20 days Uganda safari is one of the best long tour packages that comes with blend of wildlife, primate adventures and relaxation experiences in Uganda, The Pearl of Africa-East Africa. This is a long 19 nights, 20 days Uganda holiday trip taking you through unforgettable game viewing experience in the country’s top savanna safari parks. This extensive trip package also covers mountain gorilla trekking, bird watching, cultural/community experiences, white water rafting experiences, volcano climbing, chimpanzee tracking & canoeing experience on Lake Bunyonyi.
Your 20 days Uganda safari holiday will focus on top destinations in Uganda including Kidepo Valley National Park, Sipi Falls, Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi & Mgahinga Gorilla N/Park. This long Uganda expedition will begin and end in Entebbe/Kampala.
Safari in details.
Day 1: Upon arrival, drive from Entebbe Airport Uganda to the hotel in Kampala.
Land in at Entebbe International Airport (EBB) – the main gateway to Uganda. Find your driver guide for briefing and pick up from Entebbe to a hotel in Kampala Capital City to retire for the night.
Day 2: Jinja expedition – White water rafting.
Have a hefty breakfast and later, transfer to Jinja 80kms from Kampala for your white-water rafting adventure at the Source of the River Nile. Before getting to Jinja, you will have en-route stop visit at Ssezibwa Falls.
Reach Jinja early and enjoy lunch, rest then you go experience the Source of the Nile while on white-water rafting. Retreat from your challenging water sport to relax and spend a night at a lodge or hotel in Jinja.
Day 3: Jinja City to Sipi Falls – hike to the triple falls.
Enjoyable breakfast early and after, vacate Jinja for Sipi Falls-about 4 to 5 hours’ drive to Eastern Uganda. Enjoy the amazing landscape of Eastern Uganda characterized by papyrus swamps, wetlands and have lunch at the lodge around Sipi Area. Later in the afternoon, expect a thrilling trek to the Triple Sipi Falls, experience their impressive sceneries, take pictures then return to chill at your lodge or hotel.
Day 4: From Sipi Falls to Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP).
A cup of tea/coffee early morning and after, connect to Kidepo Valley National Park in the Karamoja region, North-eastern Uganda.
Before accessing Kidepo, a game drive will be done through the Savanna Plains of Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve to see elands, Cape buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, dik-diks and birds. Return and proceed to your lodge in Kidepo N/Park.
Day 5: Game drive along the Kidepo Savanna Plains & cultural experience.
Breakfast early and then you vacate your room for a memorable game drive via the beautiful Kidepo Savanna Plains taking you 2-4 hours. Your exposure along the magical Kidepo savannas will include countless species of wildlife ranging from lions, buffaloes, elephants, side-striped jackals, Burchell’s zebras, bush duikers, elands, Rothschild giraffes, leopards, hartebeests, reedbucks, waterbucks, warthogs and birds. Proceed via the Narus Valleys as you look out for more species of animals, extensive scenic river with possibility to spot the ostriches.
Return from Kidepo Savannas to have lunch and relaxation. Later go explore and experience the unique cultures, traditional performances and practices of the Karamojong. After you have had the best of African cultural experience, return to retire in the lodge.
Day 6: Trek to Mt. Morungole & interact with the IK people.
After breakfast, begin your trek to Mt. Morungole early morning. Your mountain hike to the summits of Morungole Mountain combines hiking and cultural experience in IK community. Besides, you have excellent view of Kidepo’s unique landscape featuring series of mountains and hills. Return from Mt. Morungole summits to retire at the lodge.
Day 7: Kidepo to Murchison Falls N/Park-North-western Circuit.
Set off to Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) in the Northwest after breakfast in Kidepo N/Park. Check into the lodge upon early arrival in the North-western circuit-MFNP.
Day 8: Game drive-along the Northern savanna stretches of MFNP & boat trip.
Vacate your comfortable lodge after a tasty cup of tea/coffee and go enjoy 2-4 hours’ game viewing tour. Your early morning game drive takes along Murchison’s savannas in the Northern section for you to see impressive species of animals such as cape buffaloes, bush elephants, lions, warthogs, Rothchild giraffes, oribis, Kobs, hartebeest, countless birds.
After return to the lodge for lunch while having more exciting sights of species of wildlife and distinct landscape. Gather at Paraa Jetty for 2:00pm boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls with possible exposure to hippos, basking Nile crocodiles, aquatic birds and magical Murchison Falls while at its base.
Day 9: Visit the top of Murchison Falls & depart to Hoima.
Crossover from Northern section to the southern section of Murchison after breakfast early morning. Drive to pay a visit to the top of the falls to view it squeezing itself into a narrow gorge of 8m before it falls 43m forming a powerful roar and permanent rainbow.
This will be your unforgettable experience while on 20 days Uganda safari in Murchison Falls. After photo taking, head to Hoima with en-route visit at Kibiro Salt Gardens. After hours of trekking and experience at Kibiro Salt Gardens, return and set off to check into your hotel or lodge in Hoima.
Day 10: Depart the City of Oil (Hoima) for Kibale.
Get up early, have breakfast and vacate your lodge ready to connect up to Kibale National Park. In Fort Portal city, a stop over will be made for you to be served lunch at the hotel. You can visit Amabere caves (optional) or drive direct to Kibale Forest National Park to check into your lodge.
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi Swamp eco-tour.
Morning breakfast at the lodge and after, assemble at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre of Kibale N/Park, a magnificent park that shelters 13 primate species. Briefing be carried out on rules to be observed while trekking with chimpanzees for 2-4 hours beginning at 8:00am.
Over 1500 chimpanzees exist in Kibale alone and numerous habituated communities open for tracking. One hour should be expect to spend with chimpanzees upon locating them in the wild and after, retreat to have lunch at the lodge.
More primate, bird and mammal sightings be had during the afternoon Bigodi Wetland eco-tour led by an experienced community guide. Return after your interesting nature walk to share your memories for the day at the lodge.
Day 12: To Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Enjoy breakfast first and then vacate your room officially prepared to set off to QENP in Kasese, Western Uganda. Arrive at the park early, enjoy the beautiful savannas dotted with some interesting wildlife, birds and view of lakes as you proceed to your lodge for lunch. Rest for the remaining time as you wait for the next day activities.
Day 13: Game drive & boat cruise.
A tasty cup of coffee or coffee and after, leave your lodge for early morning game drive to explore and experience the golden rolling savannas of QENP while sighting significant counts of wildlife.
The savanna plains of Kasenyi comes with exposure of savanna dwellers especially Four of the Big Five; Cape buffaloes, lions, leopards and bush elephants; antelope families, birds and others. This will run for 2 to 3 hours and you then get back for lunch break.
After lunch. you have unforgettable boat cruise experience along Kazinga Channel connecting between Lake Edward & George. See several of crocodiles basking along the banks, hippos submerged, water birds and return while sighting more or taking pictures marking the round 2-3 hours of boat cruise.
Day 14: Ishasha Plains to see the tree climbing lions & transfer to Bwindi.
Have breakfast and day 14 involves visiting Ishasha Sector, south of Queen Elizabeth N/Park for you to see the tree climbing lions. Not only should you expect astonishing encounter with the rare tree climbing lions but also different species of wildlife, birds and unique savanna plains. From Ishasha, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Southwestern Uganda with en-route lunch at Savanna Resort.
Day 15: Go Gorilla Trekking expedition.
Go gorilla trekking expedition after breakfast, briefing on rules but when equipped with some snacks, water and walking stick. Bwindi which is one of Uganda’s leading gorilla trekking parks has 4 regions where you can commence your trek to see mountain gorillas and these are; Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo & Rushaga. A normal gorilla trek in any of these regions or sectors to see a gorilla family varies but takes about 2 to 6 hours and includes 1 hour of a close encounter.
Trekking with mountain gorillas in Bwindi is exciting but takes you via challenging landscapes characterized by steep slopes and dense rainforest. Expect to retreat from this strenuous adventure and rest for some time before setting off for Batwa community tour.
Day 16: Vacate Bwindi & tour Lake Bunyonyi.
Have a great with a hefty breakfast, after, travel to Lake Bunyonyi one of the deepest lakes in the African continent consisting of 29 islands. This magical fresh lake is free from crocodiles & hippos, and popular as a place for little birds.
Arrive at the lodge early around Lake Bunyonyi where you will settle for a delicious lunch. The rest of the evening can be spent at the lake shores chilling and enjoying the cool breeze.
Day 17: Canoe ride to the islands & drive to Lake Mburo National Park.
Have a relaxed breakfast and after, set off for canoe ride along Lake Bunyonyi to any of the Islands preferably the Punishment Island.
A boat or canoe ride also grants you a chance to sight of birds that make this lake a home to little birds. Retreat from your boat ride then set off to Lake Mburo where you will settle for lunch at the lodge.
Day 18: Game drive & Lake Mburo boat tour.
Breakfast early and vacate the lodge for yet another thrilling game drive experience but today along Lake Mburo Savanna Plains. Here, during your 2-3 hours of game viewing, expect to come across lots of antelopes especially impalas, elands; lions, buffaloes, birds and others. Return to settle for lunch then go for a boat tour on Lake Mburo for you to keep an eye on the lake’s crocodiles, hippos, birds.
Day 19: Horseback riding & cultural tour.
Expect a tasty cup of tea or coffee and after, horseback riding/bush walks will be your next memorable experience. Enjoy view of countless species of wildlife, birds while on horseback or on guided/bush walks then retreat to settle for lunch.
Later in the evening, go visit the nearby Rwenjeru community campsite where you will have the best of Ankole cattle keepers’ practices including milking, stories about Ankole long horned cattle, milking, watering, cattle keeping and a lot more. Get back to your lodge from Rwenjeru campsite for overnight stay.
Day 20: Departure.
Have breakfast and later, leave your lodge-drive 4 hours to Entebbe or Kampala. Stop at Kayabwe Equator crossing to take pictures and then be transferred to Entebbe Airport (EBB) for departure flight or drop off at a hotel in Kampala for overnight stay.
