A comprehensive way to explore one of Africa’s most beautiful nations. After this 21-Day Uganda Expedition, Uganda will surely feel like home.
From the rare apes – Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the southwestern 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 grand Uganda safaris tour that includes 2 free gorilla permits.
21-Day Uganda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & City Tour
- Day 2: Transfer to Mgahinga, Evening Cultural Tour
- Day 3: Golden Monkey Habituation Experience
- Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, Sunset Boat Cruise
- Day 5: Morning Canoeing, Afternoon Adventure Experience
- Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
- Day 8: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP, Sunset Boat Cruise
- Day 9: Game Drive & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
- Day 10: Game Drive & Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Day 11: Transfer to Mount Rwenzori, Evening Cultural Experience
- Day 12: Nature Walk in Rwenzori Mountains & Transfer to Kibale Forest NP
- Day 13: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
- Day 14: Visit Sempaya Hot Springs & Fort Portal Town Tour
- Day 15: Transfer to Hoima, Cultural Tour & Overnight Stay
- Day 16: Kibiro Salt Gardens Tour & Transfer to Murchison Falls NP
- Day 17: Game Drive & Boat Cruise
- Day 18: Hot Air Balloon Safari & Afternoon Nature Walk in Budongo Forest
- Day 19: Transfer to Kampala via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 20: Whole Day City Tour
- Day 21: Entebbe Tour & Departure
Detailed 21-Day Uganda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & City Tour
Welcome to Remarkable Rwanda! You’ll be greeted with a smile by one of our experienced guides who will pick you up from Kigali International Airport and transfer you to your pre-booked hotel in the heart of Kigali city, one of the liveliest, warmest, most organized, and cleanest cities in Africa.
Depending on your flight time, spend the morning visiting the emotive Genocide Memorial Museum in Gisozi, Kigali.
It’s a popular destination for visitors who come to learn and pay tribute to the victims of the tragic genocide that struck Rwanda in 1994, claiming over 1,000,000 lives, with up to 245,000 people 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 an 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 through the beautiful Rwandan countryside to the ancient rainforests of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southern Uganda.
En route, admire the mountainous northwestern region of Rwanda with terraced hillsides dotted with traditional settlements.
Cross into Uganda via the Cyanika border and arrive at your picturesque accommodation on the outskirts of the forest in the late afternoon or opt for an overnight stay in Kisoro town, depending on your lodge choice.
An optional activity this evening can be a visit to the Batwa people who live near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Learn about their amazing traditional performances, history, and way of life. Dinner and overnight at Camp/Lodge.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Habituation Experience
After an early breakfast, dedicate half of this day to the golden monkey habituation experience within the bamboo sections of Mgahinga National Park.
Besides seeing these rare primates, visitors are rewarded with equally amazing views of numerous monkeys, birds, amphibians, mammals, and plants.
Golden monkeys are some of the most endangered and elusive primate species endemic to the foothills of the Virunga ranges, found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Track until you find them and spend up to four hours interacting, photographing, and learning from your guide about their way of life, family composition, and conservation status.
Unlike trekking, golden monkey habituation is more detailed, allowing you to follow the daily activities of these species for up to four hours.
Enjoy a picnic lunch and retreat from this activity later in the afternoon. Return to the lodge for relaxation and a leisurely 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 the second deepest in Africa, home to up to 29 islands.
Drive for about 2 hours through Kigezi’s lush mountains, terraced hills, and forests. Arrive at Lake Bunyonyi in the evening, ready for a sunset boat cruise to explore Bunyonyi’s historical islands.
Day 5: Morning Canoeing, Afternoon Adventure Experience
In the morning, enjoy an adventurous sunrise canoe experience or a community walk on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. This exposes you to some of the famous islands with mysterious histories, as well as resident fishermen casting their nets to capture the day’s catch. After 2 or 3 hours, relax and prepare for the afternoon adventure.
Have lunch and head to Prime Nature’s island at Supreme Adventure Park for an adventure like no other! Take to the skies with Warrior High Ropes, divided into 3 stages.
Completing them leads to a thrilling zip line that marks the end of your adventure. After the experience, retire to the lodge in the evening.
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at a resort on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, then depart from this scenic lake and head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Reach the Ruhija sector after just a 1-hour drive and immediately embark on a community tour to visit the Batwa pygmies or take a nature walk to explore this ancient impenetrable forest.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Wake up early for breakfast and, equipped with your trekking gear, packed lunch, bottled water, and snacks, leave the lodge and transfer to the Ruhija briefing point to join other trekkers. At the briefing, you will be organized into groups of eight and assigned to specific gorilla families.
Then head into the jungle, led by an experienced gorilla tracking guide, in search of a family of mountain gorillas. Gorillas prefer the deepest and most remote parts of the forest, so expect a trek that lasts between 1 hour and 8 hours, depending on their location.
Once you find them, spend an hour photographing and observing their behaviors as explained by the ranger guide.
Transfer back to the lodge and spend the evening reflecting on this great adventure.
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP, Sunset Boat Cruise
After breakfast at your lodge in Bwindi, your driver guide will pick you up to start your trip to Lake Mburo National Park – Uganda’s smallest savannah park. Enjoy awe-inspiring views of Kigezi and Ankole rolling plains and mist-covered highlands along the way.
Stop at various banana and flower plantations in Ntungamo district for memorable photos and videos. Continue until Igongo Country Hotel, where you will have lunch, 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 wildlife. A game drive in Lake Mburo National Park brings you close to mammals like buffaloes, zebras, newly introduced giraffes, primates, big cats, and abundant bird life. After 3-4 hours, begin the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP).
Drive westward along the eastern lower escarpments of Rwenzori ranges, where, weather permitting, you can see the glaciated peaks.
Traverse the hills of Buhweju into the escarpments of the Great Rift Valley and eventually reach Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park is located in a fertile, equatorial area with stunning scenery. It is Uganda’s most popular and easily accessible Savannah park, primarily marked by grassy plains, leafy rainforests, dense papyrus swamps, and natural explosion crater lakes.
Day 10: Game Drive & Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Wake up early for a morning game drive after breakfast to see the park’s early risers and nocturnal animals returning to their shelters. Enjoy magnificent views of herds of elephants, bushbucks, warthogs, Uganda Kob, and let your guide lead you to spots where leopards and lions may be spotted. Retreat for 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 concentration of hippos in Africa, with many other mammals drinking at the channel’s edge.
Look out for large monitor lizards and Nile crocodiles. The cruise offers an excellent opportunity 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, your driver guide will transfer you to Rwenzori Mountains National Park, located on the outskirts of Kasese town. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and relax while awaiting lunch.
In the evening, embark on a cultural tour of the Bakonzo communities, where you’ll enjoy authentic music, dance, and drama. You may also have a chance to taste their traditional cuisine, which includes 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 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 leads through dense montane forests, where you may spot chameleons, leopards, olive baboons, bushbucks, blue monkeys, hyenas, and various bird species.
Retire from the trek in the early evening and immediately transfer to Kibale Forest National Park for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 13: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
Enjoy breakfast in the morning and prepare for an early chimpanzee tracking experience. This is Kibale Forest’s most popular activity, allowing visitors to get up close with man’s closest cousin.
Attend a briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Center led by park officials. You will be briefed on the rules and regulations to be observed during chimp trekking.
Together with your guide, trackers, and porters, walk through undulating tea plantations before entering the lush forest.
Kibale Forest is home to over 13 species of primates, including chimpanzees, and offers excellent birding opportunities with an incredible population of forest mammals, over 100 species of butterflies, and a lush rainforest with trees over 100 years old.
Chimp trekking can last from 1 to 5 hours, during which you will likely hear the chimps’ pant-hoots from the moment you enter the forest.
Once you find a troop of chimps, you are allowed to spend up to one hour watching them play, munch on fruits, and go about their daily routines.
Return to the lodge for lunch or have a picnic in the forest campsite, then relax as you look forward to another great afternoon experience in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This sanctuary is home to popular bird species and numerous primates.
Famous birds sighted in this swamp include the Great Blue Turaco and Papyrus Gonolek, among 137 other species. There is also a wide array of butterflies, flowers, and insects in Bigodi Wetland. Return later for dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 14: Visit Sempaya Hot Springs & Fort Portal Town Tour
In the morning, travel to Sempaya Hot Springs in Semuliki National Park, located approximately 35 km south of Fort Portal town. Enjoy a scenic trip until you arrive at the historical hot springs.
Learn about the local beliefs regarding the magical formation of the hot springs and witness cultural healing and rituals performed at the springs. Also, learn about their scientific formation as explained by your site guide.
Return to Fort Portal after this excursion for lunch and an afternoon tour of Fort Portal town.
Day 15: Transfer to Hoima, Cultural Tour & Overnight Stay
Leave Kibale Forest National Park after breakfast and embark on the journey to Hoima, passing through verdant landscapes and the beautiful vista of Fort Portal. Proceed to Hoima for an early lunch and take a brief tour of Bunyoro Kingdom palace to experience the rich traditions and heritage of the Banyoro people and their ancient culture.
Visit the Royal tombs where the Kings of Bunyoro rest, including the fierce King Kabalega, known for his resistance to British rule. If time allows, take a walk around Hoima town before retiring for relaxation and an overnight stay.
Day 16: Kibiro Salt Gardens Tour & Transfer to Murchison Falls NP
Embark on a half-day drive northward to the magnificent Murchison Falls National Park. The journey takes you through verdant countryside, past traditional homesteads, and farms.
Just 20 minutes from Hoima town, visit the historic Kibiro Salt Gardens – Uganda’s former main salt mines, dating back to the 18th century.
Explore how locals still make a living from this mine and learn about the traditional methods of processing salt.
Murchison Falls National Park is an ancient conservation area straddling the world’s longest river, the River Nile. You will pass by the western rift valley escarpments, scenic Lake Albert, and numerous tea plantations, stopping for photos.
Day 17: Game Drive & Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, set off for a game drive around the park. Here, you can view many attractions such as buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeests, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, elephants, among others.
During a morning game drive, numerous bird species can also be sighted, 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.
Return to the lodge for lunch and at 2 pm, be ready at the Paraa jetty to start a luxurious boat trip to the base of the thunderous Murchison Falls.
A boat cruise along Victoria Nile presents myriad water animals such as hippos, crocodiles, and many mammals drinking from the river’s shores. Look out for large monitor lizards and Nile crocodiles. The cruise offers an excellent vantage point for game viewing and photography. The bird life is colorful and abundant.
Later in the evening, return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 18: Hot Air Balloon Safari & Afternoon Nature Walk in Budongo Forest
Embark on an early morning hot air balloon ride, starting as early as 6:00 am. This balloon ride offers 360-degree views of the entire wilderness of the park, presents magical scenic views, and includes a thrilling bush breakfast at the end of the ride.
After the 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, enjoy a nature walk 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 tracking the rhinos, watch for bushbuck, leopard, Uganda kob, oribi, and other wildlife present on the ranch.
The sanctuary is abundant with bird life, including the elusive shoebill stork that can sometimes be seen by canoe in Lugogo wetlands. After the Rhino tracking excursion, have lunch at Amuka Lodge or Ziwa Visitor’s Camp. Continue driving to Uganda’s capital Kampala or Entebbe for an overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 20: Whole Day City Tour
Have breakfast at 8:00 am, then head for a city tour visiting the historical hills of Kampala and other spots, including religious places such as Rubaga Cathedral, Namirembe Cathedral, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, and Gadhafi National Mosque.
Visit Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo to learn more about the traditions of the famous Buganda Kingdom and the Baganda people.
Finish the tour with a visit to the ancient Bahai Temple and Uganda Museum, all situated atop Kampala’s oldest and tallest hills, offering 360-degree views of the entire city.
After the Kampala city tour, drive through to Entebbe for an overnight stay.
Day 21: Entebbe Tour & Departure
Enjoy 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, etc.
Depending on your flight time, catch your departure flight, marking the end of your 21-Day Uganda Expedition.
End of 21-Day Uganda Expedition.
