18 Days Uganda Classic Safari Holiday – This 18 Days Uganda Classic Safari Holiday takes you to explore the best Ugandan parks for wildlife viewing, adventure, culture, food, city tours, and scenic experiences.
Visit some of the top national parks in the Pearl of Africa, where you will enjoy classic game drives and boat cruises in Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park.
This safari offers opportunities to spot large mammals such as elephants, buffalo, and giraffes, as well as predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas.
Additionally, you’ll visit primate parks like Kibale and Bwindi for chimpanzees and mountain gorillas, respectively.
You’ll also have a memorable experience at the Uganda Equator, along with visits to local communities like Isunga Cultural Village and the Batwa community near Kibale and Bwindi national parks.
18-Day Uganda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Check-In at the Hotel
- Day 2: Drive from Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park and Boat Cruise
- Day 3: Nature Walk and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Community Tour
- Day 5: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 6: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Visit Isunga Community
- Day 8: Chimpanzee Tracking and Isunga Community Walk
- Day 9: Visit Sempaya Hot Springs and Amabere Ga’Nyinamwiru Caves
- Day 10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and Visit the Top of the Falls
- Day 11: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
- Day 12: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
- Day 13: Game Drive and Karamoja Cultural Encounter
- Day 14: Transfer to Soroti Town
- Day 15: Transfer to Jinja with a Stopover at Nyero Rock Paintings
- Day 16: Adventure Tour in Jinja
- Day 17: Drive to Kampala via Mabira Forest and Sezibwa Falls
- Day 18: Short Kampala City Tour and Airport Drop-Off
Detailed 18-Day Uganda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Check-In at the Hotel
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where you’ll be welcomed by your driver-guide.
After a meet-and-greet, complete the arrival procedures and transfer to your hotel for leisure and relaxation after your flight.
Day 2: Drive from Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park and Boat Cruise
After breakfast, embark on a 3-hour drive from Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest park.
Stop at the Equator monument for photos, souvenir shopping (optional), and experiments.
Continue to the park, entering via Sanga Gate, where you may spot zebras, impalas, and Ankole longhorn cattle along the boundary.
Arrive at your lodge, have lunch, and enjoy a 2-3 hour boat cruise on Lake Mburo, spotting hippos, African fish eagles, kingfishers, and African whistling ducks.
Day 3: Nature Walk and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, join a guided nature walk led by a ranger for close-up wildlife encounters.
Lake Mburo has few predators, making this walking safari safe.
Afterward, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, stopping for lunch at Igongo Cultural Museum and capturing stunning photos of the Kigezi rolling hills en route.
Arrive at your lodge in Bwindi for dinner.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Community Tour
Begin early with breakfast, packing lunch boxes and sufficient water. At 7:00 am, meet the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers for a briefing on gorilla trekking.
Afterward, join rangers to search for gorillas, which may take 1-8 hours.
Once located, you’ll observe these gentle giants from a 7-meter distance for an hour.
Return to the park center to receive your gorilla trekking certificate.
After lunch, take a village walk, experiencing Batwa community traditions with storytelling, music, and dance.
Day 5: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy breakfast and drive about five hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through Ishasha, where tree-climbing lions and other wildlife like elephants, topis, and Uganda kobs can be seen.
Arrive in the afternoon, check in, and go on an evening game drive to see elephants, lions, zebras, and warthogs.
Day 6: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Start early for a game drive in the Kasenyi plains, a prime area for spotting lions, leopards, and hyenas.
After breakfast, enjoy an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where hippos, elephants, and buffalo come to cool off.
The 3-hour cruise offers excellent bird-watching and sightings of Nile crocodiles.
Return with an evening game drive en route to your lodge.
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Visit Isunga Community
Begin with coffee before a final morning game drive.
Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park via the scenic route along crater lakes and the Rwenzori Mountains.
Known as the primate capital of the world, Kibale is home to 13 primate species. In the evening, enjoy an entertainment experience at Isunga Cultural Village, featuring traditional music and crafts by the Batooro and Bakiga.
Day 8: Chimpanzee Tracking and Isunga Community Walk
After breakfast, attend a briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Center, then embark on a guided trek to locate chimpanzees.
Spend an hour observing a habituated troop. After lunch, visit Isunga Village, where you’ll explore tea and coffee plantations, local gardens, crater lakes, and hippo-viewing spots.
Day 9: Visit Sempaya Hot Springs and Amabere Ga’Nyinamwiru Caves
Leave Kibale and drive to Semuliki Valley National Park.
After a briefing, take a guided walk to the Sempaya Hot Springs, encountering primates and birds along the way.
Later, visit Amabere Ga’Nyinamwiru Caves near Fort Portal, viewing Nyakasura Falls and the Rwenzori Mountains.
Day 10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and Visit the Top of the Falls
Depart Kibale for Murchison Falls National Park, a 7-hour scenic drive through tea plantations and farmlands.
Upon arrival, head to the top of the falls for spectacular views of the rainbow formed by the water.
Check into your lodge along the Nile River.
Day 11: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Enjoy a morning game drive, spotting lions, leopards, giraffes, hartebeests, buffaloes, warthogs, and more.
In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Nile, spotting hippos, crocodiles, and birds.
Enjoy views of Murchison and Uhuru Falls from the bottom.
Day 12: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park, with an optional stop at Aruu Falls.
Take an optional evening game drive in the Narus Valley, spotting lions, leopards, jackals, elephants, giraffes, and more.
Day 13: Game Drive and Karamoja Cultural Encounter
Enjoy a morning game drive in Narus Valley. In the afternoon, visit the Karamojong community, learning about their nomadic lifestyle, similar to the Maasai.
Participate in traditional music and dance before returning to the lodge.
Day 14: Transfer to Soroti Town
Depart Kidepo for Soroti, a long 8-9 hour drive with packed lunch. Arrive in the evening and check in at your hotel.
Day 15: Transfer to Jinja with a Stopover at Nyero Rock Paintings
Start with a hike up Soroti Rock for panoramic views. Continue to Nyero Rock Paintings, an ancient site, before arriving in Jinja along the Nile River.
Day 16: Adventure Tour in Jinja
Choose from activities like visiting the source of the Nile, bungee jumping, quad biking, white-water rafting, and more. Jinja is known as East Africa’s adventure capital.
Day 17: Drive to Kampala via Mabira Forest and Sezibwa Falls
Return to Kampala, stopping for a nature walk in Mabira Forest to spot primates and birds.
Continue to Sezibwa Falls for rock climbing, traditional stories, and breathtaking views.
Arrive in Kampala for your final night.
Day 18: Short Kampala City Tour and Airport Drop-Off
After breakfast, explore Kampala, visiting Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine, Uganda Museum, Bahai Temple, and local markets like Nakawa and Nakasero.
Transfer to the airport for your departure, marking the end of your 18-day Uganda adventure.
