15 days Uganda safari
Tour Overview
The 15 days private Uganda safari holiday offers the best of Uganda’s game viewing experience in the finest savanna grassland protected areas and primate adventures in the tropical rainforest parks. Expect to engage in the myriad of experiences from game drives, boat cruise, nature walks, whitewater rafting, chimpanzee tracking, and mountain gorilla trekking.
The ideal destinations to be explored as per your itinerary include Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Bwindi, Lake Mburo, Lake Bunyonyi, the Source of the Nile in Jinja, and more. Your long 15 days Uganda safari will start and end in Kampala/Entebbe City.
Tour Details
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to hotel
Day 2: Rhino tracking at Ziwa & drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Game drive and launch cruise
Day 4: Transfer by road to Kibale
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking plus Bigodi Walk
Day 6: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park by road, enjoy a boat cruise
Day 7: Game drive & drive to Ishasha for another game drive
Day 8: Ishasha to Bwindi for a gorilla tour
Day 9: Gorilla trekking
Day 10: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation
Day 11: Explore Lake Bunyonyi Islands on a canoe ride
Day 12: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 13: Pick up and travel Jinja via Kampala
Day 14: Engage in a long day whitewater rafting
Day 15: Drive back to Entebbe or Kampala
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to hotel
This day is dedicated for your travel to Uganda and upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by one of our professional drivers. From Entebbe International Airport, expect to be transferred to hotel for relaxation and a brief interaction with our representative who takes you through your itinerary.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Kampala Serena Hotel
- Midrange: Cassia Lodge
- Budget: Buziga Country Resort
Day 2: Rhino tracking at Ziwa & drive to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, head off to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to enjoy the best of rhino tracking. The rhino trek will go for 2 hours and after, connect to Masindi for lunch. You will later proceed to your safari lodge in Murchison Falls National Park, but first, pay a visit to the top of the falls.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Fort Murchison Lodge
- Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp
Day 3: Game drive and launch cruise
Embark on a guided game drive after having a heavy breakfast. On a game drive, expert to find myriad of Murchison Falls National Park’s diverse wildlife including giraffes, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, elephants, buffaloes, Hartebeests, lions, birds, and leopards on the lucky day.
When you complete the 2-3 hours on a game drive, expect to have lunch in the lodge. After lunch, you will proceed to enjoy a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile River which connects up to the base of the falls. On a boat cruise, expect to observe hippos, crocodiles, and water birds, then sum it up with 45 minutes’ walk to the top of the falls.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Fort Murchison Lodge
- Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp
Day 4: Transfer by road to Kibale
Enjoy a delicious cup of tea/coffee and after, expect to drive out Murchison Falls National Park and today, you will be heading to Kibale National Park. The drive time to be spent will be 6-7 hours through the Hoima Oil City-Fort Portal City route with lunch to be enjoyed en route. From Fort Portal, connect to your safari lodges inside or around Kibale National Park.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
- Midrange: Chimpundu Lodge/Chimp Nest Lodge/Primate Lodge
- Budget: Isunga Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking plus Bigodi Walk
Enjoy a heavy breakfast and leave with your essentials for chimpanzee trekking. Report at the reservation desk for you to be cleared and later, proceed to briefing room. Learn the different guideline to be followed during the chimpanzee trek. At around 8:00 am, you will hit the Kibale Forest in search of chimpanzees and this will run for 2-4 hours but covers an hour with these primates upon locating them.
On your way to search for chimpanzees, other primates will also be spotted include l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. Get back from the chimp trek and have lunch then later, proceed to Bigodi wetland for a guided nature walk. In Bigodi, more primates will be encountered and you will return to the lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
- Midrange: Chimpundu Lodge/Chimp Nest Lodge/Primate Lodge
- Budget: Isunga Lodge/Chimpanzee Guesthouse
Day 6: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park by road, enjoy a boat cruise
Have a delicious breakfast and after, head off to Queen Elizabeth National Park home to the unique tree climbing lions. En route, have a stopover at the equator in Kikorongo and later, proceed to the lodge for relaxation and lunch break. In the afternoon, catch up with the mesmerizing boat cruise excursion where you will encounter hippos, crocodiles, and birds.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Twin Lakes Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge/Elephant Plains
- Budget: Simba Safari Camp/Mweya Hostel
Day 7: Game drive & drive to Ishasha for another game drive
Breakfast followed by a game drive via Kasenyi plains for 2-3 hours. On a game drive, expect to encounter wildlife species such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, warthogs, and different antelope species.
Have lunch at the lodge and proceed to Ishasha for the late afternoon game drive. Along Ishasha, expect to search for the tree climbing lions plus different antelopes and birds. Retire for a night in your respective lodges.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Lodge
- Midrange: Enjojo Lodge/Ishaga Jungle Lodge
- Budget: Ishasha Pride Lodge
Day 8: Ishasha to Bwindi for a gorilla tour
Have breakfast and check out of the lodge. Drive to Bwindi National Park and you will be checking in your lodge in Buhoma or as directed by your gorilla permit.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Sanctuary Gorilla Camp
- Midrange: Mahogany Springs
- Budget: Ride 4 a Woman
Day 9: Gorilla trekking
After breakfast, proceed to the briefing area to meet the park official. You will be taken through the guidelines for gorilla trekking and allocated a gorilla group. The actual gorilla trek begins after briefing and will last for 2-6 hours but includes one hour for up close and personal encounter with mountain gorillas in the wild. From the gorilla trek, expect to return to chill in your respective lodges or consider visiting the Batwa pygmies’ community.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Sanctuary Gorilla Camp
- Midrange: Mahogany Springs
- Budget: Ride 4 a Woman
Day 10: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation
Pick up from Bwindi and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi –Uganda’s deepest lake with 29 islands. At Lake Bunyonyi, expect to chill around the cool lake shores or your lodge. At a distance, enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape characterized by terraced hills.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
- Midrange: Bunyonyi Overland Camp/Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- Budget: Crater Bay Cottages
Day 11: Explore Lake Bunyonyi Islands on a canoe ride
A special day is dedicated for you to explore Lake Bunyonyi. This includes a canoe ride as you head to one of the charming 29 islands like the Punishment Island. Return to have lunch and in the afternoon, you may consider undertaking a guided walk in the surrounding community.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
- Midrange: Bunyonyi Overland Camp/Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- Budget: Crater Bay Cottages
Day 12: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Enjoy breakfast and after, proceed to Lake Mburo National Park. Your journey will run for about 5-6 hours and on arrival, check in your respective lodges. Lake Mburo National Park boasts of its abundant wildlife including buffaloes, zebras, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, and 350 bird species, etc.
Expect to engage in a boat cruise for 2 hours on Lake Mburo. The afternoon launch cruise allows you explore Lake Mburo’s aquatic life like hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. After, return to the lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Mihingo Lodge/Kigambira Lodge
- Midrange: Rwakobo Rock/Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
- Budget: Rwonyo Camp/Eagles Nest
Day 13: Pick up and travel Jinja via Kampala
Enjoy a game drive in the morning and after, proceed to Jinja. A game drive through Lake Mburo National Park game tracks allows you search for different wildlife like zebras, topis, buffaloes, impalas, waterbucks, and more. After the game drive, transfer to Jinja via Kampala arriving in the evening.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Wild waters Lodge
- Midrange: Nile Resort Jinja
- Budget: Haven Lodge
Day 14: Engage in a long day whitewater rafting
Breakfast and embark on whitewater rafting on the Source of the Nile River. This involves conquering the tough grades and rapids with experts present. After the long day whitewater rafting experience, the rest of the evening will be for chilling.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Wild waters Lodge
- Midrange: Nile Resort Jinja
- Budget: Haven Lodge
Day 15: Drive back to Entebbe or Kampala
A delicious breakfast be enjoyed in your respective lodges/hotels and after, drive back to Entebbe or Kampala. Today brings to an end the 15 days Uganda safari.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Game drives
- Boat cruises
- Park entry fees
- Gorilla and chimp permits
- Whitewater rafting
- Transportation
- Accommodation and meals
- Guide/driver services
- Rhino tracking
- All activities except for optional
Exclusions
- Tips
- Alcoholic drinks
- International flights
- Insurance
- Visas
- Passports
- Laundry services
- Shopping, etc.
