15 days Uganda safari offers a unique blend of wildlife, stunning landscapes and cultural richness. You get a chance to embark on thrilling and adventurous game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park, tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, encounter mountain gorillas in the thickets of Bwindi national park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park and exploring the deepest lake in Africa Bunyonyi.
Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe transfer to Zziwa rhino sanctuary
Immediately after landing, the driver will be waiting for you to begin on your journey to Zziwa rhino sanctuary. The journey is about 3-4 hours of drive taking the north western direction passing through scenic landscapes and rural areas.
The sanctuary is the only place where you get to see white rhinos in their natural sanctuary. When you reach the sanctuary, you can choose to do rhino tracking and wildlife viewing before you head back to your lodge or dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
Take your time to wake up and prepare since Murchison falls is not so far from the sanctuary. The route involves heading northeast which is about 2-3 hours of drive depending on traffic and road conditions. When you reach, check into your lodge, relax, have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Game drive and boat safari on Nile river
Game drives occur both in the northern sector at Paara and southern sector, depending on your lodge location, the driver will take you to the starting point to begin off with the game drives.
On the northern sector along the Buligi peninsular, you are able to spot different animals like lions, elephants, giraffes, antelopes. On the southern sector, you are able to encounter different eco systems like savannah and woodlands with animals like chimpanzees, buffaloes and various bird species.
After the game drive, get ready for the boat safari in Nile river, this is a captivating experience that involves a cruise along the Nile. You are able to encounter wildlife and scenic landscapes as you approach the base of the falls where the Nile river forces its way through a narrow gorge creating a powerful and breathtaking spectacle.
During the boat safari, you get chance to encounter hippos and crocodiles not forgetting numerous birds like the elusive shoe bill stock. Don’t forget to bring your camera and take a few snaps since the boat tends to get closer to the animals that come to drink water from the river banks.
After the boat safaris, head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Da6 4: Drive to Kibale national park
After breakfast, the driver will pick you and transfer you to Kibale national park. Kibale national park is located in southwestern Uganda renowned for remarkable biodiversity and the large population of chimpanzees. This is also referred to as the primate capital of the world because it offers extreme chimpanzee trekking experiences to visitors.
From Murchison falls to Kibale it takes about 6 to 7 hours travelling southwards passing through various lushing towns and scenic landscapes, having a few stops in some towns for lunch and refreshments.
When you reach, the driver will transfer you to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking experience
Chimpanzee trekking is an exhilarating adventure that allows you encounter and interact with these intelligent primates in their natural habitat. Chimpanzee trekking is a guided activity led by experienced park rangers that help you identify these primates.
Trekking begins in the morning with a short briefing of tourists about the trek and the rules to follow for a respectful and safe encounter. The trek takes you through thicket and dense vegetation with diverse eco systems whose paths can be uneven.
The activity takes about 2 to 3 hours and as you trek, you get chance to see other wildlife, primate and bird species. Once the chimpanzees are located, you are given one hour observing them allowing you take a few snaps and learning about the chimp’s social dynamic and behaviors.
After trekking, you are required to go back to the park headquarters and the driver will be waiting for you to transfer back to the lodge for overnight stay.
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After an early morning game drive, check out and the driver will then transfer you to Queen Elizabeth national park. The park is located in western Uganda covering an area of about 1978 square kilometers making it the second largest after Murchison falls national park.
The park is known for its exceptional bio diversity and is home to an incredible array of wildlife, extensive savannah, plains, and animals, it is also home to the famous tree climbing lions giving visitors a rare chance to witness these majestic predators in action. Additionally, there are over 600 bird species found within the park making it a paradise for birdwatchers.
Travelling from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on the route taken and traffic conditions, this journey takes you through beautiful views of the beautiful Rwenzori mountains and tea plantations on the country side.
When you reach, you will check in to your booked hotel, relax, have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Game drive and transfer to Ishasha sector
After an early morning breakfast, the driver will transfer you to the starting point of your game drive. Queen Elizabeth is famous for its thrilling and adventurous game drives. You will be accompanied with experienced guides wo will help you identify specific animals within the jungle.
You will spot wildlife species like elephants, lions, antelopes, hippos, and buffaloes, it is a great opportunity to see these animals up close in their habitat as you take a few snaps to keep for memories.
After the game drive, you will be transferred to Ishasha sector located in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth known for its tree climbing lions, the sector is characterized with beautiful plains, riverine forests and the Ishasha river. This is a great opportunity to see these unique lions and explore the beautiful landscapes of Ishasha. Apart from the lions, you are also able to spot antelopes, buffaloes and various arrays of birds.
You will then head to your lodge, check in, have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast, the driver will take you to Bwindi impenetrable national park. Bwindi is a prominent conservational area located in southwestern Uganda known for protecting endangered mountain gorillas and providing adventurous gorilla trekking experiences within the jungle.
The distance is about 70 kilometers usually taking about 2 or 3 hours depending on the route taken.
On arrival, the driver will take you to your lodge, check-in, have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 9: Mountain gorilla trekking
Mountain gorilla trekking is an incredible wildlife experience that allows you to observe and interact with endangered mountain gorillas within their natural habitat. After an early morning breakfast, the driver will take you to the park headquarters, here you will attend a pre briefing session about guidelines of trekking in the jungle.
Trekking involves hiking through dense forests of Bwindi taking about 2 to 3 hours depending on gorilla’s location under the guidance of experienced guides that help you identify your gorillas’ family in a specific sector within the park.
Once you encounter mountain gorillas, you will be given one hour in their presence observing their behavior, social interactions and unique characteristics. After the trek, you will go back to the starting point and get a certificate of participation.
You will head back to your lodge, have dinner, relax and have overnight stay.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is a stunning lake located in southwestern Uganda near the border with Rwanda known for natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere. It got its name Bunyonyi meaning a place of little birds in the local language and the lake is indeed home to a variety of bird species.
The lake is surrounded by hills and numerous small islands which adds to its charm, it is the deepest lake in Africa reaching depths of up to 900 meters. travelling from Bwindi to this place is about 50 kilometers and can be covered by road around two hours depending on the traffic and road conditions.
When you reach, you get chance to engage in various activities like exploring the lake by boat, taking a swim in its clear waters, relaxing on its shores as you soak yourself in the beautiful scenery. You can as well do fishing and canoeing as you explore the lake’s numerous islands.
After all the bustle, you can head back to your lodge, relax, have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Explore Islands on lake Bunyonyi
After an early morning breakfast, the driver will take you to the starting point of exploring the various islands on lake Bunyonyi. You will be required to hire a canoe so as to explore some of the many islands.
You get chance to explore and learn about the famous punishment island which has a dark history and was once used to abandon unmarried pregnant girls offering you a glimpse into the region’s past.
Another mysterious island is the Bwama island also known as sharp’s island home to the popular Arcadia’s cottages, you get chance to enjoy stunning views of the lake from here, relax in the cottages and try out some kayaking.
Bushara island also offers serene getaway and is known for its eco lodge where you get to go for evening walks, watch numerous birds as you enjoy the simple environment.
After exploring and learning different pasts about every island, you can then head back to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Drive to lake Mburo national park (Boat cruise in the evening)
After an early morning breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on the journey to Lake Mburo national park. This journey is about 4 hours depending on the road conditions with a stopover in Mbarara for lunch and some refreshments.
After you will then proceed to the park in the time of an afternoon boat cruise on one of the lakes found in the park as you get chance to spot different flora and fauna on the lake shores. After the boat cruise, as you head back to your lodge, you will get to do an evening game drive encountering different animals like zebras, water bucks, and impalas.
Day 13: Game walking safari (travel to Kampala via the Equator)
Wake up very early in the morning and head out to an amazing game walking safari in an adventurous trail where you will spot numerous wildlife species that fill the park. After completing the walking safari, you can head back to your hotel and have breakfast, prepare and set off to Kampala. This journey takes about 4 hours with a stop over at the equator for lunch and refreshments.
Upon arrival, you will be dropped to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 14: Go to Jinja for white water rafting
Wake up in the morning, check out and head out for the journey to Jinja that is approximately 2 to 3 hours depending on traffic with a stopover at Namawojolo for lunch and refreshments.
White water rafting is an adventurous and amazing experience along the Nile, it offers thrilling adventures on the Nile as the challenging rapids and scenic landscapes hit the raft making the whole experience memorable.
Before the activity starts, you are given chance to choose between an easy or more difficult route but its advisable that you choose an easy route especially for first timers. You are given helmets and jackets so as to be safe during the rafting, this is the most adventurous activity that happens in Jinja creating endless memories.
After the raft, you head back to your lodge for dinner and over night stay.
Day 15: Transfer back to Entebbe for departure flight
This marks the end of your 15 days Uganda safari, the driver will pick you and embark on the journey through Kampala to Entebbe so as to be early for your departure flight.
