This relaxed 14 Days Uganda Safari holiday is a fantastic tour that offers a great opportunity to see wild Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and other wonderful Uganda wildlife, as you enjoy the amazing scenery and unique local cultures.
The biggest highlight of this 14 Days Uganda Safari is gorilla trekking in the magnificent Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to see the rare Mountain Gorillas, one of the most endangered species of great apes on the planet.
You will also track wild rhinos on foot in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and explore Murchison Falls National Park, which is home to the worldÔÇÖs strongest waterfalls, over 76 mammal species, and over 450 bird species.
You will visit Kibale Forest National Park for amazing chimpanzee trekking and go game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a park of beautiful lakes, rolling savannah, fertile swamps and emerald rainforests. This park has over 600 different birds and 95 mammal species, including tree-climbing lions.
This 14 Days Uganda Safari also offers captivating cultural experiences, relaxation at beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, a wild game walk in Lake Mburo National Park, and a visit to the Uganda Equator line crossing at Kayabwe.
Main Safari Activities
- Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Game drives in Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth National Parks
- Tracking Tree-climbing lions
- Boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls
- Visiting the top of the Murchison Falls
- Nile Delta Boat cruise with Bush Breakfast
- Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi
- Katwe Salt Lake Community visit
- Cultural tour of Bigodi Village
- Uganda Equator line crossing experience
- Optional: Boat Cruise, Canoeing, Hiking or Zip lining at Lake Bunyonyi
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Arrive At Entebbe International Airport & Transfer To Your Hotel.
Day 2: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park, Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Enroute.
Day 3: Morning Game Drives in the Northern Savannah Plains & Afternoon Boat Cruise To The Bottom Of Murchison Falls.
Day 4: Morning Nile Delta Boat Cruise with a Bush Breakfast & Evening Game Drive.
Day 5: Visit the Top of the Falls & Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 6: Morning Chimpanzee Trekking & Afternoon Bigodi Community Walk.
Day 7: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Afternoon Game Drive
Day 8: Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi Sector & Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise.
Day 9: Enjoy the Crater Lake Drive & Visit to Katwe Salt Lake Community. Transfer to Ishasha Sector, the Home Of Tree-Climbing Lions.
Day 10: Morning Game Drive in Ishasha Sector & Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for Relaxation.
Day 12: Whole Day Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi; Optional Activities: Boat Cruise, Canoeing, Hiking; Zip lining, Or Community Village Walk.
Day 13: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park, Evening Game Drive
Day 14: Morning Game Walk in Lake Mburo National Park & Transfer Back To Entebbe via the Uganda Equator Line Crossing.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Uganda – Entebbe International Airport & Transfer to your Hotel.
Your 14 Days Uganda Safari Tour begins at Entebbe International Airport where a warm welcome marks the start of your safari adventure.
You will be taken on a drive to a nearby hotel in Entebbe for relaxation, dinner, and overnight. Situated in Central Uganda, Entebbe is a small, quiet town located about 40km southwest of the capital, Kampala. The town is stunningly situated on the shores of AfricaÔÇÖs largest lake, Lake Victoria.
If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might choose to explore one or more of the nearby attractions.
You can take a leisurely nature walk through the beautiful Botanical Gardens of Entebbe to see more than 300 species of exotic plants and a variety of indigenous birds and the beautiful colobus monkeys.
You can also opt to visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre to see and learn about the native wildlife of Uganda, local markets to buy souvenirs, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Lake Victoria for chimpanzee close-up encounters, or Mabamba Swamp to see the incredible Shoebill stork.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe/Hotel No.5/Serena Lake Victoria Resort
Mid-range: Boma Hotel Entebbe/2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe
Budget: Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park, Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Enroute.
Day two of your 14 Days Uganda Safari starts at 6.30 am.
After breakfast, your tour driver guide will pick you up from your hotel in Entebbe. You will then set off a long but rewarding drive northwest to Murchison Falls National Park (approximately 6 hours).
You will travel through vibrant towns and quite rural villages, exchanging waves with friendly local people, and admiring the impressive countryside landscape of the Pearl of Africa, Uganda. En route, you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a 2-hour guided Rhino tracking adventure on foot.
Ziwa Sanctuary is home to only wild Rhinos in Uganda. Tracking rhinos in Ziwa gives a great opportunity to see all of African ÔÇ£Big FiveÔÇØ animals on this safari. After seeing the rhinos, youÔÇÖll have a good lunch at nearby Kabalega Dinners.
You then continue to Murchison Falls NP, where the other four members of the ÔÇ£Big FiveÔÇØ (Elephant, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard) can be seen. Most of the parkÔÇÖs 3895km2 is beautiful savannah grassland dotted with palm trees.
And flowing through the middle of the park is the longest river on Earth, River Nile with its complement of waterbirds, crocodiles and hippos.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Nile Safari lodge/Bakers Lodge/Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge/Hornbill Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 311 km (6 hours)
Day 3: Morning Game Drives in the Northern Savannah Plains & Afternoon Boat Cruise To The Bottom Of Murchison Falls.
Day three of your 14 days Uganda safari starts with an early breakfast at 6.00 am. Thereafter, you will embark on a 3-4 hour morning game drive in the northern savannah plains of the Murchison Falls National Park.
YouÔÇÖll explore several game viewing tracks, looking out for animals and birds as you enjoy the beautiful palm-dotted savanna grasslands.
You expect to see RothschildÔÇÖs Giraffes, Patas monkey, Cape Buffaloes, African Elephants, Spotted Hyenas, Common Warthogs, many antelope species such as Oribi, JacksonÔÇÖs Hartebeest, Uganda Kob, Bushbuck and Defassa Waterbuck.
YouÔÇÖll also have a decent chance of seeing Lions and Leopards. After a game drive, you will return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax.
In the afternoon, youÔÇÖll go for a 3 hour leisurely boat tour on Nile, spotting huge numbers of Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, and Waterbirds as well as other animals like Buffalo, Elephant and Giraffe slaking their thirsts on the longest river in the world. You might even see the rare prehistoric-looking shoebill.
Your boat cruise will take you to the base of the Murchison Falls, the worldÔÇÖs strongest waterfall. After this exhilarating encounter, you will head back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Nile Safari lodge/Bakers Lodge/Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge/Hornbill Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Nile Delta Boat Cruise with a Bush Breakfast & Game Drive.
On day four of your 14 Days Uganda Safari, you have another full day to enjoy Murchison Falls National Park and all its beauty.
After a steaming cup of coffee, you will set off on a Nile Delta Boat cruise. The Nile Delta is the area where the Nile River flows into Lake Albert.
The delta banks are home to numerous bird species, including shoebill stork. If youÔÇÖre a bird lover, this boat tour is a ÔÇ£must-doÔÇØ, but this 20km voyage downstream is also a great opportunity to see beautiful landscapes, the daily routines of the local fishermen who catch Tilapia from their wooden boats in Lake Albert, and of course some animals.
It is not unusual to see Hippopotamus, African Buffalos, and African Elephants bathing in the river, or Nile Crocodiles resting on the banks. In the treetops, you might see the first signs of life from the lively Anubis Baboons.
One of the highlights of the five-hour boat trip is a stop along the Nile River banks for a delicious bush breakfast.
In the afternoon or evening, you can opt to enjoy another wildlife game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, or to just relax at the lodge and enjoy your last afternoon. ItÔÇÖs your day.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Nile Safari lodge/Bakers Lodge/Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge/Hornbill Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 5: Visit the Top of the Falls & Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.
After a relaxed breakfast on day four of your 14 Days Uganda Safari, you will visit the top of Murchison Falls to get a sense of its awesome power.
Here, entire 50m wide Nile River squeezes through a tiny gorge of 8m at a rate of 300,000 liters per second, emerging with a powerful explosion and plunging 45m to what has been termed the ÔÇ£devilÔÇÖs cauldronÔÇØ below, forming a plume of spray marked by a thunderous roar and permanent rainbow.
After observing these breathtaking waterfalls, you will take a scenic drive of around 6 hours south to Kibale Forest National Park, home to highest density and diversity of primates in Africa.
YouÔÇÖll travel through rural villages. YouÔÇÖll arrive in beautiful town of Fort Portal in time for lunch.
Fort Portal lies in the shadow of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains (5109 meters) and is known for its tea plantations.
After lunch, youÔÇÖll proceed on a drive of about one hour to your overnight accommodation at Kibale Forest.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale/Kyaninga Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House/Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 366 km or 6-7 hours
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Community Walk.
After an early breakfast on day six of your 14 Days Uganda Safari, transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for your Chimpanzee tracking adventure which begins promptly at 8 am.
The activity starts with a briefing from expert local ranger guides. You then enter the green lush rainforest on foot in search of wild chimps.
Kibale Forest Chimp trek takes 2 to 5 hours and you will have a chance to see several of the parkÔÇÖs 375 bird species. You will also have a chance to see a variety of other primates like Mangabeys, Baboons, Vervet, LÔÇÖHoestÔÇÖs, Red Colobus, Black-and-white Colobus, Blue, and Red-tailed monkeys.
On coming across the chimps, you have 1 hour to enjoy these exquisite creatures. Kibale Forest offers a 95% chance of seeing some of its 1,500 wild chimpanzees.
More closely related to us than any other living creature, chimps are a delight to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. Return to the lodge for lunch and leisure after your time with them. In the afternoon, you have a walk in Bigodi Village to get a real feel for rural life in Uganda.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Primate Lodge Kibale/Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Game Drive.
YouÔÇÖll start your day seven of the 14 Days Uganda Safari with a leisurely breakfast at the lodge. You tour driver guide will then take you on a slow drive of about 2-3 hours south to UgandaÔÇÖs most famous game park, Queen Elizabeth NP.
Set in the Great Rift Valley, in the shadow of the ÔÇ£Mountains of the MoonÔÇØ, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fantastic variety of habitats, ranging from tropical rainforest, savannah grasslands, freshwater lakes, rivers, wetlands, to extinct volcanic crater cones with lakes.
Here, you will have a chance to see the handsome Ugandan Kob, Tree-climbing lions, Giant forest hogs, warthogs, elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Spotted hyenas, etc…
And there are more than 610 bird speciesÔÇÖ. On arrival, enjoy some lunch and relax before heading out on a game drive in search of the varied wildlife within the park. Return to your lodge at sunset.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Katara Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge/Marafiki Safari Lodge/Bush Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari Lodge/Bush Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 157km (3-4 hours)
Day 8: Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi Sector & Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise.
Day eight of your 14 Days Uganda Safari will start with early breakfast at the lodge at around 6.00 am.
You will then head out on a 3 to 4 hour game drive in the beautiful Kasenyi plains at sunrise. Some of the animals you can see include Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Hyenas, Antelopes, etc.
You’ll return to your lodge for lunch and some downtime following a game drive. You will have a leisurely two-hour boat excursion on the Kazinga Channel in the late afternoon between, Lakes George and Edward.
Some of AfricaÔÇÖs densest concentration of hippos lives here, as well as many Buffalos, Elephants, Crocodiles, and special waterbirds like Pelicans and Fish eagles. After the boat cruise, you will enjoy a game drive along the channel track as you drive back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Safari Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge/Bush Lodge/Marafiki Safari Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge/Pumba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Have a Crater Lake Drive & Visit to Katwe Salt Lake Community; Transfer to Ishasha Sector, Home to Tree-Climbing Lions.
After breakfast at 7.00 am, check out, and embark on a crater and Baboon Cliff view drive. You will follow a scenic route around the rims of extinct volcanic explosion craters filled, variously, with lakes, forest, and grassland.
YouÔÇÖll explore the Katwe Salt Lake where a local community has been extracting salt for over 600 years.
Learn about the traditional salt mining process and continue on the drive to the baboon cliff where you will be able to view a variety of animals. Thereafter head south through the national park to the Ishasha Plains and enjoy a short game drive to spot the plainsÔÇÖ well-known tree-climbing lions.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Mid-range: Enjonjo Lodge
Budget: Enjonjo Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10: Morning Game Drive in Ishasha Sector & Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
On day ten of your 14 days Uganda safari, after an early breakfast you will undertake a 3-hour morning game drive in the Ishasha Plains for an opportunity to see the tree-climbing lions and other wildlife as you enjoy the beautiful African wilderness sceneries which is amazing
After the game drive, you will embark on a 4-hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a dense jungle on rolling highlands.
This UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site is home to almost half of the worldÔÇÖs remaining 1063 Mountain Gorillas, a range of rare birds, and healthy populations of monkeys. On arrival, you check-in your lodge and relax.
You take in the beautiful views or maybe stretch your legs with a birding walk around the lodge.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Haven Lodge Buhoma/Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge
Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp/Ichumbi Lodge/Agandi Uganda Lodge
Budget: Trekkers Tavern Cottages
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 218km (4 hours)
Day 11: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for Relaxation.
On day eleven of your 14 Days Uganda Safari, youÔÇÖll wake up early for the tourÔÇÖs main highlight, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest! The activity starts at 8:00 am with a briefing by the local park ranger guides.
Your ranger guides will lead you inside the jungle to see the family of gentle Mountain Gorillas, as well as look for other forest residents, smaller primates, exotic birds, and flocks of colorful butterflies. The mountain gorilla trek takes 2 to 6 hours and can be relatively difficult.
However, on successfully tracking them down, youÔÇÖre generously rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime sighting of these endangered apes interacting, playing, eating, grooming, and going about their daily lives in their natural habitat.
You spend one hour observing them, a truly privileged experience. You then have a picnic lunch and return to the park offices for your Gorilla trekking certificate.
After that, you will go relax on the nearby beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, driving through fascinating Highlands of Kigezi where locals apply terracing methods to cultivate their slopes deriving impressive scenery.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 52 km or 90 minutes
Day 12: Whole Day Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi; Optional Activities: Boat Cruise, Canoeing, Hiking; Zip lining, Or Community Village Walk.
Lovely Lake Bunyonyi, often known as “Place of Many Little Birds,” is encircled by the steep, terraced Kigezi Hills.
There are 29 islands in the lake, many of which are populated. It is a magical area to wake up in, especially with the lake still covered in early morning mist.
At this time you can see school children paddling the traditional dugout canoes to school and farmers transporting their goods to the marketplace.
Here you can fill your time swimming, hiking, zip lining, bird watching, and taking boat rides to any of the islands on the lake.
You can also have a cultural walking tour in the area and learn about the legends, traditions, and customs of the people who make a home on the shores of the lake.
You can visit a craft group, a traditional healer, take in stunning views from one of the high points on the lake or try your hand at paddling one of the traditional dugout canoes. Bunyonyi is the ideal place for relaxation. The only chatter youÔÇÖll hear in this location is that coming from the many birds.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 13: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park, Evening Game Drive.
After a relaxed breakfast on day thirteen of your 14 Days Uganda Safari, you will embark on a drive northeast to Lake Mburo National Park.
This beautiful quiet game park of 260km2 (100 miles2) is home to over 68 mammal species and 350 species of birds. ItÔÇÖs the only places in western Uganda where you can see Zebras, Impalas, and Elands. There are five lakes in the park which are home to Crocodiles, hippos, and numerous Waterbirds, while the papyrus swamps provide cover for rare Sitatunga antelopes.
The journey to Lake Mburo NP will take around 4 hours. You pass small rural villages, coffee and banana plantations, and rolling hills. YouÔÇÖll have a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara town. After lunch, you proceed to the park and look out for the herds of Ankole cattle on the way to the entrance.
YouÔÇÖll check in your lodge, have some time to relax and then embark on an evening game drive. You will return to the lodge at sunset to freshen up and have dinner after an amazing 14 days tour through the ÔÇ£Pearl of AfricaÔÇØ.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock
Budget: Eagles Nest Mburo
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 199 km/3-4 hours
Day 14: Morning Game Walk in Lake Mburo National Park & Transfer Back To Entebbe via the Uganda Equator.
One of the best places in Uganda for a walking safari is Lake Mburo NP. On the final day of your 14 days Uganda safari, you have an early breakfast at 6.00 am. You then join a local park ranger guide who knows the area better than anyone.
You will search for the Zebras, Giraffes, Elands, Impalas, Top, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Klipspringers, various species of birds, and more on foot (there are no elephants or lions to worry about in Mburo, so you are safe without a vehicle!).
After a game walk, youÔÇÖll set off on 3-4 hour drive back to Entebbe/Kampala.
Along the way, youÔÇÖll stop at Uganda Equator line Crossing at Kayabwe, where you can stand in the middle of the Earth with one leg in the Northern hemisphere while the other in the Southern and pose for a photo!
It is also an impressive site for purchasing souvenirs to take back home. From here proceed to Entebbe and you arrive in afternoon.
Depending on your flight time your tour guide will take you directly to the airport or to a chosen hotel where you have arranged a day room if you have a late flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 240 km/3-4 hours
End of the 14 Days Uganda Safari
14 Days Uganda Safari Inclusions
- Transportation in a 4X4 safari vehicle
- Gorilla Trekking Permit
- Chimpanzee tracking permit
- Full board accommodation on the safari
- Service of the English speaking driver/tour guide. On request, a speaking guide in any other foreign language can be arranged.
- Bottled drinking water in the safari vehicle
- Park entrance fees
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Airport transfers
14 Days Uganda Safari Exclusions
- Your International flights
- Your Uganda Visa fee
- Laundry services
- Tips & gratuities
- Items of personal nature
- All meals and drinks not specified
