The ultimate Enchanting Experience in 21 days

Day 1 : Arrival in Entebbe. Your appointed driver/tour guide will collect you at the airport and take you to your hotel. 

Day 2 : Entebbe – Kampala- Jinja. After breakfast, depart Entebbe for Jinja with a stopover in Kampala for a city tour. Kampala, the bustling capital of Uganda, serves as a melting pot of various tribal communities from across the country, offering a rich tapestry of cultures to discover right in the heart of the city center. From vibrant streets teeming with life to serene corners exuding tranquility, Kampala’s dynamic atmosphere offers a blend of sights, sounds, and colors that ensure an engaging experience for visitors.

During our Kampala city tour, you could opt to visit one of the following places before proceeding to Jinja.

• Religious sites, including the Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine, Rubaga Cathedral, St. Paul Cathedral Namirembe, Bahai Temple, Shree Seminarian Temple, and National Mosque, offer visitors a rich spiritual experience. The Uganda Martyrs’ Trail provides a unique journey through the trials of the first Christian missionaries and martyrs, concluding at Namugongo, where many were martyred. The Bahai Temple, situated atop Kikaya Hill, stands as Africa’s only Bahai Temple and one of six worldwide, representing unity and peace.

• Visit the Uganda Museum in Kamwokya, just a short 15-minute drive from the city center, for an immersive experience into Uganda’s rich heritage. The museum provides valuable insights into the country’s diverse peoples, cultures, traditions, and history. Explore an array of historical artifacts showcasing the lifestyles of various Ugandan tribes, offering a fascinating glimpse into their past. Additionally, visitors have the opportunity to purchase authentic crafts, adding a tangible connection to Uganda’s cultural heritage.

• Experience the vibrant local markets of Kampala to indulge in fresh Ugandan fruits and immerse yourself in the city’s lively atmosphere. Despite the bustling chaos, these markets, including Owino, Nakasero, Kalerwe, and Nakawa, are brimming with charm and offer an authentic glimpse into daily life in Kampala.

• Discover the rich cultural heritage of Kampala by visiting iconic landmarks such as the Buganda Palace, Bulange, Kasubi Tombs, Royal Mile, and Wamala Tombs. These sites offer immersive cultural experiences that delve into the traditions and history of the Buganda kingdom and Uganda as a whole.

Day 3: Jinja:  Today, you have the listed optional activities at a cost to choose from as indicated below.

• White Water Rafting on the Nile River.
• Source of the Nile Cruise.
• Kalagala Nile Cruise.

Day 4: Jinja to Sipi Falls .After Breakfast, drive to sipi Falls you reach in the late afternoon, have lunch, and go for a coffee experience.

Day 5: Sipi Falls to Moroto. Transfer to Moroto from Sipi Falls. After your breakfast. You could opt to hike to do abseiling before departing for Moroto. Arrive in Moroto and have lunch then you will have an opportunity to select any of the optional activities listed at a cost.

• Nature walk.
• Nomadic cattle keepers experience.
• Village experience.
• Mountain Biking.

Day 6: Moroto to Kidepo Valley National Park.  After breakfast we start the game drive to Kidepo Valley National Park a landscape of vast plains and semi-arid savannah framed by jagged mountains and wooded hills, Kidepo is one of the wildest and most spectacular reserves in Africa. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions enjoy panoramic views of the Narus River Valley and photographic opportunities of wildlife from all corners. An evening game drive along the Narus River Valley for game viewing and photography of elephants, herds of buffaloes, jackals, Jackson’s Hartebeest, klipspringer and possibly Lions.

Day 7: Kidepo Valley National Park.  Rise and shine to an early morning breakfast thereafter go for a morning game drive to Kanangorok hot spring The Beauty of Kidepo Valley National Park goes beyond the big game. The spectacular Kanangorok hot spring is one of the natural features that you may not afford to miss. The word “Kanangorok” means “A place with black stones” in the local Karamojong dialect. It’s the only hot spring in the Karamoja Region. While Kanangrok hot spring was naturally formed, it is surrounded by traditional/ cultural stories attributed to the spirits of ancestors being annoyed. To pacify the angry spirits and seek pardon they offered sacrifices to the local community living around Kidepo Valley National Park there for to them the existence of the hot spring was a way of ritualism. In the afternoon have a cultural experience that will bring into contact with the Karamojong people at Karenna and Kapedo. Meet the local elders and have an opportunity to interact with them and participate in some activities. They will show you the kraals, the grinding stones They will show you their customs and cultures, their ways of life as nomads, and their beliefs about cattle, dressing, jewellery, hunting materials, and many more interesting items and stories.

Day 8 : Kidepo Valley National Park. The wild frontier region of Karamoja also offers cultural experiences not found anywhere else in Uganda, you could opt to visit Karamojong ‘Manyattas’ or the exploration of the unique cultural heritage of the Ik people, complemented by stunning mountain scenery. Enjoy a game drive after your cultural experience.

Day 9: Kidepo Valley NP to Murchison Falls National Park.  Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) is situated at the northern end of the Great Rift Valley and was one of the first national parks established in 1952. With a size of 3,900 square kilometers, MFNP is also the largest park in Uganda, featuring extraordinary biodiversity and landscapes ranging from savannahs, riverine wetlands as defined by the river Nile, and tropical forests One of the most important attractions within the park is the Nile Delta wetlands system that formed when the river reached the northern shores of Lake Albert. Its primary attraction, however, remains the famous Murchison Falls, whose massive 43-meter falls of boiling water are forced through a 7-meter-wide gap before crashing into the lightly wooded savannah below. 

The park and the adjacent Budongo Forest Reserve feature 76 species of mammals, including chimpanzees, buffalos, lions, elephants, Uganda kob, Rothschild’s giraffe, and the largest population of Nile crocodiles in the country. Also, more than 450 bird species have been documented in this national park. The southern sector of the park features the Budongo Forest Reserve, home to over 600 chimps and one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the region, with over 460 plant species recorded, including an area of giant mahogany trees reaching up to 60 meters tall.

Depending on your time of arrival you could opt for an evening game drive.

Day 10: Morning Game drives and afternoon boat cruise. Drive to the northern bank of the River Nile after breakfast in your open-roof vehicle which will give you an excellent opportunity to view and photograph the diverse wildlife. Your guide will help you spot elephants, lions, cape buffalo, Roth child’s giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck, oribi, bushbuck, bohor reedbuck, hyena, and if you are lucky, the leopard. 

After lunch, enjoy the boat cruise upstream the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls stopping just few of meters from the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’, marvel at the schools of hippos, crocodiles and over the 17km stretch you may see elephant, waterbuck and Uganda Kob. This is also the zone of many birds, species like the goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant, and the rare shoebill stork. Later, return to your lodge and relax in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 11: Murchison Falls NP to Kibale National Park. After your early morning breakfast. Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park with a stopover in Hoima for lunch and later proceed to Kibale Forest National Park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 12: Kibale National Park. Today, you will be going on an exhilarating search for the chimp troops of Kibale, venturing into the dense tropical forests with the further opportunity of observing several tropical bird species. Kibale National Park is home to the largest concentration of chimpanzees in Africa. Also found in KNP are 12 other species of primates such as the red colobus monkey, blue monkey, and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey.

Day 13:  Kibale NP to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is situated in southwestern Uganda and covers an area of 1,978 square kilometers. The park was founded in 1952 as the Kazinga National Park but was renamed only two years later to commemorate a visit by England’s Queen Elizabeth II. It offers a diverse ecosystem, from the crater-dotted landscapes of the Katwe peninsula below the Rwenzori Mountains, to the wetlands of the Kazinga Channel connecting Lake George and Lake Albert, and on to the rolling savannahs stretching to the Ishasha River in the far south of the park. The region around QENP is also famous for its volcanic features, such as volcanic cones and crater lakes found in the Katwe peninsula on the west side of the Kazinga Channel. For centuries, these craters have been used by local villages to extract salt. 

Another primary attraction of QENP is the Kyambura Gorge, also known as the Valley of the Apes located in the north-west sector of the park. The gorge is about 1 km across at its widest point, and only about 100 meters deep, and is home to a few dozen chimpanzees. Tracking these through the gorge is one of the highlights of your visit to QENP. Also, not to be missed during your visit to the park is a boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel, a 32 km long waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George, and known for its large populations of hippos, crocodiles, and elephants, combined with an extraordinary variety of tropical bird species. You could choose to relax at the lodge or explore the crater regions around Katwe.

Day 14: Queen Elizabeth National Park. Begin your day with a cup of coffee. Early morning game drive along Kasenyi and Queens Mile makes visitors encounter elephants, buffalo, water bucks, warthogs, lions, Uganda Kobs lakes, and a variety of birds.  Return to the Lodge for lunch in the afternoon two-hour Boat cruise along the famous Kazinga channel; a worthwhile opportunity to see Hippo, Buffalo, Kobs, Elephants, warthogs, etc. This trip also gives you a chance to see spectacular birds and animals

 Day 15: Queen Elizabeth National Park. A game drive in the southern Ishasha sector of the park takes you on an exhilarating search for the famous tree-climbing lions as there are only two places in the world where you can find these. The park’s remarkable wildlife diversity, complemented by an impressive list of 95 species of mammals and over 600 bird species, makes it the ideal location for classic big game safaris and extensive birding tours.

 Day 16: Queen Elizabeth NP to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  Situated in south-western Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) covers an area of 321 square kilometers and consists mostly of montane and lowland tropical rain forest dating back to the last ice age. The mist-covered hills and ancient forests of Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the world’s largest population of mountain gorillas. Of the 780 gorillas in the world, more than half live in the Bwindi Impenetrable NP and the Mgahinga Gorilla NP in Uganda.

Bwindi is also known as Birder’s paradise, featuring many forest trails and over 350 recorded tropical bird species, of which 14 have no record anywhere else in the country. The park is one of the most ecologically diverse in Africa and home to 120 species of mammals, 220 species of butterflies, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, and geckos, many of these are endangered species.

At the BINP, you can choose one of four sectors and corresponding trailheads for your once-in-a-lifetime adventure of tracking mountain gorillas in their natural habitat of a lush green tropical rainforest and dense bamboo thickets. There are more than 15 habituated gorilla families in the four main sectors of the park, and a close-up encounter with the endangered gorillas is a memorable and spectacular experience.

Also, there are two forms of gorilla tracking in the Bwindi forest, the standard version available for US $ 800 per person/gorilla permit allows a group of 8 visitors to have 1-hour contact with a habituated gorilla family. Additionally, the expanded gorilla habituation experience costs US $ 1,500 per person/gorilla permit, allowing a group of 4 to join researchers for a 4-hour visit to a gorilla family in the Rushaga sector of the BINP that also houses the research center for the entire park.

Day 17: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Embark on your gorilla trekking adventure after an early breakfast, starting with a briefing at the designated point. Led by experienced gorilla trackers, traverse the slopes of the volcanoes, beginning from where the gorillas were spotted the previous day. While the hike may be strenuous, the excitement of the impending experience and the captivating beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants make it worthwhile. Encountering these gentle apes, a major highlight of Africa is a humbling experience. Witness them in their natural habitat, observing their behaviors as they eat, rest, play, and nurture their young. Follow them through the impenetrable forest, discovering their stunning surroundings and the diverse species they coexist with. You’ll have an hour with the gorillas before descending back to your lodge. If your trek was short, an optional guided nature walk around the lodge and nearby communities may be available in the evening. Return to the lodge for dinner with fellow travelers, preparing for the next day’s safari adventure.

Remember to bring rain gear, a packed lunch, ample water, gloves, a hat, and a waterproof bag to protect your camera in case of rain.

Day 18: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Today, you have the listed optional activities at a cost to choose from.

• Gorilla Habituation Experience
• Batwa Cultural Trail.
• Bwindi Forest Trails.

Day 19: Bwindi Impenetrable NP to Lake Mburo National Park. It’s time to say goodbye to the mountain gorillas and the tropical forest of Bwindi. Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP) is the smallest savannah-type park in Uganda and is also considered the most family-friendly as it features no big cats, which allows for walking, horseback, and cycling tours.

With a landscape consisting of acacia woodland and savannah, Lake Mburo NP is the only park to feature both eland and impala antelopes and shares the Burchell’s zebra with the Kidepo Valley NP. In addition, the park also features more than 300 bird species, including the rare shoebill stork.

Day 20 : Lake Mburo National Park. After enjoying your morning breakfast, begin an enriching game drive. Lake Mburo NP stands out as the sole park featuring both eland and impala antelopes, while also sharing the Burchell’s zebra with Kidepo Valley National Park.

In the afternoon, enjoy the boat cruise along the serene shores of Lake Mburo. Bird enthusiasts will be thrilled by the opportunity to spot numerous avian species along the lake’s edges, including the African finfoot, African grey hornbill, brown parrot, common scimitar bill, crested francolin, fish eagles, herons, Nubian woodpecker, papyrus bush strike, pelicans, shoebill stork, weaver birds, white-winged warbler, and yellow-breasted apalis.

Optional activities at an additional cost are available for exploration at Lake Mburo National Park.

Optional Activity – Nature Walk. Enjoy a nature walk with a ranger guide to discover the wildlife wonders of LMNP.

Optional Activity – Mountain Biking Some of the lodges in the park also offer mountain biking on one of the many trails accompanied by a ranger guide.

Optional Activity – Horse Back. Depending on the lodge you have chosen; a horseback ride can also be made available.

Day 21            Lake Mburo NP to Entebbe

Depart Lake Mburo National Park with a short game drive as you exit the park. Drive to Entebbe for your departure flight back home