21 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife safari
21 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari: Uganda, the pearl of Africa is a God’s blessed country with beautiful people with magnificent Flora and fauna. Uganda as small as it is on Africa’s map continent attracts over one million travellers each year mainly for adventure, hiking, primates, and wildlife safaris. This 21 Days Uganda Primates and wildlife safari explores 8 of the main national parks of Uganda including Kidepo Valley national park, Murchison falls national park, Kibale National Park, Semuliki national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Lake Mburo National park. Tourists will also visit other main tourist attractions that are found along the routes to the national park to blend the safari such as Mabira Forest which the largest forest reserve in Uganda, River Nile which is the longest River in the Africa, Sipi Falls which are the highest waterfalls in Uganda, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary which is the only home of the rhinos in Uganda, Crater areas in the western part of Uganda, Cultural sites Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in East Africa and Lake Mutanda among others. While on this safari, be prepared to do different interesting and tiring activities in the different national parks including game drives, Boat cruise, community/cultural encounters, hiking, nature walks, birdwatching, Chimpanzee tracking and habituation, Gorilla trekking, canoeing, Golden monkey tracking and other excursions of your interest.

Detailed itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
- Day 2: Transfer to Jinja City
- Day 3: Transfer to Sipi falls
- Day 4: Visit the Sipi falls and coffee tours
- Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo national park and Jie community tour
- Day 6: Game drives in Narus and Kidepo valley
- Day 7: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
- Day 8: Morning game drive and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
- Day 9: Top of the falls visit and Ziwa rhino sanctuary
- Day 10: Transfer to Kibale forest national park
- Day 11: Chimpanzee habituation
- Day 12: Visit Bigodi swamp and transfer to Semiliki national park
- Day 13: Hot springs and Batwa community tour
- Day 14: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 15: Game drive and boat cruise
- Day 16: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 17: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 18: Golden monkey trekking
- Day 19: Transfer and explore Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 20: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Boat trip and evening game drive
- Day 21: Transfer to Entebbe Airport – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport – Hotel in Kampala (Estimated distance: 45 minutes)
Depending on your time of arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will meet our company representative/safari guide for transfer to your hotel either in Kampala for check in and rest from the long flight you have had. Dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Sheraton Hotel/ Mid-range option Fairway Hotel/ Budget option – Forest Cottages
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja City (Estimated distance: 2-3 hours’ drive)
After breakfast, drive to Jinja for an excursion. En-route visit Mabira forest for a nature walk while birdwatching. Thereafter, continue to Jinja city – the home of the source of the Nile River. Upon arrival, have lunch then later afternoon, visit the rapid falls on the Nile and later explore the source of the Nile with the sunset boat cruise on River Nile. In the evening, meet your driver to check in at your booked Hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Jinja Nile Resort/ Mid-range option – 2 Friends Guesthouse Jinja/ Budget option – Source of the Smile Guesthouse
Day 3: Transfer to Sipi falls (Estimated distance: 4-5 hours’ drive)
After breakfast, meet your driver at around 8 or 9 am for transfer to Sipi falls which is located further in the Eastern part of Uganda on the slopes of Mount Elgon. En-route lunch in Mbale town then proceed to Sipi falls. Arrive late in the afternoon and check in your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Sipi River lodge/ Mid-range option – Lacam lodge/ Budget option – Noah’s Ark Hotel
Day 4: Visit Sipi falls
After breakfast, meet your driver guide and connect to the Sipi falls information centre to get a guide who will lead you on the hike. Sipi falls has 3 falls located on Mt Elgon foothills with the shortest stretching at 75 meters high, second at 85 meters high and longest at 100 meters high. You can decide to hike all the 3 falls or 2 depending on your physical fitness. Optional activity would be rock climbing. After having your packed lunch, visit the coffee plantation around Sipi falls. Some of the best coffee in the while comes from this part of Uganda, so you will go through the coffee making proceed before you return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park (Estimated distance: 7-8 hours’ drive)
Have very early morning breakfast, check-out after saying goodbye to the hotel staff for transfer to Kidepo valley national park. Kidepo national park is located in the far north eastern part of Uganda in the Karamoja region. The journey is quite long the some part of the road is poorly developed. Arrive in Moroto late afternoon and visit to cattle market day which takes place every Wednesday of the week and also visit the Jie ethic group of the Karamoja who are the real cattle warriors in Uganda similar to the Masai of Kenya. After lunch in Moroto town, proceed on your journey to Kidepo national park and check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Apoka Safari lodge/ Mid-range option – Kidepo Savannah lodge/ Budget option – Apoka Rest Camp and Bandas
Day 6: Game drives in Narus valley and Kidepo valley
Have early breakfast and go for a game drive in Narus valley a famous place for game drives in Kidepo valley national park. You have chances to see wild cats including lions, Leopards and cheetahs. Other animals likely to be sighted include Zebras, Buffaloes, Elephants and different species of antelopes among others. Later return to your lodge for lunch and later in the afternoon, drive to Kidepo valley where you will meet the largest seasonal river in Kidepo and then different species of birds Ostriches being the most famous. Thereafter, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park (Estimated distance: 7-8 hours)
After your breakfast, meet your driver for transfer Murchison falls National Park with e-route lunch in Gulu town. Proceed to Murchison entering via Tangi or Wankwa gate. Connect to your booked lodge with en-route game viewing. Arrive in the evening and check in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Paraa Safari lodge/ Mid-range option – Pakuba safari lodge/ Budget option – Heritage Safari Lodge
Day 8: Morning game drive and Boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
Have early morning breakfast and proceed for a game drive to explore the park’s wildlife. Murchison falls is the largest park in Uganda and has the most animals. During the game drive, you are likely to see animals like the Elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes including waterbucks, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda Kob among others. On a lucky morning, you will sight leopards, lions and hyenas. Return to the lodge for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, you will go for a boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison falls along the Nile. During the boat cruise, you will have a chance to see big schools of hippos, buffaloes and elephants on the shores coming to drink water, and variety of bird species including Kingfisher, Cormorants and bee-eaters among others. After getting close to the falls, you will be allowed to spend about 10 minutes taking photos before going back. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at as above
Day 9: Top of the falls visit and Rhino tracking in Ziwa rhino sanctuary and Wildlife Ranch
After your breakfast, meet your driver and drive to visit the top of the falls which is the most spectacular experience in the park. The falls are interesting to view and relax and you will be amazed by what you will find. After about 2 hours, drive out of the park to transfer to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary home to the remaining wild Rhinos in Uganda. The Sanctuary was established to re-introduce Rhinos that had gone extinct during Amin’s time and it now hosts 22 Southern white Rhinos. Have lunch at the lodge and then go for Rhino trekking on foot, encounter the rhinos and return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury/mid-range option – Amuka Safari lodge/ Budget option – Ziwa Rhino guesthouse
Day 10: Transfer to Kibale National Park (Estimated distance: 7-8 hrs)
After breakfast, meet the driver for transfer to Kibale national park known as the best destination for chimpanzee trekking with over 13 species of primates including the chimpanzees. This is a full day drive with en-route lunch in Hoima town or late lunch in Fort portal town. Proceed to your lodge arriving in the evening for relaxation, wait for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury lodge – Kyaninga lodge/ Mid-range option – Isunga Lodge / Budget option – Chimpanzee Forest Guest
Day 11: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale Forest
After early morning breakfast, connect to the Kanyanchu visitors’ centre for briefing about the chimpanzee habituation experience. This is a full day activity where you will go with researchers to explore the behaviours of semi-habituated chimpanzees and the experience starts right from nesting. This activity helps you explore the behaviours of chimpanzees, their way of living including feeding, mating and nesting among others. Kibale forest is the capital of all primates and so expect to see a lot of other primate species during habituation experience. You are likely to also sight other animals like forest Elephants, Buffaloes, Bush pigs, Warthogs, Reptiles as well as a colourful butterflies. The chimpanzee group under habituation is normally under research and trying to get used to people until its ready for tracking. Return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Visit Bigodi Wetland – Semiliki National Park (Estimated distance: 2 hours’ drive)
After your breakfast, check out and drive to Bigodi wetland for a nature walk for birdwatching. You will not only enjoy the silence but also the whispers and sounds of different bird species. Bigodi wetland is where you will experience a lot of birdlife and unspoiled nature and for bird lovers; this is a great place to spot various bird species. Connect to Fort portal town for lunch then proceed to Semiliki national park. Arrive in the evening with en-route game drive and check in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury lodge – Semiliki safari lodge/ Mid-range lodge – Ntoronko Safari lodge/ Budget Uganda Wildlife Authourity Bandas
Day 13: Sempaya Hot springs/primates walk and Batwa Community Walk
After breakfast, meet your driver and connect to Semuliki National park information Centre to get a ranger guide for a visit to Sempaya Hot springs of both female and male hot springs. The guide will articulate to you the story behind a female and male hot springs. During the hot spring visit, you are likely going to encounter other species of primates including: red tailed monkey, grey-checked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons among others.
Thereafter, do a community cultural walk by visiting the Pygmies (the Batwa), who used to live in forest before it was gazetted as national park. They have rich cultural history and with lots of entertainments. Thereafter, drive back to Fort portal tow for dinner and overnight at Luxury option – Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge/ Mid-range option – Mountain of the Moon Hotel/ Any budget accommodation in Fort portal town
Day 14: Caves and cater lakes visit – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Estimated Distance: 4-5 hours’ Drive)
After early breakfast, visit the Amabere Ganyamwiru caves and waterfalls. You will also visit the crater lakes, have lunch then proceed to Queen Elizabeth national park known as a medley of wonders and the second largest national park in Uganda. Connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Mweya Safari lodge/ Mid-range option – Parkview Safari Lodge/ Budget option – Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 15: Game drive and Launch Cruise in Queen Elizabeth.
After early morning breakfast, meet your driver for transfer to the Kasenyi area the famous place for game drives and mating ground for antelopes. You will have a chance to view different wild animals including Lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, different Antelopes and many more nocturnal animals and predators from hunting. After the game drive, return to your hotel to relax and have lunch.
Later in the afternoon, you will go for the famous launch cruise at Kazinga channel for 2 hours. While on the launch cruise, you will be able to see what you missed during your game drive. You have chance to see Elephants and Buffalos on the shores, Crocodiles sunbathing and schools of Hippos. This is a good place to sight different bird species both original and migratory. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 16: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Estimated travel time: 6-7 hours)
Have early morning breakfast and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park which is located far the south western part of Uganda. Drive through Mbarara – Kabale road with en-route lunch. Proceed to your hotel depending on your trekking sector of Bwindi for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge/ Mid-range option – Icumbi Gorilla Lodge/ Budget option – Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Day 17: Gorilla trekking
Have breakfast, drive to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by the Ranger guide. This is where you will be given the gorilla family to track and briefed about the rules that guide gorilla tracking. This activity is approximated to last for 4 to 8 hours and 1 hour with the gorillas after encountering with them. Time taking looking for the gorillas will depend on the movement of the gorilla family you have been assigned to track. Meeting the gorillas in their natural habitat is one of life rewarding experiences that last a life time. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. After an hour with them, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point and awarding of certificates before you meet your driver to return you back to the lodge to relax, have dinner and overnight
Day 18: Golden Monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park (2 hours’ drive from Bwindi forest)
After very early morning breakfast, transfer to Ntebeko the head offices of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for briefing about golden monkey tracking by the Ranger guide. This activity takes about 2-5 hours depending on the movement of these primates on that particular day. Just like gorillas, you will also spend 1 hour with them taking photos in close range in their natural habitat; the bamboo. You will return to the starting point, receive your certificate then transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, a lava dammed lake believed to be the second deepest lake in Africa after Tanganyika with the depth between 44m and 900m and about 7 to 25kms wide. The lake is located between Kisoro and Kabale districts in the Southwestern Uganda. It’s a 2 hours’ drive from Kisoro town. Dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Arcadia cottages/ Mid-range option – Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort/ Budget option – Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 19: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, take a boat trip to some of the fascinating islands on the lake which include; Kyahugye Island where you will some wildlife including Zebras, water bucks, impalas and Uganda kobs, Akampene island popularly known as a punishment island where pregnant unmarried girls from Kigezi were dumped to die up to early 60s when it was abandoned, Bwama and Njuyeera Island, where missionary Dr. Leonard Sharp founded a leper colony. Return for lunch at the lodge then relax in the afternoon at the lake shores or do some of the lake activities like the Zip lining and nature walk. In the evening, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 20: Transfer to Lake Mburo –Igongo Cultural center and boat trip and game drive (Estimated distance – 5 hours’)
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival in Mbarara town, have lunch and stop over at Igongo cultural Centre where you will visit the museum and learn about the history and culture of Ankole Kingdom. Thereafter continue to Lake Mburo national park, connect for a 2 hours boat trip and evening game drive before you check in your hotel, have dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option- Mihingo Lodge/ Mid-range option – Rwakobo Lodge/Budget option – Eagles Nest Lodge
Day 21: Entebbe and departure (Estimated distance; 4-5 hours’ drive)
After early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and transfer to Entebbe with en-route morning game drive, stop at the Uganda Equator for photography and some souvenirs and lunch in Masaka town. Proceed to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled flight back home.
End of the 21 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari
