25 Days Uganda safari

25 Days Uganda Grand Escape Safari

During the 25 Days Uganda safari, you will explore the whole of Uganda on one trip. What a safari! You will have a chance to visit 9 national parks such as Lake Mburo national park (for zebras and multiple bird species), Murchison falls national park (for the world’s strongest waterfalls and the big 4 animals), Queen Elizabeth national park (for tree climbing lions), Kidepo valley national park (Narrus Valley, Karamojong cultural encounter and cheetah), Kibale Forest national park (for chimpanzee), Bwindi Impenetrable national park (for mountain gorillas), Mt. Elgon national park (the world’s longest caldera), Rwenzori Mountains national park (Mt. Rwenzori’s snow-capped peak) and Mgahinga gorilla national park (mountain gorillas and golden monkeys).

You will also visit the source of the world’s longest river – River Nile in addition to other major and minor stopovers like one at the Uganda Equator from where you will perform a water balance experiment. The safari will take you to magical places such as, Lake Bunyonyi, Nyero rock paintings, Kabwoya game reserve and Kibiro salt gardens, Reptile Village and Ngamba Island Sanctuary. The Safari will end with an amazing Kampala city tour that will take you to places such as Bahai temple, Kasubi tombs, Namugongo Martyrs shrine, Col. Muammer Gadhafi Mosque, etc. You will be dropped at Entebbe International airport on the last day for an outbound flight.

Summary of the 25 Days Uganda Grand Escape Safari

Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Jinja.

Day 2: Visit Sugarcane Plantations and visit the source of Nile

Day 3: River Nile to Mount. Elgon

Day 4: Hike Mount Elgon and visit the Sipi falls

Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo National Park

Day 6: Have a game drive and Cultural tour

Day 7: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

Day 8: Game drive and Launch Cruise

Day 9: Transfer to Hoima, via Kabwoya game reserve and Kibiro salt gardens

Day 10: Cultural tour and proceed to Kibale national park

Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking and visit to Bigodi wetland

Day 12: Drive to Mountain Rwenzori national park

Day 13: Nature walks in Rwenzori Mountain National park.

Day 14: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Day 15: Game Drive and Boat Cruise

Day 16: Transfer to Bwindi National Park via Ishasha sector

Day 17: Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

Day 18: Golden monkey Trekking and Cultural Encounter

Day 19: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for an afternoon Boat Cruise

Day 20: Explore the Islands on a local dugout canoe.

Day 21: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for an Evening Game Drive

Day 22: Morning Game Drive and Boat cruise

Day 23: Drive to Kampala for a city tour

Day 24: Visit the Reptile Village and Ngamba Island Sanctuary

Day 25: Departure

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport and Transfer to Jinja

Upon your arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will meet our professional guide/driver. He or she will brief you on the 25 days Uganda Grand Escape Safari. You will then drive to Jinja.

The journey involves spectacular views of the surrounding areas as well as a stopover in Mabira forest for a walk. You will have something to eat along the way and then visit Masese Fish Landing site.

Upon arrival, check in to your earlier booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meals: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Visit Sugarcane Plantations and visit the source of Nile

After a delicious morning breakfast at your lodge, you will meet your driver/guide and visit Kakira Sugar plantation. You will have a practical feel and taste of the sugarcanes in the garden before visiting the factory to witness the industrial processes of making sugar.

You will return to your lodge for lunch and embark on the boat ride to the source of the Nile. Here, you will have spectacular views while taking pictures. It is here that the longest River in the world starts its journey to the Mediterranean Sea in North Africa particularly Egypt. You have an opportunity of engaging in amazing activities such as white water rafting.

You will then return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Transfer from River Nile to Mount. Elgon

After a delicious morning breakfast, you will embark on the 4 to 5 hour drive to Mbale - Mount Elgon (believed to be the fourth highest in Africa). You will drive through sugarcane plantations as well as lush vegetation and rolling hills.

In the event that you arrive early, have late lunch in Mbale, pass by the Bamasaba cultural center for spectacular experience as well.

Check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Hike Mount Elgon and visit the Sipi falls

After a morning breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for briefing before embarking on the magical Mt. Elgon hike. You will either use Budadiri route or Kapkwata route or spend approximately 6 hours. The hike comes with views of multiple bird species, coffee plantation, bamboo species and caves.

Continue using Sipi trail and have spectacular views of the 3 falls located in one place. It is here that you will take a picture of your dream. You will have lunch during the course and return in the evening at your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo National Park

After a delicious morning breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and embark on the 8 to 9 hour drive to Kidepo Valley national park in North eastern Uganda. The drive will take you through several districts while enjoying views of the landscape, grass thatched houses, urban centers, to mention but a few.

You will have a lunch stopover along the way.

Arrival will be at night, check in to your earlier booked lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Have a game drive and Cultural tour

After an early morning breakfast, you will embark on the 3 to 4 hour game drive in Kidepo Valley national park – the Narrus Valley to be specific. You will see the early risers of the park getting out of their shelters as well as night hunters going back to their hiding places. It is an opportunity of landing on a leopard, cheetah or lion.

You will then return to your lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will go for a cultural encounter with the Ik people who will entertain you with local dances, stories, and cuisine.

In the late evening, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

After a morning breakfast, check out your lodge and embark on the drive to Murchison falls national park – Uganda’s oldest and largest national park. It is also the home of the World’s strongest water falls. The journey involves spectacular views of rolling hills, lush vegetation and fascinating Karuma falls. You will have a lunch stopover in Gulu and continue to the park

Upon arrival, check in to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Game drive and Launch Cruise

After a lovely morning breakfast, meet your guide and go for an amazing morning game drive. The drive takes you through the savannah plains of the park and introduces you to several flora and fauna species. It is here that you stand high chances of seeing all the big five animals which cannot be easily found elsewhere in Uganda.

Return to your lodge for relaxation and lunch.

In the afternoon, you will go an afternoon boat cruise at the Nile River. This is a chance for you to see water birds, crocodile and hippopotamuses. The boat will also take you to the bottom of the falls from where you will start your hike to the top of the falls. At the top of the falls, you will realize that indeed, Murchison falls are the strongest water falls in the world.

Meet your driver and get back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9: Transfer to Hoima, via Kabwoya game reserve and Kibiro salt gardens

After breakfast, ensure that your entire luggage is well packed, head out for a 5-hour drive to Kabwoya Wildlife reserve national park with lunch en’ route, enjoying the magnificent views of the Albertine rift escarpments and jagged Congo blue mountains. Upon arrival check in to your earlier booked lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Cultural tour and proceed to Kibale national park

Early in the morning, you will have breakfast and drive to Hoima town – the home of Bunyoro kingdom palace and the royal burial grounds (Karambi Royal tombs). Undertake this cultural trail with a local guide who will explain to you all the components and tools used by the Banyoro people which date back over one hundred years ago. You will have lunch in town and continue to Kibale Forest national park.

Upon arrival, check in to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking and visit to Bigodi wetland

After a morning breakfast, you will go to the visitor’s center for briefing about chimpanzee trekking. From there, you will enter the forests of Kibale and start on the search for these human-like chimps. Upon encountering them, you will have an hour in their presence whilst taking pictures.

Return to your lodge for lunch before visiting Bigodi wetland swamp for birding. This is one of the best birding areas with several bird species. Some of the birds here are rift valley endemics.

You will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12: Drive to Mountain Rwenzori national park

After a morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on the drive to the magnificent Rwenzori Mountains national park. The journey comes with views of the snow-capped Margherita peak as well the surrounding areas. In this park you will do the hiking but you cannot hike to the top since it takes 7 days.

You have lunch en’ route and dinner at the lodge of your stay. Check in upon arrival, relax and have dinner

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13: Nature walks in Rwenzori Mountain National park

After a morning breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters for briefing before hiking. You will spend the whole day hiking while enjoy views of the surrounding areas. You will encounter different vegetation types as well as animal and bird species. Lunch will be taken in the due course of the hike.

In the evening, you will retreat to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 14: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

After a morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and embark on the 3 to 4 hour drive to Queen Elizabeth national park – the Medley of wonders. You will have scenic views of animal and bird species as you draw closer to the park. You will have lunch upon arrival and spend the rest of the day relaxing in the compound of your lodge.

Have dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 15: Game Drive and Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

After an early morning breakfast at about 6:30am, you will meet your guide and go for a spectacular morning game drive in either Ishasha or Kasenyi sectors. The Kasenyi sector is dominated by elephants while the Ishasha sector is dominated by tree climbing lions. However, the two sectors give memorable experiences in the best way possible. You stand chances of seeing the early risers of Queen Elizabeth getting out of their hiding places whilst the night hunters go back into hiding. In either sectors of the park, you will encounter several animal species such as buffaloes, leopard, zebra, Ugandan kob, hippopotamus, topi, waterbuck, warthog, giant forest hog, leopard, spotted hyena, to point out just a few. During the morning game drive, you will also see multiple tree and bird species among which include; yellow bill, Robin chat, read-throated wryneck, African emerald cuckoo, brown illadospis, lesser flamingos, papyrus gonolek, to mention but a few. If you are a bird lover, you will have to visit any of these areas; Maramagambo forest, areas of Lake Katwe, areas of Katunguru bridge, Lake Kikorongo, Kasenyi plains, Ishasha sector and areas of Mweya Peninsular.

Return to your lodge about 1:00 pm for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, you will go for a launch cruise at Kazinga channel – the water body which connects Lake Edward to Lake Albert. This is an opportunity for you to see aquatic animals such as crocodiles and hippopotamuses. You stand high chances of watching predators kill since several animals converge at the channel. You will also interact with fishermen as you learn about different types of fish species caught at the channel. Additionally, you will see many animal species as they converge at the channel to quench their thirst. If you are a bird lover, Kazinga channel launch cruise will bless you with different bird species some of which are restricted to the area.

You will then return to your lodge in the later hours of the day for dinner, relaxation and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 16: Transfer to Bwindi National Park via Ishasha sector

After a morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and go for an en’ route game drive via Ishasha sector. You will have scenic views of tree climbing lions as they seek refuge in the acacia tree branches. Continue to Bwindi impenetrable national park – the home of mountain gorillas. It is a rough ride in the hills of Kabale and Kisoro. You will have lunch en’ route.

Upon arrival check in to the lodge, have dinner and spend the night over.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 17: Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

After an early morning breakfast, meet your diver and go to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi starts at 8:00am and can take between 1 to 8 hours. The nearer the place where the gorillas spent the previous night, the faster the process of encountering them. Each gorilla family is trekked by a maximum number of 8 people per day. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is one of the most adventurous tourism activities Uganda has ever had. It involves walking the trails of the forest in search of these apes. Upon encountering the gorillas, you will be given a full hour to spend in their presence. Take as many pictures as you wish but do not use flash light cameras.

Return to your lodge for lunch and check out of the lodge.

After lunch, transfer to Mgahinga forest national park for Golden monkey trekking and cultural encounter the next day. Upon arrival at the park, head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 18: Golden monkey Trekking and Cultural Encounter

After an early for breakfast and drive to the park’s headquarters for briefing that starts at 08:00am, Golden monkeys are so rare and possess very unique characteristics as compared to very many primates, trekking them needs speed and being very keen because they love jumping from one tree to another, watching them play sing and move is very nice, only their golden color will excite you. The activity can take up to five hours including the one hour you spend in their presence upon encountering them.

Return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, you will go for an encounter with the Batwa pygmies who will take you through some of their life stories, demonstrate to you their hunting skills and entertain you with local songs.

Return to your lodge in the later hours of the day for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 19: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for an afternoon Boat Cruise

After a delicious morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on the drive to Lake Bunyonyi – the Switzerland of Africa. You will drive through plantations and rolling hills of Kigezi region. Have lunch upon arrival and relax.

In the afternoon you will go for a boat cruise at Lake Bunyonyi and enjoy views of the27 islands as well as multiple bird species.

Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 20: Explore the Islands on a local dugout canoe

After a morning breakfast, you will take a ride on Lake Bunyonyi while visiting one island after another. You will visit some and learn about their history as well as interacting with the natives.

Return to your lodge in the afternoon for lunch. Relax at your lodge for the rest of the day.

Have dinner and spend a night.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 21: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for an Evening Game Drive

After a morning breakfast, meet your driver and start your journey to Lake Mburo National park with a lunch stopover at Igongo Cultural Centre in Biharwe – Mbarara city. At Igongo, you will visit the archives and learn about the history of Ankole kingdom and western Uganda as a whole. If time allows you, you can hike to Eclipse monument opposite Igongo Cultural Center for spectacular views of Mbarara city and the surrounding areas.

Continue and enter Lake Mburo national park via Sanga gate. You will embark on the game drive upon arrival. This is where you will enjoy scenic views as the sun goes down while encountering hundreds of Zebras, buffaloes, waterbuck, giraffes and multiple bird species.

Check in to your earlier booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 22: Morning Game Drive and Boat cruise

After breakfast, you will go for an early morning game drive. You will encounter species like zebras, impalas, topis, buffalos, elands, with approximately 313 bird species including the rare shoebill stork, Crested Francolin, to mention but a few. Return to you lodge for lunch.

Later on, you will go for an afternoon boat cruise that will expose you to abundant aquatic life such as Hippos, Crocodile and different mammals quenching their thirst at the shores of the lake.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 23: Drive to Kampala for a city tour

After a morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive back to Kampala via Mbarara – Masaka – Kampala road. Have lunch en’ route and a stopover at the Uganda equator in Mpigi for pictures. You can as well buy something from the craft shop to always remind of your trip.

You will check in to your hotel upon arrival and embark on Kampala city tour. Go to places like Bahai temple, Col. Muammer Gadhafi mosque and see all the 7 hills of Kampala. Do not miss the Kasubi Royal tombs.

Return to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 24: Visit the Reptile Village and Ngamba Island Sanctuary

After breakfast, you will visit Ngamba Island located on the shores of Lake Victoria. En’ route, you can have an optional visit to the reptile village where you will see the different types of reptiles that have been rescued such as the snakes, tortoise, chameleons and many more.

Proceed with the journey to Entebbe pier to catch up with a speed boat that will take a ride 90 minutes to reach the island, home to 50 orphaned chimpanzees and so many other species.

Return to your Hotel in Entebbe for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 25: Departure - End of the 25 Days Uganda Grand escape safari

After an early morning breakfast, depending on your outbound flight, you will meet your driver and go to Entebbe international airport. Thus the end of your 25 days Uganda Grand Escape Safari.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour inclusions