mountains, terraced hills and forests. Arrive at Lake Bunyonyi in the evening, ready to undertake a sunset boat cruise to explore Bunyonyi’s historical islands.
Day 5: Canoeing in the morning, Adventure experience in the afternoon
In the morning, take an adventurous sunrise canoe experience or community walk on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. This exposes you to some of the famous islands with mysterious histories as well as the resident fishermen casting their nests to capture the day’s catch. Retire after 2 hours or 3 hours, relax and prepare for the afternoon adventure.
Have lunch and immediately cross to Prime Nature’s island at supreme adventure park for an adventure like no other! Take to the skies with warrior high ropes that are divided into 3 stages, and finishing all of them brings you to a thrilling zip line that will mark the end of your adventure. After the experience, retire to the lodge in the evening.
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A delicious breakfast at a resort on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, and depart from this scenic lake and head to the Bwindi impenetrable national park. You will reach Ruhija sector, after just 1 hour drive and immediately carry out a community tour to visit the Batwa pygmies or a nature walk to explore this ancient impenetrable forest.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
On this day, wake up for early breakfast and with your trekking gear, packed lunch, bottled water and some snacks, leave the lodge and transfer to Ruhija briefing point to join other trekkers. At the briefing, you will be organized into a group of eight persons and each assigned to a specific gorilla family.
Thereafter, head to the jungles, led by an experienced gorilla tracking guide as you search for a family of mountain gorillas. Gorillas tend to prefer the deepest and most remote parts of the forest, and so one has to trek all the way to the point where they are. This trekking experience lasts between 1 hour and 8 hours, depending on how far the Mountain Gorillas have moved. Once you find them, spend one hour taking pictures/videos, and learning more about their behaviors as explained by the ranger guide. Transfer back to the lodge and spend the rest of the evening reflecting about this great adventure.
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP, Sunset Boat Cruise
After breakfast at your lodge in Bwindi, the driver guide will be ready to pick you up and begin your trip to Lake Mburo national park – Uganda’s smallest savannah park. The journey will give you opportunity to enjoy awe-inspiring views of Kigezi and Ankole rolling plains and misty covered highlands. You will have a stopover at various banana and flower plantations in Ntungamo district for memorable pictures and videos. You will continue until Igongo country hotel where you will have your lunch and then proceed to check in at your pre-booked lodge.
Day 9: Game Drive & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
In the morning, take an early game drive to explore the park’s early risers as well nocturnal returns to their shelters. A game drive in Lake Mburo national park brings you close to mammals like buffaloes, zebras, newly introduced giraffes, and primates, big cats as well as abundant bird life. Retire after 3-4 hours and begin the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP).
The drive goes westwards along the eastern lower escarpments of Rwenzori ranges, where, weather permitting, you can see the glaciated peaks. Traverse the hanging hills of Buhweju into the escarpments of the Great Rift Valley and eventually to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is located in a fertile, equatorial area with an unequalled beautiful scenery. It is Uganda’s most popular and easily accessible Savannah park that is primarily marked with grassy Savannah plains, includes within its boundaries leafy rain-forests, dense papyrus swamps and natural explosion crater lakes.
Day 10: Game Drive & Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Wakeup to an early morning game drive after breakfast, to meet the morning raisers and night nocturnal retiring to their dens. Enjoy magnificent views of herds of elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, the Uganda Kob and your guide will know best where to spot the leopard and lions, thereafter retreat for your lunch.
After lunch, head to Mweya jetty for a leisurely 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. The boat cruise takes you through probably the highest hippo concentration in Africa and many mammals may be seen drinking at the channel’s edge. Watch out for the enormous monitor lizards, as well as Nile crocodiles. The cruise offers an excellent vantage point for game viewing and photography. The bird life is colorful and abundant.
Day 11: Transfer to Mount Rwenzori, Evening Cultural Experience
After breakfast in Queen Elizabeth national park, the driver guide will transfer you to Rwenzori mountains national park located on the outskirts of Kasese town. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and relax as you wait for lunch.
In the evening embark on a cultural tour to the Bakonzo communities where you’ll enjoy their authentic music, dance and drama. You may as well have a chance to taste on their traditional cuisine which is fish and cassava flour.
Day 12: Nature Walk in Rwenzori Mountains & Transfer to Kibale Forest NP
After an early cup of tea, be briefed by the park rangers about Mt. Rwenzori hiking procedures and what to expect. A day’s nature walk at Mount Rwenzori takes you to the lower levels of the mountain and exposes you to numerous mammals, amphibians, primates and birds. The trek exposes you to a dense montane forest, three honored chameleons, leopards, olive baboons, bushbucks, blue monkeys, hyenas, and different bird species. Retire from the trek early evening and immediately transfer to Kibale forest national park for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 13: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
Morning breakfast and organize for an early chimpanzee tracking experience. This is Kibale forest’s most famous activity, as it enables visitors to come in close contact with man’s closest cousin.
Attend a short briefing at Kanyanchu visitor center led by one the park officials. You will be briefed about rules and regulations to be observed during chimp trekking.
Together with your guide, trackers and porters, walk through undulating tea plantations before penetrating into the thick lush forest.
Kibale forest is home to over 13 species of primates including chimpanzees and excellent birding opportunities, an incredible population of forest mammals, more than 100 species of butterflies and the verdant lush rain forest comprised of 100 years plus old trees.
The chimp trekking excursion can last from 1 to 5 hours but you will definitely listen to the chimp’s pant – hoots from the moment you penetrate into the forest.
Once you find a troop of chimps, you are allowed to stay with them for not more than one hour; watch them play, juggle, munching fruits and going about their daily routine.
Retreat to the lodge, or have a picnic lunch on a campsite in the forest, and relax for a while as you look forward to another great afternoon experience in Bigodi wetland. This sanctuary is home to popular bird species and numerous primates.
Famous birds sighted in this swamp that include the Great Blue Turaco and Papyrus Gonolek among other 137 species. There is also a wide array of butterflies, flowers and insects in Bigodi wetland. Later return for dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 14: Visit Sempaya Hotsprings & Fort Portal Town Tour
In the morning, transfer to Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki national park, located approx… 35 km south of Fort portal town. Take a scenic trip until you arrive at the historical hot springs.
Learn how the locals believe the hot springs were magically formed and still pay visits to the hot springs for cultural healing and rituals. Also learn about their scientific formation as explained by your site guide.
Return to Fort portal after this excursion for lunch and afternoon tour through Fort portal town.
Day 15: Transfer to Hoima, Cultural Tour & Overnight stay
Leave Kibale Forest National Park after breakfast and embark on the transfer to Hoima passing through the verdant landscapes and beautiful vista of Fort Portal. Proceed to Hoima for an early lunch and take a brief tour to Bunyoro Kingdom palace to encounter the rich traditions and heritage of the Banyoro people and their ancient culture.
Visit the Royal tombs where the Kings of Bunyoro lay in rest including the furious King Kabalega who is famously known for having fought rebellions with many kingdoms including Buganda kingdom and he ferociously resisted the British rule until he was defeated and together with Kabaka Mwanga were forced into exile. If you still have more time, you can do the Hoima town walk before you retreat for relaxation and overnight.
Day 16: Kibiro Salt Gardens Tour & Transfer to Murchison Falls NP
Embark on a half day drive north wards to the magnificent Murchison falls National Park. The transfer takes you through verdant countryside and past traditional home steads and farms.
Just 20 minutes from Hoima town, is the historic Kibiro salt gardens – a place which is known to be Uganda’s former main salt mines, known from way back in 18th century.
Explore how the locals still make a living from this mine, and learn about different traditional ways of processing salt.
Murchison falls National Park is an ancient conservation area that sits astride the world’s longest river, River Nile. You will bypass the escarpments of the western rift valley, the scenic Lake Albert, many tea plantations and you may stop at any of them for numerous photo opportunities.
Day 17: Game Drive & Boat Cruise
After an early morning breakfast, you will set off for a game drive around the park. And here you will be able to view many attractions such as buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeests, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, elephants among others.
Numerous bird species can be sighted as well during a morning game drive, such as Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Black-headed Gonolek, Black-billed Barbet, Piapiac, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Silver bird, African Quail-Finch and Speckle-fronted Weaver among others.
You will be transferred to the lodge for lunch and at 2pm be ready at the Paraa jetty to begin your luxurious boat trip to the bottom of the thunderous Murchison falls.
A boat cruise along Victoria Nile presents a myriad of water animals such as hippos, crocodiles among others. Mammals such as buffaloes, elephants, and numerous antelopes as they come around the shores of the river to quench their thirst.
Later in the evening you will be driven back to the lodge for dinner.
Day 18: Hot Air Balloon Safari & Afternoon Nature Walk in Budongo Forest
Undertake an early morning hot air balloon ride that begins as early as 6:00am. This balloon ride offers 360 degrees of the entire wilderness action in the park, presents magical scenic views, and a thrilling bush breakfast at the end of the ride.
After a balloon ride, cross with the ferry and drive for about 2 hours to the southern side of Murchison falls National Park. Arrive at Budongo Eco lodge for lunch and in the afternoon undertake a nature walk experience to explore the secrets of East Africa’s largest forest. Overnight in Budongo forest.
Day 19: Transfer to Kampala Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
This morning, depart Murchison falls National Park via Kachumbanyobo gate. Proceed to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a two-hour drive from Murchison falls national park, along the Masindi – Kampala highway.
While you track the rhinos, look out for bushbuck, leopard, Uganda kob, oribi and several other wildlife that is present on the ranch.
The sanctuary has abundant bird life, including the elusive shoebill stork that can be sighted on a canoe in Lugogo wetlands. Retire from the Rhino tracking excursion, have lunch at Amuka lodge or Ziwa visitor’s camp. Continue on a drive to Uganda’s capital Kampala or Entebbe and overnight at the lodge.
Day 20: Whole day city tour
Have breakfast at 8:00 am then head for a city tour where you will visit the historical hills of Kampala and other spots including religious places such as Rubaga cathedral, Namirembe cathedral and Namugongo martyrs shrine and Gadhafi national mosque.
Head to Kabaka’s palace in Mengo where you will learn more about different traditions of the famous Buganda kingdom as well as the Baganda people.
Finish the tour with a visit to the ancient Bahai temple and Uganda museum all situated a top Kampala’s oldest and tallest hills, offering you up to 360 degree views of the entire city. After Kampala city tour, drive through to Entebbe for overnight stay.
Day 21: Entebbe Tour & Departure
Have a relaxed breakfast, take a short walk in Entebbe town, visit the UWEC (Uganda wildlife education center), Entebbe Botanical gardens for birding and nature walks, and etc. Depending on your flight time, you catch a departure flight, marking the end of your 21 days Uganda Safari.
21 days grand Uganda expedition.