{"id":27030,"date":"2023-05-28T14:08:15","date_gmt":"2023-05-28T11:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tulambule.com\/?post_type=trip&p=27030"},"modified":"2025-04-28T11:40:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T08:40:48","slug":"14-day-budget-friendly-uganda-safari","status":"publish","type":"trip","link":"https:\/\/tulambule.com\/old\/tour\/14-day-budget-friendly-uganda-safari\/","title":{"rendered":"14-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari: Unforgettable Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Encounters"},"content":{"rendered":"

14-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari <\/strong>comfortably allows you to see the best of Uganda. This equatorial East African country is smaller than the United Kingdom, but its location at the point where the East African savannah meets the West African rainforest jungle means it is one of only two places where\u00a0gorillas<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and chimpanzees live alongside all the iconic Big 5 animals.<\/p>\n

Other attractions include plentiful forest monkeys, a checklist of 1,090-plus birds, and such geographic landmarks as the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, the Equator line, the source of the world\u2019s longest river (River Nile), and the ocean-sized Lake Victoria (Africa\u2019s largest lake).<\/p>\n

This 14-day\u00a0Uganda safari\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>tour provides you with a great opportunity to get to know this diverse country intimately and to see a wide selection of its wildlife and scenic highlights at a relaxed pace.<\/p>\n

On this 14-Day Safari, you\u2019ll also have the opportunity to learn about the culture in Uganda and see a variety of colorful birds. Indeed, dedicated birders might well identify 400 species on this trip.<\/p>\n

Overview <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Length:<\/strong>\u00a013 nights, 14 days<\/p>\n

Group Size:\u00a0<\/strong>To suit you<\/p>\n

Places to Visit:<\/strong>\u00a0Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary,\u00a0Kidepo National Park<\/strong><\/a>, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest, Bigodi Village, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Mburo National Park, and the Equator Monument.<\/p>\n

Departure Dates:<\/strong>\u00a0To suit you<\/p>\n

Highlights <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Day 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Entebbe\/Kampala\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>to Gulu via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary<\/p>\n

Day 2:<\/strong>\u00a0Gulu to\u00a0Kidepo National Park<\/a><\/strong>, evening game drive.<\/p>\n

Day 3:<\/strong>\u00a0Morning game drive and later, Karamojong community encounter<\/p>\n

Day 4:<\/strong>\u00a0Morning nature walk and afternoon game drive\/safari.<\/p>\n

Day 5:<\/strong>\u00a0Transfer to\u00a0Murchison Falls National Park<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Day 6:<\/strong>\u00a0Murchison game drive and afternoon boat trip upstream to the falls<\/p>\n

Day 7:<\/strong>\u00a0Visit The Top Of The Falls. Drive to Kibale with a Stop in Fort Portal<\/p>\n

Day 8:<\/strong>\u00a0Chimpanzee Tracking and Swamp or Village Walk<\/p>\n

Day 9:<\/strong>\u00a0Travel to Queen Elizabeth and A Crater Drive<\/p>\n

Day 10:<\/strong>\u00a0Game Drive and Boat Trip on the Kazinga Channel<\/p>\n

Day 11:<\/strong>\u00a0Tree-Climbing Lions And On To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest<\/p>\n

Day 12:<\/strong>\u00a0Gorilla Tracking and a Visit to the Batwa Pygmy Community<\/p>\n

Day 13:<\/strong>\u00a0Relaxed Breakfast & Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park<\/p>\n

Day 14:<\/strong>\u00a0Enjoy a game walk and return to Entebbe, stop over at the Equator.<\/p>\n

Details <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Day 1: Entebbe To Gulu Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Your\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>\u00a0begins today! Your guide will meet you at your place of stay in Entebbe or Kampala early in the morning. After loading your luggage into the vehicle, we embark on a journey of about 3-hour drive northwest to\u00a0Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Here, you will stretch your legs and get up close and personal with Uganda\u2019s only wild rhinos on a 2-hour walking tour. From there it should only take us another hour or so to get to a hotel in Gulu City for lunch, relaxation, dinner, and overnight.<\/p>\n

Accommodation:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Gulu Churchill Courts Hotel<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 2: Gulu to Kidepo National Park<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We\u2019ll be up before the sun rises to get ready for our Kidepo visit. We\u2019ll enjoy a good breakfast and then on a drive further northeast for about 3 hours\/155km.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll arrive at the lodge in Kidepo Valley National Park in time for lunch. After lunch, you\u2019ll have some time to relax and then we are off on your first game drive of the\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>! You\u2019ll learn more about this wonderful Uganda safaris park as you drive along looking for the amazing mammals, birds, and more.<\/p>\n

Kidepo is arguably the most remote safari destination in Uganda. It is also the most beautiful. Set below a range of craggy peaks bordering South Sudan, this park protects an atmospheric tract of savannah carved by two perennial rivers and studded with giant boulder-strewn hills.<\/p>\n

Despite its remote location,\u00a0Kidepo National Park<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>offers exceptional wildlife viewing, including 4 of the Big Five (no rhino), with huge herds of buffalo, particularly prominent. Very few travelers make it up to this forgotten corner of Uganda, but the few who make the long journey northeast through the wild\u00a0Karamoja region<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>agree that this is one of Africa\u2019s finest wildernesses.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Apoka Safari Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Midrange:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kidepo Savannah Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kidepo Savannah Lodge\/Apoka Rest Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 3: Game Drive & Karamojong Community Visit<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After an early breakfast on day three of our\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>, we will depart in search of wildlife in Kidepo on a 3 to 4-hour game drive in the Narus Valley.<\/p>\n

The landscape here is truly dramatic, and we will stop for regular photographic opportunities. Kidepo is home to over 77 mammals and 500 bird species.<\/p>\n

Many animals here cannot be found anywhere else in Uganda; these include Cheetahs, Ostriches, Bat-eared foxes, Black-backed jackals, Caracals, and Kudus. Other animals include Zebras, Giraffes, Elephants, Buffalos, Hyenas, Lions, and Leopards.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll return to your lunch and some time to rest. In the afternoon, you\u2019ll visit a traditional Karamojong homestead, known as \u201cManyatta\u201d for a cultural experience.<\/p>\n

The Karamojong people, who are closely related to the Masai of Kenya, continue to practice their traditional way of life, unaffected by modernization. You\u2019ll learn about their traditions, see their distinctive housing, ornaments, and crafts, and be treated to a traditional dance.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Apoka Safari Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Midrange:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kidepo Savannah Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kidepo Savannah Lodge\/Apoka Rest Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 4: Nature Walk & Game Drive<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On day four of our\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>, we have another full day to enjoy Kidepo National Park and the Karamoja region.<\/p>\n

We will have a morning nature walk in the park. Kidepo is one of the few parks in Uganda where you can do a walking safari. The park is a completely different place when you are removed from the constraints of a safari vehicle.<\/p>\n

Your senses are aware of every sound and movement in the bush and you see things at ground level that you would otherwise miss. With an expert ranger guide, you will also learn a lot about the inhabitants of the park and how to recognize their tracks.<\/p>\n

After this exciting and very rewarding activity, you will return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, you go on a game to discover more of the park.<\/p>\n

You also tour the Kidepo Valley which is dry compared to Narus and have fewer animals. It is however a beautiful wilderness and has special features such as the dry river sandy beds, hot springs, and mountains.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Apoka Safari Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Midrange:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kidepo Savannah Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kidepo Savannah Lodge\/Apoka Rest Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 5: Transfer to Murchison Falls <\/strong><\/h3>\n

After an early breakfast and checking out, we take a drive of approximately 400km\/7-8-hour drive) via the town of Kitgum to Murchison Fall National Park, one of the most popular and largest National parks in the country.<\/p>\n

Attractions include the world\u2019s strongest waterfall for which the park is named and the wildly tropical stretch of the Nile River (the world\u2019s longest river) that bisects the park as it flows toward Lake Albert. When it comes to wildlife viewing, this park offers the best big game viewing in the country and it is one of the best places to see the shoebill stork.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Nile Safari Lodge\/Paraa Safari Lodge\/Bakers Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Mid-range:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Pakuba Safari Lodge\/Murchison River Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Hornbill Safari Lodge\/Heritage Safari Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 6: Game Drive & Boat Trip <\/strong><\/h3>\n

On day six of our\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>, it is another early start as we will need to be up before sunrise for your morning game drive.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll explore the northern plains of the park which are dotted with beautiful palm trees.<\/p>\n

Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 450 bird species and 75 mammal species, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, Hartebeests, hyenas, bushbucks, reedbucks, waterbucks, Uganda kobs and more so, with a bit of luck, there should be plenty to excite you. After the game drive, return to the lodge to rest and have lunch.<\/p>\n

After lunch, it\u2019s time for a different point of view – from a boat on the historic Nile River.<\/p>\n

The relaxing three-hour round trip gets you super close to all the animals (elephants, buffalos, and antelopes that frequent the river\u2019s edge. You will also see plenty of hippos and crocodiles and get a great view of the world\u2019s most powerful waterfall from the bottom.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Nile Safari Lodge\/Paraa Safari Lodge\/Bakers Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Mid-range:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Pakuba Safari Lodge\/Murchison River Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Hornbill Safari Lodge\/Heritage Safari Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 7: Visit The Top Of The Falls & Drive to Kibale<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After a relaxed breakfast today, we drive straight to the top of Murchison Falls and enjoy the spectacular view of the explosive falls from a different perspective.<\/p>\n

After witnessing the dramatic falls and taking great photographs, we take a scenic drive of about 6 hours (366km) southwest.<\/p>\n

We will pass through the rolling hills of Africa\u2019s Great Rift Valley, with its ancient volcanic landscape peppered with crater lakes. We will stop in Fort Portal town near the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains to enjoy lunch before we carry on to\u00a0Kibale Forest<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

After your long drive, you might want to stretch your legs by going for a wander around the area. Kibale Forest National Park is very calm and peaceful, with rolling farmland and tiny villages, where children will rush out to say hello to you.<\/p>\n

Or just relax in your hotel with a cold drink and make sure your camera batteries are charged for tomorrow\u2019s chimpanzee adventure.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Crater Safari Lodge\/Primate Lodge Kibale\/Kyaninga Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Mid-range:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kibale Forest Camp\/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Chimpanzee Forest Guest House\/Kibale Forest Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 8: Chimpanzee Tracking & Swamp Or Village Walk<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s chimpanzee day! Be at the ranger station at 8 am for your briefing, and then head out into the forest with your guide for this incredible chance to see chimpanzees in the wild.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re lucky, they\u2019ll come down to the forest floor, and you\u2019ll be able to get within just a few meters of them.\u00a0 Read about the experience of Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda<\/a><\/p>\n

If you just do the morning chimpanzee trekking adventure, then in the afternoon you can relax at your lodge\/camp, take a walk around the area, or if you\u2019re still hungry for more wildlife, head into the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a nature hike and a chance to see more African birds and monkeys. You can also take a cultural tour of Bigodi Village – home to two tribes.<\/p>\n

Here, you visit traditional healers; women craft makers and traditional homesteads and listen to the storytelling of a Mzee (elderly man).<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Crater Safari Lodge\/Primate Lodge Kibale\/Kyaninga Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Mid-range:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kibale Forest Camp\/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Chimpanzee Forest Guest House\/Kibale Forest Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 9:\u00a0Travel to Queen Elizabeth NP<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s only a 3-hour drive from Kibale Forest National Park to\u00a0Queen Elizabeth National Park<\/strong><\/a>. So on day nine of our\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>, we have a lie-in and a leisurely breakfast and then get on the road again.<\/p>\n

When we arrive check in to the lodge and relax for a bit before heading into the park for an afternoon crater drive. Soak up the stunning landscapes, and there is an excellent chance you\u2019ll see amazing wildlife including masses of elephants, and possibly, if you\u2019re lucky, a leopard.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kyambura Gorge Lodge\/Mweya Safari Lodge\/Elephant Plains Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Midrange:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Enganzi Game Lodge\/Bush Lodge\/Park View Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Pumba Safari Cottages<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 10: Game Drive & Boat Trip <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yesterday was pretty chilled, so today it\u2019s another pre-dawn start for a sunrise game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.\u00a0 Animals are more active in the morning, so there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll see hyenas, hippos, elephants, and maybe even some lions.<\/p>\n

Then, in the afternoon, take a two-hour relaxing safari boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel<\/a> which connects Lakes Edward and Gorge.<\/p>\n

This short, shallow channel attracts a huge array of wildlife, including some of the densest concentrations of hippos in the world. As a result, you\u2019re pretty much guaranteed some of the best animals spotting you\u2019re likely to experience anywhere in Uganda.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Kyambura Gorge Lodge\/Mweya Safari Lodge\/Elephant Plains Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Midrange:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Enganzi Game Lodge\/Bush Lodge\/Park View Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Pumba Safari Cottages<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 11: Tree-Climbing Lions And On To Bwindi <\/strong><\/h3>\n

On day eleven of our\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>, we are back on the road again for the short drive to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha) and a chance to track the famous tree-climbing lions that spend their long lazy days dozing in pretty fig trees.<\/p>\n

Spend a few hours tracking and hopefully watching these rare creatures, before leaving the national park behind and heading on south to the mysterious hills of the\u00a0Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park<\/strong><\/a>, the home of mountain gorillas.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Buhoma Lodge\/ Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Midrange:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Haven Lodge\/Gorilla Mist Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Trekker\u2019s Tavern Cottages\/Buhoma Community Restcamp<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast\/Lunch\/Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 12: Gorilla Tracking & Batwa Community Visit<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Time for the number one attraction in all of Uganda and what may well turn out to be the highlight of all highlights of this\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>: mountain gorilla trekking.<\/p>\n

Put on your strong hiking boots\/shoes and pack a waterproof just in case, and then meet at the ranger station to be allocated your gorilla family.<\/p>\n

It can take anything from 2 to 7 to find them, and then you\u2019re allowed to spend just one hour watching them. But I guarantee it\u2019ll be one of the most memorable hours of your life.<\/p>\n

If you have time, in the afternoon or evening a local guide can take you to visit one of Bwindi\u2019s\u00a0Batwa<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0villages. The Batwa People used to live a traditional hunter-gatherer life inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest until the national park was created and they were kicked out.<\/p>\n

Now they live around the edges of the park and earn money by welcoming tourists and demonstrating their ancient traditions. A visit is a great way to learn all about them and help support the community. If you want to know more,\u00a0here\u2019s the article I wrote about the Batwa<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Buhoma Lodge\/Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Midrange:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Haven Lodge\/Gorilla Mist Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Trekker\u2019s Tavern Cottages\/Buhoma Community Restcamp<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast\/Lunch\/Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 13: Relaxed Breakfast & Transfer to Lake Mburo <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast today and hop back in the car for the drive of about 4 to 5 hours northeast to\u00a0Lake Mburo National Park<\/a><\/strong>. There are no lions here, so this is the place where you can get more active without fear of being eaten.<\/p>\n

You can go on go mountain biking or horseback riding, and if your budget can stretch to it, spend the night at one of Uganda\u2019s top places to stay, the stunning\u00a0Mihingo Lodge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Accommodation Options:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luxury:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Mihingo Lodge<\/em><\/p>\n

Midrange:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Rwakobo Rock<\/em><\/p>\n

Budget:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Eagles Nest Mburo\/Leopard Rest Camp<\/em><\/p>\n

Meal Plan:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Breakfast\/Lunch\/Dinner<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 14: Game Walk and Return to Entebbe<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On the final day of our\u00a014-Day Budget-Friendly Uganda Safari<\/strong>, enjoy an early breakfast at 6 am and join a local park ranger guide who knows the area better than anyone.<\/p>\n

You will explore the park on foot (there are no elephants or lions to worry about in Mburo, so you are safe without a vehicle!).<\/p>\n

After the walk, your final drive takes you about 4 hours from Lake Mburo back to Entebbe where you started. Split the journey with a stop at the equator to take that all-important photo and find out whether water really does go down a plughole in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

When you get to Entebbe City, it\u2019s time for a well-deserved sunset drinks on the shores of Lake Victoria after all your adventures.<\/p>\n

Read More:\u00a0Things to do in Entebbe<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

End of the Safari<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Inclusions<\/strong><\/h3>\n