16-Day Uganda's Ultimate Wildlife & Culture

Overview

Experience Uganda from east to west on a comprehensive journey combining wildlife, primates, dramatic scenery and authentic culture. Discover the source of the Nile, hike Sipi Falls, meet the Tepeth community, explore remote Kidepo and Murchison Falls, track rhinos and chimpanzees, cruise the Kazinga Channel, encounter mountain gorillas in Bwindi, and unwind beside Lake Bunyonyi before a final safari in Lake Mburo.

This tour accepts children who are 15 years and older.

Day by Day

1. 1
   

   Day 1

   Arrival and the Source of the Nile

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   After arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet your driver-guide and travel east to Jinja, the historic town at the source of the Nile. Settle into the accommodation and rest before taking an included boat trip to the river's source. Later, explore Jinja's colonial-era streets and local craft shops before returning to the hotel. Meals in Jinja are not included.

   Main destination

   Jinja (Town)

   Overnight

   30 Wilson AccommodationHotel · In Jinja (Town)

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

2. 2
   

   Day 2

   A Free Day beside the Nile

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   Enjoy a free day beside the Nile in Uganda's adventure capital. Choose how to spend the day, from relaxing by the river to optional white-water rafting, kayaking or tubing. These optional activities and meals in Jinja are not included in the tour rate and can be arranged locally. The day offers time to enjoy Jinja's atmosphere at your own pace before returning to the same accommodation.

   Main destination

   Jinja (Town)

   Overnight

   30 Wilson AccommodationHotel · In Jinja (Town)

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

3. 3
   

   Day 3

   Coffee and Waterfalls at Sipi

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   Travel from Jinja to Sipi Falls on the slopes of Mount Elgon. On arrival, join an included coffee experience and learn how local coffee is grown, harvested and prepared from plant to cup. After lunch, hike through lush countryside to the area's three waterfalls, including the dramatic main cascade, and enjoy sweeping views across eastern Uganda. End the day watching the sunset before dinner.

   Main destination

   Sipi Falls (Highlight)

   Overnight

   Rafiki Lodge SipiLodge · At Sipi Falls (Highlight)

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

4. 4
   

   Day 4

   Into Karamoja and Tepeth Culture

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   Leave Sipi Falls for Karamoja, one of Uganda's most distinctive and less-visited regions. Drive through changing landscapes to Moroto and join an included cultural experience with the Tepeth people, one of the area's indigenous communities. Learn about their history, mountain traditions and daily life through respectful local interaction, then return to the safari camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

   Main destination

   Mount Moroto

   Overnight

   Kara-Tunga Safari CampTented camp · Less than 1hr drive from Mt Moroto

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

5. 5
   

   Day 5

   Journey to Remote Kidepo Valley

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   Continue north to remote Kidepo Valley National Park, celebrated for its vast savannahs and sense of wilderness. After checking in at the lodge, take an afternoon game drive in a closed 4x4 Land Cruiser. Look for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and antelopes, with the possibility of lions and other predators. Return to the lodge for dinner surrounded by the park's dramatic landscapes.

   Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park

   • ElephantCommon
   • BuffaloAbundant
   • ZebraCommon
   • GiraffeOccasional
   • LionOccasional
   • LeopardOccasional
   • HyenaOccasional
   • White RhinoRare
   • CheetahRare
   • Wild DogRare
   • Black RhinoNone
   • WildebeestNone
   • HippoNone

   Main destination

   Kidepo Valley National Park

   Overnight

   Kidepo Savannah LodgeLodge · Just outside Kidepo Valley NP

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

6. 6
   

   Day 6

   A Full Day on Kidepo's Plains

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   Spend a full day exploring Kidepo Valley National Park at the best wildlife-viewing times. Begin with an early-morning game drive when animals are active and soft light spreads across the savannah. Return to the lodge for breakfast, rest and lunch, then head back into the park for an afternoon drive through one of Africa's best-preserved ecosystems, home to more than 70 mammal species.

   Main destination

   Kidepo Valley National Park

   Overnight

   Kidepo Savannah LodgeLodge · Just outside Kidepo Valley NP

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

7. 7
   

   Day 7

   Across Northern Uganda to Murchison

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   After breakfast, travel across northern Uganda from Kidepo Valley to Murchison Falls National Park. This long but scenic route reveals remote villages and varied landscapes. After lunch, enter the park for an afternoon game drive in search of elephants, Rothschild's giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, lions and the elusive leopard. Continue to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay near the wilderness.

   Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park

   • ChimpanzeeOccasional
   • ElephantCommon
   • GiraffeCommon
   • LionCommon
   • BuffaloCommon
   • HippoAbundant
   • LeopardOccasional
   • White RhinoNone
   • Black RhinoNone
   • CheetahNone
   • ZebraNone
   • WildebeestNone
   • Wild DogNone

   Main destination

   Murchison Falls National Park

   Overnight

   Bamboo Village Safari LodgeLodge · Less than 1hr drive from Murchison Falls NP

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

8. 8
   

   Day 8

   Wildlife and the Mighty Nile Falls

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   Start with a dawn game drive across the plains of Murchison Falls National Park. Later, take an included boat cruise on the Nile toward the base of the falls, watching for hippos, crocodiles and abundant birdlife. Continue to the top viewpoint, where the Nile is forced through a narrow gorge before plunging with immense power. In the late afternoon, travel onward to the accommodation near Masindi.

   Main destination

   Murchison Falls National Park

   Overnight

   Bamboo Village Safari LodgeLodge · Less than 1hr drive from Murchison Falls NP

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

9. 9
   

   Day 9

   Rhinos on Foot and Kibale Forest

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   Begin the day at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary with an included walking safari led by specialist rangers. Track southern white rhinos on foot and learn about Uganda's conservation and reintroduction programme while observing these animals at a respectful distance. Afterwards, drive west through changing countryside to the Kibale area, home to Uganda's largest chimpanzee population, and settle in for the night.

   Wildlife in Kibale National Park (Chimps)

   • ChimpanzeeCommon
   • ElephantOccasional
   • BuffaloOccasional
   • LionVery rare
   • LeopardVery rare
   • HippoRare
   • GiraffeNone
   • White RhinoNone
   • Black RhinoNone
   • CheetahNone
   • ZebraNone
   • WildebeestNone

   Main destination

   Kibale National Park (Chimps)

   Overnight

   Turaco TreetopsLodge · Just outside Kibale NP (Chimps)

   Meals included

   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Drinks

   Drinking water included, other drinks not

10. 10
    

    Day 10

    Chimpanzees and Queen Elizabeth

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    Enter Kibale National Park for an included chimpanzee-tracking experience in the rainforest. Walk with trained guides along forest trails while looking and listening for habituated chimpanzees and other primates. After the trek and a picnic lunch, continue south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda's most diverse protected areas, and arrive at the lodge in time to rest and enjoy dinner.

    Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

    • ChimpanzeeOccasional
    • ElephantCommon
    • LionCommon
    • BuffaloCommon
    • HippoAbundant
    • LeopardOccasional
    • GiraffeNone
    • White RhinoNone
    • Black RhinoNone
    • CheetahNone
    • ZebraNone
    • WildebeestNone
    • Wild DogNone

    Main destination

    Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Overnight

    Tabingi Safari LodgeLodge · Just outside Queen Elizabeth NP

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Drinks

    Drinking water included, other drinks not

11. 11
    

    Day 11

    Game Drive and Kazinga Channel

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    Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park on a morning game drive, looking for elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and big cats. Continue to the historic salt pans and Katwe area to learn about the local landscape and salt-making traditions. After lunch, board an included boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, renowned for hippos, crocodiles and prolific birdlife, before returning to the lodge for dinner.

    Main destination

    Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Overnight

    Tabingi Safari LodgeLodge · Just outside Queen Elizabeth NP

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Drinks

    Drinking water included, other drinks not

12. 12
    

    Day 12

    Tree-Climbing Lions to Bwindi

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    Depart early for the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, an area known for tree-climbing lions. Enjoy a game drive across the sector and stop for a picnic lunch while continuing the search for wildlife. Afterwards, drive into the forested mountains of southwestern Uganda and arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to mountain gorillas.

    Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

    • GorillaCommon
    • ChimpanzeeRare
    • ElephantRare
    • White RhinoNone
    • Black RhinoNone
    • LionNone
    • GiraffeNone
    • LeopardNone
    • CheetahNone
    • BuffaloNone
    • ZebraNone
    • WildebeestNone
    • HippoNone

    Main destination

    Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

    Overnight

    Gorilla Bluff LodgeLodge · Just outside Buhoma (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Drinks

    Drinking water included, other drinks not

13. 13
    

    Day 13

    Mountain Gorilla Tracking

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    Set out with Uganda Wildlife Authority guides for mountain-gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The trek can last from one to eight hours depending on the gorillas' location and forest conditions. Once the group is found, spend one regulated hour observing the gorilla family at close range. The permit is included. Return to the lodge afterwards for rest, dinner and reflection on this exceptional encounter.

    Main destination

    Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

    Overnight

    Gorilla Bluff LodgeLodge · Just outside Buhoma (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Drinks

    Drinking water included, other drinks not

14. 14
    

    Day 14

    Relax beside Lake Bunyonyi

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    After breakfast, travel from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi, a beautiful highland lake framed by terraced hills and views toward the Virunga volcanoes. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge and enjoying the peaceful setting. Optional canoe trips, nature walks and community visits can be arranged at additional cost and are not included in the advertised tour rate.

    Main destination

    Lake Bunyonyi

    Overnight

    Birdnest ResortResort · , Lake Bunyonyi

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Drinks

    Drinking water included, other drinks not

15. 15
    

    Day 15

    Walking Safari in Lake Mburo

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    Drive to Lake Mburo National Park after breakfast, arriving around lunchtime. In the afternoon, explore the park on an included guided walking or cycling safari, offering a different perspective on its zebras, giraffes, antelopes and open landscapes. The activity is conducted with an authorized guide. Return to the lodge for dinner and enjoy the final evening of the safari in a tranquil setting.

    Wildlife in Lake Mburo National Park

    • GiraffeCommon
    • BuffaloCommon
    • ZebraCommon
    • HippoCommon
    • LeopardOccasional
    • HyenaOccasional
    • ElephantNone
    • White RhinoNone
    • Black RhinoNone
    • LionNone
    • CheetahNone
    • WildebeestNone
    • Wild DogNone

    Main destination

    Lake Mburo National Park

    Overnight

    Mpogo Safari LodgeLodge · Just outside Lake Mburo NP

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Drinks

    Drinking water included, other drinks not

16. 16
    

    Day 16

    Final Safari and Return to Entebbe

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    Take a final early-morning game drive in Lake Mburo National Park for one last opportunity to observe Uganda's wildlife. After breakfast, travel toward Entebbe and stop at the equator for lunch and photographs. Reach Entebbe in the afternoon, enjoy dinner and time to rest at Jet Villas before transferring to Entebbe International Airport according to the flight schedule. The tour ends with airport drop-off.

    Main destination

    Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)

    Meals included

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Drinks

    Drinking water included, other drinks not

What’s Included

Getting There

• Starts and ends in Entebbe.
• Fly to and from Entebbe Airport (EBB).
• The operator can help you choose international flights, which you book yourself.
• A transfer from and back to the airport is included.
• Extra nights before or after the trip can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Arrival: You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost. End of tour: Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport.

1. 1Arrival and the Source of the Nile, Jinja (Town)
2. 2A Free Day beside the Nile, Jinja (Town)
3. 3Coffee and Waterfalls at Sipi, Sipi Falls (Highlight)
4. 4Into Karamoja and Tepeth Culture, Mount Moroto
5. 5Journey to Remote Kidepo Valley, Kidepo Valley National Park
6. 6A Full Day on Kidepo's Plains, Kidepo Valley National Park
7. 7Across Northern Uganda to Murchison, Murchison Falls National Park
8. 8Wildlife and the Mighty Nile Falls, Murchison Falls National Park
9. 9Rhinos on Foot and Kibale Forest, Kibale National Park (Chimps)
10. 10Chimpanzees and Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth National Park
11. 11Game Drive and Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park
12. 12Tree-Climbing Lions to Bwindi, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
13. 13Mountain Gorilla Tracking, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
14. 14Relax beside Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Bunyonyi
15. 15Walking Safari in Lake Mburo, Lake Mburo National Park
16. 16Final Safari and Return to Entebbe, Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)

Traveller Reviews

Offered By

Viajes Matatu

Local operator based in Uganda

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