
The 21 days Uganda safari tour is a is 20nights/21days Uganda tour adventure and a comprehensive package that gives you an all-around adventure safari in Uganda. The 21 days Uganda safari takes you through the adventures of the River Nile in Jinja including white water rafting, bungee jumping, scenic views of the source of the Nile and Sipi falls, climbing Elgon mountain in Mount Elgon National Park, with the largest mountain caldera in the whole world. You shall traverse Kidepo National Park with its virgin wilderness where species like cheetah, Kavirondo bush baby dwell as endemics, Murchison Falls National Park with its relaxing Nile launch cruise, powerful Murchison falls and rich wild game like giraffe, elephant, buffalo, hartebeest among others, Kibale National Park with its enormous counts of habituated Chimpanzees for chimp trekking. You will visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for amazing game drives and the famous Kazinga channel boat trip plus tree climbing lions of Ishasha, then enjoy gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After gorilla trekking, you will go and relax on a refreshing boat trip on the lake of a thousand islands – Lake Bunyonyi and later transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for more game viewing and horseback riding safaris.
The 21 days Uganda safari tour is a blend of wildlife, scenery, adventure, culture, chimpanzees, and gorillas which derives ultimate safari memories.
You will wake up early for breakfast at your place of stay after which you will be transferred by your guide to Jinja 80km about 1-2 hours’ drive from Kampala. Upon reaching Jinja – the adventure town of Uganda, you will enroll yourself for the white water rafting experience that will see you contain the strength of waters of the Nile as they splash through the rapids. You will also participate in the bungee jumping that will see you fall from the cliff to touch on the waters of the Nile 140ft below – one of the active adventures you will ever have. The relaxing boat cruise to the source of the Nile will take you to the point where John Speke, the first European to see the source of the world’s longest river stood. You will see the Nile starting it 90 days journey to the Mediterranean Sea. Retreat for overnight in Jinja town.
Accommodation: Jinja Nile resort (Upmarket/luxury), Kingfisher Hotel (Mid-range/standard) or Sunset Hotel (Budget/Basic).
After breakfast, transfer to Mount Elgon 175km from Jinja. You will pass through amazing landscapes of the east, rice fields, and sugarcane plantations before arriving in Mbale for Lunch. After lunch you will visit the Sipi falls where you will marvel at this magnificent natural feature as it flows down the slopes of rugged rocks that adjoin the Elgon Mountain. It is a rewarding scenic view to encounter while on Uganda safari.
Accommodation: Mbale Resort Hotel (Upmarket/luxury), Sipi River Lodge (Mid-range/standard) or Sipi falls Resort (Budget/Basic).
After an early breakfast, you will set off for the adventurous Mount Elgon climbing. You will take the shortest Sasa trail which takes four days. The climb starts at Budadiri where you will follow a direct route to the Wagagai peak. The journey passes through the lovely Bamboo vegetation and Jackson’s pool before summiting the Wagagai peak. Being a direct route, it involves a relative stiff climb of 1,600m during the first day of your journey. The summit offers views of the largest mountain caldera in the world. The experience is quite rewarding.
After a relaxed breakfast, transfer to Kidepo National Park 505km from Mbale passing through the scenic landscapes of Sironko and Mount Moroto before arriving in Kidepo in the afternoon for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Apoka Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Nga’ moru Wilderness (Mid-range/standard) or Apoka rest Camp (Budget/Basic).
Wake for an early morning breakfast, and then set off for a game drive to encounter early risers and predators before they disappear from sight. Have the opportunity to view real African game including; lions, elephants, giraffes, eland, oribi, Zebra, cheetah among others though not wholesomely guaranteed as they are wild animals alongside a number of bird species like Ostrich and other endemics. Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. Take a community walk through the Karamajong villages in the afternoon.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
This day is designed to help you encounter the indigenous Karamojongs who dwell in the slopes of the Morungole Mountains. You will spend much of your day hiking outside the park, viewing the amazing landscapes of the northeastern corner of Uganda franked by the cross border landscapes of Kenya and South Sudan. The day is a perfect off the beaten track adventure and will enrich your experience on how people have managed to thrive in this semi-arid climate for centuries past without even modern irrigation practices.
Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, transfer on the surface drive to Murchison falls National Park passing through the flat open grasslands of northern Uganda as you wonder over the traditional homesteads and their architecture that lie scattered in a vast landscape. The remains of the LRA rebel activities still stand as you will see the once flourishing trading centers now standing in ruins. Arrive in Murchison falls in the afternoon for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury) Murchison River Lodge (Mid-range/Budget) or Red Chili Rest Camp (Budget/Basic).
Wake up very early for a cup of coffee and then head to Paraa ferry crossing at 7:00 am to the northern sector of the Park where game drives are carried out. The possible sights of various wildlife including; elephants, buffalo, Jackson hartebeest, Kobs, lion, leopard, giraffe among other wildlife will leave you with a taste of African Savannah wilderness. The activity takes 3 – 4 hours after which you will return to the Paraa ferry crossing at 11:00 am to go back to your lodge for relaxation and memory sharing. After your stimulating lunch, gather at the Paraa for an after boat cruise on the Nile at 02:00 pm. This boat trip has got captains and guides who have cruised on these waters for years and will be glad to share with you every piece of information that you would wish to gather on this trip including any bird species and wildlife both aquatic and land that might present its self. The shoe-bill stork can be luckily seen on this boat while the great sights of Nile crocodiles – the second largest reptile in the world and the Hippos would make your trip up to the base of the falls. The boat takes 3 hours after which you will have marked the end of your day’s adventures.
Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous lodge.
After a relaxed breakfast, hike the top of the falls for amazing scenic views of the falls. The Nile River squeezes itself the 8m ravine before falling the 43m below the devils cauldron. It is regarded as one of the unique features to ever happen on the Nile. It is an amazing encounter to enrich your memories and take countless photos. You can opt to have picnic lunch at this site after which you will transfer to Hoima overnight.
Accommodation: Hoima Resort Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Tresek Hotel (Budget/Basic).
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kibale National Park where you will pass through the amazing landscapes of the Ruwenzori Mountains and the western rift valley. You will arrive in Kibale National Park in the afternoon. After a short relaxation, you can embark on a hike to the top of the world to gain amazing scenic views of the Ndali – Kasenda crater area.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Chimpanzee guest house (Mid-range/standard) or Kibale Forest Camp (Budget/standard).
After taking heavy early breakfast, you will gather at Kanyanchu Tourism Center at 06:00 am to set off for the full day Chimpanzee habituation experience. Unlike Chimpanzee trekking which involves one hour encounter with chimps, the chimpanzee habituation takes a full day as you will have chances of seeing chimps as they get out of their nests, setting out to feed, watch their social moments, playful tactics, and their amazing sounds until they form new nests in the evening for overnight. It is a comprehensive Chimpanzee encounter that you can have while on safari in Uganda.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 144km about 4 hours’ drive from Kibale. The journey offers the scenic views of the magical Mountains of the moon that stand high up in the clouds at an elevation of 5,109m above sea level towards the west. You will arrive in Queen Elizabeth National park early for lunch after which you will embark on the visit to Salt Lake in the afternoon. You will enjoy the process of salt extraction and see how the communities around have developed a livelihood centered on salt mining.
Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi lodge (Mid-range/standard) or Simba safari camp (Budget/basic).
Wake up very for a cup of coffee before setting off for the game drive activity in the Savannah game park of Queen Elizabeth. The early departure at 06:00 gives you an opportunity to see night hunters like hyenas getting back to their hiding places and early risers setting off to look for what to eat. The drive through the Kasenyi tracks gives a probable opportunity to see a range of game including; Lions, buffalo, elephants, elusive leopard (if too lucky), antelopes among other wildlife. Return to the lodge after this 3 -4 hour game drive and relax till lunchtime. After lunch, you will gather at Mweya for a recreational afternoon launch cruise leaving at 03:00 pm taking 2 hours to explore the magical offerings of Kazinga Channel including the sights of water birds and wild game drinking on the channel side, the Nile crocodile and the Hippos. The 45m channel that stretches from Lake George to Lake Edward has tranquil waters that always give pleasure and psychological satisfaction to any traveler on Uganda safaris. Retire from the boat at 5 pm for overnight.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to the gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi 160km about 5 hours’ drive from Mweya. You will pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you have chances of spotting tree climbing lions lying on tree branches in the mid-morning warm sunshine. Proceed to Bwindi in the afternoon and check to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp (Upmarket/Luxury), Engagi lodge (Mid-range/standard) or Bwindi View Bandas (Budget/Basic)
It is this long waited for date when you will come across the critically endangered mountain gorillas that only exist in Bwindi and Virunga Volcanoes. You will wake up early for a heavy breakfast before gathering at the Park headquarters Buhoma for briefing at 08:00 about the conduct of gorilla trekking. You will head to the forest after briefing in search of these apes and though the trek is a bit challenging, it is one of those activities that you will never forget to have done in Uganda. The 2 – 8 hours activity involves hiking up the hills, descending down the valleys, walking through swamps, and maneuvering the way through thickets that have formed the background of this Impenetrable forest before coming in direct contact with gorillas. The one full hour is at your disposal to maximize your experience with gorillas as you they forage, play, socialize, and also gaze at you in a sign of welcoming and saying goodbye. The experience is a rewarding and worthy undertaking. Your picnic lunch will take you through the activity after which you will descend to the starting point and embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi 122km about 3 hours’ drive. You will arrive in the evening for overnight.
Accommodation: Birdnest@Lake Bunyonyi resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Mid-range/standard) or Byoona Amagara (Budget/Basic).
Dubbed the lake of a thousand islands, Lake Bunyonyi has a range of islands stretching up to 29 in number and can all be explored on a 5 – 6 hours boat ride while on this safari in Uganda. The Lake Bunyonyi encounter is designed to maximize your relaxation and is entirely recreational which will allow you to recap all the memories that you have gathered on this 21 days Uganda safari. The tranquil waters of the lake and the surrounding views of Kigezi highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa combine to make this day a total complete experience. You have the opportunity to visit the local Bakiga and the Batwa to learn about the local cultures.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park 199 km from Lake Mburo. You will pass through the green hillsides of south western Uganda before making a lunch stop at Igongo cultural center 12km past Mbarara town. The relaxing meal at Kahwa Kanuzire restaurant gives you rejuvenation. You can take a short tour of the museum before proceeding for 33km to Lake Mburo National Park to catch up with the evening boat cruise. On this boat cruise, you will have chances to see birds like African fish eagle, wild game drinking on the Lakeside including buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes, aquatic animals like Hippos. The boat takes 2 hours and is very relaxing.
Accommodation: Mihingo lodge (Upmarket/ Luxury), Arcadia cottages (Mid-range/standard) or Eagles Nest (Budget/Basic).
After an early morning cup of coffee, embark on the game drive through the park tracks of Zebra, Ruroko, and Lake Side among others to gain sights of a range of wildlife including enormous numbers of Impala and zebra. Others that may be seen include; buffalo, eland, bush-buck, warthog, Topi alongside birds, and amazing Savannah landscapes.
Alternatively, Wake up early for a horseback safari in the park. Options range from ½ hour to 1hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours with picnic breakfast. You will enjoy this ride in the famous Warukiri valley in the company of well-informed guides and instructors. The horse ride safari offers you a great opportunity to draw closer to wild game than when in a safari vehicle. Animals like Buffaloes, Impala, Zebra, Bush-bucks, Topi, Eland may be seen in this activity.
Return to the lodge for short relaxation after which you will embark on the return journey to Kampala 240km about 3 – 4 hours excluding stops en route. On this journey, you make a stop at the equator to participate in the water experiments that will make you believe the dividing line between the southern and northern hemispheres. The site is also good for photography. Continue for the next 77km to arrive in Kampala city in the evening.