22 Days The Best of Uganda

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your driver-guide—easily identified by a placard with your name—will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel for freshening up and relaxation. Take this time to adjust to the beautiful weather of the Pearl of Africa as you receive a briefing on your upcoming adventure.

Activity: Arrival & Orientation
Accommodation: Via Via Guest House
Meal Plan: Bed & BreakFast

Rise early to beat the morning traffic and set off after breakfast on a journey toward Jinja. Your first stop is at Ssezibwa Falls, a culturally significant site for the Baganda, where your guide will share its legendary history. Next, enjoy a refreshing nature walk through Mabira Forest, capturing the vibrant life of butterflies, birds, monkeys, and colorful flora. You then travel through verdant sugar cane and tea plantations, arriving in the adventure city of Jinja—the home of the source of the Nile—for an overnight stay.

Activity:Nature Walk
Accommodation: Haven Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

After an early breakfast, experience a tour of Jinja Town before driving to the Source of the Nile. Enjoy a memorable boat cruise to the river’s source, creating a perfect photo moment at the beginning of the world’s longest river. In the mid-morning, your journey continues through eastern Uganda until you reach the breathtaking Sipi Falls, set on a plateau 1800 meters above sea level, where you’ll relax in a simple, well-appointed self-contained cottage with stunning views.

Activity: Boat Cruise
Accommodation: Sipi Heritage Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

Embrace a day of pure bliss at Sipi Falls. Following breakfast, choose between a 3-hour leisurely hike or a challenging 7-hour trek, both accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide who will share insights into the region’s flora, fauna, and cultural heritage. As you traverse picturesque waterfalls, coffee plantations, and mysterious caves, be greeted by friendly villagers, and relish the serenity of the landscape.

Activity: Hiking
Accommodation: Sipi Heritage Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

After a hearty breakfast, delve into a fantastic cultural experience of coffee farming at Sipi Falls—the home of Bugisu washed Arabica coffee. Learn firsthand the coffee-making process and even try your hand at picking and washing coffee, if in season. Later, journey through dramatic landscapes and traditional African homesteads as you transfer to Kidepo National Park, arriving in the late afternoon to check into your lodge.

Activity: Cultural Tour
Accommodation: Savannah Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

Experience the wild heart of Africa in Kidepo National Park. Start with an early morning game drive where you’ll have the chance to see the Big Five in their natural splendor. After a refreshing lunch at the lodge, venture out on a different game drive route in the late afternoon to capture the perfect savannah sunset—a memory that will last a lifetime.

Activity: Game Drive
Accommodation: Savannah Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

After breakfast, set off with a packed lunch on a scenic hike to the Mountains of Morungole, where the indigenous Karamojong people have preserved their ancient traditions. Explore their unique way of life, from family bonds and marriage customs to traditional architecture and religious practices. After this rewarding cultural encounter, return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Activity: Cultural Tour
Accommodation: Savannah Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

Today’s journey is a feast for the eyes as you travel through vast open landscapes, with mountain backdrops and endless skylines. Passing through regions like Kitgum and Gulu, you eventually arrive at Murchison Falls National Park in the evening, where you will settle in for dinner and a restful overnight stay.

Activity: Scenic Drive
Accommodation: Fort Murchison
Meal Plan: Full board

Rise early for an exhilarating game drive through Murchison Falls National Park, where you will come face-to-face with elephants, giraffes, buffalos, lions, leopards, and various species of antelope, accompanied by tropical birds. Later, embark on a thrilling boat safari up the Nile River to the base of the 43-meter high Murchison Falls, where the thunderous roar of the water will leave you in awe. An optional hike to the top of the falls is available for those seeking an even more immersive experience.

Activity: Game Drive / Boat Ride
Accommodation: Fort Murchison
Meal Plan: Full board

After an early breakfast, collect your packed lunch and exit Murchison Falls to head south toward Kibale National Park. The drive is long yet incredibly scenic, passing through quaint villages, lush forests, and tea-dotted hills that epitomize the beauty of rural Uganda.

Activity: Top of Falls Hiking
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Guest House
Meal Plan: Full board

Kibale Forest National Park, renowned for having the highest concentration of primate species in the world, is today’s destination. An experienced ranger will lead you on a chimpanzee tracking expedition—an encounter with Uganda’s approximately 5,000 wild chimpanzees is a unique highlight. In addition, enjoy a scenic swamp walk lasting 2-3 hours, where you may observe various primate species and, with a bit of luck, catch a glimpse of the great blue turaco.

Activity: Chimpanzee Tracking / Community Excursion
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Guest House
Meal Plan: Full board

After breakfast, continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second-largest conservation area, nestled at the base of the majestic Rwenzori Mountains and adjacent to Lakes Edward and George. In the afternoon, enjoy a serene boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, where an abundance of hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, and a kaleidoscope of birds await your gaze.

Activity: Game Drive
Accommodation: Enganzi Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

Wake before sunrise and enjoy light refreshments before setting out on a long game drive to witness the awakening wilderness. As the day unfolds, encounter elephants, buffalo, lions, waterbucks, leopards, Uganda kob, and numerous warthogs. In the afternoon, visit a local community near Katwe to learn about their traditional salt-harvesting practices before returning for an evening game drive and overnight stay.

Activity: Game Drive
Accommodation: Enganzi Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

After breakfast, with your packed lunch in tow, proceed to the southern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park, known as Ishasha. Here, if fortune allows, you might spot the renowned tree-climbing lions—a unique adaptation to escape the heat. In addition to these fascinating lions, you will also see buffaloes and Uganda kob. After a day of thrilling wildlife encounters, return to your lodge for the night.

Activity: Scenic Drive / Game Drive
Accommodation: Enjojo Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

Begin your day at leisure before embarking on a scenic drive from Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Nestled between the Rift Valley, the towering Rwenzori Mountains, expansive savannahs, and afro-montane forests, Bwindi offers some of the most breathtaking views in Uganda.

Activity: Scenic Drive / Game Drive
Accommodation: Mahogany Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

Today is the pinnacle of your adventure—gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After a detailed briefing by park rangers, you will embark on a trek through dense forest, winding your way through vines, bushes, and bamboo in search of a gorilla family. The trek may last anywhere from 2 to 7 hours, but the moment you stand face-to-face with these gentle giants, sharing an hour of close observation, will be a profoundly humbling experience.

Activity: Gorilla Tracking
Accommodation: Mahogany Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

Following an early breakfast, set off for the Batwa heritage trail—a full-day cultural immersion through the forests of Mgahinga. Accompanied by indigenous Batwa guides, you will learn about their ancient practices in wild honey harvesting, traditional medicine, and the construction of tree houses. The soulful songs of Batwa women narrate a fading legacy of a once-thriving culture, offering an intimate insight into their world. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Activity: Cultural Tour
Accommodation: Murehe Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board

After breakfast, bid farewell to the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and journey to the enchanting Lake Bunyonyi. Known locally as “small birds,” Lake Bunyonyi offers a tranquil retreat with opportunities for birding, cycling, sunbathing, and canoeing along its serene shores.

Activity: Canoeing / Kayaking
Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Meal Plan: Full board

Spend a day at leisure at Lake Bunyonyi, where you can opt for additional activities at your own cost or simply relax and revel in the serene environment and breathtaking views.

Activity: Hiking
Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Meal Plan: Full board

Following breakfast, begin your journey back to Kampala with several stops for photo opportunities, including a memorable visit to the Equator where you can stand between the two hemispheres. Arrive in Kampala in the late afternoon and check into your hotel for a relaxing evening.

Activity: Equator Experience
Accommodation: Protea Hotel
Meal Plan: Full board

Immerse yourself in the dynamic culture and history of Kampala on a comprehensive city tour. Visit bustling craft markets, historical landmarks, and revered religious sites that illustrate the unique character of this vibrant city.

Activity: City Tour
Accommodation: Protea Hotel
Meal Plan: Full board

After breakfast, your driver-guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight back home, marking the end of an unforgettable 22-day journey through the very best of Uganda.

Activity: Departure
Accommodation: None
Meal Plan: Half board